Reviews
The Da Vinci Code
Roshan Rating: 9.5/10
I know some are extremely fastidious about having anything revealed about a book- especially a hotly contested and eagerly anticipated one. I was once punched for revealing, that in the Illiad Menelaus doesn't die until he gets back to Greece (whatever Troy might claim). Some refuse to even gaze at the back of the book- while I feel that is sick and demented, it is still incumbent upon me to notify them, if only to protect myself from further unneeded violence. Therefore, this sentence should serve as a warning to those who don't want even want to know the mildest plot intrigue in the novel.
That said, there's not too many secrets to reveal.
The much touted Da Vinci Code, is a very intruiging thriller- it's greatest strength, however is its focus on secret societies, vatican politics, and global intrigue. The book (and soon to be movie) follows the journey of a Harvard professor who finds himself caught up in an adventure of gigantic proportions- where he unearthes a secret of startling relevance to the basis of Christianity, and discoveres a century old sect that has been hiding said secret. Whether or not any of the claims have basis in fact- although Dan Brown seems to suggest that much- is irrelevant. This very concept of secret socities, with prominent and famed members, existing is what makes the novel so appealing to Brown's legions of fans. Its the same reason the Bond series has been so extraordinarily succesful. It helps the ordinary reader escape from their presumedly mundane lives and journey to an utterly implausible and impractical world. But, how many 'impractical' things are truly the most appealing?
The Day After Tomorrow
Roshan Rating : 9/10
It would be wrong to go into this movie expecting either of the following: serious character development, or an important message on the potentially lethal nature of global warming. Instead, if you do feel inclined to watch it go for the CGI spectacle they have created; go to see the unimaginable played out in startling reality. The special effects make this movie- an awesome array of nature's worst, assailing prominent cities - Los Angeles is struck with tornadoes, New York flooded by a tidal wave then abruptly frozen over, and it's snowing in New Dehli. There's a tiny clip of Nova Scotia flooding until it is indiscernible as well, but then who really cares about Canada?
The special effects are so well crafted, that there is never any suspicion that the images could be anything but real. Unfortunately, caught up in this whirlwind of special effects, the movie fails to point out its significance. It's the fear that this could really happen, that should add terror to this movie- yet the makers of the movie seem unconcerned about driving that message home. Instead we are given typical Hollywood fare- a busy father out of touch with his son for instance- on a very big canvas. It is this incongruity that weakens the movie, and stretches the limits of our own credulty.
If you do decide to go see it, get ready for a mouth dropping spectacle- just don't expect any real substance.
Roshan Rating: 9.5/10
I know some are extremely fastidious about having anything revealed about a book- especially a hotly contested and eagerly anticipated one. I was once punched for revealing, that in the Illiad Menelaus doesn't die until he gets back to Greece (whatever Troy might claim). Some refuse to even gaze at the back of the book- while I feel that is sick and demented, it is still incumbent upon me to notify them, if only to protect myself from further unneeded violence. Therefore, this sentence should serve as a warning to those who don't want even want to know the mildest plot intrigue in the novel.
That said, there's not too many secrets to reveal.
The much touted Da Vinci Code, is a very intruiging thriller- it's greatest strength, however is its focus on secret societies, vatican politics, and global intrigue. The book (and soon to be movie) follows the journey of a Harvard professor who finds himself caught up in an adventure of gigantic proportions- where he unearthes a secret of startling relevance to the basis of Christianity, and discoveres a century old sect that has been hiding said secret. Whether or not any of the claims have basis in fact- although Dan Brown seems to suggest that much- is irrelevant. This very concept of secret socities, with prominent and famed members, existing is what makes the novel so appealing to Brown's legions of fans. Its the same reason the Bond series has been so extraordinarily succesful. It helps the ordinary reader escape from their presumedly mundane lives and journey to an utterly implausible and impractical world. But, how many 'impractical' things are truly the most appealing?
The Day After Tomorrow
Roshan Rating : 9/10
It would be wrong to go into this movie expecting either of the following: serious character development, or an important message on the potentially lethal nature of global warming. Instead, if you do feel inclined to watch it go for the CGI spectacle they have created; go to see the unimaginable played out in startling reality. The special effects make this movie- an awesome array of nature's worst, assailing prominent cities - Los Angeles is struck with tornadoes, New York flooded by a tidal wave then abruptly frozen over, and it's snowing in New Dehli. There's a tiny clip of Nova Scotia flooding until it is indiscernible as well, but then who really cares about Canada?
The special effects are so well crafted, that there is never any suspicion that the images could be anything but real. Unfortunately, caught up in this whirlwind of special effects, the movie fails to point out its significance. It's the fear that this could really happen, that should add terror to this movie- yet the makers of the movie seem unconcerned about driving that message home. Instead we are given typical Hollywood fare- a busy father out of touch with his son for instance- on a very big canvas. It is this incongruity that weakens the movie, and stretches the limits of our own credulty.
If you do decide to go see it, get ready for a mouth dropping spectacle- just don't expect any real substance.
posted by gah at 3:52 PM
3 Comments:
update.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
EDIT: see above.
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