The Godfather (1972)

Genre: Dramas, Crime Dramas, Classics

Cast: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton

My Rating: 5/5

I was fairly new to Hollywood when i watched this movie, having seen action films like Rambo, Terminator etc.. during my childhood. Having heard about Marlon Brando as a big actor in Hollywood, when i saw the opening scene in which a business man talks about his daughter's health condition to the Don, his acting was so good that i immediately mistook him for Marlon Brando. Such was the acting by all the characters in the movie that makes it a powerful and engaging movie.

This movie truly is the godfather of all the mobster movies. Though it is almost a three hour movie, i can still watch this anytime. There are some memorable quotes in the movie like "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse", "A man who never spends time with his family can never be a real man" etc.. to name a few. The real strength of the movie was that each and every character played their role to perfection. Marlon Brando as the wise and ageing Don trying to keep his family business together, Al Pacino as the youngest son who doesn't want to be involved with the family's mafia business, the eldest son- i could really connect to him - an angry reckless guy, Robert Duvall as the lawyer who acts as an advisor to the Don's family, and the character Clemenza, everyone stands out. I think maybe this is one of the earliest movies where mobs are shown as the lead characters and yet you tend to love the movie. Kudos to director Francis Ford Coppola, uncle of actor Nicholas Coppola(known as Nicolas Cage in Hollywood).

Transformers (2007)

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi

Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Tyrese Gibson, Jon Voight, Josh Dushamel

My Rating: 5/5

The Autobots and the evil Decepticons, two robot species fight for the "All Spark", a cube that creates their life forms but lose it in space during their war. Finally, the autobots hear news that it has been located in an unknown planet called "Earth".

If you like giant robots transform into cool cars and fight against each other, then this movie is for you. Shia LaBeouf stars as a teenager whose father buys him a used car. It turns out that it is an alien robot that has a mind of its own. It soon signals it's friends, the remaining autobots to come down to earth.

It is then revealed that the teenager's great-grandfather discovers the frozen state of Megatron, the leader of the evil Decepticons, who first locates the All Spark on earth, in the Arctic Circle. Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots tries to get to the All Spark location before the Decepticons could so that they do not take the control of the universe. There is plenty of robot and human fight sequences and also between the  two robot species.

Having never seen the original transformer series, I really loved the concept and the action sequences. However, i heard the true fans complain that Optimus Prime was not given much of screen time and that the story revolves around the teenager. But it is definitely worth watching if you are a big fan of action movies and special effects that makes Hollywood famous worldwide.

The Hangover (2009)

Genre: Comedies

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Heather Graham

My Rating:  5/5

I have never heard so many laughs in a movie theater before watching this movie. We all laughed out so loud that we couldn't understand the next dialogue. One of my favorite comedies of all time.

The movie trailer initially reminded me of "Dude, Where's My car?". Though it had the same plot, this movie is definitely better.

Justin Bartha (National Treasure) goes to Las Vegas with his three friends to celebrate his bachelor party.The next morning, the groom is missing. There is a tiger in the suite, a baby and one of them is missing a tooth. Okay.. I have seen those things in other movies. But, when they get a cop car from the valet for their car and a tiny Chinese guy pops out of a trunk, I gave in. The surprise and shock never ended. Even when i thought there would be no more surprises when they go to exchange the money for their friend it kept coming.

Mr. Smith goes to Washington (1939)

Genre: Classics, Dramas

Cast: James Stewart

My Rating: 5/5

They don't make films like this anymore. And, you don't get to see people like Mr. Smith anymore.

James Stewart, one of my all time favorite actors plays an innocent and naive politician caught in the web of corrupt politics in America's capital. It just made me wonder how far one can go to stand up for his ideologies and principles that are just stupid and naive in the eyes of the others (politicians in this case. may be he thought all politicians are idiots and argued his case ;) )

Based on who you are, this film would either make you think about your childhood days and worry about the
innocence lost or just mock at the unrealistic scenes yet feel some void deep inside..

Duel (1971)

Genre: Action, Thrillers, Car Racing

My Rating: 5/5

Director: Steven Spielberg

Steven's Spielberg first directorial venture. This made for TV movie later had a limited release and helped launch his career. In fact, I like this one better than "Jaws" which made him famous.

This movie is a highway chase thriller where the protagonist is chased by a truck.Though it's a one liner story, it's the genius of Spielberg that makes this movie interesting till the end even though you don't get to see the face of the driver. I could still watch this though it was made in early 70s.

You might find the first few minutes boring where we get to know about the hero but once he passes the old truck on the highway, the movie really kicks off.

Fight Club (1999)

Genre: Thrillers, Psychological Thrillers

Cast: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter

Rating: 5/5

You can only have two feelings towards this movie. You would either hate it or love it. But, I hated this movie almost the entire time but as the end credits started rolling, i stopped it and started watching it from the begining once again - out of disbelief of what i just saw ( and failed to notice) and realising how i started liking it all of a sudden.

My idea of movie watching is simple. A hero should be a hero. I cannot like a movie if the hero starts beating around innocent folks and vandalising the streets as he does in this movie. But then, this movie is an exception.

Field of Dreams (1989)

Genre: Dramas, Sports

Cast: Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta, Burt Lancaster

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

"If you build it, he will come". Kevin Costner, a corn field owner hears a voice while walking through his corn field. You need not be a baseball fan to watch this movie. Everyone would be able to relate to this movie in one way or the other. I don't think i have enough words in my vocabulary to write about this movie. Anyways, i will give it a try.

This movie is about how far you will go to do something that "you think" you believe in while others don't. It made me think how everyone's version of heaven can look like if one does exist. Costner, after hearing that voice, decides that he has to build a baseball field by clearing out some portion of his corn field. But, after it was built, nothing happens and he soon has financial trouble and has to decide if he should grow corn again. Later, his family notices a famous baseball player who has been dead for a long time, playing in the field. He then brings along few of his friends to play with him. Costner, however realises his work was not done yet and undergoes so many adventueres which though unbelievable, would make you want to be able to believe in something with your whole heart.

Interesting fact- the baseball field shot during the movie in Iowa is now a big tourist attraction and has been visited by many annually.

The Dukes of Hazzard (2005)

Genre: Comedies, Action Comedies, Car Racing

Cast: Sean William Scott, Johnny Knoxville, Jessica Simpson

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A mindless comedy with car chases. This is one of those movies which i can watch anyday, anytime. Some facts- This movie is directed by Jay Chandrasekhar - of course- of Indian origin. It stars Sean William Scott (Steve Stifler of American Pie series) and Johnny Knoxville of "Jackass" Series. This movie is based on a 80's TV show of the same name. It also stars Burt Reynolds (a big actor in the 70's and 80's who mostly starred in car racing related movies) as the villain.

 Sean William Scott and Johnny Knoxville star as cousins Bo and Luke, who run moonshine(illegal alcohol production) business along with Uncle Jesse and cousin Daisy(Jessica Simpson).  They go around the "Hazzard" County using their orange colored Dodge Charger car nicknamed by Bo as "General Lee".  The county Commissioner (Burt Reynolds) unable to their moonshine lab, plants a fake one and confiscates their farm. The Dukes hear about the same incident in other places and set out to find the commissioner's plan and discovers that he is planning to turn the entire county into a coal mine. The movie is about how they thwart his plan while also participating in a car race competition and also being chased by police.

Don't think too much of the plot and just go with the movie.

Iron Man (2008)

Genre: Action, Superhero Films

Cast: Robert Downey Jr. , Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow,
          Terrence Howard

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

One of my favorite superhero movies. Everything seems to have worked well with this movie. But, a special mention should go to Robert Downey Jr. for making an arrogant and an egoistic character downright likeable. Even if he has gone a little overboard, his character would have attracted hatred. If you look at any other superhero movie, the lead character has some sort of a problem. For Batman, he sees his parents get killed in front of his eyes during his childhood, Spidey feels responsible for his uncle's death and Superman- well, he just doesn't belong to this world.Whereas, Tony Stark aka Iron man is a billionaire, genius, playboy and even his ladylove seems to be okay with him fooling around with other ladies and he has all he wants at his disposal. So, any moviemaker would have a problem making a character who does not connect with normal people or without any major problem as a hero. But luckily for Jon Favreau the director, he has got Downey. I just cannot imagine anyone else portraying Iron man other than Downey.

Tony Stark, who owns Stark Industries that produces weapons for U.S. military visits U.S. troops in Afghanistan for a presentation of his latest missile and gets captured by a terrorist group with severe injuries. A fellow prisoner builds an electromagnet that keeps him alive from the pieces piercing his heart. They secretly build an iron suit powered by an arc reactor and Tony escapes from the group with the help of it and returns to the troops and gets back to US but his inmate gets killed. Tony, having seen his company's weapons at the terrorists announces that he is shutting down the company but is stopped by his partner.

He secretly improves his iron suit at his house and fights against the terrorist group without revealing his identity. However, his partner who has been supplying the arms to the group comes to know about the suit and wants one for him. The rest of the movie is about how Tony succeeds against his partner and whether he reveals his identity to the public. What seems like a serious plot has its funny moments and is enjoyable by everyone.

Midnight in Paris (2011)

Genre: Romance, Time Travel

Cast: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates

Director: Woody Allen

Are you one of these people who loves the past and wish you were in the past? Then this movie is for you.

Director Woody Allen still has it in him. This movie is about a Hollywood screenwriter, Owen Wilson vacationing in Paris with his fiancee Rachel McAdams. He loves Paris and wants to settle down but his fiancee opposes the idea.

He also struggles to finish a novel which his fiancee doesn's support and asks him to instead focus on scrrenwriting for Hollywood. One night, being drunk, he gets lost in the streets of Paris and gets picked by bunch of people in a old horse carriage. To his surprise, he finds that he has been transported back to Paris of 1920s, his favorite era. He gets to meet the famous novel writers of that time and exchanges his novel for their feedback. The next morning he finds himself back to the present. To make sure that it was not a dream, he goes to the same place once again during midnight and .. gets picked up once again and back to the 1920s.

The rest of the movie is about whether he wants to stay in the past or lead his present life.

The most interesting thing about this movie is that, though i dont know the famous authors of the 1920s, i got equally excited. Owen Wilson really acted well that we get to see the Paris of Old from his point of view.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Genre: Sci-Fi

Cast: James Franco, Frieda Pinto

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

One of the best movies of last year that i have seen. When i saw the trailer, i was skeptic about how the movie would be, for some of the scenes in the trailer didn't make sense. So, i waited a long time to see this movie only to realise that i made a mistake.

Do not watch this movie with hopes of seeing plenty of action and violence. I have always used to think - Before man there were dinosaurs that ruled the planet but will be there be another species that might take over him? This movie kind of toys with that idea about what happens if an ape that has been genetically modified to have enhanced brain cells that makes it intelligent would do with an army of apes? But wait, this movie is not about a war between humans and apes. The director does end the movie with that possibility though.

The best part about this movie is that you would be left with struggling on whose side to pick.. the apes or us humans. If you have already seen the original "Planet of the apes" movie you would be able to appreciate some of the scenes in the movie. But you need not watch that movie to understand this one though.

So, the story is about a scientist, James Franco who experiments on apes and chimpanzees to look for a cure to Alzheimer's.  He administers a drug on a female chimpanzee which mutates and attains higher level of intelligence. It tries to protect its baby from the approaching guards and gets killed. James Franco, not able to kill the baby chimpanzee takes it home.

The baby also inherits its mother's intelligence and is able to think on its own.  We get to see the movie from the ape's point of view about how it feels when it can also think like a human being but gets treated in a different way. There is this scene where the chimp, on seeing a dog on a leash, realises that it is also being treated as a pet and gets furious.This movie really is different from the regular run of the mill Hollywood movies and you wouldn't be disappointed once you get to see this.

National Treasure (2004)

Genre: Adventure, Treasure Hunt

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The name says it all. Nicolas Cage stars as a treasure hunter from a line of family who spent their lives in search of a huge treasure supposedly hidden by the founding fathers of America only to be criticized for lack of evidence of its existence.

Nicolas Cage, being a historian naturally shows interest in finding the treasure and starts with the clue told by his grandfather. Cage stumbles upon clue after clue, one such clue  leading him to the much protected "Declaration of Independence" signed three centuries ago by the founding fathers. He ends up stealing it from the Museum only to find another clue leading to the treasure. The rest of the film is about how he eventually finds the treasure deciphering the carefully laid out clues by the freemasons all the while avoiding trouble from a wealthy businessman who is also after the treasure.

Being a history fanatic, i loved the way the movie mixes fiction with US history.

Alien (1979)

Genre: Sci-Fi, Sci-Fi Horror

Cast: Sigourney Weaver

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

" In space no one can hear you scream". I still remember how i started watching this movie reluctantly. I saw this in late 2000s, so thought this being a 1970s sci-fi movie, would be a total bore but boy was i surprised. It was thoroughly engaging and i ended up watching all the sequels.

I could imagine how popular it must have been during those days with its fresh idea about a space creature that attacks human beings. A crew aboard a space craft comes across a transmission and stops at a planet to investigate. They happen upon a dead creature and a chamber containing eggs. One of the eggs cracks and a creature attaches itself to a crew member's face.

I would recommend this movie to all sci-fi and horror enthusiasts.

The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

Genre: Sci-Fi, Thrillers

Cast: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A Sci-fi thriller with a love story. I watched this movie without any expectations and was pleasantly surprised with its fresh plot. Matt Damon stars as a politician who just lost in his campaign. While rehearsing for his speech, he meets Emily Blunt and instantly falls in love with her and gives an inspired speech that makes him a favorable candidate for the next elections.

A month passes by and when Matt Damon is about to walk out of his apartment, a guy is told by his boss to make sure that Damon spills his coffee at a particular time. However, he doses off and Damon meets Emily and gets her phone number. He is later apprehended and told by men in suits that they are from "Adjustment Bureau" who make sure that everything goes by "plan" and that Damon meeting Emily is not in plan. He is also told that he cannot talk about the Bureau or he would be "reset".

The rest of the story is about if Damon is able to meet Emily again and re-unite with her against the bureau's plan. The movie could have been even more interesting had they explained about the "Bureau" in detail. All we know is that they can use the regular doors in buildings to move quickly to different locations and that human beings were initially allowed to choose their own path, but after the world wars, the bureau decides their fate with a plan.

Wild Hogs (2007)

Genre: Comedies

Cast: Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, William H.Macy, Peter Fonda, Marisa Tomei

My Rating - 5 out of 5 stars

This is one of the hilarious movies i have ever watched and i have seen it countless times. It is about 4 middle aged guys on a road trip from Cincinnati to the west coast on their bikes to escape the routine suburban life. My advice would be to switch off your brain and just relax and enjoy the movie and do not think about the plot or any technical glitches.

Having always seen John Tavolta in many serious movies( of course i liked him(her) in Hairspray), i really liked his lighter side as well. In fact, i started liking him only after seeing this movie. Everyone except Tim Allen did a great job.I especially enjoyed all the scenes that took place(the second half of the movie) in the small town. It just takes you to the vacation mode.

12 Angry Men(1957)

Genre: Dramas

Cast: Henry Fonda

My Rating- 5 of 5 stars

I thought this movie was a western(which i am a fan of) by the name, but it really didn't matter, for it is one of my all time favorite movies. Personally, I cannot sit in a room for a continuos period of time, but to my surprise, i saw this entire movie that takes place in a single room without any boredom.  So, you would think that already being a 1950s movie, and with a single room setting, this movie would move at a turtle's pace, but i assure that you would be surprised to see that it matches the 21st century movies for pace.

The premise is that of a jury of 12 men who have to come with a verdict on a murder trial of a boy charged with stabbing his father to death. It is initially shown that all of them are positive that the boy is guilty and would come to a quick verdict. But, Henry Fonda, one of the jurors, questions that the evidence against the boy might be circumstantial and there may not be enough proof against him. The difficulty here is that all the jurors should come to an unanimous decision or the case would be tried again.The room shown in the movie is supposedly very hot and you could see the men sweating and growing impatient while trying to reach a verdict.

The unique nature of the movie is that they do not show the courtroom trial or the accused or any witnesses, we know about all these from the jurors' discussion. Yet, You would never feel that you missed the courtroom scenes.

The remainder of the movie is about whether Mr. Fonda succeeded in convincing the other jurors.