A Christmas Carol

Based on the legendary tale by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol is a perfect Christmas film. It tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge who doesn't believe in goodness of Christmas and calls the celebration humbug. Also, the people who go bananas over Christmas are nothing more than fools to him. Money is all he cares about. To teach him a lesson, he is visited by three spirits on Christmas eve who take him on a journey of Christmas in past, present and future. This makes him realize his mistakes and he is guilt-ridden for ignoring the true spirit of Christmas all his life. Scrooge is a changed man the next morning. He is warm-hearted, kind and does all he can for people around him. Everyone starts liking and praising him. This brings forward the real meaning of Christmas for him and thats also the message of the tale.

Now the things that I liked about the film. The cast of the film has one name that says it all. Jim Carrey. He is a perfectionist when it comes to voice modulation and proper diction for a character. With the character of Scrooge the actor has once again proved his mettle. The accent that he has pulled off is just brilliant. He doesn't miss even a single emotion with the voice-over. The sequence that shows Scrooge as a changed man has rapid change in tone and mood of the voice which is performed  marvelously  by Carrey. The voices for Scrooge, Ghosts of past, present and future are all done by Jim Carrey. Whereas Gary Oldman has lend his voice for the characters of Bob Cratchit and Jacob Marley.

Next comes the animation. With Walt Disney pictures you cannot expect anything short of perfect. A Christmas Carol too shows their trademark work. Fine and detailed animation makes it a delight to watch. The animated characters seem real at points and the expressions are beautifully captured. The scene where Scrooge asks his nephew that why did he get married, the expression and look on Scrooge's (Jim Carrey) face on hearing the answer describes the effort put into details. The director Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump fame) succeeds in keeping the originality of the Charles Dickens story and yet presents it in a very unique manner.  

The movie was released in 3D and it has its fair share of  moments to shake you from your chair. Being an animated film, it is not meant only for kids and lower age groups. It is because of the fact that it does get scary at places. For example, when ghost of Jacob Marley is about to enter and ghost of future appears. I would say, it is rather a good watch for people from all age groups because of its subject- Christmas. 

Other cast members are Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Robin Wright Penn, Bob Hoskins, Cary Elwes and Fionnula Flanagan.

So if you are in a mood for a nice movie to make you feel good then it is your best pick. Packed with amazing visual effects and superb animation along with Jim Carrey's incredible performance, A Christmas Carol is what you need to rekindle that divine Christmas spirit in you.

A Walk To Remember

Hey you all the die-hard romantics. This one is for you. A Walk To Remember is one of those all time favorite love stories for me. Starring Shane West and Mandy Moore, it is a sweet tale about Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore) and Landon Carter (Shane West). Both of them are poles apart. Landon and his bunch of friends make fun of Jamie in school. But Jamie doesn't bother much and has a liking for Landon. The story evolves around how the two get closer and how Landon gradually changes from a brat to a caring lover. He tries to fulfill her wishes and works to make her dreams come true. The love story takes a tragic turn and Landon realizes what Jamie means to him. It is followed by a stir of emotions that the two feel for each other.

The main highlight of the film is that never goes over-the-top or larger-than-life to create an effect of an ideal love story. By keeping it simple, director Adam Shankman has brought forward a beautiful concept of true love and selflessness. 

Add this one one to your list and make sure you watch it. This one is A Movie To Remember!!

A Mighty Heart

Based on the kidnapping and murder of the Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl by terrorist group Al Qaeda, A Mighty Heart is a strong film in my opinion. The reason for me saying this is the subject and the way it is dealt with by the director Michael Winterbottom. The edge of the seat curiosity keeps the viewer glued throughout the film. The look of the film is more like a documentary but that just adds to the authentic feel of the entire tense episode. Angelina Jolie plays the role of Mariane Pearl (Daniel's wife) and has delieverd one of her best performances here. Though the film did not rule the box-office but it received rave reviews from the critics. Fortunately, the Jolie's star power does not overshadow the storyline and she is very believable in her character. Irrfan Khan as the investigating officer does justice to the role.

 It is a first rate film you should watch for its unusual subject and for the fact: It Really Happened With Someone.

Titanic

A tale of two lovers on the ill-fated unsinkable ship named Titanic that wrecked and sank on its first voyage. Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet) meet each other and their love blossoms. Rose is helpless in her high society lifestyle and discovers true love in Jack. But, they have Cal (Billy Zane), Rose's fiance posing trouble. When he finds out about this, he locks Jack in a room while the ship is hit by a massive iceberg. From here, the survival becomes tough for the two lovers as the ship sinks into freezing waters. The shipwreck is depicted brilliantly and the art direction is commendable. Director James Cameron has created a landmark in the history of English cinema with this one.

The Darjeeling Limited

It stars Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Adrein Brody, Amara Karan, Natalie Portman, Anjelica Huston, Roman Copploa and Irrfan Khan and is directed by Wen Anderson.

This is a story of three brothers who set out on a spiritual journey to India. The eldest one i.e. Francis (Owen Wilson) has planned the entire trip and hopes that the emotional distances between them are diminished through this journey. But, he has also planned to reunite with their mother (who left them to become a nun at some distant place in India) without telling the other two. The film shows their varied experiences as they get trapped in their materialistic problems while traveling in this mystical place. The situations are funny and the storyline is unconventional. The direction by Wen Anderson is superb in details.The funny parts are enjoyable and the movie leaves a mark on our mind. Must watch.