Category: Movies

Definitely by far one of the best movies I’ve watched in a very very long time. Just when I was starting to think movies were getting boring and dull comes along something so different and colorful.

Here is the movie summary taken from IMDB:

The story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India’s “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show’s questions. Each chapter of Jamal’s increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show’s seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out. At the heart of its storytelling lies the question of how anyone comes to know the things they know about life and love.

Here is a link to the trailer [Link]
And finally here is a link to the official website [Link]

This is a new and lavish limited edition book with tons of pictures from behind the scenes of the movie Godfather. The book is limited to 1000 copies and they are all signed. Problem is it costs KD190! [Amazon Link]

Here is a link with information about the book. [Link]

This remake of the 1950’s classic by the same name looks like its going to be one hell of a movie although I am really fed up of Keanu Reeves. Like come on who can still stand his Matrix voice and look?? On the other hand Jennifer Connelly still looks as hot as ever. [Trailer]

The new Star Trek is looking incredible. I can’t wait till it get’s released. Here is the link, the new trailer is called Trailer 2. [Link]

Found this short film on YouTube, skip to the second minute since thats when the movie actually starts. The clip above is [Part 1], here is the link to [Part 2] and [Part 3]. Kinda makes me want to film my own B-rated horror with a cheesy title like Escape from Salmiya or The Shawerma Zombie. Anyone want to help me with the script?

In the comments of the previous Blockbuster post someone mentioned a Kuwaiti movie called “One More Chance” that is going to get released soon in Kuwait. So I did a quick Google and found the trailer for it on the blog Buzberry. It looks like its going to be a really funny movie. I think they’ve spoofed movies like Get Smart (which I watched a few days back and really liked), The Matrix and James Bond. The production quality and acting seems like complete crap but I guess that helps making it a comedy. Check out the trailer above. [YouTube]

How come we don’t have a proper DVD and videogame rental store? I doubt it’s because of censorship because there are a ton of movies that don’t need or have anything to be censored. The last barely decent rental place I remember was The Video Club and that wasn’t anything close to a Blockbuster in the States or Canada. We’ve never had a proper rental place in Kuwait. It’s really strange.

Monthy Python fans will appreciate this. One of the funniest scenes in the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail is the scene with the black knight. Now Computer Gear is selling a black knight doll featuring tear-off and stick-on arms and legs and also shouts out famous quotes like “Tis nothing but a scratch” or the famous “I’ll bite your legs off!”. It’s only $30 which isn’t too bad. [Link]

If you’ve been living in a cave all your life and never watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail here is the YouTube video of the famous black knight scene. [YouTube]

Lately I’ve been in the mood to watch a lot of old stuff. Currently I’m watching the old tv show called Newhart which I vaguely remember watching when I was a kid. For some reason I find the show very comforting to watch.

There are also a bunch of classics I’ve still haven’t watched which figured I’d get out of the way while I am at it:
Dr. Strangelove
Grease
Paths of Glory
Rain Man
Spartacus
Trading Places

I think whats pushed me to start watching old movies is the lack of decent movies nowadays. Nothing I’m watching is turning out to be anything extraordinary. Where is the Apocalypse Now of today? Thats what we’re missing.

Check out the promo Channel 4 did for their Kubrick season. [Link]

If you don’t know who Kubrick is or if you haven’t watched The Shining, ignore this post.

Speed Racer is getting released in Beirut tonight (two days ahead of US release) and even though there are demonstrations and strikes taking place at the moment the movies are open as usual. Hopefully it will turn out to be good since I’ve always been a fan of the original cartoon. Will post my feedback later tonight.

update: I just got back from watching Speed Racer. I was the only one at the premier I guess because of all the rioting and blocked roads today in Lebanon. The movie was over 2 hours long but it was pretty good. I was worried the style of the movie would turn out childish but it was actually cool. Its extremely colorful, like you need to be on acid to watch this movie kind of colorful. The races are action packed and super fast and my favorite character Racer X was really cool. Only thing disappointing is that they didn’t play the Speed Racer theme song as often as I would have hoped for. The movie should be watchable in Kuwait with only 1 scene that would probably be cut and its a kiss in the last scene of the movie.

I watched Iron Man late last night and its way better than both Spiderman and The Hulk. Its as good as the last Batman and even better than Transformers. Robert Downey Jr. was really great, not as good as Christian Bale but then again, nobody is. Can’t wait for the sequel.

I just got two tickets for tonights special showing of Iron Man here in Lebanon. The movie premiers in the States on the 2nd of May but somehow its showing here in Lebanon before. I guess its like how Star Wars premiered in Kuwait before the rest of the world.

From Cinemagic:

Cinemagic is delighted to announce the return of our weekly screening program. Screenings will continue to take place at our new location in Old Salmiya, above LG Electronics.

This week, we will be screening “The Kite Runner“.

Based one on of the most acclaimed novels in recent memory, ‘The Kite Runner’ is a profoundly emotional tale of friendship, family, devastating mistakes and redeeming love. In a divided country on the verge of war, two childhood friends, Amir and Hassan, are about to be torn apart forever. It’s a glorious afternoon in Kabul and the skies are bursting with the exhilarating joy of a kite-fighting tournament. But in the aftermath of the day’s victory, one boy’s fearful act of betrayal will mark their lives forever and set in motion an epic quest for redemption. Now, after 20 years of living in America, Amir returns to a perilous Afghanistan under the Taliban’s iron-fisted rule to face the secrets that still haunt him and take one last daring chance to set things right.

For its part, Cinemagic Kuwait, is organizing these events as part of its efforts to contribute to the development of an internationally competitive Kuwaiti audio-visual production industry, partly by bringing the filmmakers and audiences together and by Increasing the public’s interest in – and appreciation for – the art of filmmaking.

As always, attendance is free of charge (but seating is limited). Snacks and refreshments will be served. The Kite Runner screening will take place on Thursday, May 1st, at 7 p.m.

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted about Cinemagic’s weekly film screening so in case you don’t know about it, here is the latest film they will be showing:

Cinemagic is delighted to announce the return of our weekly screening program. Screenings will continue to take place at our new location in Old Salmiya, above LG Electronics.

This week, we will be screening “Children of Men”. The Screening will take place on Thursday, April 10th, at 7:30 p.m.

Y Tu Mamá También and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban director Alfonso Cuarón returns to the helm to tell this futuristic tale in which society is without hope since humankind lost its ability to procreate. The year is 2027, and women can no longer give birth. The youngest inhabitant of the planet has just died at the age of 18, and all hope for humanity has been lost. As civilization descends into chaos, a dying world finds one last chance for survival in the form of a woman who has become inexplicably pregnant. Now, as warring nationalistic sects clash and British leaders try to maintain their totalitarian stronghold on the country, a disillusioned bureaucrat (Clive Owen) is brought back into the fold of activism by his guerrilla ex-wife (Julianne Moore). Reluctantly, he takes on the daunting task of escorting Kee (Claire-Hope Ashitey), the refugee who represents humankind’s last hope for survival, out of harm’s way and into the care of a mysterious organization known as The Human Project. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Charlie Hunnam, and Michael Caine co-star in this adaptation of author P.D. James’s gripping 1992 novel.

For its part, Cinemagic Kuwait, is organizing these events as part of its efforts to contribute to the development of an internationally competitive Kuwaiti audio-visual production industry, partly by bringing the filmmakers and audiences together and by Increasing the public’s interest in – and appreciation for – the art of filmmaking.

As always, attendance is free of charge (but seating is limited). Snacks and refreshments will be served.