The Himalayan Climb

A personal reflection on my journey in the pursuit of meaning

Movie Log

This is a pretty random page on this blog, I am a big cinephile and thought why not record what I watch here for everyone to see

  • Varisu

    Varisu

    2h 49m

    2023

    Vamshi Paidipally

    7/10

    When you rate South Indian films, you can’t view them in the same way as Western films, as they are made in an entirely different way and have a different entertainment value. Keeping this in mind, I did think that this was a pretty entertaining movie. It had a decent story that kept me well-invested for nearly three hours, and the classic Southern exaggerated action sequences were fun to watch. It also had a good message for the viewer with a family-oriented vision, which I always liked. The movie was packed with comedic sequences that worked quite well, and the songs were decent as well. I also really liked the set designs in the movie, which really improved the immersion and the experience. Overall, it was a fun watch.

    Acting 7/10

    Cinematography 8/10

    Plot 7/10

    Immersion 7/10

    Score 8/10

    Payoff 7/10

  • Klaus

    Klaus

    1h 36m

    2019

    Sergio Pablos

    Carlos Martínez López

    9/10

    I think that this movie is an instant Christmas classic and a must-watch. It has so much charm, and you will be glued to the screen all the way through. It is such a heart-filled story, and even though it is a bit predictable, you can’t help but be fully invested in what happens next. I think the chemistry between Klaus and the postman is great and really adds to the experience. It is a great message and a feel-good movie that must be watched with the family. Overall it is a must-watch.

    Acting 9/10

    Cinematography 8/10

    Plot 9/10

    Immersion 10/10

    Score 8/10

    Payoff 9/10

  • How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies

    How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies

    2h 5m

    2024

    Pat Boonnitipat

    8/10

    This movie was the first Thai film I have ever watched, and rest assured, this film has convinced me to watch more. I think that this was a great and insightful film about family and why we should cherish our loved ones while they are still here. The movie feels so real when you are watching it, and it almost feels like you’re looking through a window and observing an actual family and their day-to-day lives and squabbles. The grandmother’s and grandson’s acting is great and emotional, and it never feels like their acting. The movie, however, is a bit slow and can drag sometimes, which does break a bit of focus, but it is not a major issue. I think this movie is a great gateway to showcasing the Thai family structure and providing insight into their culture. Overall, I think that this is a must-watch.

    Acting 10/10

    Cinematography 9/10

    Plot 8/10

    Immersion 8/10

    Score 8/10

    Payoff 9/10

  • Dumb Money

    Dumb Money

    1h 45m

    2023

    Craig Gillespie

    6/10

    I think that this was an average movie. I think it tried to have a vibe like The Big Short, but it did not work as well. It is still a decent movie in its own regard and is pretty funny at times. Obviously, having actors like Seth Rogen, Nick Offerman, and Vincent D’Onofrio does help add to the comedic value of the film. However, I think Pete Davidson should never be included in movies and I think having him in this actively makes it worse. It is an interesting movie to watch as well, though, and I think it is a great insight into what was happening to Gamestop over COVID-19. Overall, I think that it is a decent film and a good watch.

    Acting 7/10

    Cinematography 6/10

    Plot 7/10

    Immersion6/10

    Score 6/10

    Payoff 6/10

  • Khel Khel Mein

    Khel Khel Mein

    2h 15m

    2024

    Mudassar Aziz

    6/10

    I think this is an easily missable movie, but if you have time for it, it will be an entertaining watch. The dynamics between the characters are fun to watch, and the comedy is quite good at certain points. The movie’s premise is interesting, but I don’t think it is an Oscar-worthy movie; it is just a movie to watch if you can spare the time. They do have some decent messages in the film, which I think was good to see, and there were some unexpected moments throughout the film. I did think that the characters on their own were interesting, but they didn’t have the chemistry that I was looking for, so overall, it is an average to decent film.

    Acting 7/10

    Cinematography 5/10

    Plot 7/10

    Immersion 7/10

    Score 4/10

    Payoff 5/10

  • The Bone Collector

    The Bone Collector

    1h 58m

    1999

    Phillip Noyce

    6/10

    I think that this was an alright film; it just didn’t feel like a very special movie to me, and that is what a major Denzel fan is saying. I didn’t quite understand the romance between Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie, and it felt quite forced on the viewer. The crimes were cool, and there was an unexpected plot twist, but I guess the villain really does come out of nowhere, and we are told his motivation in literally two lines. It just didn’t really connect with me. The saving grace of this film was the way the investigation and the crimes were done; they were quite interesting to watch and didn’t let me get bored throughout the movie. But I would say that this movie is not a bad watch, especially if you are a fan of crime thrillers.

    Acting 8/10

    Cinematography 7/10

    Plot 7/10

    Immersion 7/10

    Score 6/10

    Payoff 5/10

  • Bend It Like Beckham

    Bend It Like Beckham

    1h 52m

    2002

    Gurnider Chadha

    7/10

    This film provides a great insight into British Indian culture in the early 2000s. It resonates with me quite a bit as it reminds me of my family and the type of people I have been surrounded by my whole life. The dynamic between Indian and Western life is nicely executed, and everything feels very natural and real. The movie is great fun to watch, with a ton of nostalgic songs to go alongside many sequences in the movie. I really did like the dynamic between Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley, these two genuinely felt like two real friends. Overall, I think that this movie is a British classic and a must-watch.

    Acting 8/10

    Cinematography 7/10

    Plot 7/10

    Immersion 7/10

    Score 8/10

    Payoff 8/10

  • Eyes Wide Shut

    Eyes Wide Shut

    2h 39m

    1999

    Stanley Kubrick

    7/10

    I will be honest: I did not get this film initially. It has a lot of nudity and expletive scenes, which I don’t prefer, but I would say the plot was intriguing. I was invested the whole way throughout the film, and going along the ride with Tom Cruise to find out what the fuck is going on. I would say that I did not expect anything that was starting to happen throughout the film, which did leave me a bit startled. I didn’t like the payoff the film offered, however, as I was still left a bit confused after the film ended, even with a bit of reflection. I have heard from other people that I should give this film another rewatch to actually find out what is going on and see the stuff that is foreshadowed. I think I will have to do this before I do give it a concrete score, but so far I think that this movie is deserving of a 7.

    Acting 8/10

    Cinematography 8/10

    Plot 7/10

    Immersion 8/10

    Score 7/10

    Payoff 6/10

  • Reservoir Dogs

    Reservoir Dogs

    1h 39m

    1992

    Quentin Tarantino

    8/10

    I am a big Tarantino fan, so I might be a bit biased, but who isn’t. I think this is a great film for such a small budget. Even with the movie’s setting only taking place in one location, it still delivers a great storyline with a great twist at the end. It also isn’t a Tarantino movie without a big bloody ending and that is just what we got from this film, which I think was executed perfectly. It does keep you guessing on who the actual bad guy is and the film does not feel too rushed despite the very short run time. It gives us an insight into the different characters and their motivations and I felt as though every action done by each of the characters was natural and justified for their own motivations. The dialogue is great aswell, something that is common among Tarantino films, and does not make you feel bored during the longer dialogue sequences. The main beauty of this film I think, comes from what is not said. Even with the movie being very dialogue heavy there is so much you can pick up from the subtext of what is being said and the reactions of the characters. Overall, I do think that this is a must watch.

    Acting 9/10

    Cinematography 8/10

    Plot 9/10

    Immersion 8/10

    Score 7/10

    Payoff 9/10

  • Outlander

    Outlander

    1h 55m

    2008

    Howard McCain

    6/10

    This is a fun film to watch if you have the time. It has an interesting premise: a man from another planet crashes landing in the time of the Vikings. Its got quite a predictable plot, though, and the romance is expected and does not seem as natural as you would want it to be. I did, however like the chemistry between the male lead and his friend, and I think that their on-screen bromance was fun to watch and felt genuine at times. Overall, I do think that this is a good film to watch but is nothing special and can be easily missed. The cast is not that memorable and the story doesn’t really stick with you as the days go by.

    Acting 7/10

    Cinematography 7/10

    Plot 6/10

    Immersion 7/10

    Score 5/10

    Payoff 6/10