Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Changing Trend of Film Journalism


Seeing the film critics’ mixed reviews and the also the reactions from the film makers against the negative reviews, I am compelled to write this piece of my thought.

To a country like India where cine-stars are considered as Demi-God; not to forget the facts and figures of actor worshipping  in the form of life-size statue in a separate temple like place  . We know how difficult it is to give reviews on film in which the demi-god plays the lead role (Rajnikant, Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh khan). Because, any negative review could lead to an insult to the Superstar from the fan’s point of view. As a result, (I believe you understood the probable result). Few media organisation gives a favourable review to a superstar movie, so that they can have good rapport with the superstar, and further helps in extracting out information of the superstar and his colleagues of film industries to get comparative TRPs. Sometimes, even if reporters feel like yelling out to the audience (Don’t go for it, it’s a super-flop), your boss won’t let you to do so, why? Obvious answer; It will affect the relationship.

So, keeping all these in mind, we cannot ignore the fact that Film criticism is one of the most highly responsible and difficult job (especially in a place like India, where the demi-God rules).Huge funded and massive Publicity has become a indispensable part of movie making, because it will attract (In fact compel) people to come and spend money on movies to find out whether the film is doing justice to its publicity. Some film makers are guilty of pandering to market force to promote their movies and some of them had even accepted it. Further, it won’t be hard for us to remember how Ram Gopal Verma has been linked up with his entire lead actress. Now-a-days, a drastic change in Indian film making can be seen, I remember, how the rumour of Fardeen Khan and Koena Mitra went around the news channel with their exotic intimate clips of the movie, ‘Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena’. Recently, Mahie Gill and Randeep Hooda’s intimate clip from the movie ‘Sahib Biwi aur Gangster’ was the talk of the town. Earlier, such intimate scenes were kept aloof from the media and even succeed in getting good revenues out of it. Because, audience were compelled to come and see the the jaw-dropping scene (can’t forget: Ram Teri Ganga Meli, Satyam Shivam Sundaram and Bobby) in those days (secret and concealing is beautiful). With the passage of time, the publicity stunt also changed, and now the trend is; open and revealing is beautiful.  

Here a question pops up! What and who brings these changes?

The monumental change in the film reporting has been the sudden shift from the process of film-making to a celebrity’s personal life mainly relationships and affairs, which are perceived to be of people interest. Even for a non commercial artistic movie maker, in order to compensate his/her investment, they are resorted to detailing of gossips that happened on the set.  

Many film makers had expressed their plight in film reporting that if they start talking about the inspiration of the film and difficulties went through on it, reporters seem not to be interested and they could see the boredom on their face. As a result, the reporting ended up as boring session with a boring film-maker. And chances of their movie’s news and pre-reviews to be published in popular dailies become rare, resulting in poor publicity. So, to save their hard work from going into dust-bin, helpless film makers are naturally compelled to provide some spicy details or gossips to get huge publicity. Even film reporter is resorted to extraction of celebrity’s private info so to get a pat from their BOSS for the exemplary heroic work. Can we imagine what could have been going on, in the mind of a film reporter when she/he has to ask an inflammable question to aggressive actors?  For new actors to get more recognition and publicity, they unwillingly become a victim of publicity stunt. There is no denying with the bottom-line of all these that it has become a necessary evil for both sides because of gossip loving audience. In spite of all these, both never stop blaming each other for the ugly side of film-journalism.

In any big events, if actors are asked to give their take on film critics, almost all actors give a mixed answer with an ironic smile. Nowadays, we can find filmmaker unanimously voiced their discontentment with the tone of film critics.

Consequently, we can sum up that over the past 60 years film journalism has evolved from being careful, serious reporting to frivolous reporting.
                                                                       
However, for a few good film critic and reporter, they are writing what has to be written to prevent the misled media-hyped or influenced people, from becoming 3hrs victim of a stupid movie. In today’s media controlled world, critics should leave alone to decide whether he/she wants to act like a consumer guidance activist or a teacher. Film Reporting or reviews is not about few words for them, because it requires a lot of thinking and writing. You have to write the 3hrs long story in few hundred words and that is the moment of truth for them. So, good film gets good ratings and bad film gets negative rating. So it is quite a responsibility.

 The need of the hour: Criticisms always hurt, but being an icon, superstar should maintain that image rather than involving in media’s tussle, and the two parties should stay true to their profession without compromising their work ethics.


Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (Sept-2011)

Coming of Action packed Titan
Reprising his role of IMF Agent Ethan Hunt, Tom Cruise is back with his action-packed Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol popularly known as Mission: Impossible IV is the fourth film in the M-I series. Brad Bird directed highly anticipated film is co-produced by Cruise, J.J. Abrams the director of the third film and Bryan Burk.

The film is believed to be released on December 21, 2011.  16 December 2011 (India)

Story
After a massive terrorist bombing that destroys the Kremlin, U.S government mechanized an operation called “Ghost protocol”. Then, the same government denied any responsibility, recognition or support on and to the Impossible Mission Team. Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his team are blamed for bombing; however, they are allowed to escape, so that they can operate in the dark as a part of their plan to nab the culprits and to clear the organization (MI) bad name out of the Kremlin bombing case. But, Ethan (Tom Cruise) is warned not be captured during their mission, if get caught, he and his Team will be charged as terrorists. He is forced to work with ex-IMF agent Brandt Jeremy aka Lee Renner of Oscar winning movie “Hurt Locker”.  Who knows Hunt more than Hunt himself.
Happy news for Indian that Anil Kapoor is playing a pivotal role in the movie. It can be remembered that Anil Kapoor had made his global presence as an actor since his Oscar winning film “Slumdog Millionaire”.

Filming took place in Vancouver, Prague, Mumbai, Moscow and Dubai. 


Saturday, October 1, 2011

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)



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The duo creator of comic hero 'Spider-man', Stan Lee and Steve Ditko might have not thought that their amazing creation would become, one day, a most loving Superhero as, it is now. 

The most awaited Spiderman movie's franchise has come with a brand new installment called 'The Amazing Spider-man’. Yes, it is the fourth Columbia Pictures film based on the Marvel Comics Superhero character Spider-Man. It is the first film in a rebooted Spider-Man film franchise which is currently in post-production. This time the super hero had donned new sleek sexy attire completely different from usual Spiderman attire. The Movie will come back spinning in theaters all around the world on July 3, 2012. It is going to released with an special visual treat in 3D and IMAX 3D.

source credit marvel entertainment:

With his Superb acting skill versatile Bollywood actor Irfan khan is playing an important role of Nels Van Adder. For Indian audience, it's a double treat, because, Both Anil Kapoor and Irfan khan of "Slumdog Millionaire"  are now acting in two of the highly anticipated upcoming Hollywood action movie.


Directed by Marc Webb.  

Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker and Spiderman.