Arthur Christmas - festival, family and fantasy

Family, festival & fantasy are the three things to see in Arthur Christmas. Henceforth, the review will assess the movie on these pillars of its build.

Story –
The technology has reached Santa, the countdown is set and Christmas’s dawn is the deadline. Steve (Santa’s elder son) leads his troupe of elves to the surface of earth for gift distribution to all homes. Operations have become fast, smooth and professional. The Christmas-gift distribution functions like high-end airports luggage handling at back end and a paratrooper exercise at front end. The whole sequence is performed with military precision, with the central command base located above in the sky (a spaceship). A delight to watch this part.
After all the distribution exercise is done, the spaceship comes back to North Pole. Among celebrations, the family discovers a gift is missed. Arthur, Santa’s younger son voices his concern about the missing gift. However, Steve thinks missing one gift out of millions as an acceptable error rate. Santa meanwhile does not seem interested.
Arthur with family’s eldest member GrandSanta decides to courier it personally. GrandSanta, Arthur and Bryony (packing hero; fun to watch) board the sleigh powered by ancient reindeers. The journey to earth is tough, on earth its even tougher (amidst African lions), on ocean its awkward and final run to the actual destination is chased by a missile. Back home, ashamed of keeping up the Christmas spirit, Santa with Steve too leave for the missed destination.
Finally they manage to place the gift before the sunrise, but who placed it? Watch and answer.

Analysis –
The structuring of family into multiple generations (GrandSanta, Santa, his two sons – Steve, Arthur) is definitely a clever plot. It one way facilitates differences in though based on generation gap. The fantasy pillar is the best in the movie especially spaceship sequence, reindeer runs, etc. Hollywood seldom disappoints you in animation (fantasy).
However, this movie never really grows on emotions like other superb animations have done in past (Ratatouille, Wall-e, KungFu Panda). It had the potential being associated with both family and festival, however it does not really strikes on senti-emotional front. A bit of disappointment considering it had all the ingredients.

Rating – 1 for each F (family, festival, fantasy) = 3/5

What works – classy animation
What not – thrill quotient is ok, lacks the senti feel

SPEAKing PICtures’s verdict – enjoy whenever you see it. And share it with Cheers

Don_Dutiya

Really cold winters! Lots of fog in Delhi! Loads of sleep in eyes. Gosh! Missed MI4. To socha Don2 dekhenge. Bollywood zindabad (trailer dono ke same feel wale dikh rahe hai). Here it comes, the review –

Don2, the sequel to the remake of Don is rated 3/5.

Story -
DON surrenders to get Vardhan (Boman Irani) to get him out of jail. He is successful with some smart moves and then narrates him the plan to steal the note-plates from which Euros are printed (wow). In the way, there are some local goons, blackmailing, etc and Don gets the better of its competitors. Don eventually starts off the mission and ends his voyage by riding a bike with the number plate showcasing DON 3. He obviously triumphed and survived DON 2’s plot.

Star Cast –
Shahrukh Khan – Firstly some good words on looks. SRK untidy looks did worked on scene and his long hairlocks, did give him quite a DONly look (khatarnaak). However! Acting is again ok. If G.One was ok! This serves no better. SRK should now rework his strategy. His action movies are not working for him (same can be said for his acting).
Priyanka Chopra (PC) – plays is good. But she should hurry up else Vidya Balan will soon be at top.
OM Puri – good (as always)
Kunal K – oK, looks too much sophisticated
Boman Irani – good (as always)
Lara Bhupati – gold glare is only thing I can recall of her

The music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy disappoints. Not even one song is rememberable. Was expecting something on Paan & Banaras especially in the light to improve the previous attempt (recall the previous version of Farhan Akhtar’s Don), but is not there.

Timing?
Don2 is unfortunately coming right after MI4. The comparison hence terms it even weaker. Even though Don2 by all means is well shot (almost all abroad), it is far away from standards set up by last week’s MI 4. But it brings us to the same debate – Do Indian movies want to bring technology as its USP or sheer creativity will do, as in past? Later.

What works: SRK look, nice locations for shooting
What not: story, non-thriller feel

SPEAKing PICtures’s verdict – Wait for the reborn of Don in next version (number of bike said DON 3). Till then, try to avoid meeting DON_DUTIYA in cinema halls.

ps: SRK has realized where his real potential is. He will be starting a romantic flick from Jan first week. Good SRK. Remember!

“Haar ke jeetne wale ko baazigar kehte hai”

Ladies! Happy now?