Black (2005)

Based in Simla, the McNallys are an Anglo-Indian family consisting of Paul and his wife, Catherine. Both are full of joy when Catherine gives birth to a baby girl, Michelle, but their joy is short-lived when they are told that Michellle cannot see nor hear. Both attempt to bring up Michelle in their own protective way, as a result Michelle is not exposed to the real world, and becomes increasingly violent and volatile. Things only get worse when Catherine gives birth to Sara, and Paul considers admitting Michelle in an asylum. It is here that Debraj Sahai enters their lives. Through his eager involvement, Michelle blossoms, grows, gives up her violence, even gets admitted in school with normal children. The years pass by, Michelle does not succeed in getting her graduation, and it is time for Debraj to bid adieu as he is having his own health problems. 12 years later, at the age of 40, Michelle does succeed in graduating in Arts, and it is shortly thereafter she will be re-united with her teacher. No longer the same alcoholic, eccentric, - but a bent older male, who cannot even remember speech, leave alone what he taught. Watch what happens when Michelle attempts to re-enter his 'blank' life.

An unending darkness... A world of shadows... A ray of light that found its way... A teacher's dream... A student's miracle... A valiant journey... From ignorance to knowledge... From darkness to light... An extraordinary story of an ordinary life

* The shooting of the movie ran into trouble in Scenic Hill Resort, with authorities refusing to allow shooting in the premises of a heritage building. Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS) refused permission to shoot in the 120-year-old building as the arc lights could affect the vice regal lodge heritage structure. The building was home to British viceroys from 1886 until 1947, after which it became the summer home of the president of India and since 30 years houses the IIAS.

* A fire broke out on the sets at Mumbai's Film City and four fire brigades were required to put out the fire.

* After declining Sanjay Leela Bhansali's first three films, Kareena Kapoor was finally accepted to do his film. Later on, Amitabh Bachchan refused to work with her because of the broken engagement of his son, Abhishek Bachchan and her sister, Karisma Kapoor so Rani Mukherjee stepped in.

* Rani Mukherjee wore dark-tinted contact lenses to cover up her famous green eyes.

* Sanjay Leela Bhansali named the film after his favorite color.

* The movie's title was registered with Kumar Gaurav; Sanjay Leela Bhansali approached him and requested him to relinquish the title, as he wanted it for his movies. Kumar felt that the film was bold and path breaking and wanted to render any help that he could to the film. Hence the reason Sanjay expressed his gratitude to Kumar Gaurav in the opening credits.

* At first, Rani Mukerjee refused to step in, because she felt that she was unable to play the character she was proposed

* Unusually for a work by Bhansali, there are no songs featured in this film. So the background score became of paramount importance to the composer, Monty . To create more of an uplifting aura for the deaf-blind-mute character of Michelle McNally, he used pianos and strings, but kept the voices in the chorus at a low octave. For Debraj Sehai's character, a fighting spirit needed to be vocalized, so Monty used a little-known Middle Eastern instrument called a duduk.

* The film is based on screenwriter Prakash Kapadia's Gujarati play "Aatam Vinjhe Paankh", which was inspired from "The Miracle Worker"

* Director Bhansali hoped to make a film that was an extension of his critically acclaimed (box office flop) debut film Khamoshi: The Musical (1996). Both were based on a visit he made to the Helen Keller Institute.

* Snow was essential for the story, so for the first part of the shoot, the entire unit went to Simla in mid-January. It was cold but there was no sign of snow. Since the unit could not wait around, kilos of salt bags bought from the local market and snow making machines from Bombay helped complete that schedule. The shooting would be done early at 4 am. And when the locals emerged they'd be amazed to see so much snow; it looked so authentic that they would touch it to check whether it was real. Dogs would come and lick the salt. The day after the unit left Simla, it snowed heavily.

* While the movie is supposedly set in Simla, and has an undefined time period, the time period is variable, and can be measured in part by the presence of Charlie Chaplin movies, which are being presented in the background. These movies include The Kid (1921) and The Gold Rush (1925), and while we do not know when they were released in India, they give us a general time period, although this might not fully explain the extravagant European setting of the area, even though the British Raj was still in force.

Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu (2006)

Raghavan (Kamal Hassan), a top cop from the Tamil Nadu Police Department is faced with a series of rapes and brutal murders including those of his boss's family. The culprits are found soon enough but prove extremely evasive while they continue their murderous legacy undeterred.

A police from Tamil Nadu, a woman from New York and a game that plays them...

Murderer: [Pistol Jams] Shit! Shit! Shit!
Raghavan: Saying 'Shit' again and again? Is that your mother's name?

Politician: You don't know about me!
Raghavan: I know and I know what your mother does.

Sivaji (2007)

Sivaji (Rajnikant) is a US-returned software engineer who wants to use his largesse for social good. He decides to start a free medical college, and a free hospital, and faces a number of obstacles en route by way of corrupt officials and a political kingpin who sabotages his work. Beaten down by politicians, he decides to take matters into his own hands by overhauling the entire system using his own private army of supporters. Meanwhile, he romances Tamilselvi (Shriya), who unfortunately has been told by an astrologer that her future husband is doomed to die soon. Loaded with Rajni-style antics such as flicking coins, acrobatically bouncing chewing gum around, and swapping guns from hand to hand whilst flying through the air, the film has a lot to offer for Rajni fans, and also has the usual social development message featuring Rajni as the Messiah. The song picturizations are good and very entertaining. But the film is very long overall flawed by a weak plot, too many repetitive action sequences, and a extremely poor editing.

The Boss

* Originally, Ratnavelu was asked to be the cinematographer of the film, but rejected it because he wanted to work for Sukumar's Jagadam (2007). Eventually, Anand K.V. took the role of cinematography.

* The title track was the first song shot for the film. It was also the most expensive song shot for the film, costing Rs. 3.5 crores.

* The word "Balleilakka" is derived from the balalaika, a Russian guitar.

* The song "Balleilakka" features most of the crew in the film.

* The actresses considered to dance in the item number "Balleilakka" included Sadha, Shilpa Shetty, Manisha Koirala, Bipasha Basu, Asin and Mallika Sherawat. Nayantara finally got the part.

* The song "Style" was originally called "Oru Koodai Sunlight."

* The song "Style" was shot in Bilbao, Spain.

* The song "Sahana" was shot in a glass palace constructed solely for the song at a cost of Rs. 1 crore. After shooting, the palace was taken apart and all the glass panes were sold.

* In the film, "Boss" stands for "Boss of Social Service."

* The casting for the role of Thamizhselvi was legendary, possibly rivalling that of the original Superman (1978). To begin with, Aishwarya Rai had been considered to play the role as a favour for director S. Shankar, who gave her her first hit with Jeans (1998); however, she turned down the role, due to her marriage and crowded filming schedules. Then Ayesha Takia was offered the role, but she turned it down because she had problems with the Tamil language. Next, Rani Mukherjee was offered the role, but she asked too large a fee and so was dropped. Jyothika, Trisha Krishnan. ‘Nayantara (II)' and Sneha were all considered and rejected before finally Shriya was chosen.

* Vadivelu was considered for the role of Sivaji's "Mama" (Uncle), after he received rave reviews for his comic chemistry in Chandramukhi (2005) with Rajnikanth. However, despite these reviews, Vivek was selected.

* After helping make S. Shankar's last film Anniyan (2005) a success, Prakash Raj was almost immediately selected to play the role of Adisesha in this film. However, he couldn't accept the role due to conflicting schedules with other films, so the role was offered to big names like Sathyaraj, Mohanlal, Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt and Nana Patekar, before it was finally accepted by Suman.

* The hospital seen in the film was actually a remodelled bank.

* Shivaji is the name of Rajnikanth's character. Rajnikanth's birth name is Shivaji Rao Gaekwad.

* Was set to be released in April 14th 2007, was postponed to May and finally to June 15th 2007. The continuous change in the release date of the film has caused a confusion in the Tamil film industry. Many other big films stayed away because they don't want to clash with Shivaji, in the end there were no big release for the months of April and May. For the first time in the history of Tamil commercial cinema since the 50's there was no big summer release.

* Sivaji is one of the costliest Tamil and Indian film ever made. Rumoured to cost between 650-800 million Indian rupees.

* This is 168th film for AVM, the production company and the 100th Tamil film (not counting his other language films) for Rajinikanth.

* The movie was released with 4600 prints worldwide and created a record in India as the only movie to be screened with more than 700 shows on a single day. Hyderabad (142 shows) and Chennai (140 shows) together account for 282 shows on it's first day.

* First Tamil film and the first non Hindi Indian movie to feature in UK Top 10.

* As of July 2007, “Shivaji” is highest grossing Tamil movie ever. It grossed 100 crores (1 billion) Indian rupees in it's third weekend. First Tamil film and non-Hindi Indian movie to gross 100 crores and also the fastest Indian movie to gross that much.

* Sivaji is the first ever Tamil Movie to appear in the U.K Top Ten. It was released in just 12 screens all over U.K and gained the nineth place.

* Grossed 300 million rupees in it's first weekend. Most Tamil films would not make that amount totally.

* Rajnikanth appears as a white skinned European guy in a song sequence. The Digital skin grafting effects used to create the dark skinned Rajini into a white skin guy took almost one year with the help of 25 technicians. All this, with the help of computer graphics that lifts a European woman's skin and grafts it into the superstar's face. Each of the over 6,500 frames had to be worked on individually and he same process has been used to create an almost black Rajini in the song sequence too. This process is said to be the first in world cinema, if not in Indian cinema. "Whatever shot we took with Rajini sir, we took with a white girl we selected. We went for the girl because she would have softer skin and flushed cheeks. We took the tone and texture from her face and applied it on his face," said cinematographer 'Anand K. V.' .

* Sivaji is the first Indian film to incorporate the latest 4K resolution technology that is used only on big-budget Hollywood films. In India, 2K resolution for digital intermediate (DI) is the set standard.

Cinderella III - A twist in Time (2007)

The evil stepmother conjures up a spell that reverses all of which the fairy godmother did. Everything that she had made (the dress, the horses and the carriage) which were the reasons why and how Cinderella went to "The Ball". So when all the magic is gone will there be a happily ever after all? What will Cinderella do? Find out in Cinderella III.

What if the slipper didn't fit?

Prince Charming: Will you marry me Cinderelly?
Cinderella: [giggling] Actually, it's Cinderella.

Prince Charming: Would my perfectly, perfect wife put her on perfectly fitting shoes?
Cinderella: You found my shoes.
Prince Charming: [playing keep away with the shoes] Better hurry. Fairy Godmother's waiting.
Cinderella: What were the mice using them for this time?
Prince Charming: [turns shoe upside down and water pours out] Boats.

Hot Fuzz (2007)

Nicholas Angel is the finest cop London has to offer, with an arrest record 400% higher than any other officer on the force. He's so good, he makes everyone else look bad. As a result, Angel's superiors send him to a place where his talents won't be quite so embarrassing - the sleepy and seemingly crime-free village of Sandford. Once there, he is partnered with the well-meaning but overeager police officer Danny Butterman. The son of amiable Police Chief Frank Butterman, Danny is a huge action movie fan and believes his new big-city partner might just be a real-life "bad boy," and his chance to experience the life of gunfights and car chases he so longs for. Angel is quick to dismiss this as childish fantasy and Danny's puppy-like enthusiasm only adds to Angel's growing frustration. However, as a series of grisly accidents rocks the village, Angel is convinced that Sandford is not what it seems and as the intrigue deepens, Danny's dreams of explosive, high-octane, car-chasing, gunfighting, all-out action seem more and more like a reality. It's time for these small-town cops to break out some big-city justice.

Big Cops. Small Town. Moderate Violence.When the heat is on, you gotta call the fuzz.

Alone With Her (2006)

Invasion of privacy and domestic spying take on terrifying meaning in this unsettling tale of voyeurism. Colin Hanks stars as a young man with a secret obsession for a beautiful woman (Ana Claudia Talancon). By planting hidden cameras and listening devices in her home, he learns her most intimate secrets in order to manipulate her into a relationship that she innocently permits. Shot entirely through hidden cameras, including a "body cam" worn by Hanks, ALONE WITH HER, takes the audience to an extreme level of voyeuristic intimacy, exploiting both our fear of being watched and our compulsion to watch.

Anytime. Anywhere. He's watching.

Happily Never After (2007)

Don't Let Your Hair Down. Don't Go To The Ball. Don't Visit Grandma.

Fairy Tale Endings Aren't What They Used To Be...



An alliance of evil-doers, led by Frieda (Weaver), looks to take over Fairy Tale Land. But when Ella (Gellar) realizes her stepmother is out to ruin her storybook existence, she takes a dramatic turn and blossoms into the leader of the resistance effort.

Captivity (2007)

Top cover girl and fashion model, Jennifer Tree has it all - beauty, fame, money and power. Her face appears on covers of hundreds of magazines. At the top of her game, Jennifer is America's sweetheart. She is loved and adored and sought after. Everyone wants her. But someone out there has been watching and waiting. Someone wants her in the worst way. Out alone at a charity event in Soho, Jennifer is drugged and taken. Held captive in a cell, Jennifer is subjected to a series of terrifying, life-threatening tortures that could only be conceived by a twisted, sadistic mind. It follows the story of one woman who is abducted and tortured, held against her will in a place where days turn into weeks.

The Last Mimzy (2007)

The siblings Noah and Emma travel with their mother Jo from Seattle to the family cottage in Whidbey Island to spend a couple of days while their workaholic father David Wilder is working. They find a box of toys from the future in the water and bring it home, and Emma finds a stuffed rabbit called Mimzy, and stones and a weird object, but they hide their findings from their parents. Mimzy talks telepathically to Emma and the siblings develop special abilities, increasing their intelligences to the level of genius. Their father becomes very proud when Noah presents a magnificent design in the fair of science and technology, and his teacher Larry White and his mystic wife Naomi Schwartz become interested in the boy when he draws a mandala. When Noah accidentally assembles the objects and activates a powerful generator creating a blackout in the state, the FBI arrests the family trying to disclose the mystery. But Emma unravels the importance to send Mimzy back to the future.

The Gods Must be Grazy II ( 1989 )

This time, everybody's going crazier.........

Xixo is back again. This time, his children accidentally stow away on a fast-moving poachers' truck, unable to get off, and Xixo sets out to rescue them. Along the way, he encounters a couple of soldiers trying to capture each other and a pilot and passenger of a small plane, who are each having a few problems of their own.


Was filmed in 1985 and sat on the shelf for nearly five years.

The Gods Must Be Crazy ( 1980 )

A Sho in the Kalahari desert encounters technology for the first time--in the shape of a Coke bottle. He takes it back to his people, and they use it for many tasks. The people start to fight over it, so he decides to return it to the God--where he thinks it came from. Meanwhile, we are introduced to a school teacher assigned to a small village, a despotic revolutionary, and a clumsy biologist.

Director Jamie Uys searched for three months in the Kalahari desert of South Africa, to find the perfect Sho (N!xau), who in real life had no contact with modern civilization to play the role of Xixo.


Xixo's frequent look of bewilderment was genuine, since actor N!xau, an actual Sho, was seeing many of these things for the very first time.


Didn't receive a major U.S. release until 1984.


Sandra Prinsloo had a strong Afrikaans accent in the original soundtrack and her voice was dubbed by an American actress for the US release of the film.


Biggest foreign box office hit during its release.


Was banned shortly after release in Trinidad and Tobago following protests from pressure groups that claimed it was racist.


The film was made by a South African director and was financed with South African government funds, but was released as a Botswanan film because there was a hard international embargo against South Africa.

Steyn: What do you know about women?
Mpudi: I got seven wives, how many you got?
Steyn: Why aren't you home with your seven wives?
Mpudi: I know how to marry them. Nobody knows how to live with them.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mpudi: So how did the land rover get up the tree?
Steyn: Do you know she has flowers on her panties?
Mpudi: So that's how it got up the tree.

Herbie Goes Bananas (1980)

The lovable "Love Bug" is back!

The adorable little VW helps its owners break up a counterfeiting ring in Mexico.

A total of 26 Volkswagen Beetles played the part of Herbie in this film due to the enormous number of stunts.


Herbie The Love Bug was a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle deluxe ragtop sedan painted in Volkswagen L87 pearl white. Under normal circumstances, the interior would be a matching white. However, Herbie's interior was painted a special non-reflective grey color so the camera and studio lights would not reflect.


This is the only Love Bug movie in which Herbie is never referred to by name. His name is not spoken in the entire film.


Herbie's name is mentioned only once in the film. This occurs when Pete first picks up Herbie at the beginning. The owner of the car lot tells Pete a story about Jim Douglas and says, "Herbie, he see it, he stop."

The Abyss ( 1989 )

A place on earth more awesome than anywhere in space.

When an American nuclear submarine crashes, the United States Government believe the Russians to be responsible. They enlist the help of a team of underwater drilling platform workers who are to help the deployed Navy SEALS locate the crash site. As they get closer to their destination, the friction between the two teams increases. When some workers report seeing UFO's underwater, the SEALS grow increasingly suspicious and suspect a Russian mini-sub. After a series of near-fatal disasters, the workers find that they are the only people who are capable of stopping World War III. But they are not the only inhabitants of the deep, and strange things are happening back at the surface...

Director James Cameron contacted Orson Scott Card before filming began with the possibility of producing a book based on the film. Card initially told his agent that he doesn't do "novelizations", but when she told him that the director was James Cameron, he agreed to consider it. The script arrived, and Card signed on after receiving assurances from Cameron that he would be free to develop his "novel" the way he wanted to. After a meeting with Cameron, Card immediately wrote the first three chapters, which dealt with events concerning Bud and Lindsay Brigman that occurred before the events in the film. Cameron gave these chapters to Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, who used it to develop their characters.


Cast members had to become certified divers before filming began.


The masks were specially designed to show the actors' faces, and had microphones fitted so that dialogue spoken at the time by the actors could be used in the film. The noises made by the regulators in the helmets were erased during sound post-production.


Most of the underwater filming took place in a half-completed nuclear reactor facility in Gaffney, South Carolina, including the largest underwater set in the world at 7 million gallons.


The crew frequently spent enough time underwater to force them to undergo decompression before surfacing. James Cameron would often watch dailies through a glass window, while decompressing and hanging upside down to relieve the stress on his shoulders from the weight of the helmet.


The tank was filled to a depth of 40 feet, but there was still too much light from the surface, so a giant tarpaulin and billions of tiny black plastic beads were floated on the surface to block the light. During a violent storm the tarpaulin was destroyed, thus shifting production to night time.


Fluid breathing is a reality. Five rats were used for five different takes, all of whom survived and were given shots by a vet. The rat that actually appeared in the film died of natural causes a few weeks before the film opened. According to James Cameron, the scene with the rat had to be edited out of the UK movie version because "the Royal Veterinarian felt that it was painful for the rat". James Cameron repeatedly assures that the rats used for this take didn't suffer any harm.


Michael Biehn's character gets bitten on the arm by another character. This happens to him in every James Cameron movie he's in - see The Terminator (1984) and Aliens (1986).


Director Trademark: [James Cameron] [nice cut] at the beginning of the movie, the blue "Y" from the opening credits extends and then fades to the underwater scenery with the submarine.


Director Trademark: [James Cameron] [feet] when the soldiers arrive at the supply ship and jump out of the helicopters. See also Aliens (1986).


Director Trademark: [James Cameron] [nuke]


James Cameron's brother, Mike Cameron, plays a dead crewman inside the sunken submarine. To accomplish this he had to hold his breath under 15 feet of water while also allowing a crab to crawl out of his mouth.


The first movie released under the THX Laserdisc Program.


Very few scenes involved stunt people. When Bud drags Lindsey back to the rig, that's really Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio holding her breath. When the rig is being flooded and characters are running from water, drowning behind closed doors, and dodging exploding parts of the rig, those are all actors, not stunt people.


The scene with the water tentacle coming up through the moon pool was written so that it could be removed without interfering with the story, because no one knew how the effect would come out. The actors were interacting with a length of heater hose being held up by the crewmen. When the effects were completed, though, they exceeded everyone's expectations and wildest hopes.


During the TV news report of the US and Russian ships colliding, the accompanying pictures are actually those taken of ships from the British Task Force hit during the Falkland Islands campaign.


During the rigorous and problematic shoot, the cast and crew began calling the film by various derogatory names such as "Son Of Abyss", "The Abuse" and "Life's Abyss And Then You Dive". Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio reportedly suffered a physical and emotional breakdown because she was pushed so hard on the set, and Ed Harris had to pull over his car at one time while driving home, because he burst into spontaneous crying.


The original theatrical version was forced to cut the pre-credits Nietzsche quote "...when you look long into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you." because Criminal Law (1988) used it, and they didn't want to seem like imitators. The quote was restored in the director's cut.


The company mentioned in the film is named Benthic Petroleum. In oceanographic terms, the word "benthic" means on or in the ocean bottom.


For financial reasons, the "Deepcore" set was never dismantled. It stands in the abandoned (and drained) South Carolina nuclear power plant, where the film was shot. 20th Century Fox has posted signs around the set informing potential photographers that Fox still owns the set (and the designs) and that any photographs or video shooting of the set is prohibited by copyright law. Their official copyright information is on the Deepcore rig itself.


In the end shot where the alien ship surfaces, it's supposed to be spring or summer. However, the film was being shot towards the beginning of winter, so the actors put ice cubes in their mouths so they wouldn't breathe out mist.


Actor Joe Farago, who plays the news anchorman reporting on the escalating world events, also played a similar role in a previous James Cameron film, The Terminator (1984).


The studio pushed hard for an Academy Award nomination for Michael Biehn as best supporting actor.


There are no opening credits save the title of the film.


Since the "Benthic Explorer" model ship was so large and filmed on open seas, the production company was required to register it with the Coast Guard.


The fictional company "Benthic Petroleum" also owns the gas station shown in James Cameron's Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) and the flying oil tanker in Jan de Bont's Twister (1996).


Set in 1994 (evident from in-film on-monitor time stamps when the crew enters the submarine).


To heat the water in the unfinished nuclear power plant, James Cameron brought in several tanker trucks of natural gas, and attached them directly to burners.


The American Humane Association rated this film "unacceptable" because of the rat that was submerged in oxygenated liquid in one scene. It wasn't an effect. The rat really was "subjected to the anxiety of being submerged in this liquid, where it panics and struggles and is then pulled out by its tail as it expels the liquid from its lungs."


The role of Commodore DeMarco was originally meant for Lance Henriksen, but he couldn't appear due to a scheduling conflict.


The sequence in which Catfish fires a submachine gun into the moon pool at a departing Lt. Coffey was filmed using live ammunition. The underwater camera was locked down and unmanned, and extreme safety precautions were in effect.


The sub called "Flatbed" in the movie was built around a real submarine called "Deep Rover" which was designed by the Canadian company Nuytco Research.


The mini-subs in the wide shots were actually models suspended on wires in a smoky environment and filmed in slow motion


The water in the two tanks was chlorinated heavily, to prevent microbes growing in it. This caused many of the actor's hair to become green and even white.


A scene at the beginning showing the crew rounding up at the moon pool had to be re-shot, because the Flatbed submersible was parked in the pool. Flatbed was supposed to be out in the water pulling the rig during that particular scene.


Ensign Monk: Bud, give me a reading from your liquid oxygen gauge.
Virgil: [typing] 5 minuts worth
Lindsey Brigman: [shocked] What?
Alan "Hippy" Carnes: It took him *thirty* minutes just to get down there!
Lindsey Brigman: Bud! Do you hear me? You drop your weights and start back now, Bud. The gauge could be wrong. Do you hear me? Just drop your weights and start back now. The gauge could be wrong! The gauge could be wrong, you drop your weights and start back now!
Virgil: [typing] Going to stay awhile
Lindsey Brigman: No, you won't stay there, do you hear me, you drop your weights! You can breathe *shallow*, do you hear me? Bud, please listen to me, *please*, goddammit, you dragged me back from the bottomless pit, you can't leave me here *alone* now, please...
[sobs]
Lindsey Brigman: Oh God, Virgil, please... please...
Virgil: [typing] Don't cry baby. Knew this was one way ticket, but you know I had to come. Love you wife.

JOHNNY ENGLISH (2003)

Er hat keine Furcht. Er hat keine Angst. Er hat keine Ahnung. (He Has No Fear. He Has No Anxiety. He Has No Inkling.)

Johnny English, a British secret agent who dreams of rising beyodn his menial job within the MI-7 organization, is hired to protect the Crown Jewels after all the other agents are bumped off. When the jewels are stolen, he eventually uncovers a plot to replace England's monarch with what the British fear the most: a French king.

The Johnny English character is based on a cowardly, incompetent spy played by Rowan Atkinson. The character first appeared in a series of television commercials for Barclaycard with his assistant, Bough (played by Henry Naylor).


The "poison dart pen" sequence while English is waiting outside Pegasus' office was first used in the Barclaycard averts that spawned the character. In the advert, Atkinson's character shot himself in the leg with the pen.


Two of the writers of the screenplay (Neal Purvis and Robert Wade) previously worked on three James Bond films
Die Another Day (2002), The World Is Not Enough (1999) and Casino Royale (2006)_ . The band playing in the background at Sauvage's party are called Bond.



The news broadcast at the end of the film claims that high treason still carries the death penalty. In fact, since the coming into force of the Human Rights Act 1998 in 2000, the United Kingdom abolished capital punishment completely.


Director Cameo: [Peter Howitt] the man that Bough threatens to play the DVD at the crowning ceremony.


The car that Johnny English uses is an Aston Martin DB7 Vantage


The parachute drop was filmed at Canary Wharf, London.


At one point, English mentions a singing technique to find his way through a darkness, which he states has to be in E-flat. He then starts to sing at a seemingly random pitch - which is actually a B.


The song that Johnny dances to in the DVD which he accidentally plays in front of the whole world is "Does Your Mother Know" by Abba.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pegasus: It's an unmitigated disaster, English.
Johnny English: I couldn't agree more, sir.
Pegasus: Well, we need to get these jewels back, English, and fast. Now tell me about this assailant. Because when they searched the room later, there was no sign of him.
Johnny English: Well, the man was clearly a professional. He must have escaped while the Queen was being sedated.
Pegasus: But he's the only lead we've got, English. We have to find him. Now, come in. This is - This is Roger from Data Support. Please sit down. He'll produce a likeness based on your description. So tell us, what did this man look like?
Johnny English: Um... Well... He was... big.
Roger: Hair colour?
Johnny English: Um... orange.
Pegasus: Orange?
Johnny English: Mmm. And curly. Well, frizzy, actually. Frizzy sort of thing.
Roger: Frizzy.
Johnny English: An eye patch. Broken nose. Very few teeth. Two, I would say the most. And a scar on his cheek in the shape... of a banana.
Roger: Which cheek?
Johnny English: Both cheeks. They sort of met in the middle.
Pegasus: Are you sure about this, English?
[Pegasus shows him what Roger has done on his computer of the assailant Johnny had described and he gasps]
Johnny English: Oh, yes, that's him. An uncanny resemblance. Why, it's just as if he's in the room with us.

mR.bEAN'S hOLIDAY (2007)

Disaster has a passport

Mr. Bean enters a church raffle and wins a vacation trip to France as well as a camcorder. After boarding a Eurostar train and arriving in Paris, the French language proves a barrier for Bean, as he struggles to get across the city to catch a train to the south of France from the Gare de Lyon. Taking time to order a meal, he finds the consumption of a seafood platter to be a challenge. Just before catching his train, he asks Emil, a Russian film director on his way to be a judge at the Cannes Film festival to use his camcorder to record his boarding, but accidentally causes Emil being left behind at the station. Bean attempts to cheer up the director's son Stepan as the train continues south but matters are made more hectic by the fact that Emil has reported his son to have been kidnapped and Bean losing his wallet and essential travel documents at a pay phone where he and Stepan attempt to contact Emil. Heading in the direction of Cannes, Bean finds himself in the cast and disrupting the flow of a commercial being shot by the egotistical director Carson Clay. He and Stepan finally hitch a ride with the young and vivacious actress Sabine who is heading to Cannnes to attend the premiere of Clay's film, in which she appears. After Bean sneaks into the showing, his camcorder images are destined to enliven the proceedings.


Rowan Atkinson announced that this movie would be the last story of the character, Mr. Bean.


This movie contains references to the movie Dumb & Dumber. The song "Crash", Mr Bean hitch hiking on a desert road, then being picked up on a mini motorbike, as well as falling asleep at the wheel.


Waitress on Train: Le café?
Mr. Bean: Oui.
Waitress on Train: Le sucre?
Mr. Bean: Non.
Waitress on Train: You speak very good French.
Mr. Bean: Gracias!

FAHRENHEIT 9/11 (2004)

The temperature where freedom burns!

In this film, muckraker Michael Moore turns his eye on George W. Bush and his War on Terrorism agenda. He illustrates his argument about how this failed businessman with deep connections to the royal house of Saud of Saudia Arabia and the Bin Ladins got elected on fraudulent circumstances and proceeded to blunder through his duties while ignoring warnings of the looming betrayal by his foreign partners. When that treachery hits with the 9/11 attacks, Moore explains how Bush failed to take immediate action to defend his nation, only to later cynically manipulate it to serve his wealthy backers' corrupt ambitions. Through facts, footage and interviews, Moore illustrates his contention of how Bush and his cronies have gotten America into worse trouble than ever before and why Americans should not stand for it.


TRIVIA:

In May 2004, Michael Moore announced that Disney (which owns Miramax, the film's distributor) had officially prohibited Miramax from releasing the film and expressed his frustration that the film was being stifled. Disney said that the decision had been made a year earlier in May 2003 when it told Miramax that it would not be willing to distribute the film. Disney chief executive, 'Michael Eisner' , said that Moore was announcing it at that time to create publicity for the film's screening at the Cannes Film Festival. Moore claimed that Eisner had expressed concern that the film might jeopardize tax breaks granted to Disney for its theme park, hotels, and other ventures in Florida, where Jeb Bush, President George W. Bush's brother, is governor.


Footage showing US Soldiers boasting about the adrenalising music they listened to during the invasion of Iraq is taken from the documentary "Soundtrack to War" by freelance Australian photographer and artist George Gittoes.


Director Trademark: [Michael Moore] [flint] Marine recruiters look for volunteers in Flint, Michigan.


Ray Bradbury, author of "Fahrenheit 451", has voiced his displeasure at Michael Moore appropriating the title of his book. Ray Bradbury is the author of "Beyond 1984," a title adapted from the Orwell novel, "Another Tale of Two Cities," a title that references a Dickens title, and "Something Wicked This Way Comes," a title that quotes Shakespeare's "Macbeth."


On the first submission to the MPAA, the film received an "R"-rating. Michael Moore, stating that if kids that are 15 or 16 years old right now may be drafted to fight for the war in Iraq, they should be able to see this movie. Former New York State governor Mario Cuomo appealed to the MPAA on Moore's behalf to request a "PG-13" rating. The appeal was not successful, and the movie ended up with the current rating of R for "some violent and disturbing images, and for language".


After its official showing at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival the movie was given what has been called "the longest standing ovation in the history of the festival". Although the exact length of the applause is a matter of debate, journalists at the screening have reported it being in the area of 15 to 25 minutes.


Moore interviewed American contractor Nicholas Berg, who was later kidnapped and killed by insurgents in Iraq, but removed the interview from the final cut. He said that the interview would not be released to the media and dealt privately with Berg's family.


Michael Moore retained Chris Lehane, a Democratic Party strategist or opposition research, used to discredit detractors. He also hired outside fact-checkers of The New Yorker to vet the film. He has consulted with lawyers who can bring defamation suits against anyone who maligns the film or damages his reputation.


Became the widest number of screens for a documentary three weeks in a row:
Opening weekend (week of June 25-27, 2004): 868
Second week of release (week of July 2-5): 1,725
Third week of release (week of July 9-11, 2004): 2,011



The highest-grossing documentary in its opening weekend: $23,920,637 (equalling the three-month run total of Moore's last film Bowling for Columbine (2002))


Moore said his film is targeted at "the 50 per cent of the American people who don't vote. Are they the elite? Are they the rich? Are they the well-educated? They are the poor, the working class, the single moms, the young people and the African-Americans."


The song used in the trailer is "I'd Love To Change the World" by the band "Ten Years After".


Ranked number one in American box office receipts despite being on the fewest number of screens than its mainstream competition.


The first documentary in history to debut at number one at the box office.


Michael Moore approved the film to be downloaded onto computers, because of his need for the film to reach every potential American.


The segment with Bush talking about the nations of the world having to condemn the terrorist actions while he was golfing was about the suicide bombing in Israel on 4 August 2002 in which 13 people died in a bus that was bombed.


First ever documentary to cross the $100 million mark in the United States.


Broke Rocky III (1982)'s record for the biggest box office opening weekend ever for any film that opened in less than a thousand theaters. The record was broken again in 2006 by Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006).


The story read in the classroom on 11 September 2001 was "The Pet Goat" by Siegfried Engelmann in the textbook Reading Mastery 2, Storybook 1.


The music used at the beginning of the film (amid the chaos of the September 11 attack) is "Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten, for string orchestra and bell", written in 1977 by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.


Was nearly disqualified for Oscar consideration because of a July 2004 airing on Cuban television. After this was revealed to be an illegal broadcast from a bootleg disk, the Academy cleared it for eligibility.


Due to an agreement between Walt Disney Co. and Miramax Films, roughly 60% of the net profit generated by the film will be donated to charity.


A headline from the Pantagraph (a newspaper in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois) dated 19 December 2001, is shown in big letters to read, "Latest Florida recount shows Gore won election." In fact, the only time those words appeared in that newspaper was in a headline over a letter to the editor dated 5 December 2001.


Moore decided not to submit the film for consideration for the Best Feature Documentary Oscar because he wanted to attempt to have it broadcast prior to the US Presidential Election on 2 November 2004 and the rules for that Oscar dictate a longer waiting time for an eligible film to be broadcast. In addition, since he already won an Oscar in that category, he felt the above reason took precedence and he might as well let other documentarians have a fair chance at the award. Instead, Moore announced his intention to have his film compete in the Best Picture category which has less strict submission rules.


Michael Moore states in the film that only one member of Congress has an enlisted son in the Armed Forces. That member is South Dakota senator Tim Johnson, a democrat.


The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences changed the rule for Best Feature Documentary nominations after this film was knocked out of consideration for airing on television. The new rule qualifies films for Oscar consideration even if they are shown on television, provided that they are given a minimum of 25 commercial theatrical exhibitions in 15 states.


Michael Moore was still fighting with the MPAA over their verdict of giving the film an "R" rating during time it was being played in limited release. Because of the MPAA's indecision, the film was initially released as "Not Rated" until the surprise box office success and inevitable wide release. Moore lost his bid for "PG-13" and the film carried an "R" rating from then onward


Rated #3 of the 25 most controversial movies of all time. Entertainment Weekly 16 June 2006.

March of the Penguins ( 2005 )

In the harshest place on Earth, love finds a way...........


Each winter, alone in the pitiless ice deserts of Antarctica, deep in the most inhospitable terrain on Earth, a truly remarkable journey takes place as it has done for millennia. Emperor penguins in their thousands abandon the deep blue security of their ocean home and clamber onto the frozen ice to begin their long journey into a region so bleak, so extreme, it supports no other wildlife at this time of year. In single file, the penguins march blinded by blizzards, buffeted by gale force winds. Guided by instinct, by the otherworldly radiance of the Southern Cross, they head unerringly for their traditional breeding ground where--after a ritual courtship of intricate dances and delicate maneuvering, accompanied by a cacophony of ecstatic song--they will pair off into monogamous couples and mate. The females remain long enough only to lay a single egg. Once this is accomplished, exhausted by weeks without nourishment, they begin their return journey across the ice-field to the fish-filled seas. The male emperors are left behind to guard and hatch the precious eggs, which they cradle at all times on top of their feet. After two long months during which the males eat nothing, the eggs begin to hatch. Once they have emerged into their ghostly white new world, the chicks can not survive for long on their fathers' limited food reserves. If their mothers are late returning from the ocean with food, the newly-hatched young will die. Once the families are reunited, the roles reverse, the mothers remaining with their new young while their mates head, exhausted and starved, for the sea, and food. While the adults fish, the chicks face the ever-present threat of attack by prowling giant petrels. As the weather grows warmer and the ice floes finally begin to crack and melt, the adults will repeat their arduous journey countless times, marching many hundreds of miles over some of the most treacherous territory on Earth, until the chicks are ready to take their first faltering dive into the deep blue waters of the Antarctic.


WON OSCAR IN 2006 BEST DOCUMENTRY FEATURES......


Morgan Freeman recorded his narration in one day.


When released, became the second highest grossing theatrical documentary (after Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004)).


It was noted that, by the time of the 2006 Academy Awards, this Best Documentary winner had out-grossed all 5 Best Picture nominees ($77 million vs. $75 million for Brokeback Mountain (2005)).


The Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguins and the only one to breed during the winter in Antarctica.

Night at the Museum (2006)

Everything comes to life............

In New York, the unemployed divorced Larry Daley is a complete loser. His son Nick is very disappointed with his father that is gong to be evicted, and Larry accepts the job of night watchman in the Museum of Natural History as the substituted for three old security guards that have just retired to raise some money and pay his bills. In his first nightshift, Larry realizes that everything at the museum comes to life at night. The Museum transforms in a complete chaos with the inexperienced Larry, and he learns that since an old Egyptian stone came to the Museum in 1950, the was statues comes to life until dawn. When Larry brings his son to spend a night with him, the three old guards break in the Museum to stole the magic stone. Larry organizes the historic characters to help him to arrest the criminals and save the museum.


Teddy Roosevelt: I'm made of wax, Larry. What are you made of?

Cast Away (2000)

At the edge of the world, his journey begins.


Chuck Noland is a FedEx systems engineer whose personal and professional life are ruled by the clock. His fast-paced career takes him, often at a moment's notice, to far-flung locales - and away from his girlfriend Kelly. Chuck's manic existence abruptly ends when, after a plane crash, he becomes isolated on a remote island - cast away into the most desolate environment imaginable. Stripped of the conveniences of everyday life, he first must meet the basic needs of survival, including water, food and shelter. Chuck, the consummate problem solver, eventually figures out how to sustain himself physically. But then what? Chuck begins his true personal journey. After four years, fate gives Chuck a chance to fight his way back to civilization, only to find an unexpected emotional challenge greater than all the earlier physical ones. His ability to persevere and to hope are a product of his life-changing experience.


Production was halted for a year so Tom Hanks could lose fifty pounds and grow out his hair for his time spent on the deserted island. During this hiatus, Robert Zemeckis used the same crew to film What Lies Beneath (2000).


Chuck Noland: We might just make it. Did that thought ever cross your brain? Well regardless I would rather take my chance out there on the ocean, that to stay here and die on this shithole island spending the rest of my life talking to a god damn VOLLEYBALL.

Mr.Bean (1997)

One Man. One Masterpiece. One Very Big Mistake...........

Mr. Bean is an eccentric caretaker working for the British national gallery in London, England, Mr. Bean is going to get fired by the museum's board of directors because he doesn't do his job and all he does is sleep. But the board instead decides to send Mr. Bean to Los Angeles, where David Langley, curator of a museum in downtown L.A. has requested that the board of director's of the British national gallery sends a art scholar to talk about their latest purchase, the famous painting "Whristler's Mother" which military officer General Newton has donated to the museum, at a opening conference. But Mr. Bean's arrival in Los Angeles causes mayhem, as David invites Mr. Bean to stay with his family and begins causing problems for David's marriage. But Mr. Bean doesn't know anything about paintings and although they think he is a brilliant, eccentric art scholar, he really isn't the right man to protect the painting as his behavior also threatens the painting itself.

Various skits from the "Mr. Bean" (1990) TV show are featured in the movie, like: On an airplane, Mr. Bean blows up a barf bag full of barf and then pops it; a turkey gets stuck on his head; gets bored on a fast ride;


The soundtrack album for this film contains "(I Want To Be) Elected" by Alice Cooper, as sung by Bruce Dickinson. Rowan Atkinson appears in the song, making comments throughout as Mr. Bean, who is running for British prime-minister. His lines contain many references to Atkinson's series "Blackadder the Third" (1987). For example, Vincent Hanna appears reading off the votes, like he did on the first episode of Blackadder III. Like in that episode, all the parties listed off "no votes" until Atkinson's, who received all the votes (so Bean gets elected in the song). Also, Bean's speech starts off "Unacustomed as I am to public speaking..." like Prince George's did in the episode "Sense and Senility".


This was the first movie ever to gross $100m before being released in the U.S.


The producers were initially looking for an unknown actor to play General Newton. But being a fan of the TV series, Burt Reynolds asked for a role and was then cast to appear as Newton.


David Langley: I must admit, over the time you've been here, certain... suspicions have begun to gather in my mind. I'm going to be frank here... are you a doctor?
Mr. Bean: ummm...
[shakes head]
David Langley: okay number two, do you know anything about art. I mean... let me see... was Leonardo Da Vinci a famous American basketball player?
[sniggers]
David Langley: [Bean looks confused, David's face drops]
Mr. Bean: ...yes
David Langley: ...I see
[brings his hand up to his face]

Predator (1997)

If it bleeds, we can kill it...

The film begins with the arrival of a specialist Army Commando team (led by Alan 'Dutch' Schaeffer - Arnold Schwarzenegger) at a US military outpost somewhere non-disclosed in Central America. After a short briefing from the commanding officer there, they learn that they are to rescue a 'Cabinet Minister' whom was in a helicopter that was shot down whilst flying over enemy territory. Accompanied by a CIA operative, they head deep into the jungle; only things are not as they seem. Almost immediately, they find the remnants of another US military team, Green Berets; who have been skinned alive by some unknown enemy. A short while later, they strike the enemy encampment; only to find that they have been set up by the CIA to bring back important military intelligence information, rather than effecting any rescue. But something else is hidden, waiting, watching in the jungle. An immensely advanced and powerful alien that hunts only the most dangerous prey in the universe - the Predator. One after another, the team is picked off as they desperately attempt to escape the jungle by reaching the extraction point as the enemy gorillas and the Predator close in on their position.. can any of them survive this nightmare?


According to an interview with director John McTiernan, the "hole in the jungle" appearance of the Predator was played by Jean-Claude Van Damme in a "blue screen" (actually red) suit. Van Damme quit after two days, unhappy with being cast as an uncredited special effect. The alien was scrapped, redesigned and was eventually played by 7'2" Kevin Peter Hall.


An attempt was made to get shots of the Predator swinging from tree to tree using a monkey in a red special-effects suit. However, the monkey kept removing the suit and the idea was abandoned.


The mandibles of the predator were the idea of James Cameron.


Most of film was shot under the original title "Hunter", it was only later when the creature design was changed that the movie became "Predator". The clapperboards showing the original title can be seen in the outtakes on the special edition DVD.


The original "Hunter" model was a large creature with a long neck, a head shaped like a dog and one big eye in the middle. This can be seen on the camouflage demo's on the DVD. It was only when Stan Winston moved in that the complete design of the now "Predator" changed, along with the title.


Two waterfalls are used in the climax of the movie, both near Palenque in Mexico. The first is Misol Ha, just outside the village (beginning and end of the sequence), and the other is Agua Azul about an hour's drive away (the middle part of the sequence).


The black helicopter pilot seen at the end of the movie is Kevin Peter Hall, the actor who plays the Predator.


The original concept for this film originated as a joke. Someone said that the only person Rocky Balboa of the Rocky series of films had yet to fight was E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.


Two of the actors portraying commandos besieged by the Predator have been elected to state governorships: Jesse Ventura (Independent) was elected Governor of Minnesota in 1998, and Arnold Schwarzenegger (Republican) was elected Governor of California in a hotly-contested recall election in 2003. In addition, Sonny Landham (Republican) ran an unsuccessful campaign for Governor of Kentucky in 2003.


The weapon that Blain (Jesse Ventura) is using is a minigun. This is a weapon most commonly mounted on the side of a helicopter (or an aircraft carrier) and many, many modifications had to be made to make it usable in the film. It was powered via an electrical cable hidden down the front of Blain's trousers. The firing rate was slowed down to approximately 1/3rd the normal rate of fire, both to reduce consumption of blanks, and to make the spinning of the barrels visible on film. It is rumored that Ventura had to wear a bulletproof vest because of the forceful ejection of spent cartridges, but this is false. Unmodified miniguns eject out of the bottom, with the cases essentially falling out due to the force of gravity. Close examination of the film (especially the scene in which Mac fires the minigun at the fleeing predator, along with the other commandos) show that the ejection of the minigun was not changed.


The studio would not allow John McTiernan to shoot this film in anamorphic widescreen due to the complexities of the optical effects. As a sly sort of retaliation, the director added an anamorphic version of the film's opening 20th Century Fox logo, which looks noticeably stretched on screen.


Sonny Landham was hired to work on this film, but on one condition: the insurance company insisted on a round-the-clock bodyguard for Landham, not to protect the actor, but to protect everyone else from the actor (who was prone to bar fights, etc.)


Shane Black, who plays commando Hawkins, is actually a writer. The producer wanted Black to watch over John McTiernan, whose first studio film this was.


The director didn't get sick while on location in Mexico, because he refused to eat. As a result, he lost 25 pounds.


The director broke his wrist while on location, but kept working.


John McTiernan admitted that actor R.G. Armstrong was too old for his part, but kept Armstrong simply because he liked him. Added to this, the actor wore "too much" tanning makeup to hide his age somewhat.


The predator's blood - a goopy substance with the color of Mountain Dew - was made on-set using a mixture of the liquid from inside glow sticks, and KY jelly.


Due to health and safety regulations, Arnold Schwarzenegger was not allowed to light his cigar inside the helicopter near the beginning of the film. As a result the glow was added optically in post-production.


Jesse Ventura was delighted to find out from the wardrobe department that his arms were 1" bigger than Arnold Schwarzenegger's. He suggested to Schwarzenegger that they measure arms, with the winner getting a bottle of champagne. Ventura lost because Schwarzenegger had told the wardrobe department to tell Ventura that his arms were bigger.


During the closing credits, Shane Black is seen prominently displaying a copy of Sgt. Rock #408 (Feb. 1986). In the DVD commentary, John McTiernan notes that at the time, Arnold Schwarzenegger had an adaptation of Sgt. Rock in production, and that's why the comics were on set, so he could read them. He described the scene where Dutch (Schwarzenegger) walks up to Billy (Sonny Landham), who senses the Predator's presence out in the bush, as a "Sgt. Rock moment".


Arnold Schwarzenegger lost over 25 pounds before filming began in order to better fit the role of a special warfare operative, who would be lean as well as muscular.


All of the actors are wearing Vietnam surplus canvas load bearing gear, not the more modern (i.e. post 1967) nylon gear.


The sidearms carried by the troopers are Desert Eagle handguns.


Cameo: [Sven-Ole Thorsen] Arnold Schwarzenegger's friend and frequent collaborator appears as the Russian Officer.


The minigun that Blain (Jesse Ventura) carries fired at such a high rate that it could not be filmed. The weapon had to be slowed down so that the barrel could be seen rotating on camera.


Acting debut for both Jesse Ventura and Shane Black.


Third film in which Arnold Schwarzenegger wears a Seiko model H558-5009 diver's watch. Since nicknamed "The Arnold", it is highly sought-after by collectors and regularly trades for values in excess of its original retail cost. Its distinctive black collar and stainless steel fittings suitably complements Schwarzenegger's exaggerated arm muscles in his early films.


Dutch: [Dutch approaches and grabs the shoulders of the prisoner who has spoken nothing but Spanish since her capture] Yesterday, what did you see?
Dillon: You're wasting your time.
Dutch: [to Anna] No more games.
Anna: I don't know what it was. It...
[surprised look on Dillon's face]
Dutch: Go on.
Anna: It changed colors, like the chameleon, it uses the jungle.
Dillon: You saying that Blain and Hawkins were killed by a fucking lizard? That's a bullshit psyche job. There's 2 to 3 men out there at the most. Fucking lizard.
Dutch: [Takes out his knife] What's your name?
Anna: Anna.
Dutch: Anna, this thing is hunting us. ALL of us. You know that?
[Anna nods, and Dutch cuts her bonds, setting her free]

Papillon (1973)

I seen this movie only in 2006... but i read the story in tamil ... before say may be 20 years before...it was coming in the tamil magazine KUMUDAM weekly in the name of " Pattampoochi "...So i seen the movie after 20 years... satisfying the 75 % of my expectation... good movie....

Based on the true story of Henri Charriere, also known as Papillon, which is French for 'butterfly' (the character even sports a large tattoo of a butterfly. A petty criminal, Papillon is wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to life in a French penal colony in 'Guiane' (French Guiana, South America). Papillon is determined to escape but attempt after attempt meets with difficulty, resulting in eventual recapture. He continues his attempts to escape despite incarcerations in solitary confinement as punishment

The greatest adventure of escape ever filmed!

Billed as a true story, however the French in French Guiana unanimously agree that much of the story of Henri Charriere (Papillon) is fabricated. Papillon was documented to have been incarcerated in Saint Laurent and may have escaped from there, but never served on the Devil's Islands (now known as Iles du Salut or Salvation Islands). The book and movie both present Devil's Island as having rocky cliffs. In fact, the entire island is rocky, but gently slopes into the surrounding sea.

Dustin Hoffman had to wear contact lens so that he could see correctly through the thick glasses he had to wear.


Dustin Hoffman based his character on the movie's screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, particularly his withdrawn and shy mannerisms which had inspired Hoffman when meeting Trumbo for the first time.


Prisoner: I know you, you're Degas. You're a very intelligent man!
Dega: Thank you. I seem to be known in all the wrong places.

The MASK (1994)

Stanley Ipkiss is a bank clerk that is an incredibly nice man. Unfortunately, he is too nice for his own good and is a pushover when it comes to confrontations. After one of the worst days of his life, he finds a mask that depicts Loki, the Norse night god of mischief. Now, when he puts it on, he becomes his inner, self: a cartoony romantic wild man. However, a small time crime boss, Dorian Tyrel, comes across this character dubbed "The Mask" by the media. After Ipkiss's alter ego indirectly kills his friend in crime, Tyrel now wants this green-faced goon destroyed.

[after being shot]
Mask: Hold me closer, Ed, it's getting dark. Tell Auntie Em to let Old Yeller out,
[cough cough]
Mask: tell Tiny Tim I won't be coming home this Christmas, tell Scarlett I do give a damn...
[he dies, the Peanut Gallery appears and applauds while The Mask is handed an acting award]
Mask: Thank you, you love me, you really love me!

SPIDERMAN (2002)

SPIDERMAN - 2002-

A rather odd thing has just occurred in the life of nerdy high school student Peter Parker: after being bitten by a genetically modified spider, his body chemistry is altered mutagenically. He can now scale walls and ceilings, he has superhuman strength and super-fast reflexes, and he develops a precognitive sense that warns him of approaching danger. Adopting the name Spider-Man, Peter first uses his newfound powers to make money, but after his uncle is murdered at the hands of a criminal Peter failed to stop, he swears to use his powers to fight the evil that killed his uncle. At the same time, scientist and businessman Norman Osborn, after exposure to an experimental nerve gas, develops an alternate personality himself: the super-strong, psychotic Green Goblin! Peter Parker must now juggle three things in his life: his new job at a local newspaper under a perpetually on-edge employer, his battle against the evil Green Goblin, and his fight to win the affections of beautiful classmate Mary Jane Watson, against none other than his best friend Harry Osborn, son of Norman Osborn! Is this challenge too much for even the Amazing Spider-Man to handle?

Peter Parker: A hundred bucks? The ad said three thousand.
Wrestling Promoter: Well, check it again, web head. The ad said three grand, for three minutes, and you pinned him in two. For that I give you a hundred, and you're lucky to get that.
Peter Parker: I need that money.
Wrestling Promoter: I missed the part where that's my problem.

Identity (2003)

Strangers from all different walks of life: a limo driver escorting a movie star, parents with a young son, a cop transporting a convict, a prostitute, a young couple, and a motel manager are caught up in a nasty rainstorm, stuck at a motel in desolate Nevada. Soon they realize they may be at the motel for another reason when one by one, people start getting killed off. As tensions flare and fingers are pointed, they have to get to the bottom of why they're there. Meanwhile in an undisclosed location, a psychiatrist is trying to prove the innocence of a man accused of murder in an eleventh hour trial. How these two through-lines are related can only be found in Identity.


Several endings were filmed in order to shroud the real conclusion in secrecy.


The poem "As I was going up the stair / I met a man who wasn't there. / He wasn't there again today / I wish, I wish he'd go away" which one of the characters claims to have written when they were young, is really a poem by Hughes Mearns.


There was some location shooting in Lancaster and other places in Los Angeles County, but the majority of the movie was shot on an enormous sound stage at Sony Studios in Culver City (the same studio that once housed the set for the Emerald City in The Wizard of Oz (1939)).


Several film critics have noted the similarity of this film to the fictional film The 3 (a film within a film in Adaptation.)


The book seen in Ed's car as he picks up Paris is "Being and Nothingness" by Jean-Paul Sartre.


Frederick Coffin's last film.


Though the dialog was removed, you can still see Ray Liotta say "I didn't do this" when he's face to face with John Cusack near the end.


Paris:That's not possible. I was standing right there. I saw what happened. We all saw what happened

Best Screen play .....

RING (2002)

The RING (2002)

Rachel Keller is a journalist investigating a videotape that may have killed four teenagers (including her niece). There is an urban legend about this tape: the viewer will die seven days after watching it. If the legend is correct, Rachel will have to run against time to save her son's and her own life.



Aidan Keller: What will we tell the others who watch it?

One Among the Best Horror Movie I have Seen......

Apocalypto (2006)

APOCALYPTO 2006.....

Set in the Mayan civilization, when a man's idyllic presence is brutally disrupted by a violent invading force, he is taken on a perilous journey to a world ruled by fear and oppression where a harrowing end awaits him. Through a twist of fate and spurred by the power of his love for his woman and his family he will make a desperate break to return home and to ultimately save his way of life.

Great Performance by RUDY YOUNGBLOOD as JAGUAR PAW...

Great Direction by MEL GIBSON.....

Because of heavy rains in Mexico, the released date had been changed from 4 August 2006 to 8 December 2006.


The amount of digital footage shot would approximately equal 2 million feet of conventional film.


Many substantial speaking roles in the film were filled by Mayan people who had never acted before. For instance, the sick little girl who curses the hunting party as they and the captives pass right before entering the city, was played by a seven year old who lived in a dirt-floored hut in a village not unlike Jaguar Paw's.


There was severe flooding in the southern region of the country during filming, which displaced at least a million people. The crew helped with some flood relief.


The teaser trailer for the movie has an almost entirely different cast than the one that ends up in the film.


While there are a few records of its occurrence, jaguars , unlike leopards, are generally not known to kill humans.


Due to the unpredictable climate in the rain forest of Mexico, special care was needed to protect the digital cameras. Under extreme heat, they were covered with space blankets to reflect the heat. Temperature was closely monitored via thermometers added to the cameras. While shooting at a waterfall, the cameras were protected in specially built Hydroflex splash bags designed by Pete Romano.


During the course of filming the 170-ft waterfall for the scene in which Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood) jumps to escape the headhunters, a real cow that was attempting to cross upstream went over the waterfall. Remarkably, it emerged from the fall alive and the dazed and confused animal banged with the current along rocks near the bank. Mel Gibson and crew were certain the cow was done for, but after a local man swam into the river and calmed it, the cow climbed up on bank and began eating grass as if nothing had happened.


For the waterfall jump scene, Rudy Youngblood performed his own stunt, jumping in a harness from a 15-story building in Veracruz over about 10 takes. (The shot was later digitally composited with the real waterfall.) After director Mel Gibson harassed Youngblood about the actor's initial hesitancy and fear of jumping, Youngblood got together with the stunt crew and goaded Gibson into taking a jump for himself.


In casting, it was important to Mel Gibson that he and Farhad Safinia find actors that matched the archetype each character represented. For instance, Rudy Youngblood struck Gibson as fitting the mythic archetype of a hero. Gibson saw that as necessary to allow people to identify with the film, since the movie's context is unfamiliar to most viewers, being in a foreign language and concerning an indigenous culture in the 16th century.


As a teenager, Mel Gibson was actually once called 'almost' by an older boy, which was a deep insult to him. This inspired the line in the movie in which Jaguar Paw is called 'almost' by one of the headhunters.


In the teaser trailer for the movie, for a split second, Mel Gibson can be seen with mud-covered natives.


During the scene where Jaguar Paw lands on a field full of dead bodies, while escaping from the headhunters, we can see a frame that was added completely out of context. This frame shows a man dressed like the comic character Waldo, laying amongst the dead.




I am Jaguar Paw, son of Flint Sky. My Father hunted this forest before me. My name is Jaguar Paw. I am a hunter. This is my forest. And my sons will hunt it with their sons after I am gone.

I seen this movie in cochin, India, Sridhar Theatre on 22.04.2007

Agloco Banner by AglocoBanners.com

The Terminal (2004)

An Eastern European visitor becomes a resident of a New York airport terminal when a war breaks out and erases his country from the map, voiding his passport. He makes friends with the airport staff and falls in love with a flight attendant..........

Cab Driver: Where are you from?

Viktor Navorski: Krakozia!

Cab Driver: Ah! Me from Albania!

Viktor Navorski: Ah! When you get here?

Cab Driver: Eh! [implicating it was a long time ago]

Cab Driver: Thursday!

KING KONG (2005)

Set in the 1930s, this is the story of a group of explorers and documentary filmmakers who travel to the mysterious Skull Island (near Sumatra) to investigate legends of a giant gorilla named Kong. Once there, they discover that King Kong is a real creature, living in a massive jungle where creatures from prehistoric times have been protected and hidden for millions of years. As the explorers search for the great ape, their quest puts them up against both Kong and his dinosaur enemies. Ultimately, it is the attention of a beautiful human woman that soothes Kong long enough for him to be subdued by the explorers and shipped back to New York, where his bleak future involves being put on display in front of humans... but how long can even the mightiest shackles of man hold back an ape 25 feet tall?