Reviews

This is not a movie to be enjoyed in a packed theater, with all the noise that entails. I wish I had watched it at home.

The premise is good, but if you are a logical type the plot holes will be glaring. This is likely why they don't go into detail about what happened and what the creatures are, because they know it won't hold up. Silly choices by the characters, mixed with typical "kids do the darndest things" plot devices make for an annoying watch. There could have been so much more depth to this. It is however beautifully shot and acted, and I have to give kudos to Krasinski for this effort.

This production of the epic Indian poem describes the war between the Pandava and Kaurava, opposing branches of the same family. The 5 brothers of the Pandava driven by light, the Kaurava driven by darkness, though they both exists somewhere in the grey area between good and evil. This enforces the point that they are one in the same. Before the final battle, Krishna shares with Arjuna the knowledge of the Bhagavad-Gita, the Hindu equivalent of the Bible. Brooks does a fantastic job - the minimalist sets focus the attention on the players, and the multinational cast make this production a lesson for all of humanity, not just Hindus. It is more in the style of a play than a movie, which makes it more enjoyable artistically. The 6 hour full-length version seems daunting, but it is all well worth it.

This is one of my all-time favorite movies, the clash between mysticism and modernization. The editing wasn't the best but the cinematography was breathtaking. I especially like the scene in the waterfall when Bill and Tommy first see each other; it is very moving.