Charlie Chaplin was one of the greatest actors, writers and directors that ever lived. His meticulous planning, directing and made his films ever lasting and something that withstands the tests of time. His lovable tramp character is one of the most iconic characters and have transcended films.
One of the finest films he made was actually released on this day, January 30, 1931 and that film was City Lights. This film is an underrated classic and highly regarded by most film historians and critics. After many years later and into the next generations and new millennium, does this film still hold up as one of the greatest? Well, in lieu of it’s anniversary, we’ll be going over the story, the acting and the feeling that the film has on the audience. Let’s sit back and get our bowler hat and walking stick and hobble over to our couches as we review City Lights.
The story revolves around the lovable Tramp walking around the town during daytime and evening under the city lights (get it?) and just having all these stories getting connected. Chaplin is walking around town when he meets a blind woman selling flowers. He is smitten by her and has a desire to want to be with her. After he leaves her, later on during the evening, he saves a rich millionaire from trying to kill himself by drowning. The man is drunk and decides to invite Chaplin to come with him to a party and to his house. The main problem is when the millionaire recovers from his drunken stupor, he doesn’t remember the tramp and usually kicks him out of his house.
The rest of the story revolves the Tramp trying to raise money for the blind woman so she can pay for her rent and also get some eye surgery so she can have the ability to see. The whole movie revolves around the Tramp trying to get money through many shenanigans like Chaplin’s famous boxing scene, working at a street cleaner, and getting money from the millionaire. The plot is simple and because it’s a silent movie, the acting has to be top notch just so we can get emotional and laugh and feel something as we gaze onto the big screen.
The acting, especially Chaplin, is right on point. There is a reason he is an acting legend and this is just one of his many examples of showcasing his ability to show much emotion and feeling and comedic chops without saying a single word and just use his body language and his facial abilities. When he is with the blind woman and receiving a flower, you feel how he feels based on the way he is looking at her and how he probably has never been treated so kind by a woman in a long time that you can see how much it means to him. When he saves the millionaire, he takes off the flower that he got from her because it means a lot to him and he doesn’t want to ruin it or lose it. With the silent movie limiting the dialogue to nonexistent, the acting is pantomime.
The blind woman did a great job with her acting ability showcasing her smile and her eyes are so piercing and so innocent that you want to help her and you want the Tramp to help her as well. The millionaire plays the drunken fool well. He is grandiose and over exaggerated. He is that kind of jerk who is nice while drinking but sober, is a crotchety droll, bitter man. All the main characters each have their strong suite and use it to their ability to showcase the story and make it a nice character driven expose on the Tramp and what he does in a movie that takes place over a couple of weeks in a then modern urban city.
Silent movies are different than many modern day movies. While the modern movie gets you amped up or make you happy or sad, they have a bigger production and a dialogue and a cinematography that helps you delve into your psyche to make you feel that way. Silent movies, it is all pantomime. The actors have to showcase their expressions in the face and gestures. They have to feel it all and over extend their ability to give us the chance to get any kind of emotional response. Watching this movie, I felt what the Tramp was feeling. He is so innocent and I wanted him to help the blind woman and I wanted him to succeed and win and get the girl.
With the millionaire, I wanted him to remember the Tramp and accept that he befriended a lonely poor man who walks the street. All of these emotions is what makes this movie special. They were able to touch me and make me root for them without opening their mouths and hearing them and with a camera that many of the times were stagnant and didn’t offer mood setting or any dynamic sets. It used a nice basic set and made something special with this movie because of the actors and what they were able to do with getting their emotions and acting across and reaching the audience.
Overall, this movie is fantastic. It has lasted this long and even though many of Chaplin’s works get more credit like The Great Dictator, Modern Times and The Kid, let’s not forget that this is a great movie that does show us some great comedy with the boxing scene, great emotional responses when the Tramp sees the blind woman at the end of the movie, and the frustration you feel when the millionaire runs into the Tramp at different times intoxicated. The movie hits every chord of your emotions and it is a nice movie to spend time watching alone or with a group of people who value classic movies. The movie was released in 1931, so, it is now 87 years old. Happy birthday City Lights and may you continue to be the beckon and starting point for people to admire classic silent movies.
Director: Adhik Ravichandran
Starring: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Das, Trisha, Simran
Genre: Action / Crime Drama
Rating: 4.5/5
“Good Bad Ugly” centers on Red Dragon (Ajith Kumar), a notorious gangster who chooses to surrender himself in the hopes of turning over a new leaf and reuniting with his estranged son. However, when unforeseen threats emerge, Red Dragon is forced to step back into the dangerous underworld to protect the only family he has left.
“Good Bad Ugly” plays to the strengths of Ajith Kumar, delivering a fan-pleasing portrayal of both his vintage villainy and his matured emotional depth. Ajith’s powerful screen presence, coupled with his iconic voice, shines against Arjun Das’s brooding and intense new-age antagonist, creating an electric old-school versus new-school dynamic. The nostalgic return of Simran is a clever nod to longtime fans, bringing heart and familiarity. Trisha brings a strong, grounded performance as the moral compass in Red Dragon’s life, helping move the emotional threads of the story. The film smartly balances action, comedy, and sentimental fan-service moments.
While the film delivers on fan expectations, its narrative could have benefited from tighter pacing and deeper character development for its supporting cast. Some plot conveniences and an overreliance on nostalgia may limit broader audience appeal beyond the fanbase. Certain dramatic beats felt rushed, leaving little time for emotional resonance to fully land.
The ambition to blend high-octane action with heavy emotional stakes sometimes leads to tonal inconsistencies. At moments, the shift from gritty underworld drama to lighter fan moments feels abrupt. Additionally, though Ajith Kumar’s effort to showcase his dancing skills is commendable and welcomed by fans, it slightly disrupts the otherwise darker tone the film establishes.
“Good Bad Ugly” is a tribute to Ajith Kumar’s enduring legacy, offering vintage thrills while teasing new dimensions to his craft. It’s a solid entertainer that successfully taps into fan nostalgia while hinting at an exciting evolution for AK. While not without its flaws, the film’s heart, energy, and performances make it a must-watch for fans and a compelling action-drama for broader audiences.
In these uncertain times, you can’t beat a good old-fashioned horror movie. Unfortunately, Presence is not an old-fashioned horror movie. Yet, as I discovered, this is a good thing!
When I heard about the premise of this movie, I was intrigued. The stylishly subtle trailer was, appropriately, haunting. And was that Lucy Liu? A haunted house movie from the perspective of the ghost? As a seasoned horror movie buff, I was all in!
Like the majority of people I missed the films brief theatrical release. Luckily I was able to catch it on streaming. Visually the film is easy to enjoy from your own home, as it’s rather cosy looking. I never thought I’d be describing a horror movie as ‘cosy’ looking but it’s true! This is not a James Wan type creepy, dusty, decrepit house harbouring a haunting. No, this is a 100 year old jewel toned, oak finished colonial style home.
Despite this the story follows the beats we are all familiar with: troubled family of four move into a new house. The big deviation from the trope is we, the audience, are seeing events unfold from the POV of the ghost or presence.
Director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Eleven) chose to film the entire piece using a small (14mm) hand-held digital camera. Soderbergh himself acted as the ‘presence’ following the actors around. From the audiences perspective it is like watching the family through a barrier or pane of glass. Cleverly, windows and mirrors are hugely prominent and integral throughout.
The presence mainly follows and tries to interact with the daughter of the family, Chloe (Callina Liang), who has recently suffered the trauma of her best friend dying suddenly. Through Soderbergh’s experimental filming, we feel the dysphoria and frustration the ‘ghost’ is feeling at trying to affect the world around it, particularly during the anxiety-inducing final scene!
However, in what could be yet another mismarketing of a film, the trailer promised to be the ‘scariest movie you will see this year’ and ‘terrifying’; instead, they delivered this subversive, character-driven, family drama. If you are expecting jump scares and dramatic music stings, this is not your movie. I could understand if someone was disappointed that the only seemingly scary thing is the mother’s and son’s relationship, right up until the gut-punch of the final scene.
Presence is definitely a slow burn, tension building until the final scene, and the unveiling of the ‘presence’ giving us a new understanding of the whole story. The ending is disturbing and stays with you as you re-analyse earlier scenes.
My one complaint is that the character Ryan (West Mulholland) with his Chesney Hawkes hair, perhaps needed more subtlety. The rest of the cast was completely solid and believable as a family with so many unspoken issues.
I wouldn’t recommend this film for everybody but maybe be as so bold to say it’s a horror movie for people that don’t like horror movies. It’s well-lit and cerebral with realistically flawed characters.
Presence is available to stream.
Three and a half stars.
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Historical
Runtime: Each episode runs approximately 20-30 minutes
Director: Lin Hun (also the Creator)
Studio: Samsara Animation Studio
Main Voice Actors (Chinese Cast):Liu Zhi Shi as Wen Ren Yu Xuan Zhou Qi as Shen Nong Fang Yuan as Xuan
Overview
Fog Hill of the Five Elements is a breathtaking Chinese anime (donghua) that merges traditional Chinese ink-painting aesthetics with high-intensity martial arts action. Created and directed by Lin Hun, this series delivers a spellbinding visual experience that rivals, and in many ways surpasses, mainstream Japanese anime. Produced by Samsara Animation Studio, the anime is a labor of love, known for its hand-drawn animation and meticulous detail.
Set in a mythological world where elemental beasts roam free, the series follows the Five Elemental Envoys tasked with protecting humanity. The story focuses on Wen Ren Yu Xuan, the Fire Envoy, whose actions set off a chain of events threatening the delicate balance between humans and beasts. The tale is steeped in Chinese folklore and myth, weaving a complex narrative of duty, power, and sacrifice.
Without question, Fog Hill of the Five Elements is one of the most visually stunning animated series in recent memory. The blend of traditional Chinese ink wash painting with modern dynamic action scenes is masterful. Every frame looks like a moving scroll painting, with fluid character movements and kinetic fight choreography that puts many mainstream series to shame.
The characters are deeply tied to traditional archetypes found in Chinese legends but are fleshed out with emotional depth and conflict. Voice acting by Liu Zhi Shi, Zhou Qi, and Fang Yuan brings authenticity and gravitas to their respective roles. The dialogue is steeped in poetic language, enhancing the mythic feel of the story.
The soundtrack complements the epic visuals with traditional Chinese instrumentation mixed with modern elements. The sound design heightens the impact of every battle and emotional moment.
Rating: 9/10
Fog Hill of the Five Elements earns a 9 out of 10 for its groundbreaking animation style, deep mythological storytelling, and heart-pounding action. The only downside is its limited number of episodes and slow release schedule, which leaves fans craving more.
Pros
- Unparalleled hand-drawn animation
- Unique art direction inspired by traditional Chinese painting
- Rich mythological lore
- Epic fight choreography
Cons
- Sparse episode release
- Story pacing can be uneven at times
Final Verdict 9/10
If you’re an anime enthusiast or a fan of animation artistry, Fog Hill of the Five Elements is a must-watch. Its fusion of stunning visuals, martial arts action, and mythological storytelling makes it one of the standout titles in modern animation. Whether you’re into Japanese anime or Chinese donghua, this series deserves a spot on your watchlist.
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Presence: A Horror Movie For People That Don’t Like Horror Movies
Anime Review: Fog Hill of the Five Elements (Wu Shan Wu Xing)
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Presence: A Horror Movie For People That Don’t Like Horror Movies
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Review of “Good Bad Ugly”
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