Once upon a time in China 3

This isnt yet another movie from the series but a very sensible mix of colors, culture, martial arts, romance and fun. Jet Lee is pretty neat as usual and so is the action choreography of the movie. Rosamund Kwan is great in the movie. The story revolves around martial arts schools as the other movies in this series, but focuses on the grand Lion Dance competition which is a visual and martial arts treat. I usually like the way the movie(& the series) portrays the way China absorbs the modernization, how it affects the existing culture and people and how blind violence is used to create problems & true martial art (principles) solve those problems. Anyways, its very entertaining !

Mar adentro (A Sea Inside)

Mar adentro (A Sea Inside) is the real life story of Ramon Sampedro, a smart, witty, flirty Spaniard who is paralyzed below neck for roughly three decades. Fed up of his disability and dependence on his brother’s family, Ramon has been legally fighting the right for Euthanasia or to legally end his life. For his court case he asks a lawyer named Julia, who is also suffering from a degenerative disease to help him. He thinks that a lawyer who might understand his pain might be able to represent him better. Julia agrees and visits him to prepare his case for legal battle. She is touched by his creativity, imagination and amazing sense of humor and soon they fall in love with each other. Ramon still wants his death and Julia still has to help him. The story also involves his brother’s family who takes care of him and a woman named Rosa who becomes his friend.

I have always believed that Comedians are best actors of all to be considered for serious roles. No other actor could uphold this better than Javier Bardem who plays Ramon. He is such a genius that he can literally make you laugh and cry at the same moment that too just by using his face and lines. The director and writer Alejandro Amenabar also deserves a special mention .He doesn't asks for the pity of his audience, the path that many other such stories take. In fact Ramon loses his calm and control in just one scene in the whole movie. Some scenes like how Ramon imagines the beach which is off limits to him are visual treats as well.

In summary this movie is a complex masterpiece which is sometimes dark, funny and touches your heart. It logically and rationally questions the moral , religious and philosophical values which are often associated with issues like Euthanasia and suicide. Movies like these make the reading of subtitles for a couple of hours worth the effort.

IMDB Link