Dennis the Menace (1993)

It's a beautiful, crisp morning filled with the sound of chirping birds and peaceful enough to want to enjoy the morning paper. But if you listen carefully, you'll hear the dreaded rattle of a bicycle, the sound scary enough to frighten away birds, cats and squirrels alike. Oh and Mr. Wilson too! Who else can it be but Dennis Mitchell - the next door neighbor's pesky son. And you better watch out! The blond haired little Dennis, always armed with a slingshot, is no angel and that's what most people who've dealt with Dennis will tell you. All of his good intentions don't amount to much as it ends up bringing nothing but misery to Mr. George Wilson. On different occasions, Dennis has shot an aspirin down Mr. Wilson's throat, broken his dentures, ruined his barbequed chicken successfully getting the chicken to taste like paint, dropped a burning marshmallow  on Mr. Wilson's forehead- and the list is exhaustive.

Mr. Wilson has been chosen to host this year's garden party, an event he has been eagerly waiting for. The showpiece will be his 'mock orchid', a rare plant that blooms once every forty years, only to wither in a few seconds. Unfortunately, Dennis's parents have to be out of town at the same time and Dennis is now living with the Wilson's. Mr. Wilson is only too convinced that Dennis will somehow mess things up. Will Dennis be able to redeem himself and save the day?
Absolutely fun and rib-tickling.

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Word for the day :-
leonine - of or relating to the lion

Hachi: A dog's tale (2009)

Professor Parker Wilson (Richard Gere) makes a train journey everyday to get to and from work at the University. As the story goes, little pup Hachi who is making his way from Japan to the United States is soon lost at an American train station when he breaks free from his cage. As destiny would have it he bumps into Parker. The adorable pup wins Parker's heart and he decides to take the puppy home for the night, hoping to find his rightful owner the following day. Curious about the dog, bearing a collar with a Japanese symbol, Parker seeks help from his Japanese friend.

His friend is able to tell him that the symbol in Japanese reads Hachi, meaning "good fortune" and symbolizes the lucky number 8. After several failed attempts to locate the owner, Parker and Hachi soon form a bond like no other. Hachi accompanies the professor to the train station everyday and he waits patiently for his return at 4 each evening, a sight not lost to many. It is the end of life's journey for the professor who dies of a heart attack, one fateful day, while teaching. But Hachi continues to keep vigil for the next nine years in the hopes of his return.
This is a movie inspired from a true story of a dog from Japan that

The statue at Shibuya Station, Japan

dates back to 1924, before World War II. Before Hachi's death a bronze statue was erected at the Shibuya train station in 1934 to honor a dog's loyalty, unflinching love and faithfulness.
Tears galore. 😢

The Godfather (1972)

'The Godfather' is a saga of the Italian - American mafia scene with the rise of the Corleone family, in particular. Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), comes from humble beginnings in Sicily and he had to escape with his life to the Americas. He gradually grew to be one of the most feared, respected and powerful mob bosses. Covert dealings leading to betrayal and deception, leave much death in its wake. Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) had long since turned his back on the family business to fight in the World War, returning home a decorated war hero. Once an attempt is made on his father's life and Michael's oldest brother is savagely massacred, Michael is forced to take the reins from his father and he is sucked into the vicious circle of mistrust and revenge. But all this power must come at a price! Fearing for her life and that of her children, Michael's wife - Kay (Diane Keaton) must make a difficult choice - can she risk the life of her children or must she leave the man she has trusted and loved for practically half her life?

I have searched for similar movies but there is none like The Godfather. It's one-of-a-kind! Extremely riveting and based on the book by the same name, authored by Mario Puzo, this movie must definitely go down on your  'must watch' list of movies. And believe me, you will not be disappointed.

Word for the day :-
nebbish - a pitifully ineffectual, luckless and timid person

36 Chowringhee Lane (1981)

36 Chowringhee Lane, Calcutta. The tinkle of a bell announces the arrival of an rickshaw  that comes to get Ms. Violet Stoneham (Jennifer Kendal) to school. A teacher by profession, Violet resides alone in a cozy flat. At the end of her day she goes home, prepares a cup of tea and sits down to read and write replies to the letters she receives. She owns a beautiful gramophone, a decent collection of records and a cat for company.

Her predictable routine is soon broken when she happens to meet the vivacious Nandita Roy (Debashree Roy), an old student. Nandita and her boyfriend, Samaresh Moitra (Dhritiman Chatterjee) need a place where they can spend some time alone. They love the solitude of Ms. Stoneham's flat and to alleviate her loneliness Ms. Stoneham is only too willing to accommodate them. They spend many a happy afternoon together. Soon Nandita and Samaresh get married and one Christmas Ms. Stoneham bakes her Christmas cake and decides to  surprise the newly weds. But who will be surprised instead?

Deeply moving and thought provoking.

Word for the day :-
dalliance - a period of brief or casual involvement with something

Ratatouille (2007)

This is the first animated movie that I'm writing about.

"Anyone can cook!" - Says chef Gusteau. That holds especially true for Remy.

Remy (Patton Oswalt) is a resident of Paris - the culinary capital of the world. His refined sense of taste and smell, however, have no outlet. After all Remy is a rat, who is dying to cook!

He happens to meet Linguini who is employed as a garbage boy at Gusteau's Restaurant. Hidden under Linguini's (Ian Holm) toque blanche, Remy finds the medium through which he can showcase his talent and his uncanny love for food. After running through the sewers of Paris and trying to break away, Remy and Linguini become proud owners of the French Bistro -  "La Ratatouille".
I detest rats and who doesn't! All furry, scurrying around and nasty .... But after this movie, I do not think these hairy little creatures are that bad after all ...

Word for the day :-
diurnal - of or during the day; non-nocturnal

To rats and cheese! ↴