The Terminal

Yes we know that Tom Hanks is a brilliant actor and when put together with Speilberg's creativity, they sure make a lovely movie.
And as for terminal, the sheer ingenuity of the theme is what I loved.

Tom is from an Eastern European country. He arrives at the New York airport but unluckily for him a war broke out in his country after he left. Now since he belongs to a country (or no country) which the US does not recognize he is stranded at the airport.
Tom plays a character who does not understand or speak English very well, so easily that it becomes difficult to believe that he is an American.

The story proceeds showing how the security in-charge at the airport starts disliking Tom for his patience and at how he starts making the airport his home. Tom in the meantime makes many friends and well wishers at the airport. The movie is a bit stretched towards the end, but

I will not describe the entire plot and the climax, but it is a movie worth watching for
1. The uniqueness of the plot
2. Tom Hanks' flawless performance
3. The story telling

Go enjoy the show!

Housefull 2

Yes, its by the same director. The director who made Housefull and the same writer too!

No don't lower your expectations right now, else you might end up liking the coup that housefull 2 is.

It is a wee bit better than Housefull because it has a few "genuine" moments of laughter, but as expected, fails to be a comic ride.

The story, being not worth mentioning, I'd just state that it is a copy of a Marathi movie (I can't remember the name right away, but the story is about a rich son who wants marry the girl of his choice but is afraid of his father and hence brings her in as his friend's wife and so on and so on which finally results in a lot of confusion)

Anyhow, so there were very few "nice" laughter moments some being the crocodile and snake episode, only in the beginning. They were stretched too long.
And as for more moments, I seriously cannot remember any. But ask the other people in the theatre that time, who were laughing their guts out at every statement and they will tell you what a lovely time they had, because they probably left their logical thinking at home.

So I would say, don't bother.

Paan Singh Tomar

Of course till now you've heard that the movie is based on the life of an Indian athlete - Paan Singh Tomar

Tigmanshu Dhulia's direction is outstanding. It remains focussed on the central character and the central theme throughout the movie.
Irfan as always, never disappoints. Playing a character who is so intense, is cake walk for him. He does it very effortlessly. He first plays the innocent Paan Singh who
is from a small village famous for its dacoits. He however, does not want to end up as one of his own and joins the Indian army. Here the officers dicsover his athletic abilities and thus Paan goes on to become a national steeplechase champion. Here too, he plays a passionate sportsman with ease. Some problems back home force him to retire and he follows the ethical way to straighten things up. He goes to the local police who do not help. He tries his references back in the army but even they are not helpful. When things go out of control he is left with no option but to answer the goons by being a goon. This is when he sets out and forms a group of dacoits.
Truly Irfan's performance is commendable. Mahie Gill hardly has any role worth mentioning. And the director has done a good job of staying focussed on Paan throughout. The dialogues are well written and well delivered by Irfan. The cinematography, background score and editing have also greatly contributed to the effect the movie has on you.

The difficulties Paan goes through and how he is forced to live a life of crime will definitely touch your heart. This movie is rightly dedicated to sports heroes of India who died amidst a lot of difficulties just because their sport did not attract rich investors like did cricket.

A must must watch!

The Woman in Black

Looking for an eerie movie, which will haunt you at night? Then this movie is worth some of your time.

The plot goes as, there is a lady who appears in a black veil. Whenever there is a sighting of this lady, there have been deaths, deaths of children.

So, Radcliffe is a widower. He is a father of a son. Does he even look the age of such a character? Anyhow, he has been sent to a remote place to settle the estate of a deceased lady. He faces a lot of opposition from the villagers but finally reaches the house. The house is on an island, an island in high tide and connected to the town during low tide. The house is haunted by the spirit of the owner of the house, the woman in black. She is avenging the death of her son.

The plot is not really great though, and not even Radcliffe's trial at playing the role of a grown up. But what makes the movie worth watching is the direction, cinematography and sound effects. It does give you some shrieks, increased heart beat rate and visions that will haunt you for a few moments at least.

The movie starts of very slow and picks up towards the end. And by picks up what I mean is it gives you some shrieks and goose bump moments.

So watch it, only if you like these kind of thrills. Else, avoid!

The artist

It is a must watch, not because it won the oscar, but because it is worth your appreciation.
A silent movie, when sound is all we hear. Effects and three dimensional and the theatre experience essentially cashes on the sound.
Silent movies were there back then when you and me were not born yet. But I believe that was the true test of an artist. Expressing yourself without words and voice. One's expressions speak tons and acting in that, a tough job.

So, the movie is about an actor, George Valentin who is very famous and well known. He acts in silent movies. He meets a girl, Peppy Miller who aspires to be an actress one day. He helps her out initially granting her an entrance in the film industry. She moves on from being one of the dancers to small roles to supporting roles to being an actress. All this while George Valentin has been moving out of the industry as he is against making a movie with sound, speech.
Peppy pulls one successful movie after another while George loses one friend after another and is then left no option but to sell all that he owns to buy drinks and food.

But more then the story, I think you would concentrate on the performances delivered by both the actors. Superbly splendid and effortless. The movie has the complete feel of a silent movie, black and white, no noise, what has to be conveyed by words is printed on the screen on a black backdrop (Reminds me of Charlie Chaplin). Ohh and the puppy is adorable. His expressions and emotions are also so well enacted, and I'm sure anyone who watches the movie is bound to fall in love with that dog!

The end is highly dramatic and thus ends the movie on a high note.

This one is a definite must watch, not as much for the story but for the creativity and performances!

The Holiday

Its a romantic mushy-mushy story. So if you don't like such movies, I'd bet you skip the movie and the review.

So, the story is about four people. Kate is in love with one of her bosses and is very confused about their relationship. She can see that he does not acknowledge her in public but keeps telling herself that it is ok. The whole bubble of hope breaks when he announces his engagement to another girl, his real girlfriend.
Cameron on the other hand, catches her boyfriend cheating on her. She ends the relationship but isn't a bit remorseful. A successful "movie tralier" maker, she wants to go on a vacation to beat the stress and spend some time with herself. While surfing to find a nice holiday home, she chances upon Kate's antique house far away from NY. Kate's home is available for "home exchange" and thus Kate ends up for her vacation in NY, at Cameron's house and vice versa.

Kate here meets Jack, who is in a relationship with a budding actress. His girl rarely notices him and acknowledges him. He starts spending time with Kate and they start getting to know each other. They finally realise that the ones they are brooding over are not worth their time.
Cameron on the other hand meets Jude (Kate's brother) and instantly falls in love with him. Later she realises that he is a widower and has two kids, two beautiful girls. She tries to keep herself objective stating that NY and her career are very far from his place and their relationship will never work out.
At the end however, love triumphs and both the couples live a happy life together!

The performances nice. The atmosphere created by the characters and screenplay was not as great as could have been. But, its a romantic movie for those days when you are feeling low or missing your loved ones!

Ek main aur ek tu

This is a cute story about two people, who have been brought up very differently, leading very different lives and who bump into each other unfortunately, or fortunately.
Yes, the story does not really sound very interesting or different, but still the movie is worth a watch.

So, Imran is born and brought u in a filthy rich family whose only aim in life is to keep their status intact. They want their son to be the best and always decide what he should do, how he should do it, whom to date (yes, seriously!) and etc etc. They do not really give him a chance to think or act as he feels. And the worse part is that he does not really know what he wants and does not have the courage to do what he feels like.

Kareena is a free spirited lady, living each moment to its fullest. Se has been brought up in an open-minded family that teaches its children to grow and learn and fend and think for themselves.

The movie is not a love story. Its a story of friendship, of one's outlook towards life, of a family's upbringing. It really only tells you "Live each moment. You never know what's in store for you next. SO stop brooding over the past, or the future. Enjoy the present".

The performances are good. Kareena plays the same character she played in Jab We Met. Imran is not so bad, but its Kareena who hogs the limelight. The soundtrack is enjoyable. The movie is 2 hours long and does not feel over-stretched even when emotions come into play.

I'd say, go enjoy this movie. Its not too hard on the brain or heart. A light hearted movie to watch when you're really low!