Reviewing the reel world

Sherlock Holmes A game of shadows

2012-01-21T19:23:00.001+05:30

You've read Sherlock Holmes? If yes, You are bound to find differences in the characters described in the book and portrayed in the movie.
You enjoyed the first movie? Yes, then this one is one hell of a ride.
Even if you haven't watched the first and haven't heard about the character "Sherlock Holmes" even then, this movie is a rollercoaster ride.

Sherlock is a detective, a very famous one at that. He has a doctor friend Dr. Watson who assists him in his cases and bears the brunt of his tantrums. Sherlock also has a brother Mycroft who is placed well among the upper class. There is an additional character, Dr. Moriarty who is a famous and notorious scientist. He has a flare for using his brains and his powers to rule the world. He is often confronted by Sherlock Holmes and often he loses to Holmes' intelligence.

So, the script is unbeatable. They have adapted parts of the novel but it is otherwise truly an original. The twists and turns are wonderful, you need to hold on to your seat belt! The performances are amazing, specially Robert Downe Jr. He quite resembled the way Sherlock Holmes would have been if he were not just a fictional character. Jude Law has performed very well too, you wouldn't want to call him a supporting actor, he keeps your attention on him throughout the movie.
The music was nice and catchy. The action scenes were done differently, a little sprinkle of slow motion to highlight the minute details.

Verdict : Go watch the movie on the big screen!

Sleepless in Seattle

2011-12-12T11:18:00.001+05:30

Its a mushy, romantic, emotional drama. If this repels you, then this is not a movie you will enjoy, since there is nothing more to this movie than a fairy tale romance.

The story starts out with the death of Tom Hank's wife. He has a son. Its been a year but Hanks is still living with the loss of his wife. He is always sad, lost and aloof. He avoids social contact and does not want to date again because he still loves his wife.

Meg Ryan is a reporter and she is engaged to her love Will. She believes in signs but does not know herself. She hears Hanks on a radio station and falls in love with him. She decides to meet him just to find out whether they have a future. She fights with herself, does not tell her fiancee and sets out to meet Hanks. When she finally does see Hanks, he is with a young lady. She looks at Hanks, standing in the middle of a busy road and Hanks sees her too. That's it. She flies back home and Hanks is with his young lady. However, before flying to see Hanks, Ryan had written to him and asked him to meet her at the top of the Empire State Building on the 14th of Feb. Hanks' son is very impressed by her letter and feels she could be his new mom.
Ryan then finally knows that she does not love her fiancee and Hanks' son gets his father to the Empire State Building where the two protagonists meet and the story ends.

Nothing new, right? Performances were good yes, but the story is predictable. All the events of the movie, are basically from some or the other romantic movie. So I'd say the movie is passe!

Ladies vs Ricky Bahl

2011-12-12T11:17:00.001+05:30

A con movie. Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma and Yash Raj, but not impressive. The movie is not impressive.
The story, Ranveer is a con. He only cons women. He does not take undue advantage of them, its just the money he's after. Everything is going fine until he cons business woman Dipannita Sharma. She is then contacted by two of his earlier con-successes, one a punjabi kudi (Parineeta Chopra) and another shy, sophisticated, innocent Lucknow girl (Aditi Sharma). These three set out to con their con-star and retrieve the money they lost to him. For this purpose they hire sales girl Anushka Sharma, who cons her customers everyday by getting them to buy lots of stuff they don't even need. She agrees to do the job. And hence begins the love story between Anushka and Ranveer who both fall helplessly in love with each other. What follows is a small melodrama where each wants to reveal their true selves and live happily with each other. (Yes, happy ending here)

So, nothing much about the story that makes you sit out there for two hours. Anushka and Ranveer show off their bodies and chemistry. Dipannita Sharma and Aditi Sharma have performed well, but the star of the movie is Parineeta. She has done a wonderful job as a flamboyant, rich, over-confident punjabi kudi and makes you want to laugh at all she says and does. She definitely has a great career ahead of her.
The songs are bad, the words make no sense (which is true for many bollywood songs), but the music is also not catchy. The background score is not much too. The story is simple but predictive. The direction and cinematography are good. All in all a not-so-new story with okay performances and mediocre story telling and body show by Anushka and Ranveer. A time pass movie if you have nothing better to do.

Rockstar

2011-11-14T11:15:00.001+05:30

A new age movie? Yes, I agree with the attitude depicted.
But does the new age lack common sense?

First let me talk about the pros of the movie, since all the reviews I read uptil now just bash the movie without talking about what's worth.

The songs and the background score. They won't let you forget the movie, not for another year or so.
Ranbir's performance is what holds the movie for 2:45 hours! No kidding, its just Ranbir's earnest and flawless performance that even lets you forgive Nargis for her "ohh-so-kiddish" dialogue delivery and expressions that would make you want to turn away!
The story-telling is nice and it keeps to the "I don't care" attitude of the current age!

But, the curve drops. Why? The story. It is cliche`d, yes but who says usual "hardships in a love story", "an undecided lady, who cannot decide whether she wants to get married, or stay faithful or have an affair" does not work? But obvious mistakes? I mean, one could tell that something was just not finished. Out of the blue someone just says "I am a junglee jawani kind of a person", to a stranger? There were many other mistakes, I won't mention all of them. Here's the link for the mistakes.

But, all said and done, the movie is worth your time once for the performances (ofcourse excluding Nargis) and the background score and the music and the overall feel that the movie gives you. Go watch it!

404

2011-11-07T16:35:00.000+05:30

Lately, have you seen a bollywood movie with a well-written script and creative direction? And a movie which is so "out of the box" for bollywood standards? (Please don't say yes, delhi belly was the one. Since that is nowhere close to the skill and potential this movie displays. Dhobi Ghat came close..but still lacked a strong storyline.)

Anyhow, lets come back to 404 error not ..it's all in the mind.

What does this movie boast of?
1. A well-written, crisp script. No obvious loopholes
2. A different,well-executed story-telling which makes nice use of the light.
3. Brilliant cinematography
4. Strong performances

The movie starts out at a college dorm, the usual ragging tactics which go terribly wrong.
Somewhere in between you actually start believing that the paranormal exists. You are fighting with yourself to disprove the possibility, you try looking for different angles but fail. Its the last 15 minutes that turn things around and your mind starts putting everything together. The last scene..gives you goosebumps. The acting in that last scene is mind blowing!

The movie grips you throughout while you keep trying to find loopholes. I haven't been able to find any. I would be happy if you could. Go enjoy the mystery!

Soundtrack

2011-10-24T12:27:00.000+05:30

I'm sure most of you didn't know that there was a movie named "soundtrack". Yes ok, we saw it. Why? Because that was the only movie a lousy multiplex near work was screening at the said time. So yes, whatever.
Back to the movie.
Rounak is hear! Yes, that's something we all joked about after watching this movie. Actually not only that, the clown; who was in the movie for some undecipherable reason and who had very "undecipherable" makeup on too :p ; then there was the mother of the troubled (going..gone deaf son) who was not even a trifle troubled by the knowledge of her son losing his hearing ability? Its such a commonplace occurrence right?
Ohh and the "born deaf gal" who has learnt to speak and lisps and her action for "try again" is similar to revving up a bike. Is that the usual sign used by the deaf and dumb? That seemed weird though.

So, the story. Rounak (Rajeev) who has brilliant ears for music is a spoilt brat. All creatives are into drugs and uncontrolled parties it seems? He then slowly starts losing his hearing ability and that's when the joker starts appearing. (What for??) He then tries medication but eventually he turns deaf. He loses control goes into sanyas and then returns to the city. He meets Soha (forgot her character's name) who is the "born-deaf-gal" who runs an institute to teach the deaf to hear n speak. Hear by looking at the other person's lip movements. Then the love story ensues and inspiring story - Rounak composes music by feeling the vibrations on the speaker! Yes his friend (who has so much money even after he's lost his reputation and is bankrupt) organises a concert for Rounak where the ever so demanding press are (ofcourse) present and demand to know if this is all a farce! Ok, movie ends here as Rounak vanishes and keeps sending his friend music composed by him, to sell and earn.
Ok, movie ends!

The concept wasn't that bad actually, but the script and the direction and the performances (excluding Rajeev) were horrendous! Music is nice, not great but nice. Its foot-tapping and I especially liked the instrumental with all usual noises playing in a rhythm.

Verdict, not worth the effort!

Meet Joe Black

2011-10-02T13:37:00.000+05:30

Released in 1998. A different plot definitely and a great star cast. Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins and Claire Forlani.

Joe Black (Brad Pitt) mysteriously enters the life of Anthony Hopkins and begins to stay with him always, at work at home, everywhere. His mannerisms are a little weird for a human since it seems everything that is normal for humans is something new for him. At first all the family members find it difficult to see him around, but as time passes he becomes as close as a family member and also helps Anthony sort out his troubles and losses in business.

Towards the end it is someone dies, someone gets back and Joe vanishes. I won;t reveal who Joe is because that is something you better find out yourself :)

The story is novel. But it proceeds too slowly. The performances are no doubt brilliant. Brad Pitt does his job well for one to act surprised at everything that is really normal for a human :) Claire Forlani's performance was so very real. All her emotions, trials, tribulations all very well portrayed.

A nice movie to watch, had it been a little more fast paced.

Force

2011-10-02T13:13:00.003+05:30

This movie was rather force'd'. Yes, the agenda of the movie was only showing off what's in the poster here. Yes!
Story - inspired (taken) from a south Indian movie (I'm sorry I'm not sure it was tamil or telugu :) ) is rather trivial.
Performances - John okish. Genelia was overacting. And what I don't get is why do all these love stories always depict girls as always blabbering about something orthe other? How can someone just go on talking non-stop? And why is it always the girl? Anyway, that's a discussion for a diff forum :)

Screenplay - good.
Action - mediocre
The only thing I liked about this movie was one song "khwabon khwabon" which is ruined by John's (lack) of expressions. Yea but it only ruins the video, the song and its mucis is appealing.
So, you got the point. Don't go to the movie with great expectations. It a run of the mill movies, usual story, usual love story, usual villains, usual endings. Its a time pass(kill) watch if you have nothing better to do.

I'd say passe!

Bodyguard

2011-09-27T19:09:00.001+05:30

Would you like to watch a movie which demands you keep your "brain" aside? Would you like to watch a movie which feels like some old-age bollywood movie, where the credits come before the movie starts (on a screen with a color) and songs pop in anywhere (without context)? Would you like to watch a movie that has all the masala...a love story, a one-sided love story, a prem kahani, tears and emotions and villains and heroes? Yes? Then this is a movie for you. Add-on is Salman's humor and Kareena who is looking stunning these days. Yes her outfits are worth looking at. Salman..he's as usual (won't comment).

So, story..love story with a twist. Screenplay nothing new. Music not so great. Comedy..forced. Performance..the script did not demand any. Script? It didn't need one. Cinematography..you don't want to talk about it.

But even then, its a timepass movie. Not too hard on emotions and grey cells. If you are looking for a light hearted movie and you can bear Salman Khan, then go for it. I'd say its passe!

Mausam..it can kill

2011-09-27T00:17:00.001+05:30

It is a Pankaj Kapur movie and I had expected some sense from the movie. It is a total disappointment.
The movie starts with the introduction of Harry (Shahid Kapur) who is a mischievous, notorious young boy. He meets Aayat (Sonam Kapoor) who is a newcomer to the village. He falls head over heels in love with her. Ok, agreed, she looks like an innocent doll. But then why so much overacting to portray the innocence of love, the moments when two lovers steal some time to catch a glimpse of the other. Understood, we do not need so much overkill with dialogues. Then Aayat moves out from the village without informing anyone, during the Ayodhya riots. Riots and someone moves to Mumbai? Okay! Then when they bump into each other in Scotland after 7 years, all she can say for not informing him was "sorry" really? Where's the melodrama now?
Then, this time Harry has to report immediately as the squadron leader who leads the mission to win over Tiger hill in the Kargil war. Nothing about the war is shown, just that Harry's plane catches fire. Ok. But no melodrama, he lands successfully on an authorised runway, but in the next scene, the doctor declares that his left hand is paralysed? Where's the explanation now?
Then again they don't meet..for whatever reasons..but they meet during the Gujarat riots in 2002 where Harry very heroically saves Aayat at the last minute. They save a horse and a small girl (during which Harry's paralysed hand heals!). So now they form a family and live happily ever after. But is the audience happy? No, they are dead...bored to death!
So in summary, story..you just read the trimmed down version (your lucky). Performances..over done. The only one that deserves mention is that of Supriya Pathak. Songs..okish. Background score..okish. Direction not good and editing is horrible (its a 3 hour movie??)
Please don't bother!

Mausam

2011-09-25T20:21:00.001+05:30

There is an answer to Mausam. Twitter. The whole movie revolves around failing to update one's status (and stretches to centuries..but is luckily 3 hours). But with the advent of modern communication systems, such problems (one hopes) are now behind us.
--
Mohsin

That girl in yellow boots

2011-09-18T21:59:00.001+05:30

This is an Anurag Kashyap movie and its worth his name. The story is by Kalki Koechlin and Anurag Kashyap.
The story revolves around Kalki, who is a Britisher who has come to India to look for her father. She was very young when her father abandoned them and settled in India.

Kalki does not have a work visa in India but for a living she works in a spa. While massaging she also earns some extra bucks with a happy ending.

She meets many characters during her stay and finally when she finds her father, he is someone she would have been happier if she hadn't met.

The story may be a little trivial but what is striking is the story telling, the cinematography and the direction. It is very different from regular bollywood movies. And the performances..powerful. All the characters have given their bit, but Kalki's performance is overpowering. You wouldn't notice anyone else but her. Her character is a difficult one to play. Why? The character has white and gray shades all at once. Her thoughts and needs and beliefs are complicated. She is a young white woman living all alone in Mumbai, where no one really cares about anyone else.

A movie you must watch for the creativity put in the making and the stunning performance by Kalki. Give it a watch!

How to train your dragon

2011-09-18T21:33:00.000+05:30

This is an animated movie and no its not only for kids. Its an adorable movie. Simple story, featuring dragons though. But all the characters are endearing especially the lead dragon :)
Toothless is what the lead dragon is called. He is a sweetheart. Just look at his expressions and all you would say is "awww". He is very cute.

Ok, and apart from the dragon's cuteness there is a story :)
The characters in the movie live in an age when dragons were in abundance. Their town was in danger of the dragons, as they attacked at night to steal food. They damaged houses and killed villagers in the attempt. Thus the skill people developed in that town over time is fighting the dragons. Killing the dragon was considered as an achievement of the highest degree. The leader of the army had a son named Hiccup who was could never kill dragons. No one ever imagined he would be an heir to the leader of the army. As the story unfolds Hiccup meets Toothless who cannot fly as he has a broken tail. The relationship between Hiccup and Toothless is what the movie is all about. Even though Toothless is a dangerous fire throwing dragon he has a heart of gold and takes Hiccup as his master and pledges to protect him from all forms of danger.

The story line is not really new, but is done well. It is definitely worth a watch once. A very sweet and cute movie.

Marley and Me

2011-09-18T20:38:00.000+05:30

Ever had a pet dog? or wanted to have a pet dog? Then this movie is for you. Its a movie that travels less on the relationship between husband and wife but more on the relationship the dog shares with every member of the family.

This movie is based on a true story. It starts out with the relationship between Owen Wilson(John) and Jennifer Aniston (Jennifer). A sweet relationship but where Jennifer has planned out the steps of her life. John is worried that after a marriage and job Jennifer might have planned a kid. Since John was not ready for one, his friend advises him to buy a puppy who will keep Jennifer company. That is how John decides to get a pet. This pup they adopt is one hell of a mischievous fellow. He eats anything from a phone to an answering machine and is always jumping around. The way John and Jennifer handle him and train him is the best part of the movie. The fun they have together, the michief, the troubled times they pass through..everything is very memorable and well projected. And all this while John, who is a reporter writes a column which portrays all his experiences with his dog Marley. All these columns were later published as a book after they lose Marley. The burial ceremony they have for Marley was very touching.

All in all the movie is very heart touching and the performances are real like. Marley is the start with all his unpredictable mischief. Enjoy the ups and downs of the life of a dog. A must watch! Recommended!

Final Destination 5

2011-08-14T22:02:00.000+05:30

Should you watch this movie? Answer to your question is in the following simple algorithm.
1. Have you watched any of the FD series movies?
2. If yes, move on. If no, do you like movies with senseless killing? If no quit. If yes, move on.
3. If you have watched any of the FD series movies and have liked them, then move on, else quit.
4. If you don't mind some gore that too in 3D, go for the movie. Else watch it on your TV screen.

Ok, so now moving to the movie. Its nothing new. Its like the previous 4. One accident, some survivors and their fate and their death. The thing that was different in this movie?

1. The 3D effects..they were awesome. I mean yes, they were gory details..but 3D effects were nice :)
2. The end. The connection with the first part..loved it.

Go check out FD5.Enjoy!

Chala Musaddi Office Office

2011-08-13T13:27:00.000+05:30

Yes, we all have seen the TV series office office and Mr. Musaddi Lal. This movie has the same characters, the same corrupt people in the hospital, in the corporator's office, at the samshan bhumi, at ganga dham, at the pension office. In short everywhere.
At the time when India struggles to get the Jan Lokpal Bill to pass, this movie shows how a common man can fight against corruption. You do not need a law to fight against corruption. To fight corruption all you need to do is, FIGHT corruption.

Sure, all I said is true and its not as easy to do as it is to write or enact. This is precisely what I feel went wrong with this movie. Everything here is too easy.

In the movie, Musaddi Lal loses his wife owing to a corrupt doctor. He then decides to take his wife's ashes to the char dham where he meets corrupt ticket collectors and panditjis. Meanwhile the pension officers come to verify if Musaddi Lal is alive, since he hasn't collected his cheque since 3 months. Since they find his house locked, they declare him dead. The fight then begins when he starts a battle wherein he has to prove that he is alive so that he gets the pension he rightfully deserves.
He fights among the people and takes the matter to court, where luckily he finds a judge who is not corrupt. If everyone everywhere is corrupt, how is the judge not corrupt?
So, you know that this is a movie and it will have a happy ending. So that's it. He wins.

It sure does inspire you for a while. It tells you to act against corruption by not being a part of it. Don't bribe anyone to get your work done and that is how you fight corruption. If everyone follows this, you have passed the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Cowboys and Aliens

2011-08-06T11:19:00.000+05:30

The story:
The Aliens had just finished making their spaceship that can cross planetary boundaries. They were distressed because they were under the burden of huge loans. So when they heard about cowboys and the goldrush, they set out immediately putting in huge amount of fuel and reaching the planet Earth.

They planted their spaceship in a far away desert and made that their watch tower as well. Aliens went out at night killing people and stealing gold from them. They brought back the gold and melted it to take it away with them. They also brought back humans and operated on them to study their weaknesses. In the act they killed the humans completely. (yup death is their weakness!).
One such thievery got them in contact with Daniel Craig. They brought him in the operation theatre too with his beau but killed his beau which enraged Daniel and he picked up the alien's hand destruction machine and walked out. (Wonder how intelligent the aliens were. A machine they designed works so well for humans too! Amazing!).
As if this was not enough, they then introduce the cowboy feuds and silly rich spoilt son of Harrison Ford who gets caught by the aliens. Now Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig set out to destroy the aliens. One dame also follows in pursuit who is an alien from some other planet (Whoa! so its alien vs alien right?)
Finally after too much hoo haa they discover the alien tower and blow up a portion of it with small bombs.(Wonder how the ship crossing planetary boundaries is so strong eh?) This makes the aliens really angry and they come out in broad daylight and the war starts. People fight valiantly and there are emotional scenes when Harrison Fords adopted son dies (Ok. So this was an emotional drama all this while?)
Then Daniel and the other alien dame go inside the tower to rescue their people. After doing so, the alien dame feels to destroy the tower she will have to sacrifice herself. Which she does. When the aliens start moving to go back to their planet, she uses their own device (remember Daniel Craig had one?) against them and blows it all over the place.

Happy Ending!

Story via Mohsin

Chillar Party

2011-07-25T18:13:00.000+05:30

Chillar Party. A gang of kids. All are 1st to 5th standard going kids. Ever wondered where all the innocence that is part of being a kid has disappeared? Its all in this movie. Their expressions, plans, enemies, emotions, fears, enthusiasm - have been wonderfully portrayed in this two hour long movie.

The movie starts out with an introduction of each of the characters (kids). This part is wonderful, DO NOT MISS THIS! The nicknames they keep for each other, hilarious :)

They now have a new enemy - a new kid with a pet dog. The plans they try, so innocently to drive this enemy out of their society only hurts the new kid on the block. Even though these kids are so young at age, they realise that they cannot hurt anyone else-even though he maybe a stranger. (Wonder why grown ups don't realise something this easy). This chillar party then befriends the new kid and the friendship blossoms. The "friend in need is a friend indeed" attitude helps the new kid maintain his position as a "car-washer" in the society.

What then starts is a bollywood style twist. Enter politics. These kids take on a politician to save their favourite pet dog from being captured by the "stray dog" van. This is a little exaggerated, but I liked the "battle hour" at the end. Brings out a message so strong that I wish every grown up would watch this just for that.

The direction is good. The acting skills of all those teeny weeny kids..is superb! The story telling is also nice.

Go watch this movie to feel like a kid, to remember your childhood masti, to enjoy and relish the innocence of these kids, which is highly missing these days. Enjoy! I'd say this movie is a must watch, atleast once!

Zaru

Delhi Belly

2011-07-04T15:19:00.001+05:30

I'm not sure why people are blowing out of proportion what this movie brings. It brings you stuff that happens inside a toilet and I am sure, this is not what modern cinema is! There is something known as "abstraction" which can be used efficiently. There is something known as aesthetic cinematography, which does not need abstraction but it displays the truth with so much beauty that something as gross as sh!t can appear pleasant. This is one of the complaints I have with this movie.
The second is, just because its an adult movie doesn't mean that you should limit the words used to only f*** words! Every alternate word being a gaali does not make it a *bold* movie.
The language and the cinematography for a few scenes could have made the movie better.
As for the story, there is nothing new. Its the same madness, crazy life depicted in Shaitan. The pace of the movie is not fast enough to make your adrenaline pump neither is it too slow to put you to sleep.

The good part about the movie? yes the dialogues minus the gaalis are witty. Some sequences are hilarious. The background score is nice. The item number by Aamir is funny. The song "I hate you (like I love you)" is awesome!

I did not expect cheap slapstick humour from Aamir Khan. A thumbs down!

--
Zaru

X-Men First class

2011-06-23T18:45:00.003+05:30

The movie posters had all new faces and that made me tell myself, this movie is going to be a disaster. But the reviews and good vibes I was getting from all around, made me reconsider my decision.

The movie is a prequel to all the X-Men movies. It is the prequel to Wolverine too.

The movie has an amazing story line and is pretty fast paced. You hardly get a breather between all the events that take place. You remain glued to your seat right from the start till the end.

The era depicted in the movie is one in which not all were aware of the existence of mutants. The mutants knew they were different and tried their best to fit into the life of normal people.

A rogue mutant (Sebastian) has set out to free the earth from the burden of normal, weak humans. A CIA agent unknowingly sees someone disappear in thin air and comes to think that mutants might exist. When she hears about Professor Xavier's thesis on mutation, she catches up with him to discuss the possibility. These two then join forces to protect the very existence of humans against Sebastian's army. The story just sprints from here picking up more characters on the way.

The performances by each and everyone are great. The direction worth a mention.The action is absorbing, the effects interesting and the story..well as I keep saying is very well knit. Wolverine also shows up in his usual fould mood, for a miniscule moment much to the joy of everyone in the audience.
This movie has made me want to watch all the X-Men movies again and I'd like to coax you to go and watch it if you already haven't. Enjoy!

--
Zaru

Pyar ka punchnama

2011-06-20T19:18:00.001+05:30

Its a guys movie. Gals can watch it if they don't mind getting a little offended and finding out some extremist behavior traits in their species! (There I said it. Its true..about the characters in the movie. But, not all girls are the extreme characters portrayed in the movie)

The movie starts off with the routine lives of three IT professionals. One who is always complaining about his current job, whereas the other two don't really care about the kind of work their doing. They are room-mates, stay, eat, drink and have fun together. Their lives are pretty usual, until they meet their girls. The movie then proceeds as to how these girls interfere in everything they do, use them and then throw them away like the wrappers of a chocolate and basically make their life hell!

The three girls in the movie are:
Neha : The control freak
Charu : The long distance chick
Riya : The can't say NO gal

The movie is well directed. The story is well told. The acting is good, could have been better. The guys are way better than the girls though. The end is a bit melodramatic and stretched. But overall a movie you must surely go and watch to have a good laugh.
The reason why this is movie is so enjoyable is, even though this is reality, it doesn't want you to weep (like some KJo movies try and try to make you want to weep). It brings out the truth and emotions all too effortlessly.

The best part of the movie : do not miss the awesome dialogue that two guys share when one is telling the other the problems he is facing with his girlfriend. Hilarious! (note : this can give ur bfs many more dialogues to use when you act stupid :p)

--
Zaru

Shaitan

2011-06-12T16:54:00.000+05:30

An Anurag Kashyap movie..had high expectations. Only that it was produced by him, but directed by Bejoy Nambiar. Nevertheless it did have moments of brilliance in direction.

The story is about Kalki (Amy a.k.a Amrita) whose family has shifted to Mumbai from L.A. She meets a K.C. who is another rich spolit son. She then joins his gang of friends, who belive they are enjoying life to the fullest by indulging in drugs and alcohol. One such moment of brashness and drunk driving changes their lives forever. The story ahead is a ride full of fear, confusion, greed, ego, madness, corruption, honesty, an urge to clean the system and finding one's true self. Its no doubt a hell of a ride, with no time to think what will happen next. Rajeev Khandelwal always does well. Kalki, no doubt is an intense actor. The rest of the cast is not as impressive, but they manage to do some justice to their roles.

All in all, a nice watch. Could have been better, but deserves to be mentioned. The best part of the movie..rather two parts were very well done.
1. The incident that changed their lives. A littlt obscure at first, but very very effective.
2. The scenes towards the end, where Amy remembers her last moments with her mother. Brings out the unstableness of her mind, which we keep registering throughout the movie but never really think about.

--
Zaru

Source code

2011-06-09T19:31:00.000+05:30

I had great expectations from this movie. One being the name of this movie..so appealing to all software engineers. Second, well.. no..it was just one reason.

The concept was great, create a new universe which is an exact copy of this one, with a little time lag. All the characters in the new universe are also a copy (no reference). The events that take place in the new universe are also a copy of the original. Sound interesting? Yes, the program that did this was called source code. One more interesting part is that it can send you into the universe, as whatever you would like to be. A handicapped man could be sent in with all his limbs intact. Sound wonderful? Yes.

Well, this concept didn't hit home when you saw the movie. The direction is below average, which makes you feel yes..why..sigh..yawn..again? but he was just here.
The direction was as I mentioned earlier not to the mark. And hence you turned towards the performances for some hope, but that didn't save the movie too. I mean everything was so monotonous after some time that the one and a half hour of the movie seemed like ages.

So in essence this movie is a nice concept gone totally waste!

Haunted

2011-05-17T11:37:00.000+05:30

This is Bollywood's entry into the 3D movie world. Nice effort, could have been better. Some scenes in the movie appear blurred. But, the horror part makes good use of the fact that it is a 3D movie. When you are totally at ease, a scary face pops out right in your face! So, the movie has the chills and the thrills a horror movie should offer.
The acting..is sad. The actor even sadder. The actress..she looks cute but that impression is valid until she starts talking. The dialogues..well they did make me laugh (This was supposed to be a serious kinda movie :P)
The direction..I'd give it a nice try. The music..hardly matters. The background score..good.

Besides that, its a typical bollywood masala movie. You name the concept and it is there in the movie. pyaar, mohabbat, izhaar, ikraar, judaai, takraar etc etc. And then, you wouldn't believe it, the movie also has a twist of time travel to it :D

So, the story starts with our hero coming all the way from US to complete a deal..selling this age old villa. He reaches the villa only to find out that there is something wrong there. He hears someone playing the piano and then someone yelling out her guts. He has to find out the truth about this, before the new owner turns up in 10 days. So, he goes to talk to this uncle who stays in the same city and has obviously heard about the villa. And when his uncle refuses to believe that there is a ghost, our hero says "Mein pagal nahi hoon. Maine MBA Stanford University se kiya hai". Okay, so point proven :P
So anyhow, he tries seeking help from a "spiritual walker" But she gives up saying that this soul is 80 years old and has grown very strong and evil. But the hero won't give up. (Would have been better if he gave up on acting actually :P) Some tantrik baba then sends him back 80 years in time. (Ohh how wonderful, bollywood comes up with time travel..but not with the use of some big machine...but some tantrik) Now he tries to prevent the evil teacher from becoming a soul but he doesn't succeed (obviously) and so has to protect the girl, because he has fallen head over heels in love with her (I wonder how anyone could like her voice?) Then follows the drama of the two innocent love birds trying and escaping the evil spirit to reach some other tantrik baba who tells them how they can free the evil spirit to send it back to its right place. There is running and screaming and yelling and destruction and howling and a scary background score which finally ends with the hero returning to his present and the actress being free. (Whoa that was a lot to write)
For the whole story with details..you can read this

If your bored..and are craving for some horror :P this is the movie you want to go to. But, go with a group who will not shy away from passing witty and funny comments. Thats the best part of the movie. The crowd in the theatre was so jovial that I ended up enjoying this movie more than any other comedy movie I have seen. Awesome fun :)

--
Zaru

Scream 4

2011-04-27T18:14:00.000+05:30

Let me finish this one in a few words. Don't go watch it. Seriously, there's nothing new in this movie. The same old someone stabs someone, and in the end it turns out to be someone they knew, who started all this to fulfill his own selfish needs.
Yes, SCREAM never had a story ever right? True, but then there is no element of surprise too that gets you to scream even once throughout the entire roll. I couldn't even act scared even for a moment.
Performances? Do I need to mention? I mean are they even needed?
There also isn't any skin show which most of the horror/thriller movies sell. So in short nothing should make you want to watch this movie.
And the reason for the killings! Its even more hilarious. "Because I don't want to work and earn money and fame. I need a shortcut" Seriously? I mean seriously?

Please don't bother!

--
Zaru

Rio

2011-04-27T18:04:00.000+05:30

This is a movie that people of all ages are bound to enjoy. Its the story of Blue and his journey through life to find his purpose.

Blue is a macaw who has been domesticated since before he even learnt to fight for his own sustenance. And so he does not live in the wild, nor has he ever used his God given(okay..not given to him, but rather something that has evolved) gift of flight. Blue is a nerd who lives in Minnesotta. His life takes a complete u-turn when he meets Jewel who lives in the wild. Enjoys her gift of flight and freedom to the hilt. The turn of events after they meet is rather like a typical bollywood movie, but nevertheless very well done. The animation needs a special mention. Very real like display of emotions..very well done!

Each time you watch the movie, you are bound to find something worth a mention. Be it the colors, the animation, the screenplay, the songs, the background score...everything is wonderful! The end is very emotional when the point driven home is that love gives you wings. It gives you confidence to do what you never dreamt you could even attempt! Nice!

One sequence that I particularly enjoyed is when Blue calculates all that he needs to fly..like a typical nerd. Hilarious!

All i'd say is..go watch this movie. Its worth a watch on the big screen!

--
Zaru

No one killed Jessica

2011-01-26T12:35:00.000+05:30

The title was interesting. The trailers surely promised a narrative that would give you goosebumps, which is why I wanted to watch this movie. But it disappointed.
Script : Was stretched out of proportion. Drama is a part of bollywood, but there is a way of portraying it.
Direction by Raj kumar Gupta, not exceptional. The movie just failed to have an effect on the audience. Where with a true story like this one, I should have been shattered/scared/nervous as well as relived finally when justice was delivered, all at the same time. Instead I just sat there, waiting for the movie to come to an end.
Storytelling, I didn't like it much either. One scene just did not flow into the other. None of the characters were built up.
Acting. Well now this was something I was looking forward to.
Rani : Was good. Nothing different from her previous roles. Could have done much much better. She hardly had any role, to build her character.
Vidya : She had almost all of the movie to herself. I was looking forward to watching her, as the distressed sister. But her acting fell flat. I agree that the role was demanding, and Viday has the potential, but this one she just did not do well. Some variation in expression? If not a change in expression to depict that you have gone numb, some change in the dialogue delivery? No? Everything was just too monotonous. You as an audience just could not feel her pain, her anguish, her distress, her frustration. Where were all these emotions?
The only scene I liked is, when Vidya's father reacts to the news of his wife's death. The only scene, in the entire movie which gives you goosebumps.
Myra : She didn't have much to offer. And so towards the end, they let her shoot her model profile for free. Why was that part at the end needed? Didn't the director give her enough of screen space?

A very disappointing movie. The only saving grace being the music of the movie. Very nice job done by Amit Trivedi. Nice background score too, but not well backed up by the direction and acting. I'd say don't bother!
--
Zaru

Tron Legacy

2010-12-19T12:13:00.000+05:30

What is this movie all about? Well I have more questions than answers.
* Why were they playing games?
* How did Sam know the passwords of his dad's secret systems?
* How come some were in white, some in blue and some in red?
* What was supposed to be the motto of Sam before entering the maze?
* Why was the character of Zeus needed?
* How did the program move into human life with so much ease?
* How did Cora get her hand back?

* Did the editor understand the movie after it was done?

* Could they have made it a bit more verbose?

* Is it only me who didn't follow what was going on?

* Why did I go watch this movie?

Band baaja baarat

2010-12-14T16:33:00.000+05:30

A YashRaj movie...so you know its a romantic movie. But what's missing is the mushy romantic full of emotional songs melodrama.
The story is rather trivial, storytelling is good. There is nothing in the movie that makes you say "wow".

The story is set in a city Janakpuri in Delhi. Shruti (Anushka Sharma) is completing her graduation, but she already has her career plans set. She aspires to be a successful wedding planner. She runs into Bittoo (Ranveer Singh) who convinces her that she needs a business partner. Together they set out to create a career. Starting with small weddings i.e. budgets in lakhs, tens of lakhs they finally graduate to big weddings which have budgets in crores. This is when personal fallouts creep in and they decide to quit. Then the same old saga, wherein they realise what a great team they were and etc etc..proceeds to a happy ending.
The music is catchy, but nothing that would make you want to go on humming it. There is nothing fresh about the soundtracks.
The only part of the movie that is worth watching, is the acting. Both the leads have done a good job. That is the reason I could sit through the entire movie. So, if you do happen to go watch it...its just the acting and the spontaneity that you should look out for.

Khelein hum jee jaan se

2010-12-05T12:14:00.000+05:30

An Ashutosh Gowariker movie. And what a gem. The only debacle in his movies till now was What's your raashee. (But this movie is one of importance for me..and will always remain..for personal reasons ofcourse :)
So, back to the movie.
Its based on the Chittagong conspiracy and built from excerpts narrated by those who participated in the uprising.I must the say, the movie is well researched. The cast was chosen due to their facial resemblance to the real heroes.

The story telling is poerful, the direction superb. Every character is etched out before we are taken to the finale. The background score adds to the emotion being portrayed very well.
All the actors, the ones who lead the uprising, the teenagers, have acted exceptionally well. You can feel the pain when they are hurt and you can feel the immense patriotism when they decide to do or die for the freedom of the country. Deepika, I felt was a bit too stiff. Yes, she was a teeny weeny bit better than herself in her previous movies, but all her efforts fell flat considering the other power packed performances by the kids.
The movie bring tears in your eyes, brings fear, brings an immense pride for your motherland, makes you feel like doing something great of your life, because so many have fallen to make the country independent. After the movie was over, I was frozen in my seat for almost 2-3 minutes. I didn't feel like rushing out, but just sat there reading the names of all the heroes who started the new wave that ultimately won us freedom.
This movie should be shown to all our current politicians. Let them know what went in getting us freedom and if the current state is anywhere near what we call an independent country!
Hats off to Gowariker. A very nice movie indeed. I would like to applaud him for his efforts.
It is a serious movie, but very well made. All the youngsters out there, go give it a watch. It is sure to trigger a feeling of "so or die" in you. Vande Mataram!

Do dooni char

2010-11-03T13:01:00.000+05:30

This movie has been directed by Habib Faisal and is his first. Kudos to him for such a fine film for his directorial debut.
This movie is very real, fresh and light hearted. Yes, now that I think about it, is there any movie that spells out the facts of life, the hardships a middle class family faces, and yet is light hearted? None I think. But this movie is different.

It is a story about the Duggals and how they finally buy a four wheeler. Mr. Duggal is a professor, and his income is meagre (as is the case with most in the teaching profession). His wife left her job to take care of kids. He has two children. A daughter, who has finished junior college and has dreams of being rich and owning the poshest possible car. The son, is studying in school but has dreams of a millionaire.

So, this family is going through its own ups and downs, squabbles, problems etc etc, when Mr Duggal's sister comes to invite them for a wedding. She insists "car mein aana aap log, varna mere sasural wale kya bolenge" So typical of India right? So this is what finally, a little indirectly though triggers the "I will buy a four wheeler" saga.

All the actors have done a brilliant job. Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh, Archit Krishna, Aditi Vasudev. The direction is good. Cinematography good. Background score nice. There is a little melodrama towards the end, but I guess that much is bearable.

All in all its a must watch, once. Its a different movie and I'm sure you will enjoy it!

--
Zaru

Robot

2010-10-27T10:29:00.000+05:30

Don't tell me you haven't watched this movie? You have to give it a watch. Watch it in hindi. Its a fun ride throughout (if you can somehow ignore Aishwarya)

The plot is very much bollywood, the sets and action scenes creative. Yes, I know its a copy+paste from various movies but then, putting copied ideas together well is also creativity :)

The plot is : Vasikaran (Rajnikant) makes a humanoid (Chitti). He wants this robot of his to be used by the Indian army in wars, to avoid loss of humans. The panel which decides the fate of the robot also includes Vasikaran's teacher Danny, who is jealous since he hasn't been able to make a robot himself, for a couple of years now. He proves to the panel that Chitti is not worth the army. He also somehow convinces Vasikaran that if Chitti had feelings, he could be useful. So now Vasikaran is on a new mission - he installs software emotions in Chitti :D And now is where the plot is typical bollywood. A love triangle.
The last part, where Chitti and his self created army fights against the Indian army is worth a watch. The graphics are good and worth your time.
The comedy part in the movie is also wonderful. What comedy? The songs. What sets..what words...what movements..and Aishwarya...Ohh God..someone forgot to tell her that she wasn't walking the ramp..it was a movie set!
Yes, so as I said earlier, if you can somehow ignore the actress, you have a laugh ride. Its a fun movie for a huge group. Go enjoy!

Aakrosh

2010-10-16T23:31:00.000+05:30

This is a Priyadarshan movie. I was definitely hoping for much better.
Aakrosh is a take on honour killings (details). The concept is good. The presentation is good doesn't give you the much required goosebumps though and is patchy.
The performances are okish. Paresh Rawal has done a superb role as a corrupt, law non-enforcing policeman. He plays his wart so well, you almost wish he was killed. It reminds me of his early days in the film industry, where he was always cast as a villain. It was only after Hera Pheri that he started getting roles as a comedian. Ajay Devgan, was good. But I would say there was nothing different or new in his performance skills. Akshaye Khanna, not sure what he calls acting. Bipasha was hardly there, she only had to cry and yell, but yes she did a good job. Reema Sen has played her part well. Specially the scene where she tries to report the killer after her tongue has been cut off.
The characters were not built up really well. The story just starts and then it appears that parts of the movie have been stuck together to somehow carry it on. The item song with Sameera Reddy? Why was it put there and who wrote the songs? Who choreographed it? Was it even a teeny weeny bit like an item number? Totally not needed here, as there were already so many things that were not working for the movie.
The concept was good, could have been made better.

Khichdi - The movie

2010-10-14T11:43:00.001+05:30

For all those Khichdi fans out there, this movie is a must watch!
It has the innocent Praful and his always decked up wife Hansa.

Praful what is? decked up matlab?
Hansa..Hansa...decked up.....
you remember those numerous english words that Praful has screwed up :)

There is babuji too, the always irritable babuji. Jayshree is there too, though the original character is not in the movie, but Nimisha Vakharia has played her part really well to keep up the good old, always conspiring against babuji, Jayshree. Himanshu, kisi ko pata nai chale, is as always ... always cooking :)
Jacky and Chakki are not the original characters and do not really mix up really well with the others, but they are hardly there throughout the movie.
So, Jacky and Chakki are out on a summer camp where everyone is narrating stories. These two kids start talking about their mad family, the Parekhs. The movie revolves around the story "How Himanshu gets married to Parminder". The story is pretty straight forward, but Himanshu wants a love story that is a legend. So the Parekhs put forces together, to make Himanshu's love story a one that will be talked about by everyone for a long time. You can imagine what all the Parekhs together can do :D

I won't reveal all the funny and senseless twists and turns in the movie as its worth riding the madcap boat with all its surprises and giggles.
All those who have enjoyed the series Khichdi on TV, go enjoy the movie. You will not be disappointed.

Aisha

2010-10-01T12:30:00.000+05:30

It has been adapted from Jane Austen's Emma. Ok, I hope this itself tells you that this is a movie that guys will not enjoy. Just for experimentation, take along a guy and see what innovative things he will do to pass his time :P

The story of the film is not bad. Its like a fairy tale that kept me in a trance throughout the movie almost. Everything moves so fast, everything is so much like a fantasy...so much money that you do not think before buying a gucci or a prada...! man!
Ok anyway, so when I came out of the non-real air created rather well by the director, I started observing the performances.
Abhay Deol is always good! A tad bit too underused here though
Sonam Kapoor I would say, her expressions are same almost everytime. Don't think she could have pulled the movie for even a week, without the songs, the feeling of being in a fairy-tale all through the movie.
Infact, I liked the performance by Ira Bose. She was really good. Her dialogue delivery, her nakhras, latka jhatkas.
As for the story, Aisha is a matchmaker and a compulsive one at that. She would go to any extent to make the two she feels are soulmates come together and get married. As confused as she is, she takes it upon her to find a life partner for Shefali. Little does she realise that love, relationships are not made, they just happen.
The movie ends - happy ending and everything that was messed up by Aisha, is straightened out in less than a few minutes. All the characters in the movie (as pointed out by the guy who was so bored to death by the time the movie ended) do nothing but attend parties, shows etc and still keep saying that they are busy. Wonder where they get all those huge bags of money from :)

--
Zaru

Help

2010-08-20T12:56:00.000+05:30

I'm sure no one heard the cries for help. And I'm sure even if you did, you ignored them just because of Bobby Deol!
Okay, if you haven't heard about this movie...its a movie starring Bobby Deol and Mugdha Godse. Its a horror, directed by Rajeev Manoj Virani.
The plot was good and had all the qualities that could have made this film a good Bollywood horror film.
I won't explain the plot here, just in case you decide to watch the movie. It does give you chills and thrills but fails to keep up the tempo and make good use of the story.

Some of the things that clicked
1. The plot
2. The cinematography
3. The background score
4. The direction in some scenes
5. Mugdha's clothes ;)

Things that could have been better
1. Some parts were directed really well. Towards the end it felt that the director has given up. The climax could have been shot/directed in a better way which would have left the audience thrilled!
2. The performance by the actors!
Bobby, I didn't really expect much from him other than his usual stone faced-never changing expression.
Mugdha, she was not that bad, but could have done better, specially in scenes towards the end where she comes up like the ghost.
Shreyas...you too? I had expectations only from you. A disaster. Not sure what went wrong, you being in guest appearance or the director!

The best scenes you should watch..in a dark room with silence around
1. The start, when the titles are coming up
2. The first scene of the movie
3. When the peon in the hospital explains how the patient was not schizophrenic but demonically possessed
4. When Mugdha is alone in the hospital
5. When Mugdha is chanting something like a nursery rhyme and Bobby confronts her

So..I'd say...to enjoy a few chills do watch the movie. But yes, it could have been much much better!

Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai

2010-08-17T10:20:00.000+05:30

Mumbai-pune-mumbai, as the name suggests is a story about people from these two cities.
Swapnil is a Pune bred lad, while Mukta Barve is from the always fast moving, no time to breathe city Mumbai.
Mukta comes to Pune to meet her prospective husband, but her ideas about people in Pune are not so welcoming for any Puneite. While looking for directions to her destination she accidentally bumps into Swapnil. Swapnil now embarks on a mission to get her to her destination. He takes her to the guy's place, but unfortunately the house is locked. Swapnil then is on a new mission, to prove that he is a gentleman and that he cannot now leave a lady, in a new city alone. So he shows her around Pune. Tulshibaug, sarasbaug, Sinhagad. During the day they share their life stories as acquaintances. They also share their ideals, beliefs.
When the time of departure arrives, Mukta has a freer mind, as she has come over her trials, hard feelings for guys in general because of her past spoilt relationship. She is now eager to meet the guy she had originally come to meet and then, the climax. A nice twist, though trivial.
The lead actors, Swapnil and Mukta as usual have acted rather naturally. The direction and the story telling are nice.
Its a nice one time watch!

Eclipse

2010-08-13T14:41:00.003+05:30

This is for all those gals (and guys) who have enjoyed reading Stephenie Meyer's vampire love story saga.

Its a passionate, fairytale love story between a vampire(Edward) and a human(Isabella).

I've loved the first one Twilight and adored even more the second New Moon, so this movie had to be a must watch.

This movie has no secrets to reveal, we now know that Edward is a vampire (part of Twilight) and Jacob is a werewolf (part of New Moon), so this one is more about the three central characters, their interactions, how Edward and Jacob who are enemies still try and pool in forces and work together to protect their love, Bella.
It is a mushy love story, but this time with a couple of good fight sequences. The encounter with the new bred vampire army is really nicely shot and the effects are worth a watch.

As for the actors, you already know both the guys are hot! and the gal is sweet. As far as acting goes, I guess its okish. Story, direction are good. And no I haven't read the book so cannot compare there.
All in all I'd say its worth your time once. For guys, you might go just to enjoy the fight sequences.

--
Zaru

Khatta Meetha

2010-07-27T19:29:00.000+05:30

Its a Priyadarshan movie. I shouldn't have had more expectations after his De Dana Dan and that is the sole reason why I didn't leave the screen midway.
The pivot of the story is corruption. This time round the corruption in the construction business, road construction is explored.
But, the movie lacks direction. Somewhere in between you hear dialogues like "tu to grahan ke din paida hua tha. Tu to mhanoos hai. Tujhese kuch nai hoga" i.e. "You were born on the day there was an eclipse, you are unlucky. You will never be able to accomplish anything in life". Which made me think, is it this topic we are highlighting?
Somewhere in between, we have an honest person, become corrupt so that he can make money. So he makes roads which are of low quality. Okay, so this is the topic right?
But then, you see someone kill an innocent person, after pushing the blame of his wrong doings on him. And a reporter who is trying to unveil the truth of the incident. He is killed before he can reach the court etc. since he is killed by a politician So, we are now talking about politicians here.
But then, in between, we have good comical dialogues and scenes where the road roller keeps moving down a slope and breaks into someone's house. So this is a comedy flick right?

There was an effort I believe to bring out humour in theis corrupt world of ours, poignant humour (I hope this term exists). But, the effort failed terribly. Songs come and go in between for no rhyme and reason, reminds you of typical bollywood movies right? But we have come way ahead of that stage in bollywood, so why keep going back? And Priyadarshan...come on, if you can make movies like Hera Pheri, why make Khatta Meetha?

Akshay Kumar is the same as always, and it feels like an overdose. Rajpal Yadav does well, but cannot save the movie. Johnny Lever, do not accept such roles, so that atleast your previously hard earned honour remains intact. And the heroine, Trisha Krishnan is a part of the movie only for an effort of glamour.
Please, don't bother!

--
Zaru

Salt

2010-07-27T17:53:00.001+05:30

Intention - make money
Achieved - using Angelina Jolie. She has fans .. a huge lot of fans. Then again she's doing all those cool stunts. So the shows are houseful.

Story - Is trivial. There is a traitor somewhere who wants to kill the Russian President, someone frames her and spreads the word that she is a Russian spy. The story is nothing more but her struggle to prove her innocence, find the real traitor and save her husband.

Direction - Even though the story was rather trivial, this movie could have been a lesser disaster. There is too much confusion throughout. You have no clue whether you are being shown the past or the present. At the end you are left with questions like "Who was this guy?" "Why was this guy in the story?" "Where did this mega destruction weapon fit in?"
and finally
"Why did I go watch this movie?"
and even worse
"Why was this show houseful?"

--
Zaru

Hotel Rwanda

2010-07-09T10:45:00.000+05:30

This is a movie that released in 2004 that won many accolades internationally. I happened to find the name a little hatke and so decided to give it a watch. And believe me, you will not be disappointed.

In Africa, there were mainly two tribes the Hutus and the Tutsis. The Hutus believe they are supreme and the Tutsis are cockroaches and need to be eradicated. There is a radio station that keeps broadcasting how the Hutus should join forces and clean the earth of these cockroaches. It is in this state that there arises a civil war, with the Hutu army coming out on streets killing Tutsis..mainly the children so that they can finish off ther next generation and thus prevent any more from stemming. The hutu army called the militia killed mercilessly any Tutsi they saw.

Here we have Paul Russesebagina who strives in difficult situations to keep his family alive. It is a true story about Paul Rusesebagina, a Hutu and his wife Tatiana a Tutsi, and how he strives to save his family and also helps others in need against all odds.

Paul is a hotel manager of an international Hotel Mille Collines. He shelters almost more than a thousand Tutsis and takes them to security. We also see how corrupt the militia are and bow down if given booze and money. Also the UN who is supposed to intervene and help these people only makes arrangements to evacuate the whiltes from the province. They very easily turn their back on the others since they are black, they are Africans!

The movie is very well made. The best scene is where Paul is going to get supplies for the hotel and his car keeps hitting roadblocks and the expression on his face when he sees why. After he comes back to the hotel all his composure is lost. He knows he cannot tell his wife the truth for it will be too much for her to take. It gives you goosebumps. The performances of all the actors is so real that for the whole movie you feel it is you who is being tortured, who is fighting for life, who is striving to keep people safe.

I'd say do watch this movie when you can. Its an awesome movie and it makes me wonder...the same thing might have happened in Kashmir...but the Bollywood movies we make on such subjects never have such an effect on you. We should learn to keep serious movies serious and not add songs and love scenes to spice it up where not needed.

Anyway, kudos to this director for such a fine piece of direction. Thanks!

I Hate Luv Storys

2010-07-07T10:16:00.000+05:30

...and if you don't, you will if you live through the movie.
The movie's story is ...oops sorry I know its not present, but if you call it a story, then..it is based on how horrendously non-different all Bollywood love stories are. But, what do we have here, another typical mushy, happy-ending-always, dumb-dialogues and extra-exaggerated-climax-proposals. How "different" right?

The movie starts off and you know you've made a wrong movie choice. Anyhow, you can sit through the first half. But the second half, is super stretched as if it wasn't already a typical Bollywood movie.

Direction...I'd say not bad but wasted on an invisible script. Though there are places where the direction fell short, for example the song "I hate luv storys" is put there with no connection at all. If an average viewer like me can notice that, it should have been worked upon by the creative teams that develop and scan and rescan movies to check for flaws they could correct.
But, I'm sorry..it is the director's responsibility to make "actors" act..am I correct? Then I'm sorry the director has failed.
Imran Khan, Aamir's blood runs in him, but his expressions throughout the movie were the same. Be it a scene where he is laughing mischievously or a scene where he is supposed to be dejected on being rejected. Come on, don't play a chocolate-lover-boy character if you cannot at least portray the emotions of love. Sonam, I'd say has done a much better job. In scenes where she is supposed to be dejected, she at least isn't smiling..never mind the stone faced gaze which portrays no emotion at all.
Okay, can I also tear apart the dilaogues now that I haven't liked anything about the movie? No, I think I'll spare that, they were bad, but then there were worser things. So, please please don't bother. And if you do, let me know if your views differ.

Toy Story 3

2010-07-04T17:20:00.000+05:30

This is a movie, you should really really not miss! It has been released in 3d too, but you could skip the third dimension. The 3d effects are clean just like in Alice in Wonderland, but not necessarily needed.

The movie starts with, sorry I cannot miss the part before the movie. There is an animation about day and night which is in no way connected to the movie. But it has been put there for your entertainment and your awe. It is very creative and only so, has made its way to Pixar. Do no miss that part (This is for all those like me, who generally miss the beginning of movies :P).

Now, the movie. It starts with a flashback, the kid playing with his toys. That part is particularly funny and cute and imaginative. Ever considered a death option like 'death by monkeys' :D Then reality dawns on Andy's toys. Andy has grown up and is moving out to go to college. He will no more play with his childhood favorites Woody and Buzz Lightyear. One statement that touched me was, one of the toys said "Yay, he touched me...he touched me". This was when Andy touched a toy to pick it up and place it in the storage trunk, where all his childhood toys now lied. All the toys like to be played with. But here they were feeling abandoned. Woody tries to keep all the toys together by explaining to them that even if Andy does not play with us anymore, he will not abandon us. He will keep us safe in his attic.
But then, as fate would have it, all the toys accidentally reach a day care center where there are lots of kids and toys they play with. All the toys are delighted that they would be played with after all, that is what they are made for. But woody is firm on his decision and feels that Andy needs them. He leaves the group and makes his way towards Andy. On the way he faces some difficulties and meets a small cute kid named (I don't remember her name) who takes very good care of her toys. And that's where he learns that the day care center is a nightmare for the toys. There is an evil bear who runs the place and the only way toys can leave that place is after they are dead i..e broken. Then starts the great escape and realization that Andy in fact meant to keep them in the attic and not abandon them.
The movie is very well made. The creativity and the thought behind each character is amazing. Even a toy's life is not as easy as it seems :).
What this movie did for me was, bring back all my childhood memories and transported me into a world where I had my Barbie dolls and Lego houses and all the dreams we then had as kids.
So, don't miss this movie. It is a must watch!

Raajneeti

2010-06-20T19:51:00.002+05:30

This movie, a Prakash Jha film made waves early on since it seemed Katrina was portraying Sonia Gandhi. However false that part was, it sure made everyone want to see the movie. Yes, you do go with lots of expectations and you will not be disappointed.

There are plenty of characters in the movie and they are well woven into the story. You will not feel that any character is un-needed. The plot is good and it seems a little exaggerated with the violence, but I've heard its true in some places of India. The storytelling keeps you want to keep watching. The screenplay is nicely done.The background score compliments the ongoing sentiment in the movie. The best scene I'd say, is the blast when Arjun Rampal is trying hard to save Sarah Thompson. I actually had goosebumps.

Lets move towards cast and their acting skills now. Manoj Bajpai was too natural. Nana Patekar has done a different role where he has to keep calm and keep all the characters calm too.he has done it rather well. Arjun Rampal can act well and he has proven his acting skills. Ranbir always does act well and he does not disappoint you. Katrina does not look as bad as I had expected her to be. She has tried her best to do justice to the character, only her accent gives her away in the scene where she has to give a speech. Rest she does not have much of a role. Ajay Devgan, I didn't really appreciate his acting. I have seen him do better in Gangajal, Yuva. Here he just looks rather out of place as far as acting skills are concerned. Possibly because he was always in the same frame as Manoj Bajpai, and his acting is way too superior.

All in all, I'd say its a superb movie that deserves a watch! enjoy!

Raavan

2010-06-20T12:11:00.004+05:30

Raavan is a much awaited movie of the season, which is to be expected when it's coming from Maniratnam. Watched it yesterday. Raavan is short movie (by Bollywood standards) and a I think a short review will do.
Good: Artistic potential, some scenes are extremely well crafted.
Bad: Or rather not-so-good. The same thing, art goes over the head of mango people. So they laugh when they should be scared. And I think subconscious stereotyping has a role to play here. The script requires intensity and your mind won't accept it from face familiar from romantic movies or something. Very few people can pull this trick (senior B is one, certainly), but Junior B has also tried hard. Rest of the cast is ok, but rather unremarkable. Music I found boring. All in all, a one time watch.

Kites

2010-06-03T19:35:00.001+05:30

It is a Rakesh Roshan film. And how do I know it?
Actor : Hrithik Roshan
Music : Rajesh Roshan
has to be a Rakesh Roshan film :P

The story of the movie is not very great, but the direction by Anurag Basu makes it worthwhile to watch. Though the story is usual, the way it unfolds gives the audience a good experience.
Gals can watch the movie for Hrithik. Guys can watch it for Barbara Mori. She is pretty (I know guys will have much better words to describe her ;) ).
The scenery is refreshing. Barbara's accent is nice to listen too. I liked the chemistry between the lead actors. The dance that Hrithik and Kangana perform together is awesome! Kangana has worked really well and has done a good job. To share the dance floor with Hrithik and still stand out is a big achievement.

Overall, the movie is not so great..but its not that bad too. So, i'd you may give it a chance!

Half baked

2010-06-02T20:38:00.003+05:30

Had loved Iron Man, and had great expectations from the sequel too.. But expectations are a sure way to disappointment. Thanks to the sequel for helping me see the lesson a bit more clearly. Talking of which 'half baked' is the necessary and sufficient review for this one. It seemed to me that the director tried to fit in too much of stuff to please every-one and the resultant mess ended up pleasing no-one. Some salient blahbah
1. A villian who creates an electric whip in twenty first century is dumb.
2. Remote controlled robots is as old as Baba Aadam.
3. Second lead with nothing to do is older even than Point #2, but I object to the underutilized tin-suit.
4. Too many hollywood stereotypes (father, legacy n stuff), Iron man the original was much more realistic.
Overall, a few good graphics, but not worth your time.

Badmaash Company...Bakwaas Company

2010-05-31T16:38:00.001+05:30

You wonder why I saw this movie? If yes, then this review is unnecessary. You already know that its not worth it. But then why do I write? Just for keepalive sakes :D

So, this movie, with trailers showing Anushka Sharma in hot attires and all time favourite of chicks Shahid Kapur, did do okish at the box office. Whom do I blame for the headeache I had after watching the movie? The writer of course.It has a very "unusual" plot. Unusual? atleast that's what the trailers suggested. And if you do watch the movie you will realise that all the script does is try and prove that the hero always wins. He makes mistakes but in the end he always makes things right. Did you mark his dialogues? No? Can't be..unless you did sleep through the movie. All his statements give one the impression (this was an observation made by another person who bore the torcher of watching this film) "I am the hero..so I have to be cool"
Let us now start with the acting part. Anushka..I think she has hardly acted. All she did was show skin. Shahid, I felt overacted. Rest of the characters were hardly needed.
Story? You really want to know? Ok then, I won't take the trouble of going through the "unusual" plot once again. I'll direct you and basically reuse some else's good work :P. So here it goes. Enjoy! (not the movie..the story :P)

The Back-up plan

2010-05-23T18:56:00.001+05:30

It is a nice light hearted romantic comedy. A one time watch if you adore Jennifer Lopez.
The movie is about a woman in her thirties 'Zoe' who still hasn't met a man of her dreams and feels its time to have kids. So she conceives through artificial insemination and then meets Stan, the man of her dreams the very same day. She seems to like him and cannot get enough of him but is afraid of losing him on telling him the truth.
The movie proceeds almost predictably with Stan feeling she cheated him by not telling him about it before and then he anyhow is so madly in love with her that he agrees to raise the kids as his own. But then when everything is going right, Zoe thinks Stan doesn't consider the kids his own and then walks out on him. However when its time to deliver realization dawns and she asks for forgiveness and for Stan back in her life. So, they have kids and live together and then after a while Stan asks Zoe for marriage and she says 'yes'. A happy ending!

I didn't really see much sense in the movie. Even the comedy was hardly there. Acting didn't really catch my eye as the movie couldn't keep my attention.

Remember Me

2010-05-23T18:22:00.001+05:30

The movie starts with a terrible murder at the railway, leaving a small girl to live without her mother. She is the daughter of a detective in chief who is over protective of her. He blames himself in some way of his wife's untimely death and hence tries to keep his daughter away from everything except himself. He fails to realise the needs of a teenager. The daughter hear is Ally (Emile De Ravin).
The second lead actor Tyler (Robert Pattinson of Twilight fame) has a family with an elder borther and a baby sister. His parents have separated after his brother committed suicide.
The story proceeds with Tyler asking Ally out as a part of a bet (a very usual trick used in many bollywood movies too) and then..as always predictable, he truly falls in love with this simple homely girl. Tyler's relationship with his father is strained since, his father Charles (Pierce Brosnan) is a very successful business man who never has time for his family (another very common formula of bollywood).
Slow and steady all the strains start getting relaxed and moving towards normal when we have the 9/11 which shatters the twin towers to disappearance.
The last part with the twin tower disaster makes your heart cry out. The remaining part of the movie is pretty usual with nothing out of the ordinary to offer. The direction is not bad. The acting is also not bad. The only thing that was missing according to me is a script.

House full - why was the show house full?

2010-05-02T19:34:00.001+05:30

This yet another Sajid Khan's movie. As if I didn't ask the question "why does he make movies?" after I saw Heyy baby..I stepped into this movie too. And yes, not very surprisingly I asked the same question after I stepped out of this movie..."Why the hell does he make movies?".

Lets start from the very beginning. The movie starts with a song about how unlucky Akshay Kumar is..and the words of the song..are pathetic. It sounds worse than a poem being recited. If you think I may have over reacted..sample this "he is a panauti..." so go the words.
The comes the script..was there any story? Its just another All the best. The same old some lies being spoken, some more to cover it up and then so much confusion added just to keep it all going and create a pseudo comedy effect.
The acting is pathetic and overdone. The dialogues don't make you want to laugh. The only reason you might laugh is just because your desperate to leave the screen and get back to a saner world. The three ladies are there just to try and keep the screens house full, since they wear bikinis and dance away to songs for no rhyme or reason. Chunky Pandey and his "Im just joking" really doesn't fit into the movie. And the worse part being the premise of the movie...Akshay Kumar's bad luck! How on earth can someone really really think of making a movie on this theme? I know India is a country where people do believe in luck etc but to go out and make a movie on the same, I find very dumb.
The end to the movie was also too senseless and not well directed. It ends up with all the people including the Queen of England (I don't know why she was needed here) laughing out their wits (since "santa-banta" leave the room filled with laughing gas) while the lead characters clear up the confusion that has built up.

A really really sad state of comedy films for bollywood. A senseless and brainless movie is NOT a comedy flick.Our industry is maturing and comedy is the piece that still lacks in content and luster.

City of Gold

2010-05-02T18:44:00.001+05:30

Mahesh Manjrekar is all out making movies on true stories and the mood is rebellious.
This movie is a hindi-remake of the film Lal baug paral. You could watch the marathi original too for better dialogues (So I've heard)

This movie is based in Mumbai. It is a story about the mill workers and their plight when mills close down because of the owner's greed. The owner's close down mills to sell the land to builders making commercial buildings and multiplexes etc. The workers are not paid their wages and not even their pension. The movie delves into details of one such mill and the chawl the workers lived in.
Their lives, their joys, their desperate moves for money to save their loved ones is all depicted very well in this movie. It is the reality..the harsh reality which makes you want to go out and scream and think...that all the hardships we face today are not as big as what people faced earlier and even face today in small villages in our very own country India.

The movie is very well directed and the story telling is brilliant. All the actors have done a good job.
All in all the movie is a serious flick and is a must watch.

Date Night

2010-05-02T18:37:00.001+05:30

This movie is a light hearted romantic comedy. Shawn Levy has done a good job of the movie and the script is also entertaining. The dialogs are nice..and the comic timing of both the lead actors viz., Steve Carell and Tina Fey is applaud-able.

The movie is about this couple, who has been married for quite some time now. They have kids too. But they still follow a small tradition i.e. they have a date night every Friday. After a while it gets monotonous and the two start feeling they need something new. One night when Claire(Tina Fey) dresses to kill, her hubby Phil (Steve) feels the need to impress his wife all over again. So they go out to an over-hyped restaurant and a simple move to take a reservation of another couple leads them to live an unexpected night. This night not only cements their relationship but also helps them sort out their differences and disappointments.

The movie keeps its pace till the end, never making you ask for it to end. The comic timing is good and makes it a nice movie to watch. And yes, the comedy is not brainless as in bollywood movies. So I'd say..its definitely worth your time once.

Prince..its not showtime!

2010-05-02T13:53:00.001+05:30

Kumar Taurani's action thriller with supposedly hot bikini babes hit the screens this summer.

I agree that action thriller's may not require a story, but then when you're making the film with Vivek Oberoi, you should have atleast a script. Not even the babes were hot enough to keep you sitting through the entire film.

So, no script..no acting..no oomph factor..no thrill in the action. That is prince for you.

I don't think I'll take efforts to describe the very long and complicated non-existing storyline. I'll reuse resources that have very well drawn out the entire script. Here it is. Enjoy!

And ya..please please..don't bother!

The blind side

2010-04-04T22:31:00.003+05:30

The name of the movie doesn't really tell you much about the movie. The beginning itself explains what the term 'the blind side' means. Its a term used in the game of rugby here in this movie, which means a move, or a side that was left uncovered and hence lead to the team's loss. However, the movie is not entirely about the game and its intricacies.
This movie is about a poor black who resides in USofA and whose athletic ability would have gone unnoticed or unused, or worse his life would have ended in some gang war, if he hadn't met a kind soul Leigh Anne (Sandra Bullock) at the right time. Leigh Anne, is a well to do mother of two and living a happily married life with her husband and kids. She is often involved in charity work and thinks it is each one's duty as a Christian. When she sees Michael (Quinton Aaron) in the same set of clothes day in and day out, picking up leftover popcorn at the stadium for food she knows that he needs help. She helps him and he is now part of their family. A black among the whites (cat among the pigeons?)
The story thus moves on, Leigh Anne boosting Michael's long lost confidence and thus evolves a beautiful story of emotions and relations.
The actors have done a brilliant job. I specially liked Sandra Bullocks acting, all her expressions were very natural. Quinton Aaron has also done a brilliant job.
The story is simple, the direction good and the story telling makes you want to watch it.

I'd say its a must watch!

LSD

2010-04-04T22:23:00.001+05:30

Its a movie made very differently for bollywood standards. Its three stories, connected in some way, all shot by a camera which unfold backwards. The stars of the movie, all of them newbies have played their roles well.
The three stories are each about love, sex and dhokha.
I won't write much about it, just say that its worth a watch, just for the different and fresh feel and the way the story tells itself.

Go watch it!

Well done Abba...well done Shyam Benegal

2010-03-31T12:07:00.001+05:30

Its a nice, light, jovial movie that portrays the serious not so good problem of corruption. I won't let out the plot just so that you get over your inertia and go and watch the movie. However, I'll say just this...the story is the usual one but the portrayal, the way the story unfolds is refreshing.

The overall look of the movie is a simple village in Hyderabad. The actors Boman Irani, Minissha Lamba, Ila Arun all have done a brilliant job with their Hyderabadi accents and pronunciations. The performances are great. Boman Irani's dialogue delivery and his timing is just incomparable. The dialogues are very witty and delivered flawlessly by the actors. There are no unnecessary songs and you never need to ask "ye movie kab khatam hogi?". The only part that was not needed at all was Sonali Kulkarni's role. I wonder how she agreed to play the part of a wife to a husband obsessed with the idea of sex. All the so-called steamy scenes are pushed in for no rhyme or reason.The movie could have surely done without her role. Ravi Kissen her husband in the movie, obviously plays his natural.

The last part(I won't give details) , the award ceremony is just hilarious. Go have a good laugh and enjoy the movie! I'd say "A must watch"!

Shaapit

2010-03-24T16:30:00.002+05:30

Its a Vikram Bhat movie the director of Raaz (and 1920 too they say, but I don't feel its worth mentioning..)

Anyhow, so...Shaapit. Debut movie for Aditya Narayan, who became popular (and girls went crazy whenever he came on stage) after hosting a singing competition on Zee(IIRC). He has done a good job for his first and it would surely be fun to see him do more roles where acting skills are all that the script depends on.

The story is about Kaaya(Shubh Joshi) who is under a curse and Aman(Aditya Narayan) who is in love with her and pledges to remain so till eternity. Kaaya's curse will not let her get married, and if she decides to do so, she will be killed. Aman will not let the curse do them apart and hence starts his journey to achieve the impossible. In his quest he meets a professor who has studied spirits and written a detailed book about live examples. The professor will not help Aman, just because fighting with spirits is not a cake walk and he can't stain his hands with Aman's blood (A typical dialogue you'd say right...but maybe the script writer didn't realise that in bollywood the lead protagonist (male) never loses :P)
So, Aman takes on a challenge and proves to the professor that he has what it takes, to fight the spirits (How he does so, find out by reading the book page 117 (IIRC) :P)

The story is quite believable and the effects are damn good, as per bollywood standards. The sound and light effects are good. If a little more time would have spent on effects and aatmas the 'thrill' i.e. the effect the movie should have, would have been noticed atleast. The script is a bit stretched towards the end which makes you ask "ye aatma kab nasht hogi?".

Overall, I'd say for the effects is a good watch. Acting is not bad. Direction is good too.

Harsihchandrachi Factory

2010-03-14T23:35:00.001+05:30

Its a true story about the first Indian motion film made ever. It was Phalke who fought the odds and the crude mentality of Indians at that time and setup this film making industry in India that today earns has shown its presence all over the world.

Back then, this industry was new and no one knew how it worked. Working in a film was also considered a madness and was looked down upon as a profession. However with the never ending support of his wife and kids as well as some of his well wishers his quest for a new business setup and his journey till success is what the story revolves around.

A brilliantly made film with no unnecessary filmy masala proceeding in the right direction and never letting you get bored. This film keeps you glued to your seat while you enjoy some funny lines and more importantly the perseverance of the man in question.

I'd say its a must watch!

Alice In Wonderland

2010-03-14T15:59:00.001+05:30

Its a movie made on the very famous 'Alice in Wonderland' story we all must have surely heard of, or even followed the cartoon series that came on TV when we were kids.
Its the same story with the same characters.
Performances are good. Make up is awesome. Direction is good. And top of all, the 3d animation is wonderful. Go if you want to enjoy the 3d effect, its very nice.
Anyway, after the movie starts it gets a little bit boring and stretched towards the end. So, a good family and kids watch I'd say.

Enjoy!

Atithi tum kab jaoge

2010-03-14T15:56:00.001+05:30

Its a simple, fun, not so usual but not so different story.

In today's 'time is money' world where family life is diminishing how would one cope up with the demands of a guest, who lives the age old way i.e. get up early, have a bath and then make food else its unauspicious etc etc.

Paresh Rawal steals the show with his brilliant acting which makes it look so natural. Konkana is as usual natural but hardly stands out as outstanding. Ajay Devgan with his usual 'im so coll, im so bhola bhala' expressions does his bit in keeping up with Konkana. The direction is good, but could have been better.
The background score and the song 'atitihi tum kab jaoge' is nice.

Story as I said is simple and some moments make you think if the way our family culture is diminishing is really helpful. What with the current scenario where both parents are working, the child is at school and with friends, he hardly gets time with his parents etc etc.

Anyhow, a nice one time watch. Go enjoy!

My name is Khan

2010-03-11T14:52:00.001+05:30

The label says its 'worth ur time once' as well as 'don't bother'. Why the confusion? Because its an out and out bollywood masala movie. So those who enjoy masala will like the movie.

The movie is about this man called Rizwan Khan who is autistic. The first part about his life as a child, his intelligence are all good. I would have preferred if the movie procceeded in the same direction. Anyway, so then he meets the love of his life, who is a single mother and has gone through hardships to raise her son (I told you...it has all the masala needed). So he marries this girl, whose voice makes him skip a heart beat (I guess that's a valid reason right? :P).

Okay so the movie proceeds and his son is now Sameer Khan and is a muslim instead of a Hindu and then calamity strikes and there is 9/11. So all the muslims are treated as terrorists and one such a fight kills Sameer. So now Mandira (Kajol) obviously blames Rizwan (I told you masala) and tells him to meet the president and tell him that 'My name is Khan and I am not a terrorist'. Okay so he takes up the task and sets out to accomplish it. Then as he is the hero, he faces lots of problems helps many people and also helps the FBI to catch hold of a muslim instigator who is trying to get people to fight against the Americans in the name of jihad. Then our hero also helps people who have faced a terrible storm somewhere in Virginia and then Khan is all over the news. So the president now decides to meet Khan, what a twist :P

But then again before happy ending we have a Khan who is almost killed by some enraged supporter of the muslim instigator. Wow what a climax! :P

Okay, SRK's acting is good. But the movie, I didn't like it. Its full of bollywood masala, nothing new. So you decide if you would rather not bother, or watch it once.

Karthik Calling Karthik

2010-03-10T16:35:00.001+05:30

This unique movie name, started many funny PJs :P one of them being (Im assuming I have been granted permission for posting your patented jokes :P) 'karthik calling karthik, toh engage tone lagega' :P

Anyway, the promos made me want to watch the movie. The story seemed to be good and different, and so off we went for the movie.Reviews that we heard before the movie were 50% people found it boring, 50% found it out of the box. So with mixed expectations we were all set to experience KCK.

The movie is about a weird call from the same person to the same person. Unbelievable but a nice thought. The movie starts with Farhan being a simpleton, not being able to refuse anything he is asked to do. And then this weird call changes his life. He gets the love of his life and everything is going on smoothly until the day he tells his Shona about this mysterious caller. ANyway, I won't pen down the entire story here, just in case you still haven't watched it.

As for the story, it is a nice fresh concept. It is done well but not very practical. The psychiatrist for example is doesn't help the patient in anyway. A psychiatrist usually listens to his/her patient and very nicely and calmly talks the patient out of his/her problems. But here our doctor says 'Move on.' 'Let me come to your place at 5am to confirm if these calls exist'. Utterly not plausible. Some of the dialogues are nice and witty. The love story is nice but nothing very new. Farhan's acting is no doubt superb. And as for Deepika as usual a little overdone.

The movie gets a little boring in between and it feels a bit stretched towards the end. But overall its a fresh concept which could have been made a little better. A one time watch I'd say.

The Namesake

2010-03-01T19:27:00.001+05:30

This movie by Mira Nair, I was supposed to have watched much earlier as early as 4 years ago!
Anyway, make sure you don't miss it, if you haven't seen it already.

I won't say its a masterpiece of direction, infact I found some parts and scenes rather patchy and out of place. But the story and the narration are too good. The way marriages took place earlier, one meeting and its decided. And the funny part, the female is asked to sing or recite something (wonder if they are looking for a bride or a trained singer!)
The way the relationship between husband and wife develops is not emphasised as much, but the loyalty and trust and compatibility they develop after years of marriage is very well portrayed. The children, born and brought up in the USofA, can hardly be expected to learn and cherish and follow Indian values, and this in turn results in a weak family bond. The children stay away from home and are least bothered about their parents.
What changes things, is Irfan Khan's death. The way the part Irfan's death is narrated is touching! His son's reaction and the change afterwards is nicely described. And the story that proceeds from here is touching and practical. Ashima's (Tabu) daighter settles down and her son, after a broken up marriage starts life anew.

I'd say a nice movie to watch once, for the performances and the story telling!

Ringa Ringa

2010-02-26T18:11:00.001+05:30

What do you call a movie with a strong script, good performances, good background score, good dialogue delivery, good direction, good dialogues, good screenplay? You got it right, Ringa ringa :)

The movie starts nicely and then keeps moving at a pace that keeps everyone engaged and guessing the plot till the end. It is a story about Siddharth (Bharat Jadhav) who is the bodyguard of a corrup politician Rang Rao. He decides to let the world know his master's evil doings and thereby save Goa, the state the movie is shot in. This eventually ends up the bad way and then the movie proceeds and Mansi (Sonali Kulkarni) and her lovely sarees and her awesome performance is all you can see. The way her expressions and eyes help the dialogues to be effective is a must watch.
The story is very well twisted so much so that you can keep guessing till the end but can be never sure. It is a bit dramatic towards the end, but then thats Indian cinema for you :)
Enjoy it and I'm sure you will have nothing but words of praise for this beauty!

P.S. Don't watch it at CPK, their sound system is so bad that it'll give you the impression that Sonali has over acted!

Click

2010-02-25T17:05:00.000+05:30

Its a bollywood horror movie which atleast does not make you laugh. The promotional videos of the movie looked inviting (let me clarify again its a horror), the lead aatma looked scary even without makeup :P It is a cut + copy + paste from different movies and it seems to be inspired a lot from grudge.

But, seriously I liked the movie because it didn't make you laugh. It did give you some shrills and scary moments and then went on to bore you. The story was okish and the direction could have been much better. When the 'scary' mood was just setting in, the direction took it to a love story with senti dialogues and mushy hugs and songs which did not let you get into the romantic mood.

As for the acting, the lead actors Shreyas and the newbie (imdb has no record for this movie ;)) are average. The movie maybe does not demand more than skin show and screeches.

It is much better than other bollywood horror movies, but it could have been much much better.
I'd say one time watch else..don't bother!

Couples Retreat

2010-02-12T11:55:00.000+05:30

Don't ask me why I saw this movie..I cannot think of any good reason..

There is absolutely no story. Performances meagre. Story telling..absent. There is nothing for sore eyes too ;)

Rann

2010-02-09T15:35:00.000+05:30

Doesn't it sound like 'run'..run away..save yourselves..;)
It is a very usual..well known story. The only thing the movie does is "throw the truth in your face".
Nothing about the movie is extraordinary. Even the starcast doeas not help as the performances are below average. What I don't understand is - why does an actor like Gul Panag even sign a role where she has no more than three or four meagre minute scenes, none of which show her great acting calibre? Amitabh Bachchan has given some great performances in movies like Black and Paa ; he is no more a beginner to be signing roles like these; is he listening?
The only consolation is that the background music is nice.

Please don't bother!

Ishqiya

2010-02-02T20:26:00.001+05:30

Bore.
(A couple of jokes are good btw).

Accident on Hill road

2010-01-31T22:58:00.000+05:30

This movie is a typical example of a good script in the wrong hands! Had there been someone who can atleast make an effort to act, had the director read the entire story before directing the movie, we could have had, if not a super duper hit, atleast a reasonable amount of applaud for a nice movie!

For starters, Celina Jaitley isn't as hot as she thinks she is. The actor in the lead role (whatever his name is) isn't a stud, as he may decide to assume. Farooq Shaikh is totally wasted. The director has mistaken these two actors as pornstars and made them act in a thriller (sorry a thriller that could have been). Maybe the director was too confused about what the movie is going to be about. He thinks he did his part in making the movie a success (success he may have dreamt of) by adding (unnecessary) scenes of drugged people acting stupid or making out (which doesn't even make you feel the passion).

The story is good. It is about an accident and the after effects and what extent people can go to, to save themselves from facing the music of their misdoings. The way the story proceeds is umm..sorry it doesn't proceed in a single direction. It looks as if the director was trying multiple directions to find out the best possible way of getting the story to be told, but then ended up portraying this trial and error as the movie.

Sadly, for the concept (whosever it was), it wad totally wasted. Please don't bother!

Natrang

2010-01-26T19:49:00.004+05:30

Natrang is much in news these days. I watched it this morning. A small tip, don't buy a 9 AM show on a holiday (at least applies to our group :). We had bought 5 tickets and only 3 people showed up, all late. My alarm sounded at 8 AM, I woke up, turned the alarm off, decided I won't go for the movie and pulled the sheets over my head. It was by sheer chance that I woke up again at 8:30. This time better thoughts prevailed, and I reached CPK at 9:10. I found our slot of five seats, all empty. I was the first one to reach! I might have left after some time, but MD and Lalit turned up few minutes later.

As I said, Natrang is much is news these days. And for good reason. Watching it will make you realize that Marathi cinema is back with a bang. When I was a kid, Mahesh Kothare, Laxmikant Berde, Sachin and Ashok Saraf were ruling Marathi cinema (masterpieces like Ashi hi banvabanavi come to mind). But over time, the train ground almost to a halt. What was left was mostly Alaka Kubal type family dramas (which I maintain are enormously stupid). But Marathi cinema has started picking itself up really well these days. I hope that Natrang is just one of a string of excellent movies to come by in the near future.

Natrang is based on a folk art named Tamasha. There was a time when it was looked down upon by almost everybody (and things have not changed that much even today in rural areas). Here is a story of man, fascinated with this art, and dreaming of making a name for himself. He is opposed by his family, his elders betray him, circumstances work against him, but he rises to the challenge in the end. The depiction of rural Maharashtra is pretty accurate. And there is a sense of professionalism (thanks to MD for the word) in the making, take costumes, backgrounds, direction, music. No chindichori. All in all it's a great movie. Do not miss!

PA

2010-01-19T20:40:00.004+05:30

Notice there is only one 'A'. So this is definitely not about Auro. I am talking about Paranormal Activity. First thing, don't watch this movie in theater (at least not in Pune). If that is not possible, book the entire show. The movie is definitely a must watch, but there is good chance that a mighty horde of stupid assholes is sitting just next to you. If the previous statement hurt your sensibilities, please stop reading this post right now. A lot more shit's gonna come. So back to stupid assholes. Here are a couple of principle categories I encountered

1) Ohh I am so hep category: I laugh at every scene, even when it has nothing to laugh about. Am I shit scared? Probably yes. Also my parents have taught me how to dress, and sent me to super fundoo (TM) English school, but they just missed a little bit on basic manners. So I keep giggling and explaining shit to my friend who is probably just as stupid even after I have been asked multiple times (and by different people) to shut the f*** up. I also use the f word a lot (makes me more hep, at least I think so).

2) The guy sitting next to me is blind (or I'll just assume so) category: Are wo dekh daewaje pe shadow. Dude, is your friend blind? I don't think so. Plus I (also sitting next to you) am neither dumb, nor blind. I can see and I can understand. Let me repeat, coz you never get it the first time. I can see and I can understand. Now shut the f*** up.

There are more. They are not half as bad, but still annoying enough to deserve a mention.

1) I'll put an interval in 90 mins movie, so that I can sell more popcorns.
2) I have a ticket, so I'll travel, in and out of theater, any moment I want. That is definitely OK with something like Wanted, not here.

OK, that's enough blah blah. (anybody still with me?). Let me (at last) say something about the movie. Must watch. Chances are, you'll be genuinely scared at least a couple of times. But you will probably be better off watching it alone in your room with your headphones on.

Enjoy!

Paa

2009-12-12T20:40:00.000+05:30

This is an AB corp movie and so we had decided to give it a week till the reviews came out. But then since we wanted to go for some movie and this show being at a convenient time we decided to take it. And we were happily surprised.

As you all know the movie is about a kid who is suffering from progeria. This is a rare medical condition which makes the body grow ten times the mental age. The child is Amitabh Bachchan (Auro) and his parents are Abhishek Bachchan (Amol) and Vidya Balan (Vidya). He has a grandmother too named Bum ;)

Before the movie starts we have the titles read out in an unusual way. Jaya Bachchan is very excited about the film it seems and reads out all the names. It is sure a different way to do it, but at some point it got on my nerves. What with the artificial excitement about announcing names of people she may not even know.

Anyway, back to the movie. The script is I would say a little mix of stuff that is needed and some that is unnecessary. The direction by R.Balki is outstanding. The emotions and the relationship of Auro with his mother and grandmother are very well portrayed. The actors have done a fantastic job. The screenplay is outstanding. I think R.Balki has done a wonderful job of creating the character named Auro. Usually when Amitabh Bachchan is on screen you cannot miss his magnetic personality. But here you just keep asking to see more of him i.e. Auro. His dialogues are very well written and very well timed. Vidya has done a good job. Abhishek was good too. The story could have done without the stress on the unusually honest politician and his messages to the public. That part seemed a little out of place as well as artificial.

The emotional scenes between Auro and his father as well as the scenes towards the end with the pheras leave you no option. However strong you maybe, you are bound to feel the tear glands overflowing.

I would say it is a definite must watch, for the performances, for the director and his brilliant handling of emotions.

De Dana Dan - Take 2

2009-11-30T18:20:00.002+05:30

Priydarshan + Akshay Kumar + Sunil Shetty + Paresh Rawal. This equation has worked wonders in the past, so it was not so unreasonable of me to expect a little bit of fun from their latest venture. How wrong I was! Wo kahte hai na.. Jane do yar, jo bhi kahte hai.. Presented below are a fraction of the salient features of the crap that is collectively known as 'De Dana Dan'!

The problem of employment: Bollywood produces around 800 movies per year, and one would think that that would be enough to solve the unemployment problem. Apparently that one is wrong! So this movie gives screen space to everybody. But as every character is as devoid of purpose as the next one, you would never feel that one of them deserved more.

Cheapness sells (at least some think so): Thanks to Ms. Sherawat, I thought I knew what sells. The team behind DDD begs to differ. They tend to think that putting lot of cheap dialogs like dikhau mere sanskar is gonna fetch them audience.

Audience are Einsteins: The filmmakers made some generous assumptions regarding the IQ of the average moviegoer. As I mentioned, there are tons of characters, and the complextity goes up with n². It's OK to have the element of confusion, but not to the point where one has to constantly ping 'bajuwale' with ye kaha se aaya?'

Songs: There MUSTMUSTMUST be songs. Doesn't matter if they absolutely suck in every possible way. You HAVE to put them in. At least that's what the movie tends to say.

OK, I can go on like this, but here's a thought that just came to me. I might be a lukkha, but not so lukkha as to waste any more of time writing a review for this totally worthless movie. Jitna likha kafi samzo, n dekhna hi hai to kuch aur dekho!

De dhana dhan - a disaster

2009-11-30T12:19:00.000+05:30

You know what this movie reminded me of?
Just recently I heard of a movie, the story of which revolves around a couple who lose their memory and then they are hunted down by people who saw the movie this couple made.
This move, de dhana dhan, made me feel like tracking down the makers and bashing them dhana dhan.

It had no elements of Hera Pheri. The characters were totally new., only the actors were the same. There was no simpleton baburao who made you laugh for no rhyme or reason. There was a story, but a very complicated one. There were so many characters and plots that you actually forgot some characters when they were not part of an ongoing scene.
It just felt as if the director was given a bunch of actors to employ and he had to create a movie with those people.

I didn't even feel like appreciating the acting and comic skills of the actors. The whole movie just made me keep yawning and looking around to see how the audience was reacting. My point was reassured by the blank and bored stares I got back from people.

There were songs too in the movie. And they were all focussed on Katrina and Akshay. It was more about their (hardly developed) love story.It would have been better if it was a love story and not a comic confusion.
Actually the confusion was built into the movie. So much so that even the characters looked confused as to their existence. Maybe the director was directing two movies and thought they were so similar that he brought them together as one sing;e three hour movie.

Take my word, its a torture! Please don't bother!

Jail

2009-11-22T17:52:00.000+05:30

It is a Madhur Bhandarkar movie. So you can expect a movie on some face of reality we never have seen. The name suggests its the jail this time.
The movie is a typical MB film, with a corrupt system and how a common man lands in there. His plight there and how he makes his cool with the way things are. His trials to fight the system and his failures. The end result is not always very happy.
This movie is well directed. Neil Nitin Mukesh has done a fantastic job. Throughtout the movie he hardly has any dialogues, but his eyes and his expressions speak wonders. Kudos to him for his performance. Mugdha Godse has a very small role and there is very little acting calibre that she could show off. The major part of the movie focusses on Neil and his life in the jail. Manoj Bajpai as usual has enacted his small role with power.
I liked the the scenes shot inside the jail. They seem authentic and plausible. One really feels sorry for the people in there, and that is where I think the movie gets its rewards. There are so many people in there who are innocent but have not been heard just because our judicial system is too slow, or rather moves only with the fuel called corruption.
I wouldn't say the movie is a must watch, but if you like applauding a brilliant performance, this movie is worth your time at least once.

Dil Bole Hadippa!

2009-11-17T12:58:00.000+05:30

Can you believe I saw this movie!
Throughout the movie I kept saying to myself, why do you think I'm watching this movie. Why in the world am I sitting put. And the answer. Just to write a review..that's the only reason I could think of!

Its about a cricket expert Rani (Veera). Just because she is a girl she cannot play in the men's team and cannot compete with the best of the best. So, she plays disguised as a man. Fundamental question is, how is it ever possible for a gal to dress as a guy and not be made out. Anyway, considering bollywood does not stress too much on the right and wrong we move ahead. Now comes an NRI Shahid Kapur(Rohan) who does not really belive in his 'jhappiyon sa desh' and Veera shows him how our country is so beautiful. Rohan then falls head over heels in love with Rani. Now obviously she does not tell him that it is her who is playing in Rohan's team.
Now she plays very well and throughout her love Rohan does not realise that the guy playing is not Veer but Veera. Everything is going good when during the final match Rohan finds out that there is no Veer. Now his heart is broken (I wonder why?) and he tells her that women and visitors are not allowed in the men's chaning room. Okay, I would have said go and win the match yourself. But here is our bharatiya naari who is in tears now. She can see her dream fall apart. Let me ask a question here. How is her dream of being known as a famous cricketer going to be fulfilled if she is going to play guised as a man (which no one can unearth) ? Anyway, so then finally Rohan has no option but to call back his strong player because he is going to lose otherwise. Now put in the melodrama and dialogues such as 'Tumne mera istamaal kiya team mein aane ke liye, ab mein tumhara istamaal karunga jeetne ke liye".
Then the tension of who's going to win, how are they going to pull it through. But then they win, obviously. And then comes a speech which suddenly enlightens people and they accept that she had no other option but to play guised as a man.
The story is ridiculous. But if you hear and watch the songs, you'll agree with me that the story is much better! The direction I will not say was bad but there was no story. Rani's acting skills are wasted. Shahid's charm is wasted too. Sherlyn Chopra was maybe happy with her 'show your skin' even if there is no character etched for you in the film.
All in all a bad bad movie. Please don't bother!

Life Partner

2009-11-17T11:17:00.000+05:30

I don't know why I saw this movie. Possibly because it was a Sunday afternoon and I the best I could find on TV was this movie.
There is a divorce lawyer who does not believe in marriages. He runs his business by trying to get couples apart and then grant them divorce by fighting their cases. There are two couples his friends.
One Tusshar Kapoor and Prachi Desai. An arranged-love marriage. Tusshar cannot stand up to his father's baseless rules and regulations and a girl of modern ideas Prachi cannot fight against her father in law single handed. Finally she leaves him and our lawyer 'friend' Govinda gets them a divorce.
Second couple is Fardeen who falls in love with Genelia who is a rich spoilt brat. She cannot even operate a washing machine because she thinks that is the work of a servant. Issues between these two after marriage escalate and again our lawyer 'friend' comes to their rescue and gets them a divorce.
But, the twist in the story is that now Govinda falls in love with Amrita Rao. Now he suddenly begins to believe in love and the institution of marriage. So much so that he devises a plan and gets the other broken couples to realise their mistakes and get back together.
Wow! what an impressive plot right?
Performances are too artificial. You cannot take in for a moment what each character is trying to enact. The only actor who has done what she is paid for i.e. has acted is Prachi.
I'll say, maybe I shouldn't even write a review for a movie like this, but then I'll save you people the torture of sitting through the movie.

Tum Mile

2009-11-17T11:06:00.000+05:30

I wanted to see this movie only because of Soha Ali Khan because I think she is a brilliant actor. No she did not disappoint me. And surprise is that neither did Emraan Hashmi do the honors. It was the direction.
The movie is about a creative jobless man (Emraan) and his love, rich girl working in a steady business (Soha). Typical love story. Problems in the relationship. Guy does not share his frustration, thoughts. Makes Soha feel that she's just a muse for this artist Emraan. All this is the usual right? But the director tries to put all this with the backdrop of the mumbai floods.
There is a lot of to and fro between present and past. This works fine, till the climax of the floods. When the floods and the effect it ha don people is the top most on the audience's mind, you can't switch to a fight between a couple just because they have communication issues. The effects as far as the flood goes are good. They even manage to make you feel sorry for the people stuck in there and it makes you applaud the mumbaikars spirit. But alas, if there had been a little less stress on the couple issues during this I guess the movie would not have looked like a total mess.
As far as the performances go, I think both Soha and Emraan have done good. The story was simple but could have been presented better. Give it a shot for Soha. Else, let it pass.

The exorcism of Emily Rose

2009-11-16T14:22:00.000+05:30

I think its a gem of a thriller movie. It has its horror moments. And no its not filled with gore or a sick manhunter killing people to satisfy his craving. It has the age old spirit which holds a human in its possession.
Its about a girl named Emily Rose, who suffers the torcher of being possessed and then when given the choice to die peacefully, chooses to suffer and through her suffering prove that demons exist. That makes her a saint according to the movie. Anyway, Im not sure this movie induced me into believeing if demons really exist.
I liked the court room scenes. I liked the clash of science and pseudo scientific beliefs in a scientific and logical manner.
The performances by Laura Linney(the lawyer), Tom Wilkinson(the priest), Jennifer Carpenter (Emily Rose) are outstanding. The dialogue delivery by the lawyer is very fine. All the dialogues are very well written and executed. You might want to check out some of the nice ones here.
The direction is just perfect. It suits the mood and is capable of creating those tense moments.
The horror moments are wonderfully shot. One of my favorites is the one where Emily is lying on the floor all folded like an insect is. It was just a little short of making me scream (Okay, it is scary but I guess it takes much more to make me scream). All the moments where the spirit takes over Emily, particularly during the exorcism are very clean and don't ask you to close your eyes just to get through it. You can easily look at it, even though it may scare some people. Its very beautifully shot, it does not make you want to puke as in some scenes in Exorcism.
So, if you want to get scared this is the movie to watch.

2012

2009-11-15T18:03:00.007+05:30

Had great expectations from this one! Luck favored us with seats at screen 5, which is the biggest at E2 and this movie demands it. The story is as usual, I mean non-existent, but that bothered me in the least (in other words, it did not bother me at all). The special effects are so mind bogglingly awesome that I would've put up with any crap anyway. You might be aware of the theme, the end of Mayan calendar and the end days on 21 December 2012. In the movie, solar neutrinos start to heat up earth's core which also coincides with an alignment of all the planets that happens every 640,000 years. Wah! A scene seemed to suggest that dinos went extinct in the last round, but dinos actually went extinct 65 million years ago, which is 65,000,000. Anyway. Let's not go there. The movie is a must must watch if you care a teeny weeny bit about the eye candy. And just for the record, I would have preferred space ships.

On a different but not unrelated note (and this could be considered a spoiler, so you might want to stop reading), not all of the earth is destroyed. Of course the directors thought not many people would be willing to put up with such a pessimistic outcome, but many good SF stories have gone there and were well received (e.g. Childhood's End by Arthur Clark). I wonder why the movie medium does not explore it? [An inherent bias between reading public and movie going public? I don't know]. Minor earthquakes were felt in Pune the same day, I wonder if they made the movie that much real for any of us. So dude (or dudette), Run! We all have a limited amount of time in this wonderful place (n = 3yrs and 37 days approx if you go by the movie). Make the most of it! [I beleive the former statement applies for all values n takes].

Enjoy!

Aladin

2009-11-02T12:27:00.001+05:30

I have many cherished memories of Disney's Aladin, which was one of my most favorite cartoons from the legendary Disney hour. So when someone from Bollywood decided to make a movie about Aladin, I took notice. The promos had thrilled me with their fundoo special effects. So it was with great expectations that I entered E-square yesterday.

Good things first, the special effects are the best Bollywood has yet seen, and can rival what Hollywood has to offer. I am only too glad to see this level of technical mastery in our own movies. Sadly, immediately, we come to the not-so-good part, the most important of which is a lack of focus. The movie tries to be a children's movie with a lot of colors, jokes and so on; and it tries to be a non-children movie devoting a disproportionate amount of time to the love angle. The result entirely pleases neither. Too many unrelated (and inaccurate, as I pointed out to a friend) songs do not help. More action sequences, and cutting out the love angle (or at least keeping it to a minimal, or at least handling it reasonably) would have made the movie much better. I don't know if you'll like it, but I love Aladin's story so much that I just can not not like it. Maybe I should point out that it's impossible for me to write an unbiased review on a topic so close to my heart.

Enjoy!!

Dial M for Murder

2009-10-30T23:18:00.000+05:30

This is a brilliant movie I came across last weekend. Its an Alfred Hitchcock movie. Needless to say, it has an ingenius plot and great performances.
Typical mysteries, start with a murder and then the detective investigating the same. Some of these type of stories, keep you guessing who the murderer is till the end. Some suggest who the murderer is, but you cannot decide the method and the motive, since these facts are concealed from the viewer till the end.
This is just what is not an AF movie. Here, all the facts are right in front of the viewer. The plot is discussed with the viewer in the loop. The execution of the plan is also shown to the viewer, without concealing anything whatsoever. What your job as a viewing detective is, it is to deduce how the murder was carried out and determine the scheming mind, not using what you know, but using all the facts placed before you on the scene of the murder.
The directions is awesome. The performances are outstanding. It is a gem of a movie and a masterpiece of direction. It is a must watch!

All the best!

2009-10-30T22:57:00.000+05:30

Earlier I thought the title suggested keep away, and if you can't then all the best! Even the title song where cars flew from here to there and everything looked like one big modelling photoshoot, suggested the same.
But, surprisingly I enjoyed the movie thoroughly.
It is a brainless comedy that revolves around two friends. One(Fardeen Khan) is the brother of a filthy rich businessman (Sanjay Dutt), whereas the other(Ajay Devgan) is a failed mechanic who wants to build his dream race car.
The plot is simple. Fardeen lies to his brother about his marriage just so that his pocket money(sounds funny right? ;) ) is doubled. Then the obvious, brother comes in suddenly. Confusions galore, some fight sequences interspersed. There are some songs in between too, that look like, different photoshoots put together as a song. The dressing and styling for all the characters is highly fashionised. It looks a promotion campaign for all the actors.
Direction wise, I'll give it a 4on5. Its difficult to keep the audience glued for two hours on a brainless comic ride. The comic timing of all the actors is good. Their performances are satisfactory. I'd say, its worth a one time watch!

Main aur Mrs. Khanna

2009-10-22T21:07:00.000+05:30

Sohail Khan production. This is what is written so prominently as the tag line of the movie. Do they think this will encourage movie goers to steer themselves to the screen showing this movie? The only ones to profit are theatres who have sofa-like-comfortable seats. Why? Because the movie is a good and effective sleeping pill.
I have never seen a movie made as chilidishly as this one. The direction is not good. The story is a typical bollywood masala movie script. Yes, typical bollywood stories also do well (take for example Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam) only if the story is well told, told in some sort of a different manner. Here, the story unfolds so differently that it is so hard to forsee what's going to happen next (ofcourse this is sarcastic!).
Sohail Khan tries to add in a few comic punches, but the timing is bad. Salman is not as bad. He does well. Only complaint is his hairstyle in the film. Kareena, well she's as usual, bigger than life aura around her. Everyone running around her. Preity and her role as a seductress is a waste, she does not even come close to being able to seduce anyone.
There are so many mistakes in the movie. We spotted around five in fifteen minutes itself. No one of my friend could not take in more than 5 minutes of the movie before he slept off happily.
I suggest, please don't bother!

Bolt

2009-10-19T22:41:00.000+05:30

Its an animated movie. Its cute. It has a cute puppy(named Bolt)...and a cuter humpster (named Rhino).
The movie has a good story and I could repeat 'cute' umpteen times, but it will still be cuter!
The way the story unwinds is good. It keeps your interest till the end.
But, the parts I loved the most were:
1. When bolt realises that what he believed to be his real life, was in fact his reel life. The realisation is part is fantastic! He has never even seen blood...and hunger is also new to him.
2. The part where the cat (named Mittens) teaches Bolt, how dogs live is awesome! You can map that to your life too. Everyone feels that one knows themselves the best. However, it is always someone else who tells you your true reflection from the false.
3. The humpster..Rhino. He's the best. He lives in a world where his hero (Bolt) rules. It is so difficult to get him out, since he truly believes in Bolt. His expressions, dialogues are outstanding! He's such a small creature and his dreams so huge! Its real right? We all dream big..and that's the way it should be.
4. There is one scene, where this tiny creature, Rhino is laughing a deadly 'evil laugh'. And they portray the same sound as a human hears it..its just a rat nibbling on something. True isn't it? :)

Guys, you have to watch this movie. Its a must must must watch!

Wanted - Against

2009-10-15T18:05:00.000+05:30

No, the promos aired on TV didn't attract me. No, not even the songs with their no(n)sense choreography.
However, the company of a precious friend made me book tickets to a show for Wanted.
It stars Salman Khan and Ayesha Takia and is a movie directed by Prabhudeva. Now I don't know whether Prabhudeva is going to sleep peacefully after seeing what he has made, but nevertheless I suggest you go for the movie in case you want to fall asleep ;)
It starts with a typical bollywood fight scene, hero is so strong that he makes villains fly around. There is dust, noise, punches and Salman Khan. It is those movies where, the hero is the pivot and everything just revolves around him. The actress is just there to add some oomph, which sadly in this case is a wasted trial by Ayesha. The villain and his expressions are the only things you could possibly bear throughout the movie. Mahesh Manjrekar has acted well as a corrupt cop. Salman Khan as usual overdoes his part and hogs all the attention (undue may I add) which all his fans so shower on him.
As for the story, there isn't any. The action is highly exaggerated and the dialogues are well, I laughed at them. I'm not sure if I laughed at them, since I was bored to death or they genuinely tickled my funny bone. They were witty, I think.
I don't think there is any need to mention direction, since there seriously isn't any direction in which the movie proceeds. Its just hero blows villains, which heroine merrily brings along with her.
My advice, please don't bother!

Wanted

2009-10-12T18:33:00.002+05:30

I wanted to watch Wanted since I first saw the trailer. The chance came over the weekend. The key is to go with correct expectations (watch trailer for an initializer). If you do that correctly, you will absolutely enjoy the movie. If not, chances are you will feel sleepy. This is kind of flick that made Bollywood famous. One hero, kicking butt, and with story patched on him for no apparent reason. Did I say I am a diehard fan of this kind? I am. Bollywood is throwing too much subtlety, gray shades and other complex stuff at me these days. Can't I have something simple? If you feel the same, Wanted is for you.

Enjoy!!

P.S. I recently got my hands upon Pokkiri, the Tamil original. Bwuhahaha...

Wake Up Sid

2009-10-12T18:31:00.001+05:30

The movie is about a rich guy, who gets everything so easy and his journey towards realizing that life is not just 'eat, sleep, quit'.
You have to earn it to spend it.
The movie starts with Sid (Ranbir Kapoor) not knowing what he wanhts from life. A typical teen, who is happy with whatever he gets from life, and flows with the current. He meets new girl in the city Aisha (Konkana Sen Sharma) who is firm willed and wants to make a life for herself. Coming from a small town in Kolkatta, Mumbai (err Bombay ;) ) has always been her city of dreams. They start talking and soon gel on like friends made for each other. Aisha gets her job in a magazine she always wished to work with, under a boss who is 'her type'
Meanwhile, Sid's blissfully simple life is rudely interrupted when he fails his exams. All his friends have moved on, but he cannot. Argument with his parents, and his strict dad(Anupam Kher), who should have been stricter earlier throws him out of the house. The money source is tapped, and hence Sid has to make a living for himself. He stays with Aisha, who soon discovers that Sid's true professional interest is photography.
The story is simple and is well executed. The transformation from 'no idea what I want from life' to 'this is what I always wanted from life' is too subtle. There are a few touchy moments, which Sid shares with his mother, when she shows him his childhood snaps.
Each character is built up well and the songs and background score do their bit too. The actors are good. The story well narrated. All in all, I enjoyed the movie but there wasn't that spark which said...this is an outstanding movie. Maybe the dialogues, or maybe the subtlety in the transformation, or maybe the predictability of the story was the cause.
However, I suggest the movie is worth your time atleast once. So go and watch wake up Sid!

What's your Raashee?

2009-09-28T11:20:00.007+05:30

Watched What's your Raashee? yesterday. Again, kinda unplanned. Being an AG movie, the expectations were a bit on the higher side. We missed a few minutes of the movie (with which I have no issues) and the trailers (to which I strongly object). Google said the show begins at 12:30, my ticket said 1 O'clock, so I guess the powers that be at Rahul decided to take an average and began the show at some time in between.

The story of the movie is simple. A faaren return guy wants to marry in India, and that in a hurry, and he has recently learned that each Rashee has its own distinct characteristics, so putting his newfound knowledge in practice, he decides to meet one girl of each Rashee. The question of why an Univ. of Chicago MBA chooses to believe in astrology is not answered. But the handling is good. The movie is lengthy, like most AG flicks, more than 3.5 hrs, but I did not get bored. Little subplots are nicely integrated with the main theme. AG's acute observation of aam aadmi (so called mango people), and attention to detail (just to take one example, how two different characters from different backgrounds pick a champagne glass. A seemingly trivial thing, not at all important to the narrative, but I think that's the way to perfection). Priyanka has done justice to all the twelve different characters she plays. Even Harman is good. If you've watched his earlier movies, you'll notice how much he has improved. I think the guy has great potential, but needs to be careful of who he chooses to work with.

Overall, this is paisa vasool movie, a good timepass (thanks partly to the length :p). Again, this stands somewhere in between must watch and passe, and again having no brighter ideas for tags, I'll put it in must watch. So go and watch it and have a nice time. Just remember one thing, astro-vastro sab bakwas hai :p.

Donnie Darko

2009-09-23T11:36:00.002+05:30

No, I'd never heard that name before...and neither does it ring any bells. Heard of the movie from Hemant and since his previous movie choices were outstanding I gave this one too a try.
This movie is nice. Its different and there are a variety of ways the watcher can interpret the concept.
Basic theme is time travel. But its done so well, without ridiculing any beliefs/concepts and so clean is the direction that its definitely worth much more accolades. Now I don't know if anyone else had heard about the movie before. Has anyone?
As for the actors, they are good. The lead protagonist Jake Gyllenhaal, we'll call him Donnie has performed very well. At first I found his acting too sleepy, but then as the movie proceeds you realise that his performance befits his character in the movie. He has done very well in showing a slow paced progression in emotions of a troubled teenager.
The movie starts slow, but it picks up speed speedily and then keeps you guessing till then end. And when the end comes, you are left clueless as to what it meant, what was it! And that's when you make your own interpretation of the movie. So I suggest a must watch!
My interpretation follows from here. I suggest you don't read it until when you have seen the movie and formed your own.
What I made of the movie is that, the whole movie was Donnie's dream. He knew he is afraid of being alone. And hence he made his own fictional character called ~~Charlie~~ Frank. Or even better the whole movie was like a glimpse he saw of his life as he wanted it to be, just before he died. If anyone thinks differently please feel free to write :)
After you are done with your reasonings, you have to read this. There's a bit too much explanation and I found it confusing too. But, the article tells me that the concept of the movie is not as simple as I thought it is but rather a complicated one with time loops and stuff. Do read.

Up up and above...

2009-09-22T23:58:00.000+05:30

That's precisely what happens in this movie. If you don't want spoilers don't click the link. Ok, the movie we're talking about here is UP. Its an animated entertainer. The 3D effects add to it.
Yes, people might say its a kiddie's watch, but I beg to differ. It does tickle your funny bone, no matter your age. Its cute and sweet and kiddish and funny and enjoyable.
The movie theme is simple, just tells you to go and chase your wildest dreams once in your lifetime and no its never too late to do so. The small kid is fun with his 'ohh so smart of me' dialogues. The old guy is much more fun with his 'yes, I know you think you're smart' dialogues.
And the dogs doing all weird stuff is fun to watch. Throughout the movie imaginations runs wild and the scenic beauty is just too beautiful! Pay attention to the mild rainbow that just shows up when you first see the waterfall. Its breathtaking!
I wouldn't want to write more, that's because then I would put in spoilers, which I don't want to.
So all I can say is, go and enjoy the movie. I bet one time is not enough, you would surely want to watch it again :)

Enigma

2009-09-21T23:19:00.000+05:30

As the name suggests, the movie plot is truly brilliantly inexplicable. The story revolves around a young cryptanalyst who is trying to decrypt German codes as well as the mystery surrounding the woman he loves.
It is fascinating to see the machine called 'enigma' used to decrypt intercepted messages. You put in the settings and then press the same letter twice but each time it outputs a different character. Nice, I loved it!
I also liked the mystery girl and her involvement in the whole plot, though she wasn't present physically throughout. The puzzle as to what the motive for a traitor could be and the journey towards discovering the traitor is built up well.
The movie also throws some light on the unfortunate 'Katyn Massacre' wherein thousands of Polish officers were murdered, and the government denied the mass murders.
I also liked the way the appalling state of the male protagonist is portrayed, when his lady love leaves him, since he denies discussing government secrets with her.
I recommend a must watch just for directorial and story telling intelligence.

Race To Witch Mountain

2009-09-19T19:42:00.000+05:30

**Warning, there are spoilers if you intend to watch the movie.
This is another alien movie I watched over the weekend. And after watching District 9, this movie just falls flat on its face. Okay, aliens don't need to look like insects with antennas etc., they could look human is what this movie suggests.
Aliens can no more survive on their planet because of the atmospheric changes there, and so they are looking for a new habitat. Of course earth is their favorite choice, but these two child aliens know how it is so wrong to invade another's land. So they come looking for something that would prove to the aliens how life on their planet can be sustained.
They come to earth and are helped by a taxi driver "The Rock" and a astrophysicist "Carla Gugino". The script is very weak and hence fails to utilize acting talent. The special effects are also way too normal and fails to create a must watch movie. The direction is not bad and the screenplay is fine too. There is a government official too that is chasing the aliens as they are a must have biological experiment. There is so much confusion and so many people and so many missions that you fail to understand why they were all made part of one small movie like this.
My suggestion is there is nothing to watch, except if you just want a nice airconditioned seat ;)

Another mushy romantic movie

2009-09-19T19:30:00.001+05:30

I watched P.S.I Love You just because I had seen books with the same name, supposedly based on the movie. And I had seen so many of them so too often, that I somehow felt the movie is a must watch!
The movie starts by showing how inseparable Hillary Swank(Holly) and Gerard Butler(Gerry) are. One moment they are swearing at each other and the next they are in each others arms. But then suddenly Holly's world is devastated. She is left alone. Gerry is no more. This feeling is the remaining part of the movie.
The movie moved me...as it showed how one can love someone so truly that he could anticipate her every move even after he was dead. The movie also tries to portray how one feels when someone loses their most valued possession.
The funniest thing I remember is when Holly is trying to find a profession she likes. her options display the likes of 'vampire slayer' which is hilarious.
The screenplay with past and present intermingled is good. All other characters play their part well. I liked the part where Holly's mother tries and tells her how she felt when she lost her husband. The only thing the movie portrays is that life moves on even if we don't. Its upto us to move against the current or with it.

The movie is good, but it hardly comes close to pinching your tear glands. It just passes by without leaving much of an impact. So I would recommend a one time watch for someone who enjoys romantic movies. Others don't waste your time.

The Game Plan

2009-09-19T19:05:00.000+05:30

This movie stars 'The Rock' and Maddison Petis. Maddison Petis as peyton plays a wonderful job of a daughter in serach of love oh her father. She's cute, and witty and intelligent and smart and uses her head to think not only for herself but for everyone's well being.
This movie is nothing out of the world. It has a character who is very self centered, so much so that his wife abandons him and doesn't even inform him that he has a daughter. All he knows is his game, his championship and his workouts. All he thinks about is his image and how he could use this image to earn money and fame. All's going well when suddenly out of nowhere his daughter pops out and he is forced to look after her. The the usual daughter troubles father and father still succumbs to daughter's please etc are good to see. Especially when the daughter is so cute and enacts her role very well.
The movie has a happy ending when the father realises how he cannot live without his daughter and all of a sudden he realises how selfish he has been over the years.
This story is a bit too predictive and has forced moments of laughter and the art of balle dancing pushed in for no rhyme or reason. However it can make an enjoyable family viewing.

Not just another Alien movie

2009-09-16T22:03:00.004+05:30

Aliens are humans. Watched District 9 yesterday. Thanks to Vodafone Tuesday, we had to pay for only three tickets, for six people. For one thing, this movie does not have aliens wanting to conquer earth, but aliens accidentally trapped here. They are pretty human like too, I mean, they manage to survive in Earth's atmosphere without special suits, they have similar body structure to that of humans (though all are size 0, thanks to Rabbitt for pointing out), even red blood. Hell, they even understand English. They love their kids like we do, they care for their friends like we do. And they want to go home, just like we do.

And there are humans. The hero (or at least the main character) is no mahaatma , just an ordinary guy, with ordinary hopes and fears, which was a big relief. Being a Peter Jackson movie, fundoo special effects are to be expected. The cinematography is good, keeps you glued to your seats. I liked the sound effects too. And the poignant humor. We meet people betraying their own daughter, others eating alien flesh thinking they will get alien powers this way, still others hunting an innocent man like a dog. As I said, sometimes, Humans are aliens.

Y.M.I - Why do I exist if I make no change?

2009-09-06T01:43:00.000+05:30

Yes, that's precisely what I felt. Why do I exist if I cannot make a change, if I cannot try and improve the current state the country is in? And the movie gives hope, hope that good exists, hope that we are progressing in our beliefs, hope that we will remove the biases and prejudices of caste and creed and live together harmoniously.
And after watching a gem of a movie like this one, it seems bollyworld isn't dead after all.
It has all hard hitting facts. And yes they hit you hard in the face. These are the facts you have all seen and/or experienced at one time or another. Do we believe in goodness? No, we believe in doing unto others what they have done to us. But this movie teaches differently.
It starts with a very funny and cleverly told story which says "You know why I believe God exists? I have proof because I went to India. There is so much hatred there. A hindu hates a muslim and the muslim hates a hindu. A car driver hates an autorickshaw wallah. A person residing in a state hates people who have come from a different state. Now when there is so much hatred, but yet the country is progressing...it has to be God who is working this wonder!" This gives you a gist of the movie right. Yes, that's precisely what the movie hits at.
Every aspect is very well portrayed. All the characters are well built and they have enacted their roles extremely well. Credit goes to the director for the same. There are a couple of parallel running stories that seem to be independent. But all the threads reach a common point. It is a story of one day in the life of Mumbai.
The dialogues are very precise and to the point and have an everlasting effect on your mind. Consider these "Bura majhab nahi hota, insaan hota hai", "Jisne is daur ke insaan ko paida kiya hai, wo mere bhi khuda ho, manjoor nahi".
Every story has a different issue associated with it. Just because a person residing in a different region in the same country, migrates to another region in the same country doesn't give anyone the right to ridicule him. The country is one. Every Indian is at home whether he resides in Maharashtra or Bihar. Being rich does not give you the power to buy another individual's self respect. Neither does it give you the right to ridicule someone poorer than you. Being poor doesn't label you as a thief. Similarly being a muslim doesn't label you as a terrorist.
It is because we play the blame game, that we never really look at our own faults.
Why is it that we have failed to trust anyone these days? It is only because of some few selfish individuals who have planted seeds of hatred in the heart of the innocent that the country has to come to a state where we cannot trust even our own parents.
The movie has a happy ending, and it is very much needed because it gives us a hope that the current state is about to change.
I recommend a must watch! It is a serious movie, but it leaves you all charged up and looking forward to a bright future for the country!

A walk in the clouds

2009-09-05T22:46:00.000+05:30

This is a nice, simple love story. Anyone who likes romantic stories with happy endings will surely enjoy this movie. The script as I mentioned is fairly simple and highly predictable.
The lead pair is cute i.e. Keanu Reeves and Aitana-Sanchez Gijon. All the characters play their part well and the story unfolds clearly and enjoyably.
Though the movie is not that great, there are some parts that you will truly enjoy. I liked the part played by Alberto Aragon (Victoria's father) and the relationship between him and his daughter. It is so rough that you would hardly believe they were father and daughter. The final realisation that love and attachment need to be displayed affectionately is depicted very well. Alberto viz.,Giancarlo Giannini has played the part really well.
All in all, an okish movie.

Cloverfield

2009-09-05T15:55:00.004+05:30

Alien attacks are common. In Hollywood, I mean. Watched Cloverfield recently which is based on the same theme. Alien monsters (of people eating variety) attack a city, and what happens next. There is in an important variation though, you experience the movie not from the god's eye view of the director's camera, but from a survivor's camera. It might not look like much, but really makes a difference. This guy (Hud) runs, screams, jokes, panics, holding the camera on which he was documenting the party earlier that night. The movie has the look and feel of a fast paced FPS. OK, there are no guns, but it reminded me of that. The story is pretty straightforward, but it succeeds in keeping you glued to your seats. I would've liked more on Aliens though (at least where they came from). This movie falls somewhere on the line between Must Watch and Passe, more towards the latter. You'll not learn anything (or maybe you will, I did not for sure), but you'll enjoy the moments. As I currently don't have any bright ideas about a tag name that falls in between (at least not brighter than [(Must Watch + Passe)/2]), I'll put it in latter.

Enjoy!!