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.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
De Dana Dan - Take 2
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!
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
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!
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!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Jail
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Dil Bole Hadippa!
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!
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
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.
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
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 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.
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