The artist

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

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

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

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

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

The Holiday

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

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

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

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

Ek main aur ek tu

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

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

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

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

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

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

Agneepath (2012)

A remake of the 1990 film agneepath, starring Amitabh Bachchan (you certainly remember tha name - Vijay Dinanath Chauhan)
The story is the same, Kancha frames Dinanath Chauhan and kills him. Dinanath's son Vijay decides to avenge his father's death. He grows up to become a gangster and climbs ladders to reach the motive of his life, Kancha.

This modern portrayal of Agneepath, is nice. Just because of the sound effects, the cinematography, the colors and the direction. Hrithik I believe, was overshadowed by Sanjay Dutt.
The first 30 minutes, when Sanjay Dutt enters, just grabs your attention. I could not think of anything else in those 30 minutes, but Kancha and his terror. Sanjay has played a larger than life villain who is like one of those enemies anyone would be afraid of having. His body, tattoos, piercing just adds to his terror and strength. His maniac smile, his evil laughter are good enough to scare you at night too, especially the scene when he's being hanged!
Rishi Kapoor as Rauf Lala has done a good job. The child Vijay is good, especially his eyes which are very expressive. Hrithik on the other hand, has done well in some scenes, specially the one where he gets to meet his sister after 15 odd years. Everywhere else, his performance is passe. Priyanka, is there just for the sake of some actress and some love angle. She hardly has any role to play or any high energy/performance scene that she can boast of.

The movie was a bit overstretched (2 hours and 45 minutes!). Seriously it didn't need that much length. Few of the songs were not needed at all (but maybe put in there just to please Priyanka)

SO, if you want to feel the terror of Kancha, I'd say do go watch it on the big screen. For everything else, passe.

Sherlock Holmes A game of shadows

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!

Don 2

The movie is full of flaws, I mean we could overlook them only if Don by Farhan Akhtar hadn't raised our expectations so much.

First, the 3D part. Why was this movie released in 3D? Was there any part that had 3D effects?
Second, the script. Too many obvious flaws which can be noticed by a kid too.
Third, agreed that it was Shahrukh's movie. Then why was Priyanka Chopra there? All she says in the movie is "what" or "damnit". Infact the other day, 2 months after watching Don 2, while we were talking about Priyanka Chopra and the roles she is currently playing I happened to mention Don 2 and my friend, he could not remember her in the movie. He could remember Lara Dutta (who had even lesser role and dialogue) but not Priyanka Chopra. So much for Piggy Chops!
If you want details on the storyline and flaws, here it is.

So, don't bother!

Sleepless in Seattle

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!