Movie Review: Rise of the Guardians…raises animation standards

I can imagine the look on your faces as you read that title. You might be scoffing by now – ya right, raises animation standards..as if there’s any further they could go, you would say – and I couldn’t blame you…The quality of animation movies has risen higher and higher with every new offering, whether its Dreamworks or Pixar, over what has been a very steep learning curve. Yet, just when you thought they couldn’t take you any further..Rise of the Guardians ‘rises’ to the occasion and you couldn’t ask for a better way to truly celebrate the festive spirit – this holiday season

Clocking at a very comfortable 97 minutes Rise of the Guardians packs in enough action in a very unconventional premise with visuals that simply dazzle. From the flakes of snow, to the magical dust of dreams and the dark wisps of nightmares  - its all there to spin a story of its own. The fact that this is all in 3D makes it just picture perfect. The characters are memorable and sure to awaken your long lost childhood. The philosophical angle to the movie is simple yet subtle allowing you to spend more time on the adventure as it unfolds. The voice acting is good as always. The humor is subtle yet you are bound to laugh out loud on a couple of occasions.

If I had to complain (and I’ll have to try really hard to do that) I’d say that the story progression is quite predictable but then I’d have to be Grinch to be watching this movie with that view.  My only concern is that while this is a movie made for children for sure, the villain is quite sinister, dark and dreary, so it might unintentionally be a little scary for some

Still I’d say its worth the risk since the heroes, or guardians as I should call them, provide enough spark and merriment to chase away those bad dreams and its wonderful to just watch them spread the magic. And you, grown-ups, as you walk away from the halls after the credits..just give it some thought..why was this movie called Rise of the Guardian(s)..and you’ll have your money’s worth

Movie Review: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey…runs pretty much on expected lines

Here’s the thing..Peter Jackson managed to create some magic with the Lord of the Rings trilogy, especially the finale movie (Return of the King) that I particularly liked. With the first instalment of the The Hobbit trilogy, he does pretty much the same stuff and while its masterfully presented, it just doesn’t give that wow factor by the time the credits roll

The Hobbit is not a bad movie by any standards. The cinematography is top class, the action is engaging and the attention to detail is vintage Jackson. At a glance you would assume this is another one of the sets of the Lord of the Rings itself. But the issue is – we’ve seen all this before! As an audience, we want something new and that’s where The Hobbit is unable to deliver.

The 3D presented that opportunity for The Hobbit. It had clear potential – plenty of scenes that could simply dislodge you from your comfortable seat as the wolves lunged at you or you ducked the thrust of a sword – but sadly none of that is capitalized upon. The 3D is ordinary and unless I saw this in the wrong hall, its the usual post production 3D fare. After watching a gem like Life of Pi (as far as the 3D goes), The Hobbit falls far below standard in that department. Quite a pity that. That and the comparatively weak storyline yet extraordinarily long runtime (it runs for a whopping 169 minutes, for reasons beyond my understanding) are the minor blemishes in an otherwise high quality movie

The first half of the movie is extraordinarily slow and the movie takes its time to pick up. Thankfully, once it does the action is highly engaging, though a tad too unbelievable and illogical at times. However, the wide angle cinematography and breath-taking beauty of the landscapes with a pack of dwarves scurrying about are truly worth the silver screen experience

The performances are solid from the entire cast and Martin Freeman does a more than decent job as Bilbo Baggins. Gollum when he does enter has your complete attention all the time he remains on screen and Ian McKellen plays his usual Gandalf – a role he would be all-too-familiar with by now.

The Hobbit then, has that air of familiarity and while it does nothing new, what is done is done well. I’d say its still a worth a viewing on the silver screen but prepare to spend a long time in the hall while you watch the band of little men take what is yet only the first leg of a long and promising adventure

Movie Review: Talaash..is an engaging search

One of the most anticipated movies of the year has most things going for it – a stellar star cast, capable directorial hands, stalwarts to have written dialogues and a more than decent plot. For the most part it delivers too – only, when you emerge from the hall there is bound to be that tinge of dissatisfaction..why is that so? Well, the answers lie within

Within an engaging plot presented in a gripping fashion lies an unnatural and bizzare climax and therein lies the folly. For the most part of the little over two hours that the movie runs for Talaash is every bit as you wish it to be. It’ll interest you, confound you, confuse you and captivate you. The hunt is not as breathless and yet there is that eerie underlying tone to it – perfect for a thriller of this sort. Some sequences have a sense of directorial class showing regret and growing distances in a wonderful manner. The background score is just apt keeping the underlying tension going all through. And then, there’s the climax

A million possibilities reduced to one which quite doesn’t sound as appetizing and almost seems a disservice to the presentation before it. Its quite clear where the director wanted to go, when all is revealed but where a movie like Kahaani enthralled with its climax, this one lets itself down and is probably the only reason why Talaash wouldn’t get the kudos it otherwise deserves

With such an elite star cast performances are expectedly top notch. The good thing about the movie though is that all 3 leads get practically equal screen time and while Kareena dazzles in her character and Aamir is great as the brooding cop, it is Rani Mukerji who delivers a truly emotive performance and steals the show. Other than that, Nawazzudin Siddiqui is dependable as ever.

Talaash then, is an engaging and gripping search..to an unsatisfying conclusion. Still the hunt is well worth a visit

Oh, a word to the wise..please avoid knowing anything about the movie or even reading facebook feeds before you watch this movie as there is many an idiot who revels in giving the plot away and in movies like this once you know the main plot its just no fun at all.

Movie Review: Life of Pi..is spell-binding!!

I often try to use the movie name or something about it as part of my blog title. However, nothing short of ‘spell-binding’ does justice to this one. Ang Lee brings to life practically the impossible – a supposedly unfilmable book is presented in a manner that is a treat for the senses making Life of Pi a must-watch all the way!!

Life of Pi starts off slow and after a time you begin wondering where’s all the water, animals and action you saw in the trailer -  but patience bears fruit. Once the adventure begins you are completely swept away and by the time the film reaches its abrupt intermission (since there’s really no intermission in a Hollywood movie) you are well entrenched in the adventure and in no mood for a break.

There’s a lot of talk about the 3D of Life of Pi being better than Avatar. I’d just say that Life of Pi is presented in 3D in an Avatar of its own, the kind that perfectly suits the story that is told. The 3D isn’t as extravagant, but peaks up at exactly the right moments and some scenes are sure to give you the thrills you would seek from a 3D movie. Clearly some lessons for all and sundry on how to use 3D in a movie

However, while its a visual spectacle, Life of Pi is a real winner more because of the kind of depth its storyline offers. On the face of it, its an adventure, a tale of courage, hope and survival all very well but peel the layers and you find profound depth and meaning to everything you’ve witnessed in an entirely different light. I myself believe that I have only scratched the surface of what Life of Pi has to offer apart from its visual treat and best of all the director doesn’t push you to think in any given direction. Its for you to think, explore and ponder…or not

The performances are top notch too, Suraj Sharma the protagonist does a decent job and pulls off a difficult role. The treatment to his character and his visual appearance is thoughtful and consistent, making his unbelievable story come to life. Irrfan Khan delivers yet again and though his initial accent is a little unbecoming, his emotional delivery later in the movie takes the cake. So does Adil Hussain impress with his impeccable accent and delivery in the earlier part of the movie. The only one wasted, is Tabu who given her range of performance is given a rather simple and short role

The real star of the show is however, Ang Lee – first for believing that such a movie was possible and secondly for presenting it so wonderously -with scenes shot under and over water, at close quarters with a royal Bengal tiger and a host of other superb sequences.

After one has almost given up  here comes a real winner. One should never lose hope..so is the case with God, and Hollywood too I guess

Movie Review: Jab Tak Hai Jaan..doesn’t take your breath away

Jab Tak Hai Jaan is not your timeless classic of a tale well told and a story unfolding in a manner that would make for repeat viewings. It is your formula Bollywood movie, a formula that has been perfected over time by a master storyteller..well, at least on some counts. On others, its best if you go prepared to make certain concessions.

If you are willing to give up on logic/ believability of certain scenes, go mentally prepared that the movie would seem endless and runtime would be excruciatingly long, there’ll be plenty of unnecessary song and dance that could easily have been avoided – if you are willing to overlook all that well, then Jab Tak..provides another story of eternal love made quite watchable by the veteran himself. If not, then its best strike to this one off your list at this stage itself

The first half of the movie plays like a musical. With three songs and a long dance sequence crammed in, there’s little room for anything else. There is precisely one moment in the entire first half that would cause some stir and that’s where the master wields his magic wand. Other than that, its pretty much all about the song and dance. While the music itself is decent, one still expects more from A R Rahman, and considering it does nothing to progress the story line, it becomes frustrating

The second half provides more of the story though the twists and turns (if you could call them that) are less palatable. Each new sequence is less convincing then the earlier one and the movie lurches towards a rather delayed climax. Somehow, somewhere things happen and by the end of it all, Yash Chopra manages to convince you that this is yet another story of eternal, never-ending love, but only just, this time round

As for the performances, Shahrukh is predictable as ever and one really can’t see him for the character he portrays. While the same could be said for Katrina, given her historical record, this is probably one of her better performances. The real star of the movie though is Anushka Sharma who brings a natural ease to her character and a lot of freshness to the proceedings. That and the wonderful cinematography of exquisitely shot landscapes are some of the best reasons to watch this movie

So what’s the verdict? Well, Jab Tak Hai Jaan certainly doesn’t take your breath away but despite its flaws its a decent one-time watch especially considering this was Yash Chopra’s swan song and this is a man who has literally immortalised love on the bollywood mantelpiece – its worth a watch if only to honour his memory

Movie Review: Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana..is a completely ordinary recipe

This is one recipe you don’t want to try. I know variety is the spice of life but this is taking things a bit far. Despite a decent premise, Luv Shuv.. completely fails to bring home the gravy. Instead what you get served is rather raw and unappetizing

Firstly, its not as funny as it should be. In fact, the only laughs that are to be had are provided by the character Titu Mama, played to perfection by Rajesh Sharma and that’s about the only reason you manage to sit through the movie. For the rest, well, it all stands out for the wrong reasons. The plot, if you can call it that, is abysmal and its almost as if the director was thinking on the fly while shooting the scenes, for all the thought that’s gone into it. I don’t know in what addled state this movie was put together but it simply doesn’t make sense

In fact, given the recent success of simple movies that focused on a particular culture and brought out the laughs from therein, Luv Shuv had all its ingredients laid out. However, its not the stuff you use but the way you mix it together that prepares the meal and that spells indigestion for this particular movie. While it intermissions with some promise, the second half starts oblivious to the little that has already been told. Most of your time gets spent in watching how a meal is made, a meal which by now you would happily avoid

Finally, after considerable agony, the movie crawls towards what can be called the climax or maybe the anti-climax – one can’t be too sure. In terms of acting, there is further misery as no one other than Rajesh Sharma really stand out. Huma Qureshi looks pretty as ever and puts in a decent performance for the limited scope her character gave her. Kunal Kapoor was given more scope to perform but he is still not ready to take on a mainstream character and fails to emote convincingly when it matters most

As per its ingredients Luv Shuv..could’ve been told simply, with a little more sanity with maybe a decent and clear message. By not doing all that and making a pot pourri of events, this dish is best avoided

Movie Review: Skyfall..is Bond Shaken And Stirred!!

What I thought would be an easy verdict is probably one of the toughest to call. Skyfall is Bond as you would have never seen it before…but is it the best? is it the worst? Well that’s where it gets difficult

Skyfall is not the adventure popcorn action you and I have come to associate with Bond over recent years. It does not rely on adrenalin pumping action or fancy gadgets. Come to think of it, it doesn’t even have a very convoluted plot. By all these counts, this movie should be a no-go for all Bond fans..but it isn’t.

What needs to be kept in mind while watching Skyfall is that this is a franchise that has completed 50 years and this movie is meant to be a tribute to that franchise. The popcorn adventure could’ve been and has been played out many times over..Skyfall chooses to go deeper and take a real, hard look at Bond, M and the entire franchise itself. I won’t say anything further than that

In the hands of Sam Mendes, a director not really known for action adventure movies, Bond and Skyfall receive completely different treatment and in its own way it works. Landscape shots and focus on expressions replace gunfire and explosions. I won’t say its all great – there are times where you wish there were more incidents, more mayhem, more action sequences, more of the Bond you were attuned to but once you are willing to slow down, you begin to appreciate what’s there. Like Casino Royale was different and took some time to digest..Skyfall again makes you swallow a bitter pill and it takes some time to appreciate the sweetness within

As for the performances, Daniel Craig is just okay as Bond, Dame Judi Dench is in vintage touch as M and the villain of the tale is convincing but isn’t given enough air-time. With a little more work this villain could have established himself on a far greater plane but for some strange reason the film doesn’t go for that

I won’t say I am completely sold to the film. I would’ve liked some things to be different and there are other scenes that tempt, tease but don’t deliver. However, whatever is delivered is in a class of its own and seen at  its own merit, Skyfall takes the Bond legacy to new heights

Movie Review: Chakravyuh…is not worth a view

Chakravyuh deals with a sensitive topic that should be thought provoking and a major cause of concern in today’s context. However, while watching this movie in the hall, there was only one ‘concern’…how much longer would this predictable, over-the-top, pretentious drama still continue!!

The trouble with Chakravyuh is that despite the context in which it is set, its treatment is completely commercial and unnecessarily sensational. What worked wonders in a movie like Rajneeti, is unconvincing and plain irritating, in this different avatar which required considerable research and a well thought out plot. In fact, as a friend of mine remarked, it is such movies that make you realize and admire the level of detailing and in-depth research that a movie like Gangs of Wasseypur had. This, however, is the same old wine in a new bottle and it just doesn’t work

In fact, the last line of the movie that comes in voice-over is probably what the movie should have started with and then told a different tale altogether. Chakravyuh chooses, instead, to just highlight the problem and then makes it a mere background for a clichéd story that has been told many times over. The one saving grace this movie could have had despite its ordinary plot and presentation, unnecessary item numbers and ill placed songs was to have convincing performances from the lead cast

However, when that brigade is led by Arjun Rampal you are heading for failure. Arjun Rampal looks the part sure enough..its the acting that’s the problem. Supporting roles and cameos suit him just fine but when he has to emote through clenched teeth dialogue delivery..well that’s probably expecting too much from him. The usually dependable Abhay Deol is also a touch out of place, especially in the latter half of the movie when his character and his voice lack a certain edge. Top that up with Esha Gupta’s amateurish dialogue delivery and the circle is complete. The only respite is the decent performance of Manoj Bajpai and the surprise package of Anjali Patel who also gives a credible performance

As per its name, Chakravyuh ought to have denoted a conundrum - a puzzling web with no straight answers. With what it delivers though, the answer is simple..Chakravyuh is not worth a hall visit

Movie Review: Cloud Atlas..doesn’t scale much heights

There is an interesting TV series these days, called The Touch..which covers how we are all connected in ways we can’t imagine and while its nothing out of the ordinary it beautifully creates all the links to put across a coherent story at the end of 45 minutes. Cloud Atlas..is the exact opposite to that

What Cloud Atlas delivers is a journey that transcends multiple lives across centuries and then keeps flitting back and forth between them enough to make your head spin. When you tell such a complex tale you need to help the audience connect the dots and follow the plot in wondrous fascination (read movies like Crash and Inception) but Cloud Atlas is merciless in that department. After spending an agonizing 164 minutes, you are still as clueless as ever and wondering what to connect with what. In fact, you would be forgiven to believe that if you took any 6 random lives and drew them up together like this you’ll probably see this much connect anyways

The real hero of this terribly long tale is the, often ignored, make-up department. Most of the time your favourite activity while watching the movie is figuring out who amongst Tom Hanks, Hugh Grant, Halle Berry and the others are you really watching right now. So marvelous is the make up and presentation, that it takes a while to realize that the punk writer you are watching is really Hanks or that the savage you see on screen now is really Hugh Grant under awesome make up and prosthetics. Two thumbs up for that

With such a stellar cast the performances are bound to be good and they are. The entire cast play their multiple complex roles to perfection, no exceptions. The music and background score which ideally should have played a more integral role given the context of the movie is beautiful but limited.

At the end of it all, Cloud Atlas may be a wonderful story penned by British author David Mitchell(in all fairness, I haven’t read it yet). But the lack of connect and the rather ambitious attempt of telling too much of this tale all at once, makes this movie a rather tedious and unsatisfying watch. Other than the make-up, Cloud Atlas didn’t scale much heights for me..whether this journey is still worth your while is up to you

Movie Review: Argo..Just Go!!!

After long last I can describe what has been a near-perfect movie viewing experience watching the masterfully directed Argo. Oh! What a relief.

Based on a true story, Argo has a rather ordinary plotline for a movie. Even if I shared it with you, you’ll probably say..are you sure this’ll be worth a watch? I mean, it sounds rather like a documentary considering the situation it is set in…and I couldn’t blame you. But wait till you enter the theatres and the siege begins. You’ll feel like you are in it, part of the mayhem..maybe even one of the six..ah, but I get ahead of myself.

Despite having a pretty good hunch on how it’ll turn out well ahead, you still can’t be too sure…that’s the kind of underlying tension Argo creates. Most scenes are close up shots and camerawork as well as editing is superlative. The movie may tend to slow down but its just the right pacing for the narrative to be told and once it picks up you’ll probably feel the adrenalin rush. There are practically no explosions or death defying action stunts, yet the movie sends your pulse racing and a plane taking off may never have mattered more

Despite not looking it, Argo is a sure thrill ride. This is achieved through brilliant direction, excellent use of background sounds, great camerawork and slick editing – there’s little one can complain about. The performances are great as well especially from Affleck and Bryan Cranston (from Breaking Bad fame). John Goodman and Alan Arkin provide the satirical humour and most of their lines will make you chuckle
Oh! and be sure to stay back for the credits where you can witness the level of detailing and research that was put in to make this movie what it is or you’ll really miss something

On a side note, What does Argo mean? Well …I am tempted to respond to that but then I’d probably have to use an expletive in this post (something, I try and avoid as a rule)…so go ‘find out for yourself’

Movie Review: Bhoot Returns..yawn..really I hadn’t noticed..

 

At the outset, I would like to state that I haven’t seen Bhoot which I’ve heard is a decent watch. In fact, I avoid horror movies altogether as a genre but have been rather intrigued by it off late. So when ‘Bhoot’ decided to make a ‘return’ I thought I’d check it out. 90 minutes later it was pretty obvious I had made the wrong choice

Remember Aahat? That TV series that was a standout on Indian television for so many years and provided some real spooks? Well, even though I haven’t seen much of it, I can still safely say that even Aahat was much better than the rubbish you get with Bhoot Returns and even that’s putting it lightly.

Most of the first half of the movie is spent in..yawning. I think they shot about 3 scenes and then decided to run them at a quarter of the normal speed. So in extra slow motion you’ll have characters ascending and descending stairs, over and over again. And then there are the regular clichés – the creaking doors, the clock ticking (boy that clock ticks and ticks like there’s no tomorrow) and the jarring sounds that are supposed to shock and awe. Well they don’t – all they do is hurt the eardrums and jolt you just as you were planning to get into peaceful slumber

Worse is, the second half doesn’t make up for it either, going into a tangent of unnecessary humour and bizarre action with a pathetic climax. There are pretty much only one or two sequences which you are willing to admit are nicely pulled off..but that too would be on a relative scale

When the movie is this bad, the performances generally make it watchable. Well sadly that’s not the case here..there’s pretty much amateur acting by everybody and the panic and shrieking is rather forced than genuinely felt by the characters. The 3D effects will make your eyes hurt and there is a huge amount of blurring of images across scenes- lot of catching up to do in that department as well

All in all, Bhoot Returns offers you very little by way of a spooky experience and with the ear splitting background effects you can’t even plan to take a nap in the theatre as well – I can’t think of any reason you should catch this. Bhoot was better off lone and distant – this is an unnecessary comeback

Movie Review: Looper..runs too many circles and delivers nothing

 

Hollywood is known for its original premises and smart plots especially in the sci-fi genre. Looper is clearly not one of them. An intriguing setting is put to waste by a nonsensical plot that takes too long getting to a rather underwhelming result. Plain and simple..avoid Looper in this week’s movie watch list. I know its a sci-fi movie and gems like Inception and Minority Report come to mind but put them aside. Looper is not even a patch on them

Looper starts off well. The movie has quite an odd title but you get to understand exactly why its so, quite early in the movie. The rather unique premise is aided by some no-nonsense explaining within the first few scenes of the movie by the protagonist narrating in voice-over. So far..so very good. But that’s just it. That’s where it ends. Its as if after this even the director was scratching his head – okay so now what. Where do I take it from here..and I doubt he got any good answers

After that, the movie takes you on a roller coaster ride to…nowhere and by the end of it all you are just desperate to see the ending credits. The only somewhat saving grace, comes rather late in the movie and even that is pretty underwhelming, considering what you’ve already endured

As for the performances, well those are pretty decent. Joseph Gordon Levitt looks funny (I guess that’s required for his character) but delivers well. Bruce Willis is in a strange role and doesn’t have much to do. Kids have a lot to do in this movie and one particular kid is rather impressive. Emily Blunt also does justice to her role – no complaints there

I, for one, am scratching my head on how the established reviewing fraternity have given this movie a generous 4 stars. Perhaps they didn’t understand the plot or maybe they understood it a little too well – either way I was rather dejected with what was offered. I fail to see how this could be seen as brilliant and thought-provoking. Its original and creative yes but then so were Wanted, Jumper and the like..we all know how those turned out

So don’t get swayed by all the critical acclaim. As I was reading somewhere its been a long time since a good sci-fi movie with a decent plot came out. As soon as they saw Looper they’ve jumped to the conclusion that this is it. Well its not..the wait for that still continues. If you still wanna go for this movie and have your head running around in circles, its entirely your call..I’ve warned you all I could

Movie Review: Killing them softly…fails to hit its mark

Every now and then Hollywood manages to serve up an offering that can be otherwise described as boring and long-winded, yet is technically sound and a treat from a movie making point of view. Killing them softly is precisely such an offering

From a story and plot development point of view, the movie doesn’t even come close. You can be excused for more than a few yawns in the roughly 90 minutes you spend in watching it and you may end up coming out pretty unsatisfied. However, if you look solely at the way its been made - camerawork, editing and direction then you’d realize why this movie would receive high critical acclaim.

There’s no explosive action and yet the movie makes brutal impact in some scenes without making too much noise about it. For the most part there’s a lot of conversation which tells the viewer what’s really happening and since you are meant to understand it all through these scenes alone, amidst all the black humour of the conversation, it means that these scenes are long drawn out. Sure the film takes worthy potshots at the American capitalism system but you are just too wearied to figure it all out

In terms of performances, well, there’s top notch delivery by each and every one of a strong cast of characters with Brad Pitt leading from the front. There’s also a lovely blend-in of various soundtracks featuring a lot of reggae music that are pleasant melodies in unpleasant scenes

For me, though, I was looking for more than just that, so Killing Them Softly failed to make its mark. However, I would still say its all a matter of what kind of movie fare is your cup of tea and if you find such movies fascinating and worth spending time for well, then Killing Them Softly might well manage to hit you hard

Movie Review: English Vinglish…is not an 'aisi vaisi' movie

When I first saw the trailers of this movie I thought English Vinglish would be quite ordinary – the standard melodramatic stuff, over-emphasising the obstacles of the main character, seldom possible to connect to or find realistic and lacking any humour whatsoever. Well, I was in for a pleasant surprise

Despite having a predictable and ordinary plotline, English Vinglish manages to go beyond being the average movie. How? Simply by not over-doing things, as is the case in most Bollywood offerings. Resultantly, what you get is a refreshing presentation, subtle scenes that would bring a smile or even a chuckle and a simple story, simply told. It brings back memories of the clean family entertainers that were the norm in the previous decade and is clearly not set in present day context

Once you accept that and start following the life of Shashi (the protagonist) which you pretty much do from frame 1 of the movie..its hard not to connect and feel for her. However, what really brings Shashi to life is the awesome performance of Sridevi, who makes pretty much a dream comeback, after a rather long hiatus. She has such a refreshing screen presence and her expressive eyes alone are enough to tell you the whole story around how she feels at that particular moment.

As for the direction, I have to say its smart especially considering this is a debut movie. No scene lingers too long and the movie moves quickly. Songs are well woven into the story and do not end up slowing it down. There is less focus on the protagonist’s troubles and tale of woe and more on her steely determination behind her quiet demeanour. Saying anymore will spoil it for you so I’ll refrain, though you should be prepared for plenty of stereotypes in the form of the characters that revolve around Shashi

I won’t go so far as to say that the movie is a must watch – except perhaps for Sridevi’s performance. As a friend of mine remarked, this movie is ideal for TV viewing with the whole family. However, if you do watch it you can be guaranteed a good time at the theaters and a nice, light experience, through and through, that few movies end up offering.

Movie Review: OMG Oh My God..is not worth devoting time for

Okay, first things first…OMG Oh My God is not meant to be a comedy. Yes, I know it has Paresh Rawal as its lead and it brings Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar together (‘God’ only knows for what reason) so it should be one..but it isn’t..which itself is a pity

Once you are clear on that, you still shouldn’t go in with high expectations. Despite a promising premise, the film is let down by consistent over-dramatization and typical over-simplification. What could have been interesting and invigorating intellectual debate quickly becomes over-the-top and clichéd and just plain ordinary

There are touches, here and there…for eg. the beautiful use of the key ring and other props make their subtle point in the subtle manner they should. The court scenes are also well depicted though again here, the over-dramatization spoils it for the viewer. The trouble is that in these scenes the director, has already made up his mind which side he wants the audience to be swayed by the end of the scene and that completely spoils it. Further, the plot turns and the writing just isn’t interesting enough and one just waits for the movie to turn to the clichéd drama you know it would, sooner or later

In the acting department, you get treated to a great performance by the dependable Paresh Rawal who plays his part with great aplomb and comfort and keeps you interested. His character of Kanjilal the protagonist, is also well explored and well presented. The other character of interest is that of Mithun Chakraborty who does a great job as well. Akshay Kumar could have had the most interesting role but while it intrigues in the beginning his role becomes pretty one-dimensional.

While the movie can be seen to have great message and meaning, the issue is that all this is forced on the viewer rather than letting them decide for themselves. If only, this movie could have been more subtle in its approach than it proclaims in its title, it could have truly been a Godly product. As it stands though, there is nothing heavenly about OMG..Beyond this, May God show you the right path..

Movie Review: Heroine..she shines, the film doesn’t

After insightful and well presented movies like Page 3 and Fashion, a Madhur Bhandarkar movie is expected to be focused on a particular industry and hell bent in exposing its dark underbelly. Heroine seeks to be no different. Yet, while we expected this, what we didn’t expect was for all the other cliché's his movies are known for to be put together in the same movie!! And therein..lies its fall

If there is one thing any audience would love in any movie – its a fresh presentation. A tale where they don’t know what to expect and plot turns that keep them interested. Thanks to all of his other exploits, Bhandarkar’s Heroine has none of those. Add to that the fact that it is far too long and makes no real impact,  makes dirty digs at other bollywood actors and actresses and is ultimately a sad product. One of the worst ending sequences I have seen in any of his movies, an area where he has known to demonstrate class elsewhere (Page 3 – mere liye party khatam ho chuki hai..) looks like they were in a hurry to announce the final pack-up and decided to proceed with whatever they had till then

If Heroine is saved somewhat, its all thanks to a superlative performance by Kareena Kapoor who makes the central character (Mahi Arora) her own and despite her rather confusing and irritating personality you still want to root for her. Mahi’s deep agony and constant struggle comes across perfectly in every scene and Kareena’s performance truly shines amidst all the other fake glamour and glitterati. All the others play their part well enough too for the movie to have been a decent watch

However, the long runtime, the painfully familiar sequences and uninspired writing make for a rather bad outing for this supposed expose on the underbelly of Bollywood. Watch it only for Kareena’s performance..else there’s nothing much you’ll miss anyways

Movie Review: Barfi…offers some delicious bites

I know this comes in late but it was still due and for some reason if you still haven’t seen Barfi..I’ll only say that you shouldn’t miss it. Barfi is one of those rare Bollywood treats that they don’t dole out as often as one would like. In a nutshell, it offers you some delightful moments, some wonderful acting and an excellent presentation with minimum words being spoken

In many ways Barfi is a celebration of life – joyous, light with a spring in every step. Innocence and simplicity rarely come across so beautifully on the screen. This is one of those rare movies where you are bound to have a smile plastered across your face throughout the first half while you watch chaplin-esque comedy sequences brilliantly portrayed by Ranbir. Then just at the right moments it touches a chord and you see the emotion behind all the laughter

The fact that the protagonist is dumb and mute is used so exceedingly well in the film that an otherwise simple sequence of frames takes on great meaning and delivers tremendous impact. There is a touch of directorial class about a few of such sequences and I am pretty sure Barfi can be regarded as Anurag Basu’s finest till date. Music has been used wonderfully well and though the songs are melodious, its the background music in all the scenes that keep you interested

If the film falters, surprisingly, its in the plot. While it sets up well, the storyline isn’t exactly what you would have liked - taking the focus away from the wondrous lives of Barfi and Jhilmil into familiar clichéd grounds. To be fair though, you couldn’t really figure out another way the story could’ve been taken forward. That and the fact that its a little too long, (the age old Bollywood vice) and could’ve done with some snappier sequences and less predictable dialogues especially in the second half are the minor blemishes that you need to bear with

As for the performances, well that’s the main force that makes Barfi the movie it is. Its gonna be hard to find competition to Ranbir soon the way he’s going. With no dialogues, its supposed to be all expression and express he does – every single twitch, raised eyebrow or just a plain old smile – it all comes out perfect. In fact, such is his impact that you barely notice Jhilmil (Priyanka) despite her having done a more than credible job. However, she proves equally effective and does complete justice to the difficult character of Jhilmil. Ileana D’Cruz make a confident entry to Bollywood; she has a very expressive face and that works beautifully for her character

Barfi, thus, offers a delicious treat – don’t go looking for plotline and story – this one is for the performances and presentation alone and in that regard, its a rare gem

Movie Review: Finding Nemo 3D…is worth the re-watch

Okay so I am assuming here that most of you have already seen this delightful underwater tale when it released in 2003. If you haven’t by any chance and are not devoutly against watching animation flicks (for clearly, then there’s no convincing you)..the answer is simple, don’t miss it. For those of you that have and then I assume it won’t be just once but possibly re-runs of your favourite parts as well, so much so that you remember the entire movie pretty much..should you still go? Well, I think you should.
Me, for instance, I always wondered how this movie would look in 3D and I am happy to announce that its all I imagined and more so. The 3D is not slight, as was the case with the re-release of Titanic. Its very clearly there and present, accentuating an already detailed aquatic scenery. The time when Bruce swims in pursuit of those two is virtually brought to life by the 3D effect as is the jumping about around jelly fish. The aquatic bubbles don’t spring out on you like those dainty little things in Avatar but its very very visible. And if that’s not enough, well there’s always Dory to make you laugh which works in whatever format you choose to watch
Its a lovingly crafted animation film with the right dose of humor and emotion and the 3D just makes it better. There you have it then, a short review but the verdict is simple..its worth it..go watch it!!

Movie Review: Gangs of Wasseypur Part II..is a fitting conclusion to the revenge saga

Clocking at a combined runtime of 320 minutes, the Gangs of Wasseypur takes a long time to tell its tale. However, with the refreshing manner in which it is presented, the solid performances by its entire cast of characters, the contextual and thumping music that comes in every now and the transition of the story across practically a century without losing its audience, you’ve got to hand it to Kashyap. The Gangs.. project was ambitious but as the final credits roll in on part II, you clearly feel that he has done justice to the revenge saga and created quite a classic. It may not be perfect but it is pretty darn good
Part II begins pretty much where Part I left off and I mean that in every respect. The same solid performances by a diverse cast of characters, convoluted plotlines and cinematographic brilliance across some sequences. In fact, Part II also continues to introduce new characters all of which are very welcome. With names like Definite, Perpendicular and Tangent, one was already curious and each name’s explanation in the movie is pretty satisfying. What’s more some of these new additions are pretty much central characters and not mere ‘sidies’ thrown in for fun.
However, as was the case with the first version, part II also suffers from some unnecessarily extended story-telling, stretching of the plot where it could easily have ended half hour earlier and dragging through some scenes that add little value. In fact, the attempt to inject humor at one of the most important moments in the movie, fails all reason.
While the performance of the entire cast is noteworthy, Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s screen presence and Tigmanshu Dhulia’s restrained performance deserves special mention, as does the striking Huma Qureshi as Faizal Khan’s love interest. The music is good though not as contextual as part I and thankfully there aren’t too many songs in this instalment.
Overall, Part II offers all that the build up promised if not more. If you liked part I, you owe it to yourself to find out exactly how the revenge saga turned out.

Movie Review: Ice Age 4: Continental Drift..just about manages to keep it together

Ice Age 4 offers nothing new. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing since the Ice Age series has been pretty good fun all through. However, it is now looking rather episodic and drawn out rather than the fresh presentation the initial versions had. While the other series (Kung Fu Panda, Toy Story) improved with every sequel, this is one series that has pretty much remained the same.
Ice Age 4 then, is just about, the same wine in the same bottle. If anything, its becoming more kids oriented and the gags are comparatively lesser. At this point, I don’t really care if there’s an Ice Age 5, rather I am hoping there isn’t. Part of the reason for this indifference may also be that while the herd started off with fresh and quirky characters, there hasn’t been much progress since Manny, Diego and Sid got together and now they are definitely getting older. By now, even Scrat is beginning to look repetitive – I guess there’s no better indication
As for the current version, well its got all the usual stuff. Animation is top drawer and the 3D is well utilized, though I thought we could’ve done with a little more depth in some scenes. All the voice actors are in good form and the packaging of the movie is also pretty decent. One thing this version definitely misses is more of the smart gags – some laugh out loud moments that the earlier versions offered. Unless they can manage to pull a rabbit out of a hat, this series may well be on its way to extinction. Its been a memorable journey, but its important to realize when its time to go.
Ice Age 4 then, doesn’t make the must watch list. Still, with the other offering being Kya Super Kool Hain Hum..its an easy choice. At least this one won’t give you a headache

Movie Review: Kya Super Kool Hain Hum..Kya Bakwas Hai!!

This one’s a no brainer – and I mean this in every sense of the phrase possible. The only reason I was keen on watching this sequel was because I had quite a few laughs with the original that released a few years back. If I had been given quite the same helping I would’ve been satisfied, but nothing could have prepared me for the bizarre, crude and downright amateur stuff that Kya Super Kool..has to offer. Forget Super..this one’s not even Kool..not by a long yardstick
This is usually that part of my review where I start off with something good about the movie..and I am actually struggling. Other than a handful of clever quips, most of the one-liners make you cringe, hold your head in frustration and wish that you’d never ventured to the hall in the first place. Gone is the nicely paced setup of the original offering, with decent characters, interesting situations and absolute laugh out loud sequences. Instead, what you get is an all the time in-your-face motley collection of one-liners distributed across dialogues, no story to speak of and absolutely nil connect with the characters. The somewhat saving grace is some of the song and dance, but that’s also probably because Dil Garden Garden is a clear lift from the Flo Rida hit – Right Round (from Hangover fame)
In the acting department, Riteish is in good form but this time doesn’t have the dialogues to support him in his fairly comfortable comedic avatar. Of the others, it pains one to see a veteran like Anupam Kher playing the role he does in the movie, though he still manages to bring a laugh or two due to his performance alone.
To expect any depth whatsoever in a movie made purely for the purpose of fun is a stupid expectation and I went in with none. What I did hope for was at least some of the laugh riot that the original had presented if not an all-out entertainer. What I got instead was a mind-numbing barrage of useless one liners that left me dazed. If this is not warning enough then probably your mind is numb already and Super Kool..couldn’t possibly do more damage.

Movie Review: The Dark Knight Rises…No..it doesn’t

It is with a heavy heart that I choose this title for my review for what has been easily the most anticipated movie of the season. With the The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan gave us one of the finest experiences in cinema, in a long time and instantly catapulted himself to that elite list of magical film-makers. Even as one emerged from the theaters then, one thing was amply clear – nothing would be better than this.
However, as the euphoria began to rise, trailers began to come and news around the movie and its plot began doing the rounds – some hope emerged – could it really be possible? could Nolan actually outdo himself? The anticipation reached a crescendo and the release of the film was met with packed houses
Sadly, it was all for nought. The curse of the third instalment of the trilogy (matrix revolutions, spiderman 3 etc.) was only too obvious as a disappointed and dejected viewer emerged after the last 165 minutes of the caped crusader. Forget Dark Knight, even Batman Begins was miles ahead of this last offering.
Movies like The Dark Knight and Inception have put Christopher Nolan in a special place. Almost where you felt that even if he made a bad move, it would still be a pretty good offering. However, with The Dark Knight Rises, Nolan probably offers his weakest movie till date. If Dark Knight and even Batman Begins offered you a complex and convoluted plot, psychological terror and thrills at the same time and memorable dialogues, The Dark Knight Rises fails miserably in all those 3 departments. Instead TDKR, relies on showing brawn rather than brain, explosive set pieces rather than unexpected events and twists and turns that add no merit to the story. The only saving grace is that you get to see Anne Hathaway looking delectable in a catsuit and delivering her role to perfection, so you can imagine the disappointment.
The first half of the movie starts well and builds in a familiar manner and you gear up for something exciting. However, the weakest point for Nolan is that the character of Bane is pathetic. That Bane is no Joker is but obvious, but his portrayal is too ‘in your face’. He may look menacing all right but by talking more than probably any other character including Batman himself, he leaves no mystery around him, his plans or what you can expect next.
To give credit, there are some jaw dropping action set pieces but they too are marred by an inept background score. If the first half gives you some hope, the second half dashes it hard into the ground. The action is predictable to the point of being mundane, the dialogues are cheesy and plain irritating. After gems like ‘This city deserves a better class of criminal and I’m gonna give it to them’, one expected a few more master lines that lasted for the next decade or two but TDKR almost seems written by someone else entirely. There is not one dialogue that stands out or stays with you.
At the end of the day, its really some fine acting by the entire cast that manage to leave some credit for the movie – Bale, Hardy, Oldman, Caine, Freeman, Marion, Joseph Gordon Levitt and Anne all deliver an earnest performance.
I really cringe while typing this review out because this is so not what I would have liked to say about the movie – but its important to face the truth. The Dark Knight deserved a better finale, a better tribute and Nolan was the right man for the job. Let’s just accept that he had a bad at the office.

Movie Review: The Amazing Spiderman…is an unnecessary reboot to the franchise

When I first saw the trailers of this reboot of our friendly neighborhood web-slinger (and I am big fan)..there was only one question on my mind..Why?? Why would you plan a reboot for a franchise that had fairly established itself (of course, barring Spiderman 3 which is where things probably started to go wrong). Sam Raimi’s spiderman pretty much captured the essence of the superhero across various dimensions. What was the need for a re-boot? Unfortunately, after seeing the movie..I still ask the same question
If there was one thing about Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, it knew the story it wanted to tell and told it well. In stark contrast, the story development in Amazing Spiderman is horrendously weak. Its almost as if the director wanted to just separate himself from the earlier franchise..by whatever means possible, even if it made no sense. So while Parker is still going to be bit by a spider there’s some unnecessary and unconvincing nonsense around how it happens and how he becomes Spidey. In fact, in the entire first half, the only saving grace is that though they replaced the character of Mary Jane with another girl, we get the much prettier and imminently watchable Emma Stone to play the love interest
Thankfully the movie picks up significantly after that and we get what we really came to see. With Spiderman having discovered who he is, its the Spidey action that really grabs your attention. You see, the thing about Spidey is that he is extremely fast, but with the marvellous camera-work of The Amazing Spiderman, the camera manages to stay on him every single frame so you follow the action to the T.
Andrew Garfield as the new Spidey tries his best to look the part but doesn’t manage to do very well in the end. Rhys Ifans as Dr. Curtis Connors, though, does a really good job and despite a weak villain makes quite an impression. Our own Irrfan Khan is also there, though his dialogues are minimal and he delivers them in his trademark no-nonsense fashion.
If the trailer of this re-boot impressed you, well it was meant to..because there isn’t too much the new Spidey has to offer. However, that 40 odd minutes of Spidey action is about the most immersive and well executed parts of the movie. Its also probably the only time when you notice the 3D. You can pretty much watch the first half of the movie without the glasses altogether, for all the 3D it offers.
All in all, the new age action, camera work and special effects make a new Spiderman movie every bit worth the effort. If only they had done it as Spiderman 4 (in continuation of the franchise) this could have been one kickass movie. As it stands though, there is little that is ‘Amazing’ about the new Spiderman and if you decide to give it a miss, you won’t miss much

Movie Review: Gangs of Wasseypur..waise not so special

Gangs of Wasseypur could have been special. It had all the ingredients – a nice long plotline spanning multiple generations, multiple characters, stellar performance by a not so A-grade star cast, contextualized music and songs that would pipe in every now and then and add meaning to the scenes being shown and finally, original and thoughtful direction in the masterful hands of Anurag Kashyap. Yet, it ultimately falls short.
The beginning of this movie is solid. Right from the first scene, the stage gets set and you gear up for a nice long (oh yes its long..180 minutes) drama with adequate thrills and chills all the way through. The narrative is crisp and the voice over keeps you posted especially in times when the movie practically gallops in between. The language is crude and very authentic to the setting of the movie and the visual display also matches the tone.
The big issue with Gangs..is that after the initial focus on character development, it becomes very evident to the viewer that this is going to be one long drawn and sometimes tedious ride. Initially one is able to follow the main characters, their complexities and shades..then one begins to get lost in a myriad of under-developed characters suddenly popping up from nowhere. Some scenes are unusually long when they give no additional message or meaning to the script and story and one gets the feeling the maybe the director got just too carried away with the saga he wanted to tell and the canvas he had for it.
Further, there is no sense of urgency, especially in the second half and there is no telling when one can expect a climax or if at all, there will be one. The initial tension that was built up in the air, just dissipates and one is just waiting for it all to be over, irrespective of who wins or loses
This is really a pity because there is otherwise a lot of good work that Gangs..has to offer. Music and sound has been used exquisitely with slight undertones to every melody/ lyrics one gets treated to. As the movie progresses, however, that too becomes one song too many and one practically cringes towards the final music sequences. The performances of the entire cast are noteworthy and probably what really lifts the movie despite the long runtime. Scenes are also masterfully shot and despite their rustic setting, sport a distinct sheen
At the end of it all, what Gangs of Wasseypur offers is fine cinema per se, but gets too long lost in telling its story. To think, that is only half of the saga and there is another 3 hours of this mafia family to expect..unfortunately doesn’t generate much excitement especially if its going to be like its first instalment. That said, I missed the trailer of part 2 which I believe, comes after the credits of part1 (wish I'd known earlier :(..and from what I've heard, it really sets expectations from part 2 of the movie..so who knows..the Gangs..may have kept the best for the last
As for the verdict on part 1 - Go for Gangs..if you are a huge Anurag Kashyap fan, have a genuine appreciation of good cinema and are willing to spend a visibly long time in the theatre.

Movie Review: Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted..are definitely worth catching

I think I can safely say that the animation movie series can teach a thing or two on how to make sequels. As was the case with Toy Story 3 and Kung Fu Panda 2, Madagascar 3 again manages to raise the bar and significantly at that.
This time back in 3D, our favourite zoo animals are in fine form and clearly a lot of work and effort has gone into making this 3rd and probably final edition. Its almost as if they surveyed what we loved about the first instalments and made that the centrepiece of this movie. In fact, its harder to write a review for such a movie without sounding like a broken record since everything is just great; just how you want it to be in a Madagascar kind of movie
I think I should stop commenting on the quality of animation because that’s almost becoming a hygiene factor these days, no longer deserving special mention. The 3D is also clearly emphasized though it could do with a little more depth in some scenes (I know, I am being greedy) There are plenty of laughs to be had and for the familiar fans watching this one after having seen the first two movies there are some moments of pure delight. A single line from King Julian will have you guffawing while the unfamiliar crowd would wonder what was so funny about that line. Still there’s plenty of new laughs too so even if you haven’t seen the earlier editions, you should be fine
The movie isn’t just plain fun. The writing is intelligent and there are many references to cult movies, places and cultures for those who can catch them. Finally, the movie brings joie de vivre to the circus, a dying form of entertainment today, and some might even reminisce their younger days when they watched the glorious act of the circus
All in all, the movie is arguably the best in the Madagascar Series and your only regret would probably be seeing the ending credits while wishing that the fun could last a little longer