Movie Review: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug..nothing bad, but its getting a bit much..

Is there anything known as too much of a good thing? Don’t be surprised if you find yourself asking this question as you exit the theaters after watching this second installment of the prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Per se, there is nothing wrong with this movie, apart from the fact that they have taken a children’s story and are unsuccessfully trying to stretch it to LOTR-esque epic proportions. Its got very high quality visuals, amazing action sequences and great acting to go. And yet, there isn’t that euphoria about it..

From its side, The Hobbit 2.0 tries its level best - even righting some of the wrongs you would have had from the origin story. Given that all you get to see of Smaug is his eye and that too at the end of the first movie, ‘The Desolation of Smaug’ would really have been an apt title for the first movie instead. This is especially because there is no desolation for Smaug in this one. While he comes late into the movie (yeah..as if that’s a big surprise) never has a dragon been so painfully detailed and visualized in such an epic manner. Add to that the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch (who has quite the Midas touch these days..) and the circle is complete. Further, expect a tighter storyline and better plot development than the first offering and you would say that this time they haven’t taken a step wrong.

In my review of the first installment, I mentioned that one of the reasons it fails to ‘wow’ us now is because there is nothing new on offer. I think it would be good order to simply repeat that statement for good measure, for the second installment as well. If you are a die-hard LOTR fan, you may still love The Hobbit trilogy (though with the liberties they are taking with the original storyline, one can’t be too sure). For me, though, its getting a bit much. The visuals and jaw dropping action are now almost taken for granted and there isn’t anything novel that the franchise offers any more. Add to that the enormous length of each installment (this one again clocks over 2 and a half hours) and you can see the interest is clearly diminishing
Martin Freeman is great as Bilbo but the narrative hardly gives him room to perform. Gandalf also has this wearied look about him, which almost suggests that maybe he’s also had enough of this journey and adventure. The dwarves, accompanied by the elves this time (not sure who’s bright idea was that, it sure wasn’t Tolkens, I am told) are present but you don’t really see them as individuals for all the character development there is.

I saw part two of the Hunger Games last week and I can hardly wait for the next installment to unfold – I am even considering buying the book for all time it’ll take. With The Hobbit though, I couldn’t care less at this stage. While I’ll still watch the third part when it releases next year, it’ll be mostly to end the trilogy – for what should have always been just one movie, all this while.

Movie Review: Hunger Games: Catching Fire..sets the series ablaze

 
Before you start booking your tickets just basis that review title, I’d suggest you read the rest of the review for this one. Have you seen part 1 of this franchise? Incidentally, I also saw that only yesterday and here’s the catch – you can’t watch part two unless you’ve seen part one, and chances are you won’t like part one all that much – at least I didn’t

With a very weird premise to begin with and an ever so predictable build up, the first edition of Hunger Games was scarcely the firebolt I hoped it would be. If you enjoyed part 1 (for reasons best known to you), part 2 is a much better step up, no worries. If you’ve somehow sat through the first one (like I did) and are hoping for better things with the second edition – well, there’s good news on that front as well – part 2 is where things really heat up and definitely set the stage for a scorching finale

For one, the story is much more coherent. Part 1 makes you reluctantly accept the extremely odd premise that the series hinges on. Having accepted that this is how things are, the events of part 2 almost seem plausible and well crafted. In fact, the kind of turns the second edition makes, one almost gets the feeling that the origin story was barely to set the stage – the real stuff would unfold in this edition and the next ones

The ‘Games’ themselves have become a much more interesting and absorbing affair. Unlike the first edition there is plenty of action and Katniss Eberdeen is able to amply display her arrow shooting abilities this time round. The action is top notch and doesn’t come in fits and starts (as in the previous edition); there’s a sense of flow to the proceedings. Some scenes in particular, are exquisitely executed.

Even though, Katniss Eberdeen isn’t a very complex or deeply explored character (at least not yet), despite being the protagonist of the story, it is her portrayal by Jennifer Lawrence that really makes for an entertaining watch. Catching Fire gives her a few intense scenes but she is more than equal to the task. The other characters around her, both the old veterans as well as the new additions, do a very good job as well

Catching Fire is really an appropriate title for this movie. While the first one was quite lack luster and almost cast a dampener, this part really is where the spark ignites and shows the menacing flames that promise an explosive showdown at the finale. If you’ve been disappointed with what the series has shown you so far, I’d suggest you give this second edition a shot and only then make up your mind

Movie Review: Frozen..showcases the warmth of love

 
I know this blog title looks very generic. Truth be told I would’ve ideally liked to add one word before ‘love’ in that title. However, doing that would reveal far more than I would like, so we’ll just have to do with how it stands, for now

While its not the kinds to celebrate the festive spirit as Rise of the Guardians did, about the same time last year, Frozen has plenty of spirit of its own. In fact, Frozen brings back memories of other Disney classics – the fairytale stories of handsome princes and pretty princesses, singing and dancing throughout the narrative. Disney is determined to get its age-old formula to work its magic yet again and that is apparent even much before Frozen actually begins

Before the movie starts you are treated to a superlative Mickey Mouse animation short, presented in a Hugo-istic manner (never thought that would become a phrase of its own) beautifully melding the classic black and white comics in Walt Disney’s own voice as Mickey Mouse alongwith high quality 3D characters that jump out of the original canvas and draw you in. The message from Disney is clear – the formula with a slight tweak that adds to the delight – so is the case with the movie as well

Frozen starts off much like its last year’s presentation Brave. A fast paced narrative with a lot of things happening in the first 20 minutes itself. Of course, with 3 songs to accompany as well (I started dreading a repeat of the Ram Leela debacle) and not being a fan of musicals as such, my first impulse was to leave then and there. In this case though, I am glad I stayed on

Ice has never looked as pretty as it does in Frozen. The 3D is there but not really emphasized on except for the falling snowflakes and snow storms as the narrative progresses. However, its the story and the crisp animation that hold your attention. That and the wonderful character of Olaf the Snowman are the real draws of the movie. Some twists delight while others seem too far-fetched but its refreshing to see such originality from Disney as such. While you may not agree with me for the most part, I am sure you will once you exit the hall. I am not saying anything further..

All the regular boxes are ticked of course, voice acting is great, animation and effects are top class and barring the 3D everything else shines like a pretty snowflake

To put it in perspective then, while its not ‘the first time in forever’ that Disney gets it right, with Bullett Raja and other ordinary fare as the alternative, I’d say you ‘don’t let go’ of this one  and see if it melts your ‘frozen’ heart

Movie Review: Ram Leela..is an epic disaster

 First things first, there was no particular reason this movie needed to be titled Ram Leela. It has nothing to do with the original epic and while arbitrary references are made, none of them were critical to tell this particular story – if you can see a story in it that is. All I saw was a two and a half hours of Indian folk dance (with some mindless Priyanka Chopra item song included) with decent music and ostentatious visuals. There isn’t even a semblance of a plot and to look for any depth is pointless, the surface itself would leave a mark if you scratched it the slightest.

A good 15 years back, 10 songs in a two and a half hour movie might’ve been just the way to go. Since we are now in 2013, that alone isn’t enough – not by a long margin. Unfortunately Mr. Bhansali seems oblivious to the same. While Ram Leela claims to be inspired from the classic love story of Romeo & Juliet (which incidentally is also something I haven’t seen) I doubt if that original classic would’ve had such a banal plot and shallow characters. So pathetic is the character development that Leela almost comes across as a nymphomaniac for all the build up there is between her and Ram – there was better build up in Ishaqzaade for crying out loud and that itself says a lot.

I am stumped that somebody amongst the elite film critics has given such drivel a whopping 5 stars!! Me, I am struggling between half a star and if possible, three-fourths of one. If I have to give the film any credit at all, it would go only to the nicely choreographed songs and beautiful, picturesque set pieces. That, and perhaps the strong performance of Ranvir Singh, despite the quality of everything else and the imminently watchable Deepika Padukone

Much has been said in the open media of the sparkling chemistry between the two leads – most of which I don’t agree with. Instead, I would definitely say that Deepika looks prettier in every frame, her facial expression just right. However, she lacks the intensity and pure fire power her kind of character (at least what I assume was intended as her character) demanded. On the other hand, Ranvir does possibly the best job of them all and tries his level best to lift the weak script and bad writing.

Speaking of writing, I have a bad feeling that some of it was contributed by Sajid Khan himself as there were plenty of grimace worthy dialogues, or jokes if you will. The one or two scenes that could otherwise have stood out are given such a weak context that it doesn’t even seem like the work of a veteran. Plot twists and story development has holes that our laughably obvious to all except Mr. Bhansali, evidently

Devdas gave me a headache and I haven’t seen the debacle called Saawariya. If you are a die hard Bhansali fan and believe that it is I who hasn't appreciated the movie despite it having a lot to offer, by all means – go see for yourself. In my books though, the only relation to any kind of an epic this movie holds is that it is an epic disaster. I couldn’t have been more obvious about it

Movie Review: Captain Phillips..charts out a glorious expedition

When I went all ga-ga about Gravity 2 weeks back, I didn’t really expect to write such rave reviews of anything else in 2013. Hollywood sure has a way of proving me wrong. With the third definite hit of the season, Captain Phillips is right up there in Hollywood’s offerings of 2013 – this one too, is unmissable, albeit for completely different reasons

Captain Phillips is aptly named not so much for the captain of the ship this real life event movie is based on, but more the captain of this particular ship (the movie) – Paul Greengrass. Much more well known for his epic presentation of the Bourne Trilogy, Greengrass proves that his expertise doesn’t necessarily require a canvas like the Bourne series to paint on. In his expert hands, a vessel more focused on drama than action, more tight build up than explosions and effects, is steered along on perfectly smooth waters. Scenes that would have seemed ordinary when served up by other directors, get a sense of underlying tension with background score to match and you marvel at the director’s skill at captivating your attention.

The camerawork is just apt, balance between wide and close range shots – just right. Captain Phillips is less about the story (though that would stand for itself too) and more about the presentation. There’s no attempt to glamorize in order to impress. Yet the timing and the sheer smartness of the action that unfolds will hold your attention for long.

Practically all through the movie, you may be wondering why a veteran like Tom Hanks was required to deliver what seemed like a fairly uncomplicated role – till you reach towards the climax. In those moments, Tom Hanks proves just why he is the force to reckon with and in a matter of a mere 10 minutes, he steals the show. It may not all be an Oscar worthy performance but those final moments sure will get you thinking (relax, am not about to give anything away)

However, there’s no doubt that Captain Phillips is ultimately a director’s movie. A veteran who clearly has a vision for action, Greengrass demonstrates his repetoire, deftly navigating through the rough, less familiar seas of emotions and builds connect to the characters and situation. While you might start off wondering why Greengrass chose such an unfamiliar arena, by the end you are well convinced that you have witnessed the work of a master

Watch Captain Phillips only in the hall and watch it for Greengrass’ wizardry despite the unfamiliar territory. Also, you’d better catch it quick. This movie is already two weeks old since it released alongwith Gravity, so it won’t be long before Captain Phillips disappears into the horizon

Movie Review: Shahid…deserved better direction

Shahid’s is a compelling story. Once you’ve entered the hall, whether you would like to or not, you are going to get drawn to the unique context in which his story is built and follow with great interest, the story of his life. It is truly one of the stories that deserve to be told. But is it deservingly told? Well, not entirely.

Shahid starts with striking all the right notes. The unique point to start off the story itself is a smart ploy. Background score is cleverly used. It is absent most of the time and in some sequences the silence can be deafening. The first half sets up things quite well. You understand why Shahid does what he does and the connect with the protagonist is well established. There are some niggling questions, but you let that go – maybe the second half will deliver better.

However, its the second half when things become much more aimless than before. After the tense note on which the movie intermissions, you expect it to pick up the thread where it left off, but instead the movie chooses to slows down. It takes you to a point where you make your peace with the fact that is a biographical account of this young man and his unique story before it again changes gears and suddenly starts running through event after event. Editing would be chiefly responsible for this mess-up in my opinion.

The camerawork is good for the most part but towards the end it becomes one trick too many. I almost put it down to malfunctioning equipment rather than an effect that the director purposely wanted to achieve in a particular scene because he over-did it so much. Speaking of over-doing things, Shahid talks a lot of sense, but then the same sentences keep getting repeated, in the same form and it becomes a forced rather than subtle message.

What is invigorating though, is the performance of Raj Kumar. He breathes life into the script and slips into the shoes of Shahid with ease. In Kai Po Che, Sushant Singh Rajput may have stolen the show, but Raj Kumar made his presence felt. With Shahid though, he makes it amply clear that he has the ability to carry a film on his shoulders alone. He is possibly the best reason to watch this movie. He is also ably supported by Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub, Baljinder Kaur and others who play cameos around Shahid’s story – though the kind of actors they are, they could have easily been utilized more.

In summary, Shahid’s is a story that people must know about. It was the right thing to make this movie. Only, I am pretty sure it could’ve been made better.

Movie Review: Gravity..deserves universal applause!!

Making a 3D in movie in space is a smart idea.Those of us who have been to a good planetarium will know that watching the stars and the blue planet from space is thrilling in itself. However, to make a movie like Alphonso Cuaron has made Gravity is a mark of a genius.

These words aren’t easily written by me either – since to this date I hold Cuaron responsible for practically destroying the 3rd movie in the Harry Potter series (Prisoner of Azkaban, for the uninitiated) through his direction alone. With Gravity though –he more than redeems himself and brings 4.5 years of hard work (that’s time it took to make this movie, I am told) to epic fruition. This one’s a must watch – all the way and it is to be seen in 3D in IMAX and IMAX only

Gravity is set in space and runs for only 90 minutes. Within those 90 minutes though, Cuaron manages a smart script that keeps you interested despite the slow nature of movement in space due to the absence of gravity itself – and delivers an enthralling spectacle.

The attention to detail is astounding and if the hall became a little more deprived of oxygen there’s a good chance you would consider yourself as part of the movie. In a sublime blend of technology and special effects with 3D, Gravity becomes an immersive and realistic experience. Long after you leave the hall, don’t be surprised to find yourself wondering – how in the world this kind of visual imagery was made possible in the first place.

To make matters better, Cuaron even manages to lend some gravity to what could have been completely acceptable fare as a cut and dried script - which is probably the moment Gravity becomes a great movie from a good movie. To say more would be unfair

To further bolster Gravity – Cuaron entrusts the movie to two highly capable leads – George Clooney and Sandra Bullock. Bullock should probably heading for an Oscar nomination with this one and George Clooney plays his familiar, self-assured character with demonstrated ease.

To put it in a nutshell, Gravity doesn’t take one step wrong. (Houston, we ‘don’t’ have a problem with this one). It is comfortably my Movie of the Year thus far and I don’t expect that to change either. Just go watch!!

Movie Review: Prisoners..keeps you in captivity for too long

 
Its rare that I get to say that Hollywood made a movie that could’ve been much shorter and snappier. But this time, I can certainly say it. I missed some 10-15 minutes of the start of the movie and yet I found it too long to endure. Clocking at a rather long 2 hours 33 minutes, Prisoners takes its name a little too seriously and ends up making the audience feel like prisoners as well

This is especially sad since Prisoners is not a bad movie per se. Its got great acting, good direction for the most part and a decent script – but the length of the movie simply deals a deadly blow on all the other stuff. You reach a point wherein you don’t really care whether the movie succeeds in pulling a rabbit out of a hat at the ending, as long as you can exit the hall – the earlier the better. This has such an effect, that even when the film does throw in a dramatic twist that would’ve otherwise captivated you, you’re just too tired and exhausted to take notice

Prisoners does some things really well. It starts off (at least from the point I joined it) tense and excited with an investigation in full swing. Then you meet the two families, defeated and lost and that sets you on the downhill path. The increasing desperation and hopelessness of the situation is well shown till it starts feeling over done. At first one feels that maybe there isn’t much more to the script for them to show but by the end of it all – you are only left wondering why in the world did they delay it so much. In fact, what is most puzzling is that when it all comes to light – there are still plenty of seemingly unanswered questions – you wonder why the movie didn’t spend more time focusing on those

The cast does try its best to lift things up, with Hugh Jackman putting in a particularly strong performance – displaying the raw emotion of the helpless yet desperate father very convincingly. A big change from his Wolverine avatar but he is completely up to the task. Jake Gyllenhaal is also very good as the determined cop.

Watch Prisoners if you have enough time to kill and are willing to show a lot of patience in the hall while the director indulgently takes his time to tell his tale. Then and then alone, would this movie be worth your while and the ransom paid for the ticket money, feel justified

Movie Review: Rush..powers forward with panache

Two very different but nonetheless great movies in two days..now that’s more like it, Year 2013. Supremely directed by Ron Howard, Rush is a spectacle that deserves the biggest of screens – IMAX beckons..don’t miss it

Whether you are an F1 fan or not, whether you understand track dynamics or racing jargon is all immaterial. Based on a true story that can only be the stuff of immortals, Rush is a beautifully balanced act on and off the race track. The screeching of tyres, rustling of grass and roar of the engines is all there – but it just feel natural and in line with the story being told. Never is there an attempt to over-emphasize the racing bit; clever editing takes care of that

Normally such movies would have one protagonist, whose life you would follow, feel the highs and lows with and would ultimate emerge triumphant. However, when the same act is to be pulled off with almost two protagonists, neither of whom are really white knights – it’s a tough ask to build connect and empathy amongst the audience. Rush does this wonderfully well and Ron Howard can take a bow. With this movie, he has further stamped his credentials on credibly making realistic drama movies based on true stories (his others being A Beautiful Mind, Frost Nixon, Cinderalla Man etc.) and are further proof that he steer off fictional stuff like Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons

While the acting is good from both the leads (Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Bruhl) and Alexandra Maria Lara looks particularly lovely and expressive, most of the kudos for this one would go to the director, camerawork and crisp editing. The shots of the Japan Grand Prix and perfect use of the slow motion camera with the rain splashing in, is stuff that you would want to watch over and over again. Initially you might feel that there is very little context build up around the two leads – but that you realize is deliberate since the real story lies somewhere else. Clocking at a comfortable 2 hours and 2 minutes, there is never a dull moment in Rush

To sum up then, Rush powers through and reaches the chequered flag in style, much like the heroes it celebrates. Rush to the theaters and book your seats to watch this enthralling spectacle

Movie Review: The Lunchbox..is highly satiating

If you, like me, feel starved of having watched a really good movie lately, The Lunchbox couldn't have come at a better time. Critically acclaimed and highly lauded, Lunchbox deserves every bit of appreciation that comes its way and more. The recipe is simple, the ingredients pure and the result couldn't have been more pleasing to the eye. This one truly takes the cake

The movie itself is sheer poetry in motion, each scene having its own significance, each lingering moment with its own story to tell. Despite having a predictable plot-line, the director holds your attention for all through the comfortable 104 minutes it runs for. The writing is high quality – some of it almost seeming as if you are actually reading a book by an acclaimed author rather than watching a movie.

Taking an all too familiar setting and giving it its own desi twist allowing such focus on Mumbai and its daily life is only one feather in the pretty cap of debutante film-maker Ritesh Batra. From the songs that play in the background to the slight instances which might miss you the first time round every frame serves a purpose. If you watch it with a keen eye, there’s many a scene you would want to look back on and discuss with your  friends as to how brilliantly it was executed and the direction that achieved that result

What makes The Lunchbox even more of a treat is the superb cast that delivers it. Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur, the two main leads in the story, make it their own and its hard not to get connected. There aren’t any tight hugs and kisses, yet the bond is apparent and emotions are strong. Simple words convey far more meaning and the ending – wait..to reveal more would be unfair. Nawazuddin Siddiqui has impressed always and while he isn't at his best in this one, there’s no disappointment either

If you haven’t already placed your orders for this sumptuous meal go do it at once, a feast like this is always in high demand and you wouldn't want (DVD) leftovers with this one.

Bon apetit

Movie Review: Shuddh Desi Romance..is shuddh desi fun

Shuddh Desi Romance is not for the purists. Those who would get offended by a movie that light heartedly pokes fun at sacred institutions, blanket bans and staunch beliefs, may not fully appreciate the fun that this well written and well presented, ‘hatke’ romantic comedy has to offer. As to the others, well, hasten to the silver screen – plenty of fun awaits you

Shuddh Desi Romance fits the day and age it is written in perfectly. It captures today’s confused youth and a bewildered older generation wonderfully well, without taking itself too seriously. Between guffaws you might even pause to take a moment to wonder if there’s a deeper message that the movie wants to give but the movie purposefully gives you no time for such reflections. Its only towards the end, that it gives its subtle message without getting preachy about it. Nailed it

While the storyline and plot development of Shuddh Desi Romance can get extremely weird, its still good fun to watch and that tends to make one a lot less critical. If the plot itself is difficult to connect with, its the background chatter and support sequences that make it seem much more realistic. Society’s observations at the goings-on, random sequences and one line punches that have little to do with the main storyline demonstrate the smart writing of Shuddh Desi Romance. While the 22 kisses in Yeh Saali Zindagi seemed forced and unnecessary, the umpteen kisses in this one fit the context perfectly (okay, so it may be one or two too many)

As for the performances – its all in place. Some of the dialogues and exchanges would have otherwise sounded silly or cheesy but the sparkling chemistry between Parineeti and Sushant make them seem perfectly apt. Parineeti looks striking throughout in a role that one would now describe as her ‘comfort space’ but it is Sushant’s performance that stands out. A far cry from his role of Kai Po Che, he demonstrates the range he possesses as an actor and pulls of his character really well. Rishi Kapoor is a re-invented performer given his recent appearances and he plays the bewildered elder to perfection. Vaani also does a good job with her role for a debutante.

There you have it then, good writing, good acting and a refreshing presentation – what’s not to like. Unless you are the aforementioned purist, go book your tickets at the earliest

Movie Review: Satyagraha..is a hurriedly assembled movement

If there was ever a prize for good intentions, Prakash Jha would walk away with all the awards. Painfully, he has proven this time and again by picking sensitive and debate worthy topics but giving them a hurried treatment that seems too superficial and contrived for its own good. He did it with Aarakshan. He’s done it again with Satyagraha

What Satyagraha needed desperately was a lot more thinking through – a solidly established context; simmering under-currents leading up to the main spark that triggered a mass movement. However, Jha seems to have little time for trivial things like context establishment and character development. So you’ll just have to go along with the yarn he spins, unconvincingly so, amidst more than a mention of various retail products conveniently placed for advertisement. The wafer thin premise is so flimsy that, while it focuses on real issues and problems, it seems highly unrealistic and unrelatable

Off late, Jha also seems to have developed a penchant for black and white characters. If you were telling a fairy tale, sure – no problems with that. However, when you claim to be telling a realistic story such idealism is oft hard to believe. In fact, such is the level of idealism that down the line, when the movie tries to take a more neutral stand and give an important message, about the dangers of any form of extremism, it is almost too late. The unnecessary songs don’t help matters and even a jazzed up version of Raghupati Raghav..can’t save the day

Satyagraha is packed with a solid cast of characters and at the end of it all, they are really the ones that save the day and make this still an average watch, despite all its faults. Manoj Bajpai is in his element as the slimy yet wily politician as is Ajay Devgn in his yet another, intense avatar. Amitabh Bachan of course, delivers yet another solid performance, though considering his standards, it seems a little tired this time. On the downside, Kareena looks as if she has come straight from the sets of Heroine and her character is unconvincing to say the least. A heroine of her calibre deserved a much more complex character. The same cannot be said of Amrita Rao who still struggles with the fairly simple role she has. Arjun Rampal does a decent job for his fairly one dimensional character

To sum up then, Satyagraha was a good idea especially in today’s day and age. Some elements are woven quite well, especially the use and impact of social media. However, given the way the rest of the plot is woven, Satyagraha becomes unconvincing and unrelatable fare. If you wanna go, go for the solid performances and not much else.

Movie Review: Madras Café..serves realistic gritty fare

Madras Café, a one of a kind film from Bollywood, is a gritty, realistic, crime thriller – that isn’t looking at charming its audience. It wants the story told – the way it deserved to be told, without any departures from reality to make it more palatable. So there are no sudden induced plot twists. The drama unfolds right before your eyes and if you are able to spot it, you would know exactly who the mole is much ahead in the story, if not why. It tells the story from the eyes of its main sufferer and protagonist, Major Vikram (John Abraham) and never once, does the plot stretch reality to make us, the audience, fall in love with or connect with its hero.

Madras Café is not for thrill seekers or aficionados of traditional high octane action. There isn’t a single comic line across the roughly 2 and a half hours that it runs for. The drama is brutal, bloody and graphic. The narration is done in a dull, lifeless manner – a voice that has already lost hope and is merely going through the motions from a formality perspective. Yet, given the context, this is exactly the way such a movie ought to be made

Making such a movie is about walking a tightrope – how much to stick to the main plot and whether to maintain any sway for those thrilling moments that would make it a commercial success. Madras Café’s tightrope walker, Shoojit Sircar, is a seasoned professional. He walks the rope, dead in the center and gives us a realistic, crime drama without any frills whatsoever. Does it work? Let’s just say it won’t for all and sundry.  There are some of us who might get bored or irritated with the bland nature of plot development, where things just happen without all the hoopla we are, by now, accustomed to. But that’s the way it is, with Madras Café

What it does do right and that too, to a large extent, is offer a glimpse of exactly what could have gone down before the assassination that shocked the country and the world. How events could have unfolded, in parallel and how unglamorously some people would have struggled to make sense of the snippets of messages coming through, getting caught up in a whorl of politics, power games and frame-ups. John Abraham does a good job of portraying his character, though, if he emoted a touch better, it could have added some life to the story telling. Nargis Fakhri’s role is short and functional – again a huge departure from traditional Bollywood fare

I tried to figure out what kind of movie I had seen once I exited the hall. Without much success, I settled for a pot pourri of Blood Diamond, Black Friday and Zero Dark Thirty minus the thrills in all three. Madras Café serves anything but ordinary fare. Yet its gonna be an acquired taste; may not feel great at the first bite. Still, I’d suggest you give it a shot as such cinema is a rare event in Bollywood.

Movie Review: The Conjuring..manages to summon quite a few spooks

What spooks one about horror is not the sudden bangs and loud noises but the slower stuff – the focusing on a single frame, the camera slowly moving in, the slow build-up, that heart-in-the-mouth feeling over the unexpected that is about to unfold next and then the sudden..well, you get the point. With The Conjuring you get treated to exactly that..that is, at least for a while

Chances are that you would have seen this rare decent horror flick by now. If you still haven’t – a word of advice. Don’t see any trailers. While the trailer itself is sufficient to spook you it definitely spoils the fun for you in the hall. If, however, you would like to meet with as little surprises in the dreary emptiness of a dark hall with a large screen – then, by all means, see the trailers first. Bear in mind though, that if you do, then the first half of this movie would become a rather less eventful affair

The start of the movie is just apt with everything happy and hunky dory. There is a sense of gradation to the horror and as the family on screen becomes apprehensive, cautious, tentative and completely terrified in stages, so do you as the audience. Couldn’t have been better

However, as the movie builds, particularly in what would be the second half, it seems to teeter dangerously on the brink of relapsing into the stereotype till it simply falls in – giving an over-dramatized finale all screams and ghouls intact. Thankfully this part is a pretty short end to an otherwise well-presented and sufficiently horrifying horror flick. The fact that it is supposed to be actually based on a true story only adds to the terror. There is an underlying sense of dread to every scene and you are worried about what might just unfold next. All the credit to the director for accomplishing that

The acting is also solid as each one including the five kids put in a good show. Lili Taylor as Carolyn Perron (am pretty sure you’d be googling that name once you’ve seen this flick) and Vera Farmiga as Lorraine Warren have the most meaty roles and are particularly effective

In summary then, there is every reason I’d say you give The Conjuring a visit and see what it manages to summon off you

Movie Review: Ship of Theseus..takes you on a thought-provoking voyage

Ship of Theseus is unlike anything Bollywood I have seen before it – and I mean this in a good way, in fact, the best possible way there is. There are no unnecessary songs, no unnecessary melodrama, mindless action, trite dialogues – none of that. In fact, Ship of Theseus is so removed from traditional Bollywood, that if this is to be the new direction then this movie is the harbinger of good tidings for Indian cinema.

Ship of Theseus is not for everyone and the director, A Gandhi, takes no pains to ensure that it becomes so. Nothing is explained more than required and if you choose not to unravel the layers, so be it. Very deftly, he introduces the concept of the Ship of Theseus in the first scene itself (though frankly you ought to look it up before you go for the movie; a simplistic yet thought provoking paradox)  and expects you to figure the rest for yourself

To help you out though he puts across 3 equally shining examples in the form of completely different stories to illustrate his point. You could have your favorites among the three but you can’t say either of the stories is bad. There is the mainstream story and then there are the snippets of the other stuff topped with loads of irony in each story. The quality of the cinematography is exemplary and some of the wide angle shots are the stuff of great picture postcards. The camera is heavily focused a little too close to the action at practically all times but it fits the context well. The dialogues are well written and some of the philosophical angles and the ensuing debate they cause will hold your attention even after you have exited the hall

None of the actors are particularly well known but each one puts in a solid act. The only possible complaint you could have for the movie is that for the 3 stories he has to show, Gandhi takes an awful lot of time and some scenes could be a lot snappier. It’s a moot point but I think hastening any of the sequences would have capsized this particular boat since there is meaning and substance to almost every moment that lingers

Ship of Theseus, then is every bit worth the hype and packed houses it is running to. If you want to appreciate quality cinema and intelligent story- telling its time you headed to the hall before this one sets sail for good

Movie Review: D-Day..is a Disaster of epic proportions

I know this is an unusually strong statement but such was indeed the sentiment as I exited the hall. What started as a taut, racy thriller – the kind seldom offered by Bollywood – soon became less than ordinary and one witnessed such a fall from grace that it still hurt long after the impact was made. How could Nikhil Advani get it so wrong after such a promising start – one can only wonder

This movie further bolsters the belief that following the commercial, more popular reviews is a big mistake. D-Day has been hailed as a slick, unconventional thriller with great plot twists and tense action amongst the media. In my view, none of this is true. It starts off in that mould, I’ll give it that. Then the age-old issue of songs interfering with plot developments crops up. That alone, I could have still sat through, but after that the additional love angles and slow pace of the movie kill whatever interest one would have developed previously

The movie intermissions at a point where you only hope that the second half is much better than the first. It isn’t. In fact, its much worse than the first. At one point you are left wondering what the movie is really building up to, if anything at all. At times, it almost looks like a deliberate attempt to make a dysfunctional movie practically as an intentional spoof. If that were true, it could still have made some sense, but the movie tries to show itself as serious and patriotic and that simply looks forced. There are plotholes that are too gaping to ignore as well. As for the plot twist, I didn’t find it convincing at all but that’s probably because it looks more incidental than a real shocker as part of the mainstream plot

The fact that Nikhil Advani had a fairly accomplished cast of characters further added to the disappointment of the movie being so ordinary. Irrfan does a good job but even his best efforts can’t really save the movie. Neither is the striking Huma Qureshi able to do so despite no fault in her performance. Rishi Kapoor in his unusual avatar is probably the worst utilized – while his character starts off menacing as intended, it deteriorates to practically the aforementioned spoof.

Nikhil Advani made Kal Ho Na Ho well. The setup for this one is demanded radically different treatment. While he attempts a good transition to this genre, it seems as if he himself lost the plot somewhere along the way. The first half of the first half, if I were to put it that way, is a laudable effort. Unfortunately, the rest of the movie becomes almost a laughable effort. A movie that I believe deserved such a title more was probably 16th December. Something of that nature presented with a little more finesse and with this cast of characters would have given a lot more ‘bang’ for your buck

As it stands though, D-Day is a disaster but not the kind, the movie wanted to portray – here’s hoping for a better outcome next time around, Nikhil Advani

Movie Review: Bhaag Milkha Bhaag…is a good tribute to the ‘Flying Sikh’

I am glad this movie was made. There is so much that I learned about the greatness and glory of the achievements of our very own Flying Sikh, which would have been lost on me otherwise. In a cricket obsessed nation, such stories tend to go untold and I am glad that wasn’t the case with this one

However, what prompted the makers to make it a freakin 188 minute offering is what I can’t get over. When you emerge from the movie hall, that is your single, albeit substantial, complaint. Especially when as per what’s shown there isn’t too much meat to the story. Quickly told, this story would have resonated big time and perhaps even made for repeated viewings. However, the pace at which it unfolds would weary even the most determined watcher

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is, no doubt, well made. The cinematography is classy and the movie has a distinct sheen about every sequence. Remove a few songs, a few extra sequences and stick to the main story and you had an explosive offering. Instead, what could have been a beautifully directed and shot movie gets relegated to mere moments – moments which are brilliantly captured and full-on display how forward movie making has moved in Bollywood – but that’s what they end up as – moments. Be it the way his runs are captured to the macabre nature of our partition; a hilarious sequence on a plane journey to the burning of a certain tissue paper - these are the moments that create the real magic about the movie. However, thanks to its runtime and the extra sequences, despite being somewhat of a biopic on a really inspirational life story the film really doesn’t succeed in getting the audience to connect and feel for its main character, which is a pity. Then there are some scenes that don’t really add up with threads that are left hanging in mid-air, making you wonder what was the point of showing them in the first place.

As for the act, well, its Farhan Akhtar all the way. Not only is he visibly fit for the part, he slips into the shoes of his character quite effortlessly. In my view, the character itself isn’t all that complex to pull off but that takes nothing away from Farhan’s performance. The only slight hitch is that his Punjabi accent isn’t all that there – but that isn’t a problem for most of the movie. However, it does come out in sharp contrast to the natural performance of Pawan Malhotra, as his Army coach. Sonam Kapoor has roughly 2 dialogues in the entire movie so that isn’t a problem for this one and she actually looks quite pleasing to the eye for a change. Divya Dutta gets noticed for all the right reasons in her spirited support role while Yograj Singh also does a good job

Regarding the music, quite simply – most of it shouldn’t be there. It slows down the narrative and adds nothing to the plot. Only Zinda is a song that really peps you up and maybe it could’ve been repeated in the background for scenes later in the movie rather than all the other unnecessary music. Tu Bhaag Milkha is decent but its no Lakshya and doesn’t have the same kind of energy about it

To sum up then, this movie should have been a 2 hour watch with much less of the song and dance routine and more on the inspirational story. Still, a visit to the hall is a must, if only to celebrate the story of the Flying Sikh, and ensure his legend is not forgotten anytime soon.

Movie Review: Ghanchakkar..ne kuch khaas nahi ghumaya

After creating unexpected magic at the box office with The Dirty Picture the unlikely hit combination of Emraan Hashmi and Vidya Balan came together for what sounded like a situational comedy with noir elements, with Ghanchakkar. With a trailer that gives away practically the entire plot, one still ventured to the theater hoping that there was more to this story than meets the eye. Unfortunately, there isn’t

First the good part. Let’s start with background score. Surprised? Well, I was too, but a large part of what makes this movie watchable is the near perfect background score that Amit Trivedi puts in place to make even the dull moments come alive with anticipation. That, and the unique and promising premise this movie starts with are its real heroes. Where the train goes off-track is when the director, quite evidently, wondered what to do after such a promising start. He could’ve taken it in 15 different directions; instead he chose to take it in – well, none (other than perhaps towards the climax but we can’t talk about that for obvious reasons)

As for the comedy. Well, it’s the subtle stuff that bring the real guffaws rather than the obvious efforts to make you laugh..the priceless dinner table moments after the hilarious bank scene to count a few. Emraan Hashmi’s rather confused character seemingly had potential to make you laugh too but considering its Hashmi doing the delivery, the humor element dries up considerably. I am also not sure why the script required a Punjaban housewife and am even more perplexed why Balan was chosen for such a role. While her Punjabi dialogues come in with spot on accent and fervour, her other dialogues seem far too forced and lack the natural Punjabi touch. To make matters worse her character, which had the potential to be the most complex isn’t really so; an actress of Vidya Balan’s calibre ought to have been given a lot more scope and this character even had the potential.

The writing is a real let-down – even when someone like Rajesh Sharma can’t make you laugh much with his one – liners, its clear that content must take the blame. This is even more obvious, down the line, where you’ll hear the main characters scream and shout the same dialogues you could swear you heard just 10 minutes ago and this happens multiple times. The movie relies more on frequent swear words than on good dialogue to interest its audience and for the most part – it doesn’t work

A big problem for Ghanchakkar is that its really not sure what it wants to be – an in your face comedy, a subtle and quirky satire or a crime thriller. By trying to be all three it ends up being neither. To make matters worse, Ghanchakkar is at least half an hour too long and could’ve been a lot more snappier – thereby becoming a more engaging watch

As it stands then, Ghanchakkar's premise promised a lot but its execution delivers little – had hoped for better when I walked into the hall.

Movie Review: Raanjhanaa..surprisingly loved it!!

I know what you are thinking..this movie has Sonam Kapoor and Dhanush as its leads. It sounds like the typical boy girl romance love story. There hasn’t even been much noise about its release either. I don’t blame you. These were the thoughts even I had when I hesitatingly entered the movie hall. As I exited it however, there were no misgivings..except perhaps that it still had Sonam Kapoor..as the female lead. Raanjhanaa..contrary to expectation is quite a gem

The movie starts off confirming all your worst fears. The plot context and build up is predictable and stereotypical. Dhanush doesn’t impress on first look. For the first half he looks like a bad version of Vivek Oberoi who has issues with dialogue delivery in Hindi. Sonam Kapoor picks up from where she left off, screeching and screaming and you never stop wishing this movie had another female lead. What is fresh even in this is the writing and the humor. While some might find some of the lines crude, I thought they fit the context well and brought some genuine laughs.

However, as the movie gathers momentum the criticisms dry up. Plot twists happen and connect to the characters builds so rapidly that you have little time for other frivolities. Dhanush introduces you to the range of emotions he can portray despite the restrained performance the script required, pulling off a complex character with finesse. Sonam Kapoor’s expressive face begins to convey far more, though her dialogues continue to jar. Its in the quieter moments that she is far more bearable. Abhay Deol is his trademark dependable self handling a fairly simple character. The side actors, Swara Bhaskar and Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub deserve more than a special mention. Swara plays her role with such a natural ease that one wonders if she could have done a better job of the lead character than Sonam and Ayyub’s has the most comedic lines delivered with just the right timing

The movie puts you through quite an emotional wringer and some might even find themselves shedding a tear or two or at the very least feel a lump in the throat. While some plot development may seem contrived, I guess it was essential to tell a good story. The writing is top notch and especially Dhanush’s lines seem to have been given a lot of thought. The song and dance routine is smartly done and though there are plenty of songs, most form a backdrop to the progressing narrative so it doesn’t slow down.

Aanand Rai, the name brings painful memories of Tanu Weds Manu (which I am told was a hit with the masses; wonders will never cease..) but don’t let that mislead you into not watching this one. With Raanjhanaa Aanand Rai, hits it out of the park with subtle scenes that convey intense meaning eg.  Dhanush running, but there’s more to it than that..I’ve forgotten that he even made Tanu Weds Manu

Raanjhanaa then is one of the better movies this season. Even if this review doesn’t convince you as much, do give it a shot and you might just fall in love with what you watch

Movie Review: Man of Steel..is a metal mangled mess

If there’s one lesson the Transformers franchise ought to have taught by now its that jaw dropping machine action and special effects alone never maketh a movie; you need more than that. Well, the Man of Steel, alien as he is doesn't seemed to have heeded that lesson and what was a highly anticipated expected blockbuster is really an unexpected mess of affairs.

Rather than telling a heart-warming and emotionally binding origin story of what some may call the one, true Superhero (refer Pulp Fiction), Man of Steel maintains an over-serious grim and grave outlook without really having much depth. In fact, the movie doesn't really settle in to tell a story. Its like the director was too keen to tell more than just an origin story or maybe he realized that his plot didn't hold much water so he ended up jamming every possible action sequence he could think of. Either way, what you get as the end product is a mish mash of scenes flitting between the past and the present, filled with an insane focus on action, never really allowing you to settle in to connect with either.

There is more than an overdose of explosions, buses driving off a bridge, one metal contraption ramming into another, shattering glass, toppling towers, loud noises and jarring sounds and Superman flying all over the place and into all sorts of things which unfortunately continues through the length of the movie. Things seem to get interesting in Nolan-esque fashion for just a moment after almost an hour and you are willing to forgive and forget as long as you can get treated to some real brilliance now. Unfortunately, that part too comes and goes like it was almost an after-thought and the mindless action resumes

The special effects themselves could otherwise be described as dazzlingly good, with high production credits but they are meant to support an otherwise powerful scene. When they themselves become the center-piece, there’s little one can appreciate.  The 3D is the equivalent of non-existent and the tiresome glasses, especially when they were not needed, don’t help matters. The writing, which ought to have been the real draw given that Nolan was a part of it seems to have resumed from Dark Knight Rises rather than The Dark Knight and ranges from being average to grimace worthy ( You are a monster and I am gonna kill you…really Mr. Nolan??) At this rate, I am beginning to wonder who really wrote the masterpiece that was The Dark Knight. As for Man of Steel, I think the best dialogues are all covered in the latest trailer itself

Christopher Reeve immortalized the erstwhile Superman franchise, and in some ways the franchise itself breathed new life into Reeve who became recognized largely for his cult character. Henry Cavill, to his credit does give all he can, to his shallow character and plays a credible Superman. Amy Adams whose Lois Lane is more than a passing mention in the plot, does full justice as well but at the end of the day, the Man of Steel’s very foundation is brittle and is unable to support the towering structure of a Superman movie

There is a wonderful little (Actually its not little, with nearly 10 seasons) TV series called Smallville. Watch it and you’ll realize how Superman would have liked his story to be told. Sure, it might seem a little childish to some but at least it has that raw emotion that one would like to associate with a superhero. A slightly darker version of that as the story progressed, coupled with some good writing would have been a good re-welcome to Superman

As it stands, Man of Steel is all metal and no substance. If they plan to make this a franchise, they better have something better in mind for the beloved superhero

Movie Review: Now You See Me..isn’t magical but shows you a good time..

Magic has always had a certain allure. To watch the unexpected unravel before your very eyes and the burning curiosity as to how the trick was achieved in the first place, can pretty much consume you. Thus, movies built on magic tricks are expected to shock and awe. It is not so much whether they reveal the trick (as in The Prestige) or they hide the secret (as in The Illusionist) that enthralls you. Its more so the entire act and the way it is built up.

Now You See Me had pretty much one of the best trailers I have seen in recent times. With an intriguing title, a stellar star cast and just the right glimpses woven beautifully in a limited sequence, this movie quickly climbed to the very top of the ‘must-watch’ list this season, basis the trailer itself. After having finally seen the movie though, I am bound to be a tad less euphoric

If you go in with low expectations, Now You See Me can be a lot of fun. Plot development is the focus from the get-go and you are hooked from the start. The tricks and performances are dazzling and you yearn to know how it was done. The Four Horsemen, as they are known, don’t miss a trick and they are able to hold their audience (both, in-movie and the real audience) in a daze, of sorts. However, if you expect to be told who the Four Horsemen really are, whether they get along with each other, what is their past etc. you are bound to be disappointed

To put it simply, the movie lacks depth. The smoke n mirrors is interesting but there’s little that lies beyond. The movie also seems to intend to strike an emotional chord but does so only fleetingly. The use of CGI is more than liberal though, to be fair, the effects get the pulse soaring. The trailer of this movie probably gives away one trick too many and that’s a pity because at least as you approach the final act you expect to be surprised. Still, despite that there are plenty of shocks and thrills to keep you interested. The writing and dialogues are razor sharp as is the editing of some of the action sequences. The movie uses interesting lines like ‘the closer you look, the lesser you’ll really see’ but doesn’t leverage them into the plot itself, not convincingly at least, which is a pity

In terms of the cast itself, you could scarcely ask for a better group of stalwarts – Jesse Eisenburgh has tremendous screen presence, Isla Fisher looks striking; Morgan Freeman plays a role that is all too easy for a veteran like him. The real acting is required off Mark Ruffalo and he too doesn’t disappoint, though in some sequences, he could do better. Still the movie is less about these or any characters. It’s the story and plot development all the way

Its not in the league of Illusionist or The Prestige so don’t go expecting that. It doesn’t delve deeper into magic, question it or give you a glimpse into the  lives of its performers as such. In fact, without giving too much away, the movie is less about magic than about other events. Try to know as little as you can about the movie and go in with low expectations – then and only then can you enjoy this show

Movie Review: Yeh Jawani Hai Diwani..but Yeh Movie Hai Ordinary

A stereotypical bollywood offering, there is nothing that excites about this movie, other than the title, of course. For most of the time you would be forgiven for wondering what this movie is about and you couldn’t be blamed for not knowing even as you exited the hall, post credits as well. There’s nothing fresh about the presentation and there are plenty, (in fact, far too many) movies, that have covered this same theme over and over again.

I guarantee you, there’ll be plenty of times you’ll look at the watch, sometimes even staring at it in disbelief and looking for other things to do since you won’t be missing much in the movie anyway. There are precisely 2 events around which an entire two and a half hours is wound around – not sure if the director deserves credit for achieving this feat

The writing is ordinary as well save for exactly one dialogue which I felt suited the context beautifully and brings out a point which is probably the only unique aspect offered by the movie – even here, I might be overstating the case. Two songs, the already popular ones, are an easy watch..the rest just end up slowing time even further

The humor quotient is ordinary to non-existent and one would have hoped for plenty of laughs in what is meant to be a breezy and fun movie. In fact, the only reason you are able to somewhat sit through this rather long watch is because it offers one of the most pleasant and watchable pairs on screen. Ranbir and Deepika make the pseudo perfect pair and its their fresh presence (especially Ranbir’s) on screen that makes it not as bad as it ought to be

For Ranbir this movie may well be a kind of stress-buster for the all the effort it required from him, given the acting talent he has. Deepika is one of the prettiest faces in B-Town and the movie focuses heavily on that giving her close-ups wherever possible. The movie doesn’t require much from her either and she is able to pull off her role convincingly as well. Considering these are the leads of the movie, you can imagine how complex their characters must be

To sum it up then, with a title like Yeh Jawani Hai Diwani, one would have hoped for a mad, fun caper that’s light and breezy with a fresh presentation. Instead, you get the typical bollywood watch; while it remains light by not taking itself too seriously, it never really gets interesting enough either

Movie Review: Fast & Furious 6..offers the standard issue gravity defying action

 

The Fast & the Furious franchise started on the right note – it ‘used to be’ about fast cars, pretty babes, a semblance of a story line, decent humor and some more than decent action. Till then, it all seemed to fit. Then the franchise seemingly took the American Pie route – churning out sequel on sequel without much thought and you had F&F 3, 4 and in my opinion 5 as well, making a pretty sad representation of the franchise itself. Rather than focusing on burning the rubber and NO2 boosters, thereby making a style statement with its own unique stamp, the franchise tried to become emotional, get us to connect with the central characters and defy Newton and the general laws of physics – that, is when things started becoming awry

As you start this latest installment of Fast & Furious 6, there is some hope. Sure, all that talk of family and the forced emotional connect is there, but the action doesn’t seem forced and a few sequences are intelligently thought through and shot to a point of precision, as yet unseen beyond a point in the franchise. But that hope soon bites the dust. The film then drops several notches down to hurriedly decided and delivered story development and impossible situations. There is many an occasion wherein the action just doesn’t make sense and you can see gaping plot holes in the way it develops

Unfortunately, the second half of the movie only compounds matters and now the action itself is, intentionally or unintentionally, impossible to follow. Only when you see an enemy vehicle suddenly flying off, do you get confirmation that the stunt worked. What the stunt was and how it was engineered in the first place, the director or rather the editor feel you are better off not knowing. One impossible stunt follows another and at 2 hours and 15 minutes, the spray of bullets, whir of engines and drone of helicopters becomes a bit much. There is the rare occasion where the spotlight actually shifts back to the ‘racing’ part of it, wherein you get treated to awesome visuals which you can easily follow and you wish there was more of this

Much respite is offered by the humorous moments in the film mainly provided by the characters of Roman and Han and they are welcome break from all the over-focus on the action. Meanwhile, Vin Diesel as Dom, has the all too familiar self assured look throughout the movie – the only trouble is that in this installment he doesn’t have the dialogues to back him up. Paul Walker as Brian maintains pretty much the same avatar as the previous few movies and does a decent job.

Sit through the credits and you’ll even get a fleeting glimpse of what you can expect in the 7th installment (yes, I am unhappy to confirm this but we must face facts). If you can somehow close yourself to any basic laws of science, disregard Newton and allow for a wafer thin plot to run, just so you can witness some explosive action then Fast & Furious 6 may have served up just the offering for you. For the most part however, it doesn’t make me very keen to watch the 7th

Movie Review: Star Trek: Into Darkness..lights up the franchise

I just love it when a movie goes beyond the plot and understands its characters and what they stand for. I love it when a sequel in a franchise looks to be more than just a money spinner; when plot matters and plot development even more so; when the audience is kept guessing and interested till the very end. The good news is that all these boxes are checked in this sequel in the ever popular Star Trek franchise so go book your tickets right away

While the original movie itself was highly acclaimed and lauded – I wasn’t so impressed by it. I thought it slowed down at precisely the wrong moments and there were plenty of dull moments as Captain Kirk came of age. The sequel, in my opinion, goes one better - it stays true to the franchise – in rich exploration of the central characters, the relationship between Spock and Kirk and yet, spins a tale that keeps you interested all through. Add to that brilliant visual effects and great action and you have almost the total package.

Almost, I say, because the unnecessary post production 3D ruins what is a perfectly enjoyable 2D experience, without adding anything of value, save one or two brief frames. That and the predictable dialogues – some pretty much the cheesy ones you have come to expect in such movies – cast a minor shadow

More than performances, its really the characters that stand out. Kirk and Spock are all of legendary status already but John Harrison is perhaps the most intriguing to watch – Benedict Cumberbatch completely nails it and you quickly forget Sherlock (he plays Sherlock Holmes in one of the best TV series today). You could hardly ask for a better Spock than Zachary Quinto (in this day and age) though the same cannot be said of Chris Pine (Kirk). As the protagonist of the film, let’s just say Chris Pine is only convincing in parts – in some scenes he’s in his element and in others he looks completely off.

However, this movie really belongs to its director, J J Abrams. As someone, who clearly understands Star Trek and its characters, Abrams gets it bang on target (Pay particular attention to the voiceover at the end if you are a Star Trek fan). In one sequence, while I felt, he had gone a bit too far, he quickly inserts one dialogue that explains why that scene was so necessary. That said, there was still potential for this movie to be a tad shorter though Abrams does a fine job of it as it is.

So, if you haven’t beamed yourself into the theater already, you better get there at warp speed to see a promising sequel live up to its expectations – for a change

Movie Review: Mud…leaves its imprint

Mud has routinely been described as a ‘coming of age’ movie – I could scarcely put it better myself. It is a coming of age story about a boy who realizes the complexity of relationships and emotions; there are hardly any bangs and explosions – yet Mud leaves quite a mark as it draws to a close

Mud takes its time. You start off bleary eyed almost snoozing every now and then and the plot takes its time to develop. By the second half though, you are emotionally invested and wide awake, sometimes even holding your breath in anticipation

Not everything is explained, yet since you get emotionally invested, you get what is implied. There is an underlying layer to it all that you might have to be ponder a bit to get, but its worth it. One of the reasons I really like movies like The Social Network and The Descendants so much is because they present people as people intact with all their shades of grey. Without giving anything away, Mud accomplishes this as well, leading to an enjoyable cinematic experience.

The cinematography is breath-taking. No slick shots – just some beautiful pictures – any frame of the movie would do well as a picture postcard with perfect lighting and camera angles.

While he can be mistaken to be the hero (judging by the poster), Matthew McConaughey isn’t really the protagonist, though he does a great job of his character. That role belongs to the highly impressive Tye Sheridan who as Ellis dominates most of the screen time and does complete justice to it as well. Ellis is a pretty complex yet restrained character and Tye Sheridan does a wonderful job. All the others do a good supporting act as well. The only nagging issue is that they all have some kind of accent which gets you to miss some of the good dialogues. (PVR seems to always get it wrong as to which movies they should have subtitles and which they shouldn’t)

Mud, then, leaves its imprint. If you do end up watching it this weekend, I am pretty sure its not one of those that’ll wash off so easily. Whether such movies are your type, is another matter altogether

Movie Review: Bombay Talkies..tells pretty average stories

Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar and Karan Johar – each of those names alone set expectations of high quality cinema. Now when those names come together in a singular presentation which is a supposed tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema, that’s epic stuff right? Almost, like a tale of The Avengers, of sorts, coming together to be greater than the sum of their parts and blowing the audience away with heart wrenching and heart warming plots. Well, not quite….

The truth of the matter is that there’s no tribute. The only ‘tribute’ you will find in this movie is the start and the end of the film (so don’t leave the hall after the ‘the end’ message). Other than that, I think its just a coincidence and the tribute angle almost seems forced.  What you really get to see is the off-beat indulgences of 4 really talented directors, that you won’t necessarily connect with. Some of it does shine out but as an overall package, it definitely lacks lustre

I don’t really want to give away who does what so I am gonna be a little cryptic now – one of them takes a known issue and gives it familiar treatment that was pretty disappointing (clearly expected more from that one), another takes a decent topic and develops it well till he/she falls back on the stereotypical stuff to tell an ordinary story, the third takes the simplest of settings to give a subtle message in a beautiful manner, while the fourth tells an interesting story but misses the moral (in my opinion). For your benefit I have changed the order of the stories as well)

As you can see, not too many shining stars in that description. Its not really bad though but its nothing of the ‘blow you away’ variety which you would be forgiven to expect in such a scenario. Writing is also strictly okay which is surprising given who all was in the ranks. The little music there is, is fairly tolerable; of course one never tires of the old bollywood classics that play in some of the sequences. In terms of acting, it’s a solid cast of characters and it mostly delivers – Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vineet Kumar Singh, Saqib Saleem and young Naman Jain particularly stand out

There you have it – think of it as Dus Kahaaniyan brought down to 4 off beat stories without looking for meaning or message and forget that it’s a tribute of any kind and Bombay Talkies ends up being a decent, normal watch – don’t go with high expectations

Movie Review: Ironman 3..the thrusters work well, but run out of steam

The highly anticipated blockbuster of the summer, Ironman 3 starts off exactly as you want it to. The machinery seems perfectly in order, the script seems to have been given due thought, the pacing is just right. At a perfect, unexpected moment the thrusters kick in and the bird is in motion with some jaw dropping action. Brilliant, this is exactly what you came to see – you settle in deeper in your chair for more of the same and a thrilling Avengers-esque experience yet again. Only..that doesn’t happen (and hence the title – the thrusters run out)

Ironman 3 has a lot to offer. Excellent visuals, typical Tony Stark humor an over-abundance of action, very good special effects and cinematography. The performances are also pretty good with Robert Downey Jr. donning the Ironman suit with consummate ease and Gwyneth Paltrow doing a good job with Pepper Potts, who has a meatier role this time round.

However, it pains me to say this but what could have been an explosive and emotionally packed superhero movie or just good old plain action masterfully presented..ends up being neither of the two resulting in almost average fare as the credits roll in. Its not a bad watch per se, don’t get me wrong, but by the end of it all it comes closer to becoming Ironman 2 rather than the origin movie, which I would still rate as the best movie of the franchise yet

What’s worse is that this didn’t necessarily need to be the case especially since the first half of Ironman 3 is wonderfully done. Picking up after the events of Avengers rather than the Ironman movies was a smart move and there is an instant connect. The build up is near perfect and the glimpses of the nemesis are exactly how they ought to be. In fact, Ironman 3 almost offers one of most menacing villains in recent times (and I don’t consider the Joker recent any more so don’t start comparing) . I say almost for a reason; it was a smart ploy but it kinda fell flat for reasons I can’t explain just yet, you’ll figure out when you watch it. As for the 3D of the movie – well, its strictly okay. Ironman 3 could comfortably be seen in 2D though some of wide angle sequences could be considered worthy of the IMAX experience

In a nutshell, this installment of Ironman had the potential to be the best. But by going the tried and tested action explosion route in the second half, it ends up being just another Ironman movie. Whether that does enough for you is your call

Movie Review: Ek Thi Daayan…daya karo!!

 

Before you start inundating me with the obvious questions, allow me to explain. Horror is perhaps the only genre that I haven’t seen altogether (including the classics like Evil Dead and Omen series). So far, I have tried to change that trend with The Cabin in the Woods (an intentionally comic horror flick) and Bhoot Returns (an unintentionally comic horror flick) so as you can see there hasn’t really been much success in that department so far. Thus, when Ek Thi Daayan released with supposedly spine chilling suspense and new age horror unseen in Bollywood, till date..I assumed (wrongly) that this would be my chance to put a tick in that box as well. Forget ticking the box, if I could take back the 134 minutes I wasted in the hall, I’d willingly pay for it

To put it mildly, the movie is pathetic save for some truly special special effects (which have nothing to do with the horror, by the way – the horror effects are horrifically bad) and an angelic little girl with such a cute voice, she’s the only one you want should survive the ordeal. Of course, Konkana Sen Sharma’s act is worth a mention too and Huma Qureshi looks pretty as ever, but all this pales in comparison to the shockingly bad plot and its equally miserable execution

There is not one scene in the movie wherein you feel that creepy sensation down your spine – not one moment wherein you feel breathless in anticipation, not knowing where the next thrill is coming from. Instead what you get is a predictable plot, with known villains and villainesses and no thrills to be had
I am not sure, in fact, I am completely bamboozled how this movie is not supposed to have the usual stereotypes. I haven’t even seen many horror movies, yet even I could identify the stereotypes miles away.
Please be informed, this movie is a lesson in ‘daayans’ and ‘pishaajs’ (first time I heard of the concept altogether) and every stereotype you can associate with these two characters – you’ll find in this movie.

There is nothing new or novel in the story telling either. There is nil connect created with the protagonist  You absolutely don’t care what happens to him and would happily accept his death at any point in time in the movie. The fact that this character is being played by Emraan Hashmi doesn’t help matters either. The writing ranges from average to below standard which itself is a shocker considering Vishal Bhardwaj has written this. The songs are mercifully, less in number, but by no means less irritating, save for one melodious ‘Yaaram’

The only thing this disastrous flick would succeed in doing somewhat is unfavorably impacting young impressionable minds to create a stigma against elevators and certain reptiles – am not sure what that accomplishes in the first place. Forget worrying about the movie staying with you – your first thought on emerging from the hall is to try and erase whatever little memory you have of it. Have mercy on yourself – stay away from this one

Movie Review: Jurassic Park 3D – a timeless epic adventure

1993..the first Jurassic Park came out in 1993. If I didn’t tell you that and showed you this movie today 20 years later, you’d have little trouble believing that this was a new movie. That’s testament to how ahead of its times, this masterpiece was when it was originally released

Released in 1993, Jurassic Park could have sufficed by just being the first of its kind dinosaur movie. However, Spielberg’s vision was much more grand and what he delivered to the silver screen was solid gold. A beautifully set up plot, near perfect build-up and action, suspense & effects that is the stuff of legends. Now you would already know this – question is, does the 3D add to the adventure?

While the answer to that isn’t a resounding yes, there are a few scenes that have certainly benefited with the extra dimension especially during the action sequences. The fact that the audio has been re-mastered as well, adds to the satisfaction and a new dimension of scariness when you hear the big creatures roar.

However, movie making today doesn’t even begin to match up to what Spielberg accomplished with Jurassic Park and for that alone, a visit to the Park is highly recommended. From the ripples of water in glasses and puddles to the tie-in with chaos theory and nature’s will – Jurassic Park seamlessly incorporates a philosophical, emotional and sentimental core into what is otherwise meant to be an epic action movie. In fact, Spielberg raised this movie to such levels, that making sequels was practically pointless – none could match up to what had already been accomplished.

The second half and climax of the movie bring special effects that would hardly have seemed possible in that day and age. Due credit for that and more goes to Stan Winston, a name that I regrettably recognized only very recently. For the uninitiated, Stan Winston was behind the animatronic dinosaurs in Jurassic Park and all high quality special effects in movies that you can relate to since then, right up to the iconic Avatar 3D – well, we have him to thank for it

Increasingly, when one watches such dated movies (especially true for the Bond films and such) one is forced to accept that these movies were made in a different time and may not seem as exciting while viewed in today’s context. For Jurassic Park, you need not make any such compromises. It is a timeless classic and 3D or not – you would not regret the time spent in watching this epic offering – for generations to come

Movie Review: Chashme Baddoor…bad bad bad..stay dooor!!!

 

Yeah..I’ll admit it..my blog title for this one is a sad pun on the name of the movie but its entirely an intentional move. Its to give you some idea of the low standard cinema you are bound to receive if you still decide to go for this movie despite my repeated warnings (this being only the first of many)

I honestly don’t know what the hooplah is all about. All that talk of David Dhawan ‘being back’ when he serves us such trash frankly boggles the mind. Remember Rascals?? (I sincerely hope you don’t)..well, consider this one only a tad better..and that lone fragment of respect comes only because there are a few chuckles to be had in the second half of the movie

David Dhawan has never really been known for high quality cinema. However, in his ‘Govinda golden period’ he at least had the ability to make us laugh, genuinely laugh to be more specific, as an audience. Either I have matured too much as a viewer or standards have fallen too sharply but to me there is nothing even marginally comedic about his offerings these days. I bring this up only because I saw this in PVR Cinemas (supposedly the ‘classy’ audience) and the majority seemed to be in splits over scenes and writing that was so sad it could actually be described as cringe-worthy…so you figure it out

I don’t know how you found the original movie in the first place. To me it was strictly okay and in fact, pretty sad compared to gems like Chupke Chupke  and Golmaal (let me be very clear - the original one starring Amol Palekar). Considering that as the inspiration, the new-age Chashme Buddoor can at best be described as a fairly faithful remake that’s marginally watchable but definitely not hall-worthy

The only reason this drivel works to a moderate extent is because of the collective efforts of the 3 main leads who try their utmost (sometimes in fact too much) to make ordinary or rather low quality writing work magic. Well, the tricks fall flat and to spoil the party further, our female lead stumbles on most of her dialogues as well. Rishi Kapoor is wasted in a role that he could perform well with his eyes closed and while Anupam Kher does a good job, he is let down by everything else – the writing, his character, the works.

The emphasis in the entire movie is on over-doing things and coupled with pathetic writing, it makes for a bad combination. The lone thing this movie does well, is re-create the original with Chamko and filmy rescue intact. That and the handful of decent sequences in the second half make this movie somewhat bearable

I didn’t expect to do it so soon, but I actually found myself comparing this movie to Kya Super Kool Hain Hum in terms of which insulted the audience’s mental capacities more. In a line, 'Dum nahi hai boss' (a line you will be able to amply relate to if you do see this one despite all my warnings)