Movie Review: Peepli LIVE – Live the experience

A few years ago, there was a satire by the name of ‘Welcome to Sajjanpur’ that seeked to tackle a host of issues and was set in a distinctly village focused scenario. That movie failed to evoke my emotions as I thought it was perhaps a little too subtle in its approach and the main plot itself wasn’t very engrossing. Peepli LIVE, though, set in a similar setting, doesn’t have any of those flaws

Hats off to Anusha Rizwi to be able to present such a grim and serious issue, as farmer suicide in such a fresh and convincing manner. While the movie starts off with the lives of the two main characters, Natha and his brother, it soon snowballs to such epic levels wherein they are reduced to mere pawns in a larger and murkier game involving media, politicians and what nots. Irony is practically engraved into every frame of this movie and each scene gives you the opportunity to dig deeper and realize what the director truly wants you to see

However, before I continue praising Peepli LIVE, its important to understand and accept one fact. The movie isn’t commercial by any standards. Its not an out n out entertainer and there isn’t one scene that can be regarded as slapstick. Realism is at the very core of this flick and all the subtle humor is generated from stuff that is very much believable and practical. So if you are looking for a brainless comedy, go watch some of the other offerings this week. What you need to keep in mind while watching Peepli Live is the message the director attempts to portray and the way she manages to bring across contemporary issues with both a touch of humor and loads of irony.

Another interesting trick is the use or rather the lack of use of background score and sound effects during dialogue delivery. Rather, the focus is on the actual sounds - the chatter amongst the media, the clanging of utensils which only adds to the realism of the frames

To add to the experience, the movie is supported by a stellar performance by the entire star cast - each doing complete justice to the character they portray.

There is so much to this movie that one would want to discuss and ponder over but I guess that’ll have to wait as it would mean giving away too much of the plot of this wonderful satire. Suffice it to say that you shouldn’t miss it. While there isn’t too much ‘hall-worthy’ in this flick in the conventional sense (no mindblowing action, no special effects, no exotic locales etc), I don’t think you would get the appropriate effect of what the movie tries to convey, unless you watch the drama that unfolds at Peepli - 'LIVE' ,in the theater, so go book your show right away..

Movie Review: Despicable Me – Nothing despicable about it…

Now this is what happens when you enter the theater with huge expectations. Having missed this movie at the beginning of the week, I heard rave reviews of Despicable Me and entered the hall with sky-hihg expectations. Did it meet those expectations? Not entirely

To clear the air – no it isn’t as good as Monsters Inc. or Finding Nemo. Its a normal, decent animation flick.

Should you then spend money and watch it in the hall? – Most definitely yes..why? Because of the 3D experience that will be completely lost on you otherwise

Yes, we finally have an animation flick which gives 3D the respect it deserves. Despicable Me is the best I’ve seen from a 3D animation point of view. Sure there are scenes that are just meant to give the 3D experience, like the ride in the amusement park or the trip to the moon but you surely get your money’s worth.

The 3D isn’t all the movie has to offer though. There are some scenes where you are guaranteed to burst out laughing, though those are few and far between. What makes movies like Finding Nemo and Ice Age absolute rib ticklers are characters like Dory and Scrat, which is an element sadly missing from this movie. While the main character Gru (voice by Steve Carell) stirs a variety of emotions in you at different stages of the movie, it does miss a few funny scenes/ dialogues, overall. The other issue with Despicable Me is that it has an ‘all too familiar’ look to it…Gru reminds of you of Grinch and Agnes is sure to remind you of Boo (from Monsters Inc.). While they have not been featured in any animation movie so far, the bots that are a part of Gru’s lab would bear a distinct resemblance to zoozoos (Vodafone)

Other than that, the movie doesn’t have too many flaws. The animation is perfect (but then that is now a standard expected off Hollywood and no longer deserves separate mention). Steve Carell is in great form and pulls of a convincing ‘Gru’.

The movie has a weird plotline that’ll keep you interested till the end. The ending credits are perhaps the icing on the cake as far as the 3D experience goes so make sure to keep your glasses on, long after the movie is over. All in all, I’d say its one of the better offerings this week. If you made the mistake of picking Aisha as first choice, Despicable Me offers a good chance to make amends

Movie Review: Aisha…aaaaa!!!!

That was a cry in agony, by the way….
Its one of the rare occasions where I’ve gotta admit a guy’s perspective may not do justice to give a full opinion on the kinda movie ‘Aisha’ is. Trouble is, dis movie is completely ‘gal centric’, and there alas, lies the dilemma. I would tell you not to even consider watching this flick in da hall but den a gal might tell u different..Here’s my take anyway…
Welcome to the world of Aisha and it quite literally is about her all throughout the length of the movie. Sure, there are a couple of side characters thrown in but the movie really belongs to the character of Aisha..or at least it was supposed to as per the script…up till the point that they decided to cast Sonam Kapoor as her (Aisha)
Let’s be fair…Sonam Kapoor isn’t the prettiest of damsels of B-Town (not by a long yardstick) and the few scenes where she’s managed to look decent are ones where she’s wearing traditional attire with minimal make up. Instead to cast her as a glam doll and a fashion-obsessed, rich & spoilt gal is clearly a mistake. The other issue is that ‘Aisha’ has a lot of dialogues to deliver and dialogue delivery isn’t one of Sonam’s strong points either
Oh by the way, the other lead in this movie is Abhay Deol and I doubt if he has been more under-utilized and given so little room to perform in any other flick, so I am sure you’ll understand if I don’t give him too much importance in this review
Resultingly the movie depends heavily on its side characters who thankfully do not disappoint. The biggest revelation is Amrita Puri who plays the character of Shefali, who I think emerges as the true heroine of the film. While the camera focuses firmly on Sonam Kapoor for majority of the movie, she still manages to steal the show in the little moments she gets – whether its about her complaining while she’s taking a long walk with Randhir (Cyrus) or the power packed scenes in which she confronts Aisha..she is in prime form
The other ‘sidies’ also more than justify their presence in the movie with Cyrus Sahukar (Randhir) and Ira Dubey (Pinky) coming up with noteworthy performances
If you are looking for stuff like a great plot, fast paced scenes, oodles of laughter..well, you’re clearly sitting in the wrong theater. What Aisha offers you is a very typical chick flick (I always struggled with a definition for that; now I have my answer) an extremely predictable plot that unfolds at an excruciating pace, with little nuggets of subtle humor thrown in. Add the fact that there are one too many songs and none too melodious and you know exactly what you are headed for…
Guys, I am warning you – this is a movie that I am sure you won’t enjoy. However, I am equally sure that your ‘better halves’ are sure to drag you to the halls to watch this flick..so if you can manage to convince them and catch it on DVD instead…consider it a job well done

Movie Review: Once upon a time....once is enough

Genre: Crime/ Action
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi, Kangna Ranaut, Prachi Desai and Randeep Hooda

Now, I know the title I've given to this review makes this movie look really bad...that was not the intention. Once upon a time..is a decent attempt at a movie with smart dialogues intermingled with some really cheesy ones and a predictable, yet watchable performance overall. If there was ever a movie which got screwed due to the over-emphasis on dialogues and smart one liners..Once upon a time..would definitely be a part of that list.

Set in the 70s the movie focuses on the dark underbelly of Mumbai at its most nascent stages wherein smuggling was the route to overnight fortune and easy money. The movie starts with a narration from Ranbir Hooda (as per the credits he's supposed to have a guest appearance, though he seems to have as many dialogues and visibility as the other mainstream actors.) as a police officer who is repentent over a gross error in judgement he made and is willing to take his own life for it. After this, the movie gets into flashback mode as he recounts the lives of the two main characters, Sultan Mirza (Devgn) and Shuaib (Hashmi) and the paths they are willing to choose to realize their dreams.

Sultan Mirza, perfectly portrayed by Ajay Devgn is perhaps the most complex character in the plot and the director spends a good amount of time familiarizing us with the various facets of the character. He is a gangster, a smuggler yet there are some endearing qualities that put him into that grey zone, where one is not so sure what to think. His courtship of Rehanna (Ranaut) provide the lighter and more enjoyable moments of the film.

Shuaib, the other character, is easier to understand and he is your proverbial black sheep who is bent on becoming the biggest and greatest in the shortest time possible. While I've never been a fan of Hashmi, he has put in a decent performance, though in some scenes you wish there had been a more competent actor.

The song and dance routine is present but thankfully, only in patches and doesn't slow the movie down. With a plot line like this, too many songs would have completely ruined it but thankfully, that isn't the case

What the movie misses desperately is the underlying menace, the invisible tension of movies like Sarkar, Khakee or the more recent, Rajneeti, which had you watching each and every frame with rapt attention. While the background score does complete justice to the theme and pulse of the movie, the movie fails to be really gripping, even while attempting to be so.

All in all, its decent movie fare for this weekend. Ideally would like to watch this flick at home on a DVD but a visit to the cinemas wouldn't be a complete waste of your money.

Movie Review: The 'Inception' of Genius..

Genre: Sci-Fi/ Action
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseoh Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Marion Cottilard, Ken Watanabe and Tom Hardy

Mr. Nolan has done it again...Many years ago, when he was just starting out, he came out with the wonderfully convoluted, yet completely logical masterpiece 'Memento', that had people watching runs and reruns of the movie to try and make sense of what happens...Then, many years later, the Wachowski Brothers staked their claim with the revolutionary Matrix movie series (still won't like to refer to it as a trilogy, the third installment was a disaster) which had people having to revisit the theaters, if only to figure out what 'The Matrix' really was..Now, Mr. Nolan has reclaimed his throne of mind-boggling, complex and multi-layered genius with his latest offering - Inception

A wonderfully fascinating concept that uses our most creative figments of imagination - Inception uses our dreams to weave a plot that is sure to intrigue you, at the very least. Nolan builds multiple 'levels' (quite literally) into a plot that forces you to listen and think over each and every dialogue uttered by every character to maintain pace with the drama that unfolds over 140 minutes. 'Your mind is the scene of the crime' and 'The dream is real' - the taglines that this movie has been publicized with, are really apt for this movie and give away a lot more than one would think they do; it would be grave injustice if I were to reveal anything further of the plot.

I know this movie would be compared to the Dark Knight and some might even suggest that Nolan outdoes himself with Inception, but that would perhaps be over-stating the case. In my opinion, the movie tends to get too complicated for its own good and leaves some very pertinent questions unanswered. Some of the action too, is unwarranted and one wonders why it was really necessary to insert those set pieces, when a much different setting was a distinct and much more enticing possibility. However, my suggestion is don't compare this to anything you have seen before - because its the novelty, sheer creative imagination and complexity of the plot that are the charm of this flick

Fantastic performance by the entire cast, specially Di Capricio and Ellen Page further add to the quality of the movie but the movie really belongs to the director himself. Nolan asserts himself in all his glory, using a multi-layered, convoluted, plot to keep you interested all throughout. Imagine the kind of attention that he forces you to pay to something as insignificant as a single spinning top and you will know exactly what I mean. If all this were not enough, he ends the movie with an absolute masterstroke that practically carves his signature touch on to it.

Not at all a movie for the masses, so for those who like to watch movies with their brains left at home - steer clear of this one. On the other hand, for the enthusiasts looking for a challenge, march right away to the theater, if nothing else, only to marvel at the genius who could conceive, develop and transition to motion pictures such creative brilliance

Movie Review: Toy Story 3 delivers...To infinity and beyond!!!

Genre: Animation/ Comedy
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack

This signature line from Buzz Lightyear, alone is enough to bring a smile and perhaps a nostalgic flash of the preceding two installments of this heartwarming saga but Toy Story 3 delivers a lot more than just that. From the first frame itself, the movie sets into sublime motion with one scene simply flowing into the other. The audience gets introduced to all the old familiar faces - the Potato Heads, Rex the Dinosaur, Hamm the Piggy bank, the aliens, Slinky the dog, Jesse and of course, Woody and Buzz Lightyear.

Andy's all grown up now and headed to college and the Toys are left guessing as to their fate now that Andy won't be interested in playing with them anymore. Woody, always the loyal one, tries his best to convince them that Andy won't discard them, but the others don't believe him. What follows is another typical 'Toy Story' adventure with the toys experiencing the supposed thrills and chills of being toys to kids in a Day Care, imprisoned in what they believed to be their new wonderland and Woody, as always, is there to save the day. Toy Story 3 also brings to the fore a host of new characters including Barbie, Ken, Lotso and Big Baby to name a few.

On the downside, the 3D of the movie..well let's just say it isn't there. After the magic that Avatar has created, the benchmark is probably set so high now that one wonders if any other movie would even come close to creating that level of realism. To expect that from an animation movie, no less, would be harsh but the sad truth is Toy Story 3 doesn't even attempt to impress in that department. One may as well watch the movie in 2D because the true magic of the movie is in the story and characters rather than the effects. Another disappointing factor was the dearth of humor in the movie..though, a couple of scenes do make you chuckle and smile.

However, what really warms your heart towards Toy Story 3 is not the beginning, the action but really, the end. Knowing that Andy is now, indeed, too grown up to play with his old toys the movie ends on the best possible note, leaving perhaps a touch of sadness that this marks the end of a one-of-a-kind saga

For those who are still trying to make up their mind, I'd say if you found anything good about the previous two installments don't bother your heads on this one - just go watch it. If you loved toys when you were younger, I bet this movie will remind you of your favourite ones, the good times you had with them and possibly a touch of regret if they aren't in the best of shape any longer.

So go ahead, remember the good ol' days and bid farewell to one of the few trilogies that have lived up to the expectation...and beyond

Movie Review: Raavan - Kata Bechara Bakara

Genre: Action/ Romance
Starring: Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Vikram, Govinda, Priyamani 

It took two years to complete this movie. Am still reeling from the shock, disappointment, anger et al felt while viewing Raavan. Two years?? It takes two years to make drivel like dis? And I thought Bollywood was slowly but surely catching up with Hollywood...

For the tourists, you get treated to two hours of sheer visual delight with breath taking landscapes, amazing shots and excellent camera work. For the movie goers, looking for a decent script, plot etc, start watching the movie in the second half. The first half makes no sense watsoever. So you start off proceedings with an animal-like Beera character (played by Abhishek Bachan) who cackles and shouts at will and is seemingly enraged over something, that you need to wait till the second half to understand. Meanwhile, Aishwarya Rai as the kidnapped maiden and wife of the SP (who is hell bent on catching Beera) seems to have the easiest job in the world - she has to have both hands tied, make sure her eyes are red at all times (still not sure why that was required) and scream and shout at all and sundry. Just for the record, I just condensed 70 minutes of the first half of the movie in one paragraph. Meanwhile, the song and dance routine continues with 3 songs packed into the first half itself. The movie intervals with the song - kata kata bechara bakara..and one is only too consciously aware who the bakara is at this point.

Thankfully, the movie picks up its act in the second half where the story finally gets revealed. One begins to understand the character of Beera and why he acts the way he does, why he has kidnapped Aishwarya and the plot finally begins to fall in place. It is only the last 20 minutes that really deliver what the movie promised, the only time that the audience is left guessing as to what turn the movie would take, who Aishwarya would really end up with and whether this really is a tale of love. If only, the rest of the movie had been crafted so painstakingly with curious twists and turns, there was so much potential..

Alas, Raavan is far from the thrill-ride it promised to be. The plot is very predictable and twists and turns, few and far between. Even the leads, don't deliver a dynamite performance, though, to be fair, they both have very little room to. Abhishek, surprisingly, doesn't really fit the character of Beera and is loud and over-bearing. Aishwarya, though she looks pretty as ever, doesn't get to do more than scream and shout. Though I haven't actually timed it, I think Govinda's character possibly has the maximum air-time and dialogues. As the forest guard (playing a pseudo 'Hanuman' role) who accompanies the SP, he is in his element and provides much required comic relief in the film

So unless you are going for the scenery and landscapes, or are really eager to hear shrill screams & shouts in surround sound, I suggest you stay clear from this one...