Movie Review: 7 Khoon Maaf is too long to be pardoned

Based on Ruskin Bond’s short story Suzanna’s Seven Husbands, Vishal Bhardwaj’s 7 Khoon Maaf is a demented, psychotic, dark tale for the search for true love – gruesome and relentless in its presentation. From the first frame itself there is a sense of foreboding in the air and one gears up for a thrilling and enthralling movie. But alas!

The movie is painstakingly slow!!…by the time we were rounding the first half, having done with 3 husbands and I read ‘4 more to go’ in the interval, I had almost made up my mind to walk out in sheer disappointment. If one were really looking for a parallel, one can probably call this a kind of ‘slowed down’ version of Kill Bill 2..but since that movie was regarded to be slow in itself..well, you can get the picture..The fact that there are many random ordinary songs in the first half as well didn’t help matters either. After the fast paced and absolutely thrilling Kaminey, this kind of a serving from a stalwart like Vishal Bhardawaj was quite unexpected and deeply disappointing.

However, the second half and really the last 40 minutes somewhat make up for the slack pace of the first one and a half hours, so much so that by the time you come out of the hall you are willing to say the movie was quite watchable. You get treated to the catchy tones of the delectable ‘Darrling’, the plot picks up pace and the narration becomes more engaging. Especially towards the end, some scenes are particularly powerful and somewhat justify the money spent on the movie ticket

In the acting department, Priyanka Chopra is at centerstage in this kind of a movie and she is certainly equal to the task. She is able to pull off a complex character like Suzanna and does justice to each of her ‘avatars’, though some are more convincing than the others. Vivaan Shah (Naseeruddin Shah’s son, for the uninitiated) is impressive for a rookie, as the narrator and one of the characters of this dark tale. The sidekicks to Suzanna also put in a noteworthy performance despite their small role.

The writing (surprisingly) is not as crisp, and some Bollywoodish dialogues just make you cringe and grind your teeth. There is nothing Bollywoodish about this movie otherwise, and they seem bizarrely out-of-place. One of the masterstrokes is really, the last dialogue of the movie though, where you get a glimpse of the class of Vishal Bhardwaj but that’s it

After a stunner like Kaminey it would not be far from the mark to say that 7 Khoon Maaf disappoints. As I said, on the whole the movie may be regarded as watchable but I have to say, given that this is Vishal Bhardwaj…I had hoped for more.

Movie Review: Yeh Saali Zindagi..is worth a shot…

Racy, pacy and action packed and extremely convoluted – the surprise hit of this week is worth giving a shot. Is it worthy of all the hooplah and kudos its received so far? Well, not exactly..but its still worth checking out

Yeh Saali Zindagi, a noir somewhat comic film (one can compare to Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part 2, as a reference point) is a refreshing change from your run of the mill predictable plotlines. Unfolding with a whole host of characters introduced every now and then, through the course of the movie, it is a very fresh approach to cinema, specially considering this is Bollywood we talking about

With an over complex and constantly convoluting plot, told with ‘in a jiffy’ back stories and a lot of confusion thrown in, the movie surely grabs your attention right from the first frame itself. In fact, at the time of the interval, one is almost breathless with all the chasing around and catching up one has to do. However, its the 2nd half that doesn’t live up to the expectations. Especially, at the juncture that the movie breaks at the intermission, expectations are built up well and high but the 2nd half doesn’t deliver as much.

Some scenes slow down way too much and given the situation in the movie, it doesn’t seem apt. Add to that one too many songs and that’s where the movie lets itself down. (though, the title track is melodious and lovely).

Extremely unapologetic and downright audacious in its presentation, the movie is rife with abuses and very ‘desi’ language used all throughout (an increasingly popular trend in movies these days). With smartly written dialogues and a decent script, it surely produces a lot of chuckles and the occasional burst of laughter but doesn’t manage to create that magic to make for a second viewing.

The actors (humungous in number though they are) all do justice to their roles. Chitrangda Singh looks gorgeous throughout the movie while Irrfan manages to leave a lasting impression (Despite not having too much air time). The much publicized 22 kisses (not from Chitrangda though..pity) are very much all there but I guess they get a bit too much for the context they are shown in

All in all, its one surprise hit for sure. I for one had never thought of this flick as first on my list but I guess it all aptly fits the lyrics of the title song:

‘Zindagi pe tera mera kisi ka na zor hai
Hum sochte hai kuch wo saali sochti kuch aur hai
Ye zindagi ye saali zindagi…’

Movie Review: Dhobi Ghat: Mumbai Diaries - Painstakingly slow...

Eagerly awaited but pretty much disappointed, is probably the best way to sum up Dhobi Ghat: Mumbai Diaries. Given all the mystique and curiosity generated through the promos that gave away precious little, expectations had risen to quite an extent even before walking into the movie hall. Little did one know that the reason the promos were like that is that there is actually precious little that the movie has to offer

Half an hour into the movie and you still wait for it to pick up pace but alas! that wait is to continue forever...or at least till the last 15 mins which are really the most engaging part of the movie. Just when you begin to feel that things are finally getting a move along, you see the ending credits roll in and shock and disbelief abound.

Don't get me wrong. There is some depth to the scenes and characters in the movie and some very subtle messages..perhaps even too subtle. However, the painful pace of the movie drives away any interest you may have towards analyzing the movie or the message it wants to convey. Frankly, Dhobi Ghat comes across more as a well narrated book than a movie altogether. The actors all do justice to their characters despite a few newbies in the picture. Aamir Khan's character doesn't demand much from him given the repertoire of skills he has to offer and delivers his role with finesse. Especially, the last 15 minutes when he has a horrific realization, you get to see vintage Aamir, but other than, there's not much that causes him to put in an effort.

Interestingly, despite its slow pace and your constant frustration while watching the frames move at a painstaking rate, you still would have a tendency to think about the movie and what it tries to portray as you come out of the movie hall. At least while watching, one wouldn't expect that to happen

For those who like slow, art movies this may be acceptable movie fare but if you are looking for something that truly has a knockout punch? - Well, I guess you'll have to wait a little longer

Movie Review: TRON: Legacy…there’s no legacy

Welcome to the world of TRON – or rather, ‘the Grid’..where there are only two neon lights to guide your path – blue and orange. Surprised? Confused? Well dats TRON for you.

Now I haven’t seen the original (for the uninitiated, this movie is a sequel, the original released in 1982) but the creators of TRON Legacy thankfully realized that there would be many more like me and provide every explanation during the course of the movie. The only issue is that the explanation comes at a painfully slow rate and there is nothing exciting or mysterious about the TRON Universe itself.

Interestingly, the movie starts in 2D (so don’t shouting at the hall attendents if you can’t use your glasses right away) because that’s the real world. Its only once you enter the TRON Universe do the glasses come in handy and then there’s an instant transformation; one is almost reminiscent of the stalwart, Avatar.

Reminiscent I say, because any real comparison to that movie, is a farce. It doesn’t even come close. In Avatar, Pandora itself was a wonder. The millions of colours, beauty of nature and imaginative creatures brought it to life. TRON in comparison looks desolate, dark and dreary

I can’t even blame the creators of TRON because all they had at their disposal was a criss cross of lines and circles, (circuit diagrams if I may) and like I said, only two colours – blue and orange, to paint an entire picture. Given those constraints, they seem to have done a pretty decent job.

The action sequences are racy and neatly done but again perhaps a little too quick for the eye to catch. The movie has too much of a video-game feel to it and in a game you want to be the one in control. Not helplessly watching proceedings with no inkling what can happen next.

The background score is quite good but one gets the feeling once too often that it creates much ado about nothing. There would be a resounding rhythm, increasing with every beat to a loud crescendo but all the screen will show is a train crossing by, or some doors closing. Hardly the right effect.

Unfortunately, I can’t criticize the movie too much because I doubt if there’s any other way to show what they wanted to. And you have to marvel at the idea. Creating a digital universe, a perfect world of sorts, and basing a storyline on the same takes a good amount of imagination.

However, TRON Legacy gets too convoluted for its own good. Its only when the movie is drawing towards its closing scenes that all the pieces begin to fall in place and one understands what this movie is about. Kinda like the Matrix (though that took a few repeat viewings to get the hang of) but the difference was that while in Matrix you were intrigued and excited to understand the world of the Matrix better, with TRON you are just waiting for it all to end and your world to be restored to Technicolour again

All in all, the movie looks more like a brilliantly displayed laser show with thumping sounds and beats to go with, rather than a fully fleshed out movie with characters and a plotline. Legacy or no, if they are making a third edition to this there’s a lot of that needs to be added to the current offering to qualify it as a worthy watch

Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Can’t wait for Part 2!!

I know this is a review for Part 1 of this Mega Franchise but I can’t help myself. The movie so wonderfully sets the stage for Part 2 that July 2011 is just too far away yet (that’s when the next and final edition releases).

However, Part I itself offers you quite the cinematic experience to justify a movie hall ticket. With no Dumbledore to guide him and several Horcruxes to destroy, Harry has his task cut out for him. Meanwhile, the Dark Lord has taken over completely and Death Eaters appear to be everywhere. I wish I could explain scenario by scenario how wonderfully the book has been adapted in the movie but alas! I shall be giving too much away. Not that it is a really faithful adaptation, though. In fact, the way the movie starts you almost wonder if they came up with their own version to this masterpiece, but then the familiar scenes set in and you start connecting with the book a lot better

What you get at the end of it all is a visually stunning treat, with breath taking effects and brilliant set pieces. Of course, the grand storyline created by the genius herself, is undoubtedly the real hero in this movie. Still, it is heartening to see that justice has been done to what is probably the finest book in the series. Superlative performances by the entire cast with Emma Watson (who’s gotten prettier with every installment of the series) delivering a particularly noteworthy performance. Ralph Fiennes as Voldermort, looks sinister as ever and you’ll probably hate Bellatrix Lestrange even more, a testament to the performance of Helena Bonham Carter. The director David Yates has clearly dug deeper to the essence of the storyline and some sequences have that touch of class about them. This installment is probably the darkest of the lot and the director faithfully re-creates the same – with great success

On the flipside though, since the book is split across two parts and the first edition clocks around 2 hours 30 minutes, the movie seems to have been stretched a tad bit longer especially the scenes nearing the end of first half. However, the movie more than makes up for it with exemplary action sequences that follow up just after that.

The much talked about kiss between Radcliffe and Watson was completely uncalled for and almost strikes a jarring note to that particular scene

Other than that, there aren’t too many hiccups in this breath-taking adventure and it probably ends at the best possible note – giving the audience a chilling realization and having them just raring for more.

However, as the credits roll in one does feel like giving a tribute to that great artist, the creator of this wonderful saga who has single-handedly given us one of the greatest series of all time

Movie Review: The Social Network – Go Get Connected!!

The drought of sad, disappointing films has finally ended. While I have been frequently accused of not showing enough concern for my fellow followers @ anitalks. I knew I had to wait for the right moment, the right movie to deliver a review that actually raised hopes and expectations

One look at the trailer of The Social Network and I knew that moment had arrived. My only regret is that this review comes 3 days after the movie released

The Social Network is all about Mark Zuckerberg (the founder of Facebook, or was it The Facebook ;)) his fortunes and misfortunes after he created this phenomenon that captured the imagination of millions across the globe and that’s really all there is to it. However, the beauty of the film lies in the way it is presented.

Packed with smart dialogues and witty humor, The Social Network is a tribute to the Genius. It isn’t apologetic about the arrogance or pompous attitude of its protagonist, Mark. Rather, it celebrates his sheer brilliance and intelligence at every opportunity.

What is probably the hallmark of this movie is that none of its characters are stereotypes. There isn’t a single character you can completely love/ hate. There are shades of grey in each and every one of them and that is how they are presented. So a word of advice, don’t be judgemental of any of the characters while watching the movie. The sheer believability of the characters are the real treat in this movie

Jesse Eisenberg does complete justice to Mark Zuckerberg, portraying him as a stuck up yet brilliant nerd who thinks the rest of the population to be inferior. His dismissive remarks and smart aleck replies provide the lighter moments in this otherwise gripping drama. The other side characters too do a remarkable job, noticeably Andrew Garfield (who portrays Eduardo Saveron, co-founder of Facebook).

The director, David Fincher, does a brilliant job with some scenes being absolute masterpieces and never does the movie get dull or boring. Considering its an almost factual account of a couple of nerds, writing code and making millions, this movie could have easily become dull and dreary but thankfully, its not. The ending (don’t worry, am not giving anything away) may be regarded as tame by some but I thought it was quite apt given the way the movie progresses.

Final verdict, the movies haven’t added too many ‘friends’ to their network (neither Hollywood nor Bollywood) off late but I think one finally has reason to spend that money, buy that ticket and ‘Get Connected’!!

Movie Review: Anjaana Anjaani….ajab prem ki ‘not so gazab’ kahani

Its wild…its whacky..its fresh..these were the adjectives in one’s mind while watching this movie…but that was before one reached the interval stage..and after having completed the movie..dismay, dejection and disappointment loomed

Its too uncanny to be a coincidence. Of the last few Bollywood outings I have gone for, each of them has had the same problem..a promising premise but poorly dealt with. Alas, Anjaana Anjaani too suffers the same fate.

The movie starts off almost Hollywoodish..running at a brisk pace with the story of both leads being unfolded bit by bit. Though, rather depressing due to the premise its built on, especially in the first half, the only complaint one can make is the lack of laughter/ funny situations/ humor that is an essential element of such movies. Its the second half of the movie though that’s the real dampener. Apart from one hilarious sequence (which again takes you to the land of ‘what could have been’), the movie drags unnecessarily beyond limits and gets tedious and irritating. The message the movie tries to portray is also blatant and in-your-face whereas it ought to have been implied and subtle.

The only reason why Anjaana Anjaani works to some degree is due to its two leads. Easily the hottest property in B-Town today, both Ranbir and Priyanka do justice to their roles and while there’s not too much to emote or portray..the pair look so good on screen that it makes the movie seem almost worthwhile

The music is good but far too many songs are packed into the movie, especially in the second half. Had it been half an hour shorter and with a few more funny sequences thrown in and a little less melodrama, this flick would’ve been a blast, but as it stands, I wouldn’t bet my money on it if I were you. Play it safe and catch the DVD when it comes out..it would be time and money well saved.