Movie Review: Rogue One–A Star Wars story..the Force is not so strong on this one

Another one that goes with a disclaimer – I am not as much of a Star Wars fanboy so this review may be perceived as unfair or inaccurate by the die hard Star Wars fans. I’ve seen the movies of course and felt that The Force Awakens arrives with truly a new hope for taking the franchise forward. Rogue one though simply isn’t as exciting or thrilling for me to look forward to this franchise spinoff.

Over the years, Hollywood has become better and better at capturing the visual experience of movies that ignite the imagination. Star Wars is no exception. While the initial movies may almost look like costumed drama (though with better storylines) the newer installments have become increasingly polished and Rogue one doesn’t get a step wrong in that department. Beautifully realized and technically marvelous in terms of its set pieces, CGI or otherwise, Rogue one gets just the right canvas. The action is particularly spectacular to watch. Whether it’s the storm troopers, the light sabre or the sleek futuristic battleships – everything looks real. Despite the complexity of the aerial combat, its still not hard to follow.

The letdown here is really the story. While they’ve attempted to be a little different, the story progression is predictable to a fault. There is a façade of double talk, secrets, mysteries and thrills but in reality, there are hardly any. There is an irritatingly loud background score, rising to a crescendo despite the fact that nothing spectacular actually is happening on screen.

The movie borrows liberally from other similar movies featuring a rebel faction and even so, the handling is poor. At no point do you care what happens to the characters on screen. As to the characters themselves, well, none of them get fleshed out particularly well. We don’t have our next (or is it earlier…) Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia or even R2D2. K2SO tries to do that job and while he brings a bit of comic relief, BB8 did a much better job of the same.

In terms of the acting, since there’s hardly a need to emote, I guess they all do a decent enough job. One thing this script definitely lacked is coherence. Had they slowed down a bit, got us to actually connect with the new characters and their dilemmas, it would have been a much different and hopefully more thrilling ride.


I get what the movie was trying to do and the effort is laudable. However, even as a standalone Star Wars prequel that leads into the original iconic series, it isn’t all that I had hoped for. That’s not to say that it’ll be a dull time at the theatres – the spectacular action alone makes it worth the ticket.

Movie Review: Befikre..couldn’t care less and that works

Before you get your hopes all up let me issue the disclaimer – nowhere am I saying that Befikre is your must-watch romantic comedy. I have to admit though that it is a breezy and fun watch..for the most part at least.

There are two things that work majorly in Befikre’s favor – one is its ‘couldn’t care less’ attitude towards the plot, its characters or their emotions. It’s a fun ride that at no point wants to become serious and save for the pathetic climax, it’s a formula that works.
After a long time, we’ve had an offering who’s only intention is for you as the audience to have a good time – so there’s plenty of humor, some laugh out loud moments, good dialogues and unadulterated fun. For the little time that it does take on a more serious shade, is where it begins to drag and feel stretched.

The other big feather in its cap is Ranveer Singh. I’d like to say it’s the couple’s sparkling chemistry but with Vaani Kapoor for company, that would be majorly over-stating the case. While Vaani does a decent enough job, this is a Ranveer show all the way. The man is a powerhouse and he slips into character so effortlessly, he may as well be playing himself. He manages the delicate line between being high energy and over the top with finesse and despite his loud character never once looks like he is over-doing it. Any other actor instead of him and this may have been a hard to digest watch, let alone a one-time breeze.

Paris is used liberally but more as a sparkling canvas to the two leads rather than a third character itself. The movie doesn’t stop to take a breath and the plot rushes along at a feverish pace, pretty much through the movie. Some of it also involves some pretty bizarre plot twists so go prepared for that. For a breezy movie some of its dialogues have surprising depth and they are a welcome addition rather than sounding preachy or pedantic.


Befikre then is unexpectedly, a decent one-time watch. If you are expecting another DDLJ, well you are going with the wrong expectations. The closest this movie reminded me of was Salaam Namaste in its first half. A few songs lesser and a snappier second half would have got it more plaudits. The final scene though has some beautiful lines, that betray its carefree façade. Its not all thoughtless and that’s a nice note to leave the theatre on.

Movie Review: Kahaani 2…an ordinary story this time around

I remember writing for my original review that Kahaani was a rare gem. Kahaani 2 just affirms that fact. While it is again gripping and well-presented, the story itself isn’t all that great this time around and even though the build up is terrific, by the end of it all you are bound to leave the theater disappointed.

Kahaani 2 does a couple of things well. Firstly, it de-links any reference to the original which was the smart thing to do. Dragging that perfect story would’ve been a death knell. Secondly, it builds up really well. Sujoy Ghosh definitely knows how to tell a story – script and plot are king and he lets them have their day in the sun. In fact, Kahaani 2 smartly unfolds like exactly that – a story. A story that takes its time in building up through the chapters and with each advancing page adds more excitement for the reader.

The challenge is that in a movie of this genre, you want to be stumped – completely taken aback in disbelief that the smart director/ writer has thought of and presented a twist that simply never occurred to you. With Kahaani, we totally had that. With Kahaani 2, we simply don’t – the twist is so obvious, its apparent even as we watch it all unfolding and even then, there are so many elements that simply don’t add up.

Its that aspect, in fact, that relegates Kahaani 2 to the realms of the ordinary, where many a thriller has (unsuccessfully) gone before. Think of Talaash and remind yourself of the disappointment you felt at the final revelation – now raise that up a few notches and you should reach Kahaani 2.

The one thing that’s unchanged from Kahaani is Vidya Balan (including her orignal character’s name). Yes Bida is back and despite a completely new character, she is in fine form. Despite the weak storyline, Vidya Balan gives it her all and has us connecting with and caring for Bida (or is it Durga Rani Singh..I’ll stop here). Keeping her company is Arjun Rampal, who does a decent job and thankfully doesn’t have to emote too much.


Much in the vein of the original, this one too doesn’t waste time on unnecessary songs and keeps the presentation short and tight. With a more convincing climax and grand revelation, Kahaani 2 could well have counted as a worthy sequel. As it stands though, while its well-told, Kahaani 2 ulimately manages an ordinary story.

Movie Review: Dear Zindagi..could’ve taught better life lessons

There was something alluring in its trailers or rather, teasers. Something that indicated that this would be a ‘hatke’ movie. Maybe it was the fresh humor, or the fact that it had Shahrukh in a mature role (for a change) and Alia seeking his counsel – it certainly had an appeal to it. While it does expound some interesting philosophy, especially at the first half stage – by the end of it all, the life lessons that Dear Zindagi gives don’t really stir you as much as you would wish them to.

The initial part of the movie seems a good, subtle commentary on the life and times of today’s Gen Y - their confusion and insecurities. What does challenge a bit is the slow pacing and distinct lack of humor. Still the perspective shown at the half way mark is bound to get you to snap out of slumber and take notice of proceedings. Unfortunately, all that fervor dies down in the second half, with all that fresh thinking discarded for some stereotypical plot development.

That said, how much you will like the movie is highly influenced by the degree to which you can connect and relate with the issues of the protagonist. Unfortunately, the way the script unfolds, it is harder for you to gradually build connect with the protagonist and get influenced by her ups and downs, if you can’t otherwise relate to them.

While the movie has both Shahrukh and Alia, it heavily focuses only on Alia’s character. I would’ve loved a more balanced narrative across the two, especially more depth to Shahrukh’s character but that’s not the case here. In terms of acting, while Alia does a great job this time round as well, I am a tad less enthusiastic, because it’s an extremely familiar character for her. That said, while a little unconvincing up front in the first half, she is brilliant in the second especially the emotional scenes. Shahrukh, sadly is still very much Shahrukh Khan and while that itself will have the girls swooning, he doesn’t get into the character he plays. To be fair, there is very little room given to him by the way his character is written as well.

While it makes some interesting points, it largely falls back on the familiar rather than bring up a fresh perspective on unexplored realms. The over-extended runtime doesn’t help its cause and while the intent is appreciated, Dear Zindagi ultimately is not the love letter to life you wish it to be.

Movie Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where to find them..magic but not magical

At the outset, being an ardent Potter freak, I may be a bit harsh on this one.  Fantastic beasts… is pretty acceptable fare as a standalone feature, with mind blowing special effects, cute and endearing creatures, a new set of characters and peppered with humor every now and then. Where it falls short is in its weak development of the nemesis and poor plot development despite the dark overtones. Then of course, there is the association with the Potter-verse…

Many many moons ago, Rowling introduced us to the magical world of wizards and the legend of Harry Potter. 7 books and 8 movies that captured our imagination and stretched the bounds of our creativity with a deep focus on narrative, character development and expert story telling. With this latest offering, while she and the director David Yates, try to tell us we are back in that universe – it feels more like a homage than an actual homecoming for us Potter fans.

Fantastic Beasts.. (despite the very odd and long title) starts off on a wonderful note and keeps you interested initially, with characters, spells and creatures, both familiar and new, However, it ends up spending more time and considerable creativity on the new beasts than the story or characters themselves. The protagonist(s) don’t get enough detailing or backstory to make you feel connected and care for them. Neither is there an undercurrent of impending dread or deep roots (along the lines of ‘He Who Must Not Be Named’)

Fantastic Beasts..is best when its just having a bit of fun and not trying to take itself too seriously. Its dark moments stick out in sharp contrast and actually spoil proceedings rather than enhance them. It is towards its climax and final moments that Fantastic Beasts..spins the yarn a bit more and introduces elements that make you somewhat keen on the sequels that will inevitably follow.

Eddie Redmayne gives everything to his character of Newt. He is Newt, with eyes that show love and wonder for his magical creatures, a touch of anguish when they are in trouble and sincerity all the way through. Dan Fogler does an even more noticeable job, with the most enjoyable character of Kowalski and steals your attention every now and then. Katherine Waterston is relatively disappointing, in part due to her weak character of Goldstein. Colin Farrell is too intense and sombre as Mr. Graves.


Rowling’s return to the wizarding world is a fresh and unique offering which while its set in the same universe, misses a bit of the old magic in its story telling. Still, with the new beasts for company and the final plot twists, it may make for even better sequels in the years to come. As a Potter fan, go with low expectations and while not fantastic, these beasts might just grab some attention.

Movie Review: Dr. Strange…stranger not stronger

Ever since The Avengers brought everything together so neatly, the Marvel universe has been getting stranger and stranger. While some would herald the newbies like Guardians of the Galaxy, Antman and Deadpool as welcome additions that brought freshness to the universe, I see these as distractions and obstructions, to the simplicity with which The Avengers brought magic to the silver screen. Dr. Strange, while stranger still, is sadly, no different.

The story is the real letdown here. Have you read a book called Simoquin Prophecies? While a relatively lesser known fantasy title by author Samit Basu, it pulls ‘inspiration’ from a variety of existing, well known epics and fantasy stories (from Ramayana to Harry Potter to give you some clue). Such a description would suit Dr. Strange as well – string together some concepts from The Matrix and Harry Potter, some scenes from Inception, give it a different name and lo behold – Dr. Strange shall appear before you. Only, after drawing such inspiration, there is nothing inspiring or magical about the tale Dr. Strange chooses to weave for this newest superhero. The start is intriguing and interesting, but after keeping your interest somewhat to the half way stage the threads just fall apart. This really is a disappointment, because the visual effects and humor manage to keep you engaged and with a stellar plotline this could’ve become one of Marvel’s better offerings

The visual effects are spell binding. The context of the movie is such that it required significant visual delight to truly impress and to give credit, Dr. Strange does excel in that department. While not all scenes do justice to the 3D, some scenes show considerable promise, especially during the initial stages of the movie. The (now trademark) Marvel humor is also very much present and makes for some much needed comic relief during particularly dull moments.

Cumberbatch gives it his all and it is apparent that he is enjoying himself – pretty much through the movie. The challenge is also that you don’t know whether to take Dr. Strange seriously or simply see this one in a lighter vein wherein truly anything can happen. There is a fair amount of ‘learning’ that the audience has to do and terms we have to get familiar with as well. The sad part however, is after all that learning, the climax completely disappoints and it all seems like much ado over nothing spectacular. The visual effects continue to impress and there is a kaleidoscope (quite literally) of images making for one spectacular visual showcase. However, the yarn continues to disappoint. You don’t at all feel vested into Dr. Strange or any of the characters in this universe (or is it multiverse…)

There are both mid-credits and end-credit sequences so stick around for those. For a change, these sequences actually pique your interest – more perhaps than even the movie manages. Strange as it may seem, my suggestion to you despite the seemingly rave reviews, would be to sit this one out unless you want to go purely for the dazzling visuals – plotwise Dr. Strange doesn’t conjure up enough to keep your interest.

Movie Review: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil – is hard to praise

The heart wants what the heart wants. Only, in this case, we as the audience weren’t quite sure what Karan Johar’s heart truly wanted from his latest offering – Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Was it that he wanted to explore the complexity of love in various shades, give Ranbir and Anushka a solid platform to express themselves or re-live the memories of his past offerings. Or perhaps, he too, knew that he didn’t have a solid offering and the title is actually him, convincing his own heart, that it seems difficult that he can win his audience this time around. Whatever the intentions, ultimately – he manages a predictable storyline which is heavily reliant on a mish mash of his previous successes but doesn’t come into its own for even a moment of its over-long runtime.

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil starts off weird and a little desperate to get your attention and goes further downhill from there. The attempts on humor are forced and you feel a little for both Ranbir and Anushka who are still trying to make those lines work. There are a few laughs, to be fair, but the previous offerings have offered a much easier ride (I am not counting Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna in this list). The premise for the intermission feels laughably shallow as does the romance up to that point. That it forms the basis for the remaining movie is indicative of the weak foundation the movie has.

The second half offers a breath of fresh air with Aishwarya Rai Bacchan looking the ethereal beauty – her presence is quite mesmerizing on screen. Anushka’s performance is earnest but finally unconvincing; she simply lacks the power her character needs – something that Kajol did for Karan Johar movies previously and quite effortlessly at that. You feel for Ranbir a bit, who doesn’t put a foot wrong despite his weak character, and ends up with a performance that was delivered well, but didn’t do justice to his immense talent. Tamasha (another not so great movie) provided him a better platform to perform and express himself so you can imagine the range this one manages. Fawad Khan has too fleeting a presence – I am sure the original version would’ve shown a lot more of him, but after all the cuts and edits – there is nothing left, of notice.

The songs, otherwise the bane of most Bollywood movies, are pretty much the saving grace for ADHM – especially the haunting piano melody of the title track – which becomes your best reason to still stay interested in the proceedings on screen. That music is also what’ll stay with you long after the ending credits – not much else. The twists and turns are few and far between and those too seem forced rather than a natural extension of the plot.

When I first saw and heard the title song – I fervently hoped that the movie would do justice to this awesome melody. Far from it, ADHM is perhaps one of Karan Johar’s weakest offerings (after Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna). If your heart refuses to listen, you can still watch it – but keep in mind, this time ‘Kuch Khaas nahi hota hai’ - this one’s going to be hard to praise.