Movie Review blog

Real Steel is the real deal

2011-10-08T23:01:00.001+05:30

Reviewed by Debolina Sengupta

Confession first. I went to watch Real Steel only and only for Hugh Jackman (girly reasons completely). And 15 minutes into the movie I was slightly bored. It looked all too obvious. I half thought that it would be one of those emotional drama movies with robots in it, but with the movie's progression, I started enjoying it. Jackman is to die for as a father, lover and a robo-boxing freak while his on screen son Max, played by Dakota Goyo is believable.

Won't give out too much of the movie since the last complaint that I have been typing out spoilers, but this is one movie you can't miss if you are looking for a complete package. Most of the moments in the movie are guessable, but the way they are treated makes them perfect in every sense. You will cry with the characters, be on the edge and pray for the "little guy" to win over the powerful and you will also be completely involved in every step of their journey.

In an age of 3D cinema, Real Steel proves that it's the story that makes a film a winner. The robot part of the movie is carefully intertwined in the narrative without making it jarring while the father-son bonding is given more preference. Perfect combo of acting, special affects and post production. This movie is a winner staying true to its tagline- courage is stronger than steel.

In case you are someone who loves spending time and money on a movie that gives you a good feeling in your heart, Real Steel is the real deal.

Rating: 4/5

Mere Brother Ki Dulhan

2011-09-27T14:50:00.002+05:30

Reviewed by Debolina Sengupta

It is hard work for one Katrina Kaif and one Imran Khan to pull off a movie completely by themselves. While the former with her English accent tries to be the rebel turned good daughter turned rebelling dulhan, Imran Khan plays the good boy who arranges a match for his brother Ali Zafar, who has just broken up with his girlfriend.

Well honestly, the first sequence in the movie completely exposed the entire plot. While Ali Zaffar breaks up with his TV-breaking girlfriend in London because she isn't Indian enough, on the other side, promos of the movie showing the chemistry between Imran and Katrina made it obvious. The songs are very tacky though Ali's voice sounds magical in Madhubala.

But here is the fun bit about the movie- the two realise their love for each other after the engagement, making it a family issue if not handled carefully. Though polluted by Katrina's woeful acting and Imran's apparent indifference, I liked how the writer and director of the film Ali Zaffar takes the inside route to find a peaceful solution.

In comes the ex-girlfriend making Ali jealous with her nagin like moves for another man (read Imran Khan). So rather than Katrina and Imran running away to avoid the shaadi, the groom runs away with his love leaving a letter. The "duniya kya sochega" mindset of elders is tapped well and Katrina and Imran are set to get married to protect the dignity of the two khandans. A frivolous ego fight between fathers breaks that up to and to fix that, Ali couldn't think of anything but a tacky car scene where the two indirectly tell their fathers that they have fallen for each other too. Afraid that they might run away like Ali and his bride, the fathers ask them to get married.

What I loved about the movie was that similar plot movies of the past often glorify blood shed and tears. This is one film, where with the use of humour (though with bad acting), planning and plotting got the same results in a more amicable way. I just wish Katrina and Imran could act!

Rating: 2.5/5

Where's the Game?

2011-04-04T04:20:00.000+05:30

Reviewed by Sab Khan

Game is the Bollywood’s latest release by debut director Abhinay Deo. He has unfortunately failed to come up with a sizzling hot thriller. He may have tried to make a fashionable by signing in an apparently "hot" cast, but the plot of his movie needed thawing. The script was simply uninspiring and weak. Kabir Malthora (Anupum Kher) is the billionaire who owns an island in Greece, Sia Agnihotri (Kangna Ranaut) is a detective and Neil Menon (Abhishek Bachchan) is a casino owner. There's Boman Irani in the film too as a politician, Jimmy Shergill as an actor and Shahana Goswami as a journalist.

Four people are suspects in Kabir's daugther's murder case. But before the father can start investigating the murder, he dies. Apparently, this is a suicide attempt, but the four currently suspected are again arrested, for Kabir's death.

Too many unanswered questions and high predictability makes it a chore to watch the film. The direction is amateurish and is unable to extract the best from the actors involved. The first half of the movie is painfully slow, which the director tries to make up for in the second half, which looks mindless. But Alas! The thrill was still not gripping enough to control the audiences’ mind.

The movie tries to sell itself with the "trendy stuff" like people from different professions, a sexy police officer and views of beautiful Greece, but it all gets murdered by the script. Save your time by avoiding it, unless you are a huge fan of any actor involved.

Rating:2/5

F.A.L.T.U is not that Faltu

2011-04-04T04:00:00.000+05:30

Reviewed by Sab Khan

The very title of the movie F.A.L.T.U is quite interesting as the dots between the letters says that it’s an acronym and when you pronounce it, it becomes faltu, means worthless. Vashu Bhagnani introduced Remo D’Souza, a choreographer, as the director of the film. The cast of the movie involves Ritesh (Jackky Bhagnani), Pooja (Puja Gupta), Vishnu (Chandan Roy Sanyal) and Nanj (Angad Bedi) with several special glittering appearances like Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Salman Khan, Mallika Sherawat, Sushmita Sen and others.

The movie is a steer clear inspiration of 2006 release Accepted. It focuses on youth and their educational activities like 3 Idiots. The four friends Ritesh, Pooja, Vishnu and Nanj are fun loving youngsters who have barely managed to pass their exams but couldn’t manage to get admission in any university. For that matter, they come up with a plan of making a fake university named as Fakirchand and Lakirchand Trust University aka F.A.L.T.U. To keep it real in front of their parents, they even publish advertisements in news papers and allotted a place to it, which results in actual interest of many other students, forcing them to face the actual reality of life.

A college life’s story manages to make you nostalgic. The director has done a great job arousing sentiments and excitement in the audience. F.A.L.T.U is a movie full of fun and frolic reminding you of your own golden days. All the actors displayed a light casual style with a tint of grim and gravity where required. If you aspire to have some playful time to relax your mind, F.A.L.T.U is the right choice.

Rating:3/5

Alice in Wonderland review

2011-03-22T13:43:00.000+05:30

Alice in Wonderland

Reviewed by Adam Minor

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland is a retread and definitely "Burton-ised" version of Lewis Carrol's classic tale about a girl trying to find her place in the world by finding her place in another world.

Mia Wasikowska plays the titular heroine of the film, Alice. Not quite sure where her future lies, Alice, whilst searching for a strange rabbit in a waistcoat falls down a deep hole into a veritable "wonderland" full of talking animals and vicious creatures. As kind of an updated sequel to the original animated feature, the citizens of Wonderland are thrilled about Alice's destined comeback to return the White Queen's title back from her evil sister, the Queen of Hearts.

Between the actors and the set designs, this is most definitely a Tim Burton film. Although Tim has always used stellar actors and unique designs, each of his new films feels like a retread of the previous one. When you're queued up to see a Burton film without knowing anything about it, you can safely presume that the movie will feature the following: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall and curly, dead trees. It's as though they are all a gaggle of close friends that just give each other parts in their movies. I'm sure, by now, that they are all close friends and don't think for a second that any of those fine actors didn't earn the chance to appear in any movie of their choice, but all together, it seems repetitive.

Tim did branch out and find his new lead Mia, who portrays Alice very well. She's good at balancing that innocence with hidden bravery, and is as convincing in an incomplete dinner gown as in a suit of armor. As expected, Johnny, Helena, Alan, Timothy and Anne Hathaway all play their roles very well.

Though I found the art direction and costume design rather similar to Burton's other films, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences did not and granted the film with Oscars for either.

The most cringe-worthy scene in the entire movie comes towards the end. There is a scene in which the Mad Hatter dances a victory "funderwhack" that seems so out of place that I was caught off guard even during my second viewing. A slight issue, of course, but nonetheless, I found it so strikingly misplaced poorly edited that it shocked me.

Alice in Wonderland is a deserved rendition of the classic, but if you've seen even one Tin Burton movie, just like our new Alice, you'll feel as though you've been here before.

Rating: 3/5

Gul Panag wedding: looking at Turning 30

2011-03-19T16:31:00.001+05:30

Turning 30

Reviewed by Sab Khan

A lady Devdas in a Hindi film? It all felt bizarre. But thankfully, Turning 30 isn't a complete mess. Director Alankrita Shrivastava has taken the bold and the beautiful step in putting up a female oriented film but it seems like the overall making of the movie didn’t end up becoming what it was supposed to.

The movie is about Naina (Gul Panag), as she is turning to 30, who has just been broken up with her boyfriend Rishabh (Siddharth Makkar) and throughout the movie she has been trying to overcome the shock which is quite depressing for her. In the beginning, I related it to Sex and the City but no, not at all, this is more of Bridget Jones Diary. Naina tries everything to get Rishabh back in her life, who in turn has moved on with a younger and prettier woman. And Rishabh is only part of her problems as her boss fired her from her job for no apparent reason.

Enter Jai (Purab Kohli) who is supposed to be a ray of hope for Naina but adds to her confusion. Overtly confused, as an audience I was awaiting Naina’s final decision when the movie becomes lengthy, drab and dragged. And the wait ends simple when Naina's book gets published, she becomes famous and Rishabh comes crying back in the last bit of the film.

Packaged and marketed as a new age chick flick with a lot of oomph and style, Turning 30 failed to impress me completely. If it was trying to show modern women, it should have shown Naina moving on and not looking back rather than her pining for her love. Gul Panag suits the character well, but her bike wedding is something that comes closer to the concept of a "modern woman".

Alankrita did her best to come up with female jargons and Panag tried her level best to eliminate the monotones that are spread across the film. I would not give a very high recommendation but ah, yes, if you have ample time, then go for it.

Rating: 2/5

The Fighter Will Knock You Out

2011-03-06T22:58:00.001+05:30

The Fighter

Reviewed by Adam Minor

2010's The Fighter is a hard hitting masterpiece from David O. Russel about what it takes to be a prize-winning fighter and the people who help you get there.

Mark Wahlberg plays Micky Ward, a boxer who's making his way up the ladder for a shot at the title. With his trainer brother Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale), manager mother Alice Ward (Melissa Leo) and supportive girlfriend Charlene Fleming (Amy Adams), Micky will get his chance. That is, if his crack-addicted brother doesn't get in his way.

Wahlberg is the lead in this film, but the pride is in the supporting cast. Christian Bale, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams were all nominated amongst the best supporting actors and actresses at the Academy Awards for The Fighter, with Bale and Leo taking home the trophy. Christian Bale's Dicky sneaks in as the real meat of the film- one that (at least) I cared about more. Bale has shown his physical commitment to any role as evidenced by The Machinist (2004). Here he loses a tremendous amount of weight to play the drug addicted brother.

The Fighter was also up for a slew of other awards including Best Original Screenplay, Best Achievement in Editing, Best Direction and Best Picture.

Based on real-life brothers, the story here is more than heart-wrenching. Torn between achieving his goals and alienating his family, Micky must decide what is more important to him. Dicky's drug-addiction keeps him from following through on his promises to help Micky train which leads to strife between the brothers.

Throughout the film, an HBO documentary crew is filming Dicky's "comeback". Dicky never lets anyone forget that he used to be the champion before his brother became "the pride of Lowell". The film toys back-and-forth between Dicky's desperate attempt to make a return to his former glory, and his obligations to his brother.

Amy Adams adds exciting tension as Micky's girlfriend who sees through his family's "support" as nothing less than self-gratifying gestures.

With marvellous acting, directing and story, The Fighter is the total package of a film.

Rating: 4/5

Rango: An Oasis in an Animation Desert

2011-03-06T22:33:00.002+05:30

Rango

Reviewed by Adam Minor

Gore Verbinski and Johnny Depp re-team to bring us Rango, an animated western that is as odd as it is appealing. I found myself constantly mulling over this film for hours after I saw it. I would almost say that this film is not a children's movie, but it definitely is.

Johnny Depp voices Rango, a pet chameleon that's found himself stranded in the desert. Rango is directed to a local town called Dirt that's inhabited by various desert animals. An avid thespian, Rango presents himself as an adventured outlaw and quickly rises to the rank of town sheriff. As sheriff, Rango vows to discover why there's no more water in Dirt, but what he finds may surprise him.

Perfectly cast, the characters of Rango have unique and distinct personalities. Alongside Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty, Bill Nighy, Timothy Olyphant and Harry Dean Stanton bring their characters to the forefront of the action.

The plot provides no new exercises in cinema, but the presentation and acting still make it feel fresh. I wouldn't be surprised if the plot was merely another film reference, as this movie is filled with them. To say that this film is full of other film references is not to say that they are as commanding and in-your-face as say, Scary Movie, but this film was definitely made by film lovers.

I said earlier that part of me thinks this isn't a kid's movie, and that's partly because of the animation. The characters are so detailed and vivid, that when it comes to some of the moles and other rats, the detail is gross and almost frightening. The film, though, keeps itself grounded in a dialogue and action sequences that don't take itself too seriously, and provides a fun and sometimes, goofy atmosphere.

One of my favourite things about this movie is the fact that it's in amazing 2-D! The company opted not to film this in 3-D which is almost blasphemy in this day and age. But, for once, the audience wasn't subjected to cheap tricks of props attacking them from the screen.

Rango, with its superb voicing and detailed animation is a rare find in today's animation.

Rating: 3/5

Yeh Faasle Review

2011-03-06T19:53:00.001+05:30

Yeh Faasle

Reviewed by Sab Khan

A typical hindi movie revolves around human behaviour and relationships. Yeh Faasle by Omprakash Mittal portrays the same things, but through a dramatic “non-conventional type” series of events. The movie has suspense, romance, and an entanglement of relationships in a very novel manner. This is a story about Devinder Devilal Dua (Anupam Kher) who has a past that his daughter Arunima Dua (Tena Desae) needs to unearth.

The movie begins with the joyous reunion of the father and daughter after several years. Anupam Kher depicts a new age father, who is financially supporting his daughter’s friend’s engagement party, whose brother has feelings for her. This is from where the love story starts. But the focus of Yeh Faasle is not about the “faasle” (distance) in a love story but the fast approaching distance between the father and daughter.

Arunima one day finds her mother’s diary and this is from where the actual story of the movie starts. After going through the diary, she becomes doubtful about the sanctity of her father and tries to investigate the truth about her mother’s death, which she knew was caused by a car accident. The diary opens up new questions for her as she finds out that her parents weren’t happy together. Her doubts makes her drag her father to the court. For the sake of not adding spoilers to this review, I would rather not reveal the outcome of the case. It is an engrossing movie, which you won’t regret watching.

Performance wise, Kher was the perfect choice of his character. Tena Desae successfully depicts the anxiety and disbelief needed for her role. In all, Yeh Faasle is a good mix of emotion, suspense and drama.

Rating: 3/5

Hall Pass receives a failing grade

2011-03-04T00:52:00.001+05:30

Hall Pass

Reviewed by Adam Minor

The Farrelly brothers pretty much owned the 90s. Providing cinema with risqué comedy that shocked and awed the audience. Unfortunately, they’ve never adapted to the trend in Hollywood. Their latest instalment, Hall Pass takes another stab at being surprising. Instead of shock and awe, however, Hall Pass is just shockingly awful.

The casting choices had filled me with excitement since I first heard about this project. SNL’s funniest cast member, Jason Sudeikis and constant funny man Owen Wilson spearhead this raunchy tale of two guys given a “hall pass” or a week off from marriage to engage in sexual romps with anyone they wish. Add in The Office’s sweet Jenna Fischer, Anchorman’s confident Christina Applegate, Ricky Gervais’ equally funny sidekick Stephen Merchant with a side of the always funny and talented Richard Jenkins, and you have the makings of a brilliant comedy.

Where this film fails is that the Farrelly brothers still think that graphic nudity and scatological humor is funny and surprising to today’s audiences. In a world where we get a new, grotesque Saw movie every October, and full frontal male nudity every other week, the devices used in their movies seem tame these days.

As always, the Farrelly brothers try to tie their film into some sort of real-world humanity and take it to a level where lessons are learned. They’ve been mildly successful in some of their films of making this transition, but in Hall Pass, the point is lost amidst the absurdity of the comedy.

I don’t believe that films from the Farrellys are completely on the brink of extinction, but they should definitely reassess the current state of comedy in cinema and reassess their game plan. They were once the forerunners of comedy, but now they’re left standing behind everyone else. Which, in a movie like Hall Pass, is a dangerous place to be.

Rating: 1/5

Drive Angry Drives Me Crazy

2011-03-04T00:40:00.002+05:30

Drive Angry

Reviewed by Adam Minor

There are, in essence, two types of films. The ones that attempt thought-provoking devices aimed at making you think, and those thoughtless action romps that are just there to make you have fun. Both films have their place in the world of entertainment.

That being said, Drive Angry is neither, though it was striving for the latter. People seem to think that fun, action-packed, “grind house” movies are simply fast cars, loose women and lots of guns. There is still a place for story in these films. Just because you aim to ramp up action, doesn’t mean you can put the story, plot and characters on the backseat. Going into Drive Angry, you expect to see an insane Nicholas Cage attacking the gas pedal with a beautiful Amber Heard sitting next to him. What you see instead is an aimless and shallow mould of an action movie.

The film focuses on John Milton (I’ll give you a second to get your sense back after that slap-in-the-face reference). John’s daughter was murdered by a group of Satanists, and his granddaughter was kidnapped in order to be sacrificed at the next full moon. John literally escapes from Hell in an effort to save the remainder of his family while being hunted by a man called “The Accountant”.

What’s missing most here is Cage’s lapse into a psychotic tantrum ala Bad Lieutenant. Cage seems to merely phone it in here and not fully commit to the role. An issue he’s never really faced before. Typically, he over-commits (See: Wicker Man). Heard was able to ramp up the action with her badass chick routine, but the character really brought nothing new to the table. The big winner here is William Fichtner who plays The Accountant. His on-screen presence amps the film to the action-fuelled flick it ought to be.

With a name like Drive Angry, the action is not as rampant as you might expect. In fact, there is actually very little angry driving.

Rating: 1/5

Satrangee Parachute Review

2011-03-02T01:32:00.001+05:30

Satrangee Parachute

Reviewed by Sab Khan

Unlike its colourful name, Satrangee Parachute is a very depressing children’s film. After watching the movie, I was thoroughly depressed by the fact that film makers have completely run out of impressive ideas to appeal to the younger audience. Unlike Hollywood movies like Wall E, Madagascar or Narnia, Satrangee Parachute was not even close to the being smart, clever and impulsive. Kids’ entertainment needs a major revamp in this industry.

Satrangee Parachute is about a bunch of boys from Nainital who travel to Mumbai from, in search of an amazing parachute for a blind girl. But when they reach Mumbai, the scenario is entirely different. The innocent boys are completely unaware of the darker sides of life and soon get stuck amongst gangsters and terrorists who plan on exploiting the kids.

There are some points to be noted hidden between the lines of the script but I think the genre was inadequate for the portrayal of such a grim idea. Being a children’s flick, it should be lighter, but it was far from being even funny, neither for the kids nor for adults.

I wouldn’t suggest any parent out there to let their kids watch the movie with the notion that it is a “kiddo type”. Avoiding the movie would be a better option.

Rating: 1/5

Best Picture 2010 - The King's Speech

2011-02-28T16:27:00.001+05:30

The King's Speech

Reviewed by Adam Minor

Tom Hooper's latest film, The King's Speech scored big at this year's Oscar ceremony. Racking up awards for Best Lead Actor for Colin Firth, Best Original Screenplay for David Seidler, Best Directing for Tom Hooper and Best Picture for producers Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, The King's Speech won four out of its twelve nominations.

The film centers on King George VI (Firth) and his vigilant struggle with stammering. Aware that he'll be addressing the nation in an important speech about England's entry into the second World War, Queen Elizabeth (played by the marvellous Helena Bonham Carter, who was up for best actress in a supporting role, but lost) seeks vocal coaching from various physicians before finally finding the idiosyncratic Lionel Logue (the equally wonderful Geoffrey Rush, who also lost his bid as Best Supporting Actor).

Lionel finds himself in a difficult position, having to coach his king while protecting the royal family's privacy. Nevertheless, Lionel makes no changes to his style of delving into his patient's personal lives to find the base cause for their stammering. King George VI, with pressure from his overbearing father, and passionate brother, who abdicates the throne in favour of an international love, continues in his lessons in order to survive unscathed from his public speaking appearances. What follows is a simple and joyful relationship that simultaneously serves the king's needs while the men begin a close friendship.

This was simply a wonderful film. Serious when it needed to be, hilarious when it called for it, the tone of the film never took itself too seriously, but when the gravity of the climactic speech hit, the audience was fully aware what was at stake. Tom Hooper won the Oscar for Best Direction for this film. This wasn't my choice for that category in that it really didn't seem to stand out as a uniquely directed film. It was directed to its purpose. It definitely told the story efficiently, but it lacked directorial flourishes that some of the other films nominated showed.

David Seidler, the writer of the screenplay, struggled with stammering himself as a youth. He spent years researching King George's impediment. He contacted not only Lionel Logue's last living relative, but the Queen Mother herself who asked David not to publish the screenplay during her lifetime. What resulted was nothing less than a beautiful and interesting story, that, when brought to the screen by premiere actors and actresses rightfully took its place among the top of the list for this year’s award season.

Rating: 5/5

Saat khoon, no maafi.

2011-02-28T13:21:00.002+05:30

7 Khoon Maaf

Reviewed by Sunanda Pati

Heartwrenching, cold-blooded, passionate, sinful, clever... I wish at least one of these adjectives could court Saat Khoon Maaf. But alas, Vishal Bharadwaj's newest offering fails to shake or stir. It seems like a great opportunity gone waste for Ruskin Bond's short story 'Susanna's Seven Husbands' have been Bollywoodised and pretty badly at that. Seen through the eyes of narrator Arun Kumar (Naseeruddin Shah's son), the story rests upon the deeds of a certain beautiful woman named Susanna (played by Priyanka Chopra. After watching this film, I really think the name Piggy suits her better). From the ravages of a jealous husband-in-uniform to the sickly erotic fantasies of a Kashmiri poet, poor Susanna has to bear torture and trauma for a great pursuit. And, that great pursuit's name in the film is love. Pure love. I wish Mr. Bharadwaj were clearer about the kind of love Susanna is really in search of. From falling for the charms of a shallow musician named Jimmy (played by John Abraham) to finding a soulmate in Russian Nikolai Vronsky (who, by the way, fails to tickle you with his 'mere paas ma hain' act), Susanna keeps repeating the mistake of making all the wrong men her husband. In line with the original story, Susanna kills each one of them. But the film fails to portray the intensity of Susanna's passionate love and do justice to the way she experiences scorn and hatred. Susanna's angst doesn't touch me. And, that's the biggest problem.

Well, that doesn't mean the film has nothing good about it. Naseeruddin Shah is splendid as Modhusudhan Tarafdar (quite adeptly he pronounces it perfect Bong-style 'taw-roph-dar') and Neil Nitin Mukesh as the sadist General Rodriguez. Now back to my bashing best, John Abraham is yet again successful in being a ham and Alexander Dyachenko is pathetic. Even if one were to forgive these unpalatable performances, it would be because Bhardwaj composed a brilliant score. But no, this tackily presented murder movie doesn't even have that. As my temples throb, I can't help but hear a faint 'Jag ja re gudiya'...

A beautiful story of a woman's soulful search for love has been bungled. I wouldn't take away from the little thrill the film provides by giving away the plot. I'd rather watch Omkara once every day rather than Saat Khoon even once. And, I'd rather wait for Bharadwaj's next, in hope.

Rating: 2/5

Tanu Weds Manu review: another Jab We Met?

2011-02-25T22:42:00.002+05:30

Tanu Weds Manu

Reviewed by Sab Khan

Tanu weds Manu is an obvious love story which eventually ends up in pairing up the right heroine with the right hero. A common perception says that Tanu Weds Manu is another Jab We Met and to an extent this is true, as the story revolves around Delhi boy Manu (Madhavan), Kanpur girl Tanu (Kangana Ranaut) and Tanu’s already existed boyfriend Raja (Jimmy Shergill). The director Anand L. Rai has taken up the old-age ideal love story but it still leaves you with a tint of freshness and I couldn’t control the grin on my face.

The plot of the story is quite unsurprising but is still very fascinating. The sweet simple and sensible NRI Manu returns to his country after 12 years and like an obedient son, he is all set to marry the girl chosen by his parents. But Tanu is completely against the idea of arranged marriage and has plans to elope with her boyfriend. When the plan comes to live, Manu realises that he must call off the wedding. But while helping the girl he loves, the story takes the obvious turns and you end with a Jab We Met or Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.

Though the story doesn’t offer any uniqueness, it still manages to be grasping. The direction by Anand L. Rai is blooming throughout the movie. Madhavan’s acting is compelling and Kangana’s deliciously outrageous role has glimpses of Jab We Met's Geet. But Kangana’s character is that of a more open-minded girl who is off to drinking and smoking but with the passage of time her personality changes and she ends up in being the quintessential Indian girl.

All in all, the movie is not-so-very un-tempting, but it’s not a movie you should regret missing. The music by Krsna isn’t moving enough to boost up the romance quotient. Tanu Weds Manu simply is a radiant comedy with generous doses of good screenplay and acting.

Rating: 2.5/5

7 Khoon Maaf review

2011-02-18T07:09:00.002+05:30

7 Khoon Maaf

Reviewed by Sab Khan

The long awaited movie 7 Khoon Maaf, is a female oriented roller coaster ride about a black widow, who is not bound to any fixations and could cross any limitations to seek true love and happiness in life. Playing the multi-dimensional character is Priyanka Chopra, who in recent times has proven her acting skills. 7 Khoon Maaf is an extraordinary show for people who love watching drama movies with generous hints of crime, murder, love and mystery. So if you are setting up your mood for a jerky ride of entertainment, better get the tickets for this movie- they are selling off fast.

Vishal Bhardwaj, whose last films Ishqiya and Kaminey surpassed all box office and critical expectations bases the story of this film on Ruskin Bond’s book, Susanne’s Seven Husbands. Susanne (Priyanka) is a black widow who, in search of happiness and love marries seven different men but her relationships don’t exactly end the way she wants them to. She plans up bloody revenges and executes them to perfection. Playing Susanne’s seven unfortunate husbands in the movie are Naseeruddin Shah, Irrfan Khan, John Abraham, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Anu Kapoor, Aleksandr Dyachenko, and Vivaan Shah.

The mystified darkness of the movie reveals the story turn by turn. From the very first scene, the movie is gripping and makes the audience anxious for more. Most women should relate to Susanne’s character, not because she commits murder but because of the inner passion and desires that remain uncultivated in her. Probably the difference lies in the fact that she took extreme steps to change her circumstances and most of us don’t dare. Even though, she’s been a murderer using techniques ranging from poisoning and gun fire, we don’t blame her for her real cause. Her typical male-dominating husbands are portrayed as the usual chauvinistic “man next door” who beat their wives up, dictate them, are aggressive or just use their women for sexual gratification. Though women are a lot empowered these days and do raise their voices, Susanne is someone who prefers to change it in her own way. Though bloody, the hope for change is heart touching for the oppressed women who watch the film.

The director did an enormous job in manipulating the entire seven husbands respectively. It was one of Priyanka Chopra’s best performances as she maintains her stance as the centre of attraction. Vishal’s music and Gulzar’s lyrics, as proven in their previous collaborations, could never go to waste. Vishal cleverly uses each track to musically represent the relationships and characters. 7 Khoon Maaf is an absolute must watch for this weekend!

Rating: 4.75/5

Just Go With(out) It

2011-02-15T15:20:00.003+05:30

Just Go With It

Reviewed by Adam Minor

Contrary to what his last film would suggest, Adam Sandler has never grown up. Sandler rose to fame in Hollywood in his juvenile but hilarious Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore. Since then, Sandler’s comedies have been hit-and-mostly-miss. It seems as though Sandler just isn’t content with his dramas. 2007’s Reign Over Me was a refreshing breath of fresh air and really showed Sandler’s dramatic abilities.

Just Go With It is the latest in lazy romcoms that put “Do something unique” at the bottom of their to-do list. In it, Sandler plays Danny, a well-to-do plastic surgeon that pretends to be married to bed beautiful women. When one of them gets too curious, Danny is forced to recruit his assistant to play his soon to be divorced wife. The plot that follows is, dependent on your willingness to suspend your disbelief, a bit improbable.

Just Go With It adds itself to the list of romantic comedies that ultimately bring nothing to cinema. Their lack of originality and hackneyed devices do nothing to add on, or even hearken back to, cinema as a whole. A complete copy of the Hindi film Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya, the only things Just Go With It adds are incessant fart jokes and groin hits.

Just Go With It just further solidifies Sandler’s stagnant position as a 10-year old boy with millions of dollars.

Rating: 1/5

Black Swan: Aronofsky's latest MindFreak

2011-02-15T15:11:00.003+05:30

Black Swan

Reviewed by Adam Minor

Darren Aronofsky is a master at presenting the human condition. From his first full-length film Pi to his newest Black Swan, Aronofsky's characters feel real. Real enough to be scary. His films are frightening, not because they're violent or horrifying, but because they present very real human emotions. Until Black Swan, his Requiem for a Dream was the pinnacle of his frightening and realistic depiction of the depravity of human condition. Requiem focuses on the addiction of drugs as the gateway to psychosis, whereas, Black Swan’s catalyst is the consuming drive to perfection.

Filled with a general creepiness, Black Swan shows the decline of Nina (Natalie Portman) into schizophrenia after being named Prima Ballerina for her company’s rendition of Swan Lake. The production requires the dancer to play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who personifies guile and sensuality. Her only competition for the role is a new dancer named Lily (Mila Kunis) who represents the role of the black swan just as well as Nina represents the white.

Constant pressure from her overbearing mother, her passionate director and her own self drive Nina insane. She begins hallucinating and perceiving Lily’s intentions incorrectly. Seeking solace from the ballerina whom she replaced only leads her to further psychosis. She starts seeing odd things happening to her body. While her behavior represents her gradual acceptance of her “black swan” side, she hallucinates physical changes to her body.

You might find it surprising that I would herald this film as a success in the special effects division. Ever more so when you find out that it's not for the hallucinations she experiences. Special effects are a common practice in Hollywood, but they are done so seamlessly in this movie that there’s an added layer of creepiness on top of all the other layers.

Aronofsky continues to impress us by having character-driven stories that provide us a peek into the real-life experience of mental illness.

Rating: 4.5/5

Patiala House Review: full masala flick

2011-02-11T19:38:00.002+05:30

Patiala House

Reviewed by Sab Khan

When I first heard of Patiala House, Akshay Kumar’s new release, I got excited and hoped it was different from his other recent lack lustre releases. Thankfully, Patiala House packs a punch with real drama, good screen play and great acting.

The director of the movie, Nikhil Advani has successfully created a family oriented film about a father and a son which has scenes of laughter and heartbreaks. The film is about Gattu (Akshay Kumar), an obedient son and his father (Rishi Kapoor) who is the head of Patiala House and abhors the prejudiced attitude of Englishmen towards Indians. His father’s attitude becomes a roadblock in Gattu’s life who wants to play for the England cricket team.

Gattu’s family is annoyed with him because he is submissive to his Bauji, whose attitude not only makes him suffer, but is affecting the other youngsters in the family as well. The female lead in the movie, Simran (Anushka Sharma) steps in as a huge support for Gattu and gives him moral support to fulfil his dreams. She tries to convince his family to give him a second chance at life, which not many people get.

The family members of Patiala House (supporting cast) add to the emotional drama of the film. Personally, I wish Dimple Kapadia had more dialogues in the film, but I suppose it was all part of her role. Most of the movie has heavy doses of relationships, moral values and family ties. Adding the cricket angle was probably a business decision since the world cup is fast approaching and people who love movies generally enjoy cricket too- on field or on screen. The movie could have been based on any profession.

The movie was filmed in London, South Hall, which has the highest density of Indian and Pakistani families. Shankar - Ehsaan - Loy created music that well suited the theme of the film and was pleasing as well. Santosh Thundiyil of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai fame is the cinematographer of Patiala House and does a fabulous job! Though the film is based on a lot of typical elements, it has been weaved together beautifully. Patiala House is what you would call a “full masala flick”.

Rating: 3.75/5

Utt Pataang Review

2011-02-07T02:43:00.001+05:30

Utt Pataang

Reviewed by Sab Khan

Srikanth V. Velagaleti’s Utt Pataang is an exciting attempt to chronicle events occurring in one night just like in the movie Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin. Though the latter was a tense and grave movie, the former is much lighter.

Utt Pataang does not focus singularly on any one character, but rather on incidents which drag the movie at a snail's pace towards the so-called climax. The story revolves around a mysterious bag full of money, and how each character ends up in the same room (where the money bag is) for the whole night. Vinay Pathak, the popular hero of non-popular movies, plays a double role; one is Ram and the other is Lucky.

Ram, who has just broken up with his girlfriend Sanjana (Mahie Gill), meets Koyal (Mona Singh), who has also been ditched by her boyfriend, in a restaurant. Nandu (Saurabh Shukla) is the guy who sets up their rendezvous. He is a detective and Ram’s best friend. Sanjana’s latest boyfriend is Lucky, the gangster with an awful French accent, which reminded me of one of my most favourite characters Detective Jacques Clouseau (Steve Martin). There are no details as such provided for his French connections but I guess the director wanted to bring in the laughter in some ways. :) Well, somehow all the characters manage to assemble in the same house where the glue of the movie is.

The flashbacks in the story make the movie slower and less intriguing. But gradually the story shifts gears upward. The language is slightly open which (in my opinion) has been used to bring about the flavour of comedy amid drama. But the purpose has remained unfulfilled. Yet, there were scenes which made me laugh out loud in the silence of the cinema house.

Altogether, the movie is not a “must watch” but a nice time pass for quenching your thirst of a novelty release. Utt Pataang is one of a kind with its own unique way of keeping the audience involved for three hours.

Rating: 3/5

Run Bhola Run – full of laughter and joy!!!

2011-02-06T15:41:00.006+05:30

Run Bhola Run

Reviewed by Sab Khan

Dhilin Mehta, the well-known producer from Golmaal 1, 2, and 3, and director Neeraj Vora wisely chose my all-time favourite Govinda, and Tusshar Kapoor as the two main male protagonists in this absolutely hilarious comedy. It seems Tusshar has proven to be a lucky charm for Mehta lately. Ameesha Patel and Celina Jaitley are the female leads with Rahul Dev, Sharath Saxena and Upen Patel also contributing to the success of the film.

Run Bhola Run sounds similar to Run Lola Run (1998), but don’t worry, there is no possible connection between the two. The movie is based on two very cute criminals who are assigned to abduct Ameesha and have only seven hours to do it. How and what they do to catch her is what makes this movie. With great punches and facial expressions, Govinda surpasses all. The criminals are trying to earn their freedom off of a crime!

Govinda’s dance and expressions need no introduction, especially when he is cast in a comic role. Tusshar, on the other hand, does have clear dialogues in the movie – unlike his character in the Golmaal trilogy. The scene where Govinda reveals the truth to Ameesha is hilarious. There are other similar situations that are fun-packed with super-duper dialogues which made my stomach hurt with laughter. Govinda and Tusshar make a great comic duo on screen and though this is their first appearance together, the director left no stones unturned to make the movie a laugh-a-thon.

The lyrics by Sameer and music by Monty Sharma contribute to the liveliness of the script. Though there are a few blunders happening in the film, it all gets drained out as new jokes and punches surface. Govinda was simple fantabulous!!!

You must watch the movie if you wish to spend your weekend in a lively frisky manner.

Rating: 4/5

Sinbad: “The Fifth Voyage”: the venture begins again….

2011-02-05T16:34:00.000+05:30

Sinbad: “The Fifth Voyage”

Reviewed by Sab Khan

The very title of the movie is enough to take you back to the ancient Eastern fairy tales like Aladdin, Ali Baba and the forty thieves, and of course Sinbad. And from there, your journey alongside the world-famous sailor begins.

Shahin Sean Solimon plays the lead role of Sinbad; Patrick Stewart joins in as the narrator, Lorna Raver has appeared as Zoreh and Said Faraj as “The Deev”.

In his fourth voyage, Sinbad was shown merry-making and frolicking. As this movie starts, he mentions being “tired and weary” from his routine, and his need to depart towards the seas and oceans for the sake of “ADVENTURE”. And, almost immediately, he gets sent on the journey in which he is to traverse the scorching hot deserts and the wild, untamed oceans to rescue a girl.

The movie does a good job in getting an eastern look with its sets. There are scores of breathtaking and magnificent special effects in the movie which are unique in their own way. Usually in such stories, before reaching the target, the protagonist has to cross many difficulties. This voyage has plenty of them. The vivacious gigantic figures, jinns and freaky creatures that confront Sinbad, the shipwreck, and then the enslavement by the old man of the sea and his subsequent riding of Sinbad (on his shoulders) are amazing portrayals of cinematography and animation. The riding scene reminded me of the story of “Vikram and Betaal” from Hindu mythology.

The director has done a great job in terms of locations and setting. You do feel breathless as the scenes are flamboyant and captivating. The most attractive act in the movie is Patrick Stewart as the narrator. His voice in the background lends a particular singularity to the movie. The Persian born Solimon was perfect in his role as Sinbad. Altogether, this is one engaging, full-on adventure movie.

Rating: 4/5

Yeh Saali Zindagi Review

2011-02-04T11:37:00.000+05:30

Yeh Saali Zindagi

Reviewed by staff reviewer

Let me get this straight first. I absolutely love Chitrangada Singh and the fact that she left the film industry right after something like Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi left me wondering what went wrong. But then one fine morning while on a flight I got to see her in Onir's Sorry Bhai and actually believed she did the right thing by leaving. But now after joining hands with Sudhir Mishra and coming out with something as twisted as Yeh Saali Zindagi, I am left to wonder again, "Why did she leave again?"

I don’t know whether it’s about me not trying hard enough for details or the film makers not revealing enough, but I had little idea about Yeh Saali Zindagi, except for the fact that it managed to outdo Mallika Sherawat’s record number of onscreen kisses (17 for Khwahish). Well, in 2011, that didn’t make it a big deal for me. I mean I do watch enough English movies and TV shows to be immune to any passionate or slobbering kisses. What intrigued me was the pairing of Irrfan Khan and Chitrangada Singh. While Khan has his own macho manliness without the good looks, Singh is hotness at a different level.

The entire movie is quite dark and probably shadily funny in the sense that majority of characters are rogue businessmen, criminals or corrupt politicians and policemen. But don’t think Ram Gopal Verma dark and shady- Mishra manages to make a dark plot stylish as well. It’s a Delhi based movie and the last one I saw (No One Killed Jessica) left my mother struggling to believe curse words had become “normal”. Yeh Saali Zindagi has its own liberal share of curse words as well. With the kind of characters in the movie, it probably would have looked weird if they talked in Gulzar Hindi in the first place.

Calling Chitrangada Singh only the love interest in the film would probably be wrong, but you watch and you decide. With the amount of plots, sub plots and maybe sub sub plots as well, you tend to lose track once in a while but Mishra’s films are seldom no-brainers and you need to be alert for Yeh Saali Zindagi as well. I wish the movie was either a little more tightly edited or the characters defined more. Still would like to know what Irrfan Khan’s business was in Yeh Saali Zindagi.

Rating: 2.5/5

127 Hours: fine moviemaking

2011-02-04T04:07:00.000+05:30

127 Hours

Reviewed by Adam Minor

Danny Boyle’s latest film, “127 Hours” starring James Franco not only furthers Boyle’s stellar career, but the minimalist movement as well.

This past year, we were hit with two major minimalist films. “Buried” takes the movement to a whole new level, but “127 Hours” is a perfect complement; as well as a case study in fine writing, acting and directing.

It’s not easy to keep today’s ADHD-diagnosed audience’s attention when majority of your movie contains one actor in one setting. To accomplish this, you have to be creative, which is hard to come by in Hollywood today. Unique camera movements, a strong balance between funny and dramatic writing and dialogue, and great acting are all required in synchronisation to achieve this, and this film has it all.

The film follows the real-life crisis of Aron Ralston who, while hiking in the southwest, comes to have his arm trapped by a fallen boulder. Caught, literally, between a rock and a hard place, with no one knowing his location, Aron slowly succumbs to the frightening realisation that he may never get out alive.

Franco, who hasn’t necessarily impressed us in years past, (with the exception of “Pineapple Express” and “Milk”) really demonstrates his acting chops. Aron’s gradual decline into temporary insanity is brought to life by Franco’s performance. Franco makes you believe that the incredulous ideas for freedom that Aron thinks up are completely viable options.

Boyle’s direction is the glue that holds everything together. Using beautiful shots of the surrounding area, unique camera movements and interspersing between Boyle’s camera and Aron’s camera that he brings along, keeps the audiences attention extremely well.

With exceptional acting, directing, writing and cinematography, “127 Hours” is simply a film done well.

Rating: 4/5

Clash of Clash of the Titans

2011-02-04T03:53:00.000+05:30

Clash Of The Titans

Reviewed by Adam Minor

You may be thinking that the original “Clash of the Titans” was campy, awful fun. And you’d be right. You may also be thinking that, worst case scenario, Louis Leterrier’s 2010 remake would at least provide that same awful, but fun campiness that morphed its predecessor into a cult classic; however, you’d be wrong.

“Clash of the Titans” was a disappointment on every level of moviemaking. I’ll be the first to admit that when the teasers and trailers made their way onto the Internet, I was at an Olympic level of excitement. But seeing the stoic acting, occasionally lackluster CGI, and a plot that left me confused from opening to closing credits, ultimately left me as crumbled and dejected as the original Kraken.

This film isn’t so much about the people revolting against the Gods as it is about actor’s revolting against their trade. With Liam Neeson as Zeus, Ralph Fiennes as Hades, Gemma Arterton as Io and Mads Mikkelsen as Draco, you’d think this film would display unheralded acting performances, but none of them really seem to have shown up to work. I found myself worried that all the characters of the movie had already been turned to stone by Medusa.

One thing you can say about the movie, though, it’s pretty. Assuming you don’t see it in 2D. The CGI rarely disappoints. I’ll admit that it’s pretty awesome to watch a wooden magic man fight several giant scorpions, a black Pegasus and the Gods' Throne Room, but even it has its drawbacks. The climax of the movie, the fight with the Kraken, is marred by a bland looking sea-monster. Even the clay-mation version from 1981 had more personality than this giant sea snail.

The common criticism of this film is its blockbuster appeal. They say, “It’s just a fun escape to a land with giant scorpions and demons.” I submit that we should have standards for ourselves. There’s nothing wrong with a thin-plotted cinematic escape, but it doesn’t give the film an excuse to use a hackneyed and ultimately, nonsensical plot.

Rating: 1/5