Friday, November 30, 2012

Luv Shuv te Chicken Khuraana



Cast: Kunal Kapoor, Huma Quereshi
Director: Sameer Sharma
Genre: Comedy, Drama

Time pass flick. A lil over hyped post release.

Pluses:
  • Kunal Kapoor looked stud. We are seeing him after quite a while. He did his best job. Long time seen as a lead in any flick
  • Huma Quereshi is adorable. Her weight issues are overlooked for her acting skills and charisma. Thanks to 'Wasseypur', she shined as she stood to be the only one out of the ordinary looking league of people, grabbed the limelight :) No looking back, but she isnt meant for the mainstream. We gotto see if that gives birth to another star out of of main stream or just another lady fading away gradually
  • Mystery of Chicken Khurana was wrapped up well, and unveiled not once but twice in the duration of the flick
  • I personally loved the character of Dolly Ahluwalia. She is a real charismatic woman, and such flawless acting. Remember the 'Vicky Donor' days :)
  • All the other supporting characters are very well woven, everyone have equal roles to play. The distribution of roles to each is worth commenting. None wasted
  • You will love the character of Rajesh Sharma(the adopted crack mama). He builds in 70% of the humor in the movie

Minuses:
  • Script was written keeping humor in mind. But it doesnt really live upto the genre. It feels more of a drama which keeps going on and on without any direction
  • Music is passe
  • Too lengthy. A lot editing was required


My rating: 2.5/5

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

1920 Evil Returns



Cast: Aftab Shivdasani, Tia Bajpai, Vidya Malvade
Director: Bhushan Patel
Genre: Horror

Complete waste of time. Not worth a watch

Pluses:
  • You may not mind watching it when drunk :D
  • Music is not all that bad, though a little funny lyrics here and there, otherwise audible
  • As you can see posters are good :D But not the content :(
 
Minuses:
  • Aftab Shivdasani wasted. Not that he is otherwise a very utilized actor, i still think of 'Kasoor' days, he could have done some better movies nonetheless
  • Vidya Malvade wasted. All she has done in her entire film career is 'Chak De'. Never anway showed a great potential, she only proves the same everytime she is seen on screen
  • Tia Bajpai is hopeless. No good at acting nor looks. Boring romance, boring possessed woman to tolerate
  • Script has no content at all, the mystery feels so jaded. Climax is equally trash. Vikram Bhat now should retire
  • Bad cinematography, bad background scores, bad editing. Nothing chilly or spooky about the whole persentation. Hogwash!!!

My rating: 1.5/5

Ajab Gazabb Love



Cast: Jackky Bhagnani, Nidhi Subbaiah, Arjun Rampal
Director: Sanjay Gadhvi
Genre: Romance, Comedy

Actually not a bad watch. Watch it with a light heart and entertainment is guaranteed

Pluses:
  • The USP of the movie is its simplicity and light humor. No adultery and a clean movie for the entire family
  • Watch the movie not for the romance but for the humor
  • Arjun Rampal, this guy just cant stop looking suave and swanky. A real dude in all respects
  • Jackky Bhagnani, tried giving his best, be it building his body, or all his attempts to dance, or acting, be it even to look good. I still cant say he is someone best in the market, not even close to that in fact. But as long as he doesnt look like an eye sore, its taken :)
  • Nidhi Subbaiah, looks charming. Started with pathetic, unbearable acting, but later did catch up, looked close to natural
  • Music is a plus point for a change. Its good to ears and locations shot for the song sequences were good to eyes :)
Minuses:
  • Coming majorly from a romantic genre, its diappointing. Romantic angle is quite cliche, on the top of it idiotic and the couple dont look charming at all together
  • Wont like to dig more into minuses, cos it never set any huge expectations on which i be disappointed


My rating: 3/5

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Ted



Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Seth MacFarlane(Voice of Ted), Mila Kunis
Director: Seth MacFarlane
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy

Absolute entertainment. Less of a kids thing but more of a guys thing.

Pluses:
  • Seth MacFarlane, for creating the character 'Ted' and producing it as well :) He was a very convincing voice behind a live fluffy toy
  • The character of Ted may get some mixed reviews, i shall have my take on both, but i cant deny the fact that it never failed to amuse the audience throughout, and without whom the movie will have nothing to boast about. Ted is funny, he is adult, he is a best buddy, he has commitments and at the same time he can be irresponsible. Ted is a mixed bag and very well explained how it grew up to be something like this :)
  • Its a best watch with your gang of buddies, not over a popcorn certainly but some beer :)
  • Script is written very light heartedly, it doesnt invite too much of criticism. However,i am glad that it was released in India :P
  • Mark Wahlberg, felt more of a supporting character in the presence of Ted, Nevertheless, his role was equally involving and important. He did his best job
  • Mila Kunis, didnt have much to do, it wasnt her story after all. She did well in what she was asked to do
Minuses:
  • A big NO to the ignorant parents who may mistake it to be a kiddie stuff. Parents are sure to repent if they commit this mistake. And thats a flaw in the way the movie was promoted. It looked very much a Universal flick to the ignorant eyes. Its a big time adult flick
  • Here is where i can say, the character of Ted at a lot of instance was over done, could be even called way too offensive and a few things could be parked at the bay


My rating: 3.5/5

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Rush



Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Neha Dhupia, Aditya Pancholi, Sagarika Ghatge
Director: Shamin Desai
Genre: Thriller

Actually not a bad watch. Not to go by the box office success, this movie faired in my eyes.

Pluses:
  • Emraan Hashmi, he may not look good, but he very well can act much more than just kissing his heroines around :P Doesnt disappoint here either as an ardent Crime reporter with some brains :)
  • Neha Dhupia does a role that suits her, extremely feminish Indian roles or that of a slut doesnt actually go by her somehow. She shines as a corporate woman
  • I have always loved Aditya Pancholi, he cannot look poor :D as simple as that. He is rich corporate honcho and the bad guy of the movie, very much convincing
  • The script never slows down anywhere and that keeps you going. Needless to say, the story unravels the reality of media, news channels and their running authorities. I really dont mind watching a flick with some sense in it after all, sad to witness the box office is fairing for the ones without one
  • Again goes without saying, music is always plus factor in an Emraan Hashmi flick. Its good to the ears
 
Minuses:
  • Sagarika Ghatge, after so long that you get to see her onscreen, i wonder was she in a derth of any script at all so many days or she didnt want to pick any. I still cant figure out what made her choose this particular role, this one had nothing much for her to perform nor did she have any strength in the role to stand her out
  • I guess the movie needed tadkas like that of Madhur Bhandarkar flicks to make a box office success for a reality based show. This one clearly lacked it


My rating: 3/5

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Cloud Atlas



Cast: Tom Hanks,Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Jim sturgess,Jim Broadbent,Ben Whishaw,Doona Bae
Director: Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Genre: Drama,Sci-Fi


A very lengthy and boring movie for a casual audience. A movie not for all, much deeper than what you perceive.

Pluses:
  • Six stories, interweaved in different centuries, and all the characters played beautifully their individual parts
  • Doona Bae deserves stand alone appreciation. She beautifully portrays a naive lady who starts with zero emotions and all work, to someone who stands out to be the face of a huge revolution, and her love for the man who saves her life
  • As for Ben Whishaw, this comes out to be one character who never forgets his love through the various course of his life however short. A gay by nature, never ever witnessed something so beautiful and so gleefully presented when being a homesexual was a taboo even in western countries during that era. Or be it his love for music that he develops over time and the cry for freedom so as to publish his own creation. Finally, the one line he says before he ends his life, that suicide takes a lot of courage and its not for the faint hearted, just wins you over
  • Three different directors, different work, commendable
Minuses:
  • I believe many appreciated the attempt to showcase how energy travels from one generation to another and gives birth to revolution in every life. However, i dont think i can appreciate this all that much. The revolutions were on individual level except for one story which is based in the future of 2144. Such revolutions lies in everyone of us, doesnt really show any flow of energy to me
  • Instead, the story felt exhumingly large, and you keep watching each time the different turn of stories with practically no big event happening till the end. I felt quite empty even after the movie ended. Your head as nothing in it and you feel blank
PS: I would appreciate someone explaining me the depth beneath which i fail to see. Anyone!!


My rating: 2/5

Monday, November 19, 2012

Jab tak hai jaan



Cast: Shahrukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma
Director: Yash Chopra

A lenghty boring flick. Nothing new, nothing special, nothing teary either :P

Pluses:
  • Anushka Sharma, i admired her more than any other big names in the movie. She is her usual bubbly self. A bit tom boyish for the flavor of the character, but very much adorable
  • Shahrukh's attempt to dance in ' Ishq Shava' is commendable, he gave nice shots for his age and ability to dance. However, Katrina had to be downgraded (someone please tell her to do something more than just fondling her own assets), not her to be blamed, co dancer was below her level after all :)
  • I loved the cameo by the duo, Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh. They make a wonderful couple.
  • The one aspect i absolutely am loving in the new generation Bollywood movies, is the sarcasm towards popular godly belief that people nest within themselves. Its a reality check for almost everyone, and also an opportunity to correct yourself from being supersitious and overdoing things
  • Locations were soothing but nothing new to your eyes.

Minuses:
  • Storyline, very very stupid, nothing alluring, nothing romantic and absolutely zero logic or any sense
  • Shahrukh Khan is now time out. Looked his worst i believe. He looked like an uncle to Katrina and a father to Anushka.He didnt even have any powerful dialogue to deliver, no larger than life like role, quite a disappointment for the so called 'King of Bollywood'
  • Katrina, i believe has done her worst script written for her ever. Think of herself in 'Namastey London' or 'Zindagi na milegi dobara', and see her here. Dullest, most confused, utterly idiotic character for a modern woman, cocconed in her own world of superstitions
  • Music was another big let down. Coming from 3 great names, the musical maestros, the music is comlpetely passe
  • The length of the movie was another irritating factor. I kept on waiting for the interval and the movie to end. Most useless love story ever seen coming from big brands as these


My Rating: 2/5

Friday, November 16, 2012

Paranormal Activity 4



Cast: Kathryn Newton,Matt Shively,Brady Allen, Aiden Lovekamp
Director: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman

Useless flick. Nothing new to watch.. please avoid if you are looking for something new

Pluses:

Some tiny bit of stuffs keeps happening throughout. At least the viewer will hope for something better to happen next. And thats the only thing to keep you going

Minuses:
  • The climax, hopelessly pathetic. You are not sitting through the movie to see everybody just mysetriously and abruptly die. When you come for a horror flick, you want to see them die bit by bit, thats the pysochology :P
  • Script was clearly poor, could have been much better, at least the plot in the beginning to have a mysterious kid at your place was spooky, one can drive it from here, but alas! This movie fails to deliver in all respects

PS: I watched the flick all alone in a vacant theater :D


My Rating: 2/5
 

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Chasing Mavericks



Cast: Jonny Weston, Gerard Butler
Director: Michael Apted, Curtis Hanson

A beautifully made movie. I already declare it a movie of the month on Personal Choice :)
Its a must watch for all adventure sports lover

Pluses:
  • Brilliant photography/videography in and off the water
  • Very subtly but strongly put philosophies and ideologies. I loved the one on Four Pillars of a Human Life, and the building up of the same during the course of the movie
  • Nothing better can do it apart from the fact that it is a real life story of surfing legend. Hats off to the man himself
  • Jonny Weston played the character very aptly. You can very well see the urge and the craze consistenly to win over the waves, and this particular interest no more than any gal or any hobby
  • Gerard Butler, a very strong character, mentally and physically. He lives for his only passion to surf and that he continues till his family takes over, nevertheless he gives birth to a teenage surfer and a legend for the world to remember
  • I found this particular fact so amazing that even though the plot relates to sport and sport only, they very well managed to weave the family aspect of the two families, and for an instance, the family angle was so so important in the movie. Be it the very irresponsible and careless mother of 'Jay Moriarity' or be it the caring and loving wife of 'Frosty' and the reverse feelings of the son to his mother and the husband to his wife. Brief but a loverly portature
  • And not to the least, the relationship between the trainer and the student, just moves you
  • The movie not only mesmerises but at the same time leaves a moving message to all those fanatics who cross all boudnaries and keep pushing their edges to satisfy their never ending appetite
  • In all the movie feels so complete without any of the ends hanging


Minuses:

Even if there is any, i chose to ignore :)


My rating: 4/5 (More than the block buster point of view, its the critic point of view)

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Student of the Year



Again another overhyped flick the typical Karan Johar style. Not worth it

Pluses:
  • Undoubtedly Varun Dhawan :) Though both the lead guys were presentably hunks, but by the end of the movie you just know its the charm of 'Rohan Nanda' that wins the heart.He is pretty expressive for a new comer
  • Siddharth Malhotra was fine for a debut, however his acting skills and dancing skills needs to be honed :)
  • Alia Bhatt had one quality worth mentioning, is her stardom(not yet being a star :P). She has the larger than life attitude and aura in her which shows a lot of confidence in how she acts
  • Music was quite good for that matter. Some nice dance numbers
 
Minuses:
  • Alia Bhatt, she is not a heroine material at all. Petite body and face, a big turn off. And not to miss, a big time copy cat of Kareena Kapoor(Talk to me about it) :D
  • Direction and presentation the Karan Johar style miserably fails to impress me anymore. It feels like the movie is built with new faces in old shirts, replicas of Karan Johar pivots
  • He needs a major revamp in his style of movie making. His larger than life sets minus the class makes it look even more stale
  • And ohh for god's sake no more aunties and uncles as cameos in dance numbers. Yet again Kajol and this time in a high slit dress, absolutely unbearable
  • Rishi Kapoor, disappointing. He has earned a lot of respect over time. Portraying roles like this is quite degenrating
  • Script as expected is baseless,cueless and very low in standards
  • There were a few instances where you actually feel embarrassed at the indicative adult content of applying body massage with moans and groans. Disgusting!

My Rating: 2/5
 

Premium Rush



Not a bad watch. If you are a cycling fan, you will like it even more :)

Pluses:
  • High pulsating movie, most of the times on the run, it never slows down
  • Joseph Gordon Levitt as the lead character of the flick did an awesome job, not much of acting skills required but more of cycling for sure :)
  • Micheal Shannon as the bad guy was convincing, his extreme urge and his frustration was clearly visible from the first scene
  • Dania Ramirez as the female lead also did her best job, again more on cycling
  • A small portion played by Sean Kennedy for another cyclist is worth a mention
  • The story tries to conceal its secret until sometime, where the pointer lies most of the time to something illegal when suddenly the climax changes the realization into a more dramatic angle, which is not all that bad

Minuses:
  • For a non cyclist, it gets a tad too boring watching a chase sequence throughout the entire length of the movie
  • Until the mystery is revelaed, it almost gives you a feeling as if the story is going no where and you are here just to watch some cycling moves and stints
 
 
My Rating: 2.5/5
 

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Taken 2



One another Taken series. Not a bad watch

Pluses:
  • I personally liked Maggi Grace's character. She had a role to play and she was good at it.
  • Liam Neeson was his regular self but now his age starts showing up on screen pretty eminently
  • The script of the movie is something you can go for, nothing extraordinary but it doesnt fail to keep you entertained throughout and so goes for the direction
  • The location shoot, Turkey(Istanbul). There is something with it, the government there seems like promoting big time tourism. This is the fourth movie in a row which shows Istanbul
Minuses:
  • Liam Neeson too old for action, it rather felt like lazy action sequels wherever there was man to man coalition :P
  • The bad guys were not bad enough, made it look like a piece of cake to escape, should have been more rough to make things look more entertaining :)
 
 
My Rating: 2.5/5

Monday, November 5, 2012

Skyfall


  

Overly hyped and no content.Highly disappointing for a Bond flick.

Pluses:
  • Judi Dench had maximum exposure as she was the one getting executed in this flick :P and also since there were more dialogues than action :D
  • Javier Bardem as the bad guy was very much convincing.Loved him more than the Bond himself
  • The philosophical concepts like that of a 'rat', was nice, but may be this one grabbed some attention since the rest of the content was hopeless
  • A few locations in China were beautiful, but you would hardly ever know if they were real or made up
  • Berenice Marlohe as the bond girl was pretty good and hot, even though nothing much to do in the entire movie
Minuses:
  • Sam Mendes tried to overhaul the character of Bond, something similar as to what was done to the character of a Batman and there was a Dark Knight born. But for god's sake, we go more for the action in a Bond flick than a human drama
  • Least minutes of action that you would ever witness in a Bond movie
  • Daniel Craig wasted with more and more questions on his age and capabilities to perform as an agent. He was all poses and no work throughout. You could hardly ever see any output from him
  • Technology and gadgets were more of a mockery subject than ever used to its modern times
  • Storyline was just about ok and quite regular as for any action flick but definitely far less for a bond movie. As i quoted before i wasnt prepared for a human drama
  • The length of the movie actually bored me, all the time waiting for some action, some content

My Rating: 2/5