Dedh Ishqiya

Cast: Naseeruddin Shah, Madhuri Dixit, Arshad Warsi,Huma Qureshi,Vijay Raaz,Manoj Pahwa

Director: Abhishek Chaubey 

Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance

Good watch!Though doesnt live upto the hype created by the media!

PS: Be aware of the dialect used, you may tend to loose patience after a while!

You may look forward to:

• Those who like Shayari and Urdu, this movie is a pleasure to watch! Never made a movie in Bollywood with such usage of Urdu and continued mode of 'Mehfils and shayaris'
• Cinematography worth mentioning, beautiful old ruined havelis and grandeur, lights and sets, and the way its shot
• Naseeruddin Shah undoubtedly, this man can give the new age actors a run for money :) The way this man delivers dialogues and enacts the characters, leaves an imprint on your mind. You tend to forget who Naseeruddin Shah really is :) You remember only the character :)
• Arshad Warsi, is the only one character which binds you to your seat until the movie ends. After a certain point of time, when things starts getting monotonous, is when you just know 'Babban' is gonna breathe some life into it. Without him, the entire picture is not complete
• Madhuri Dixit, ohhh boy! She looks very old! Clearly accepted her age, which is good for her and her fans :) Yes, she looks royal and very much into the character. Those of original Madhuri fan, wont be disappointed. You got all the classicial dancing and her priceless many expressions and also not just a showpiece by the end of it.She has a relevant and good role as well
• Huma Qureshi is her usual self. Bold open lady in typical Indian avatar. There is nothing new of her, though she as usual looks fab and doesnt fall short of entertaining you :)
• Vijay Raaz is my personal favorite in the movie. He is one actor who just finds suitable roles to himself in some way or the other :) You will love watching his screen presence :)
• Manoj Pahwa is a good support, more or less, thanks to the climax, this fella wins the job :)
• Comical angles were sewn in between, and mostly to the credit of Arshad Warsi. Was a light entertaintment through out

What you can sleep over:

• Watch the movie mainly for the performances and less for the script. The story is better than 'Ishqiya' though, yet lacks the punch. The characters of this series are really beautiful, all it falls short of a block buster status is for the script. They really need to work more than on characters for this series ahead
• Music, is debatable. Some may like it, while some may choose to just overhear it. Certainly, not a music which will appeal to all!

The dampeners you should be aware of:

What may cause a concern is the dialect used- Urdu, or rather over used :) This movie comes with sub titles, so you may understand most of it! But shayaris and urdu in general has a certain flow, the essence of it best understood when you dont have to refer to its english sub titles. In fact, those subtitles were so much distracting, that you would loose the many expressions on the actors faces, you will simply be lost in translation :(




My rating: 3/5

47 Ronin

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada(Oishi), Ko Shibasaki(Mika),Tadanobu Asano(lord Kira),Rinko Kikuchi(Witch)

Director: Carl Rinsch

Genre: Action, Fantasy

The usual time pass Japanese flavored item relating to fantasy! Time pass!

You may look forward to:

• Watching Keanu Reeves, i liked his avatar in this one,he looks better as this :) A few good sword fights there to enjoy :)
• Rinko Kikuchi was a good attraction. She is the only character which brings in all flavors in the  movie and you wait for her best to appear all through
• Good support from Hiroyuki Sanada

What you can sleep over:

• Tadanobu Asano, the actual bad man of the movie, was just about fine! The king here never feels any powerful without the witch beside him
• Ko Shibasaki, just there being a female lead, both leading men ought to have something to fight over :)
• Script nothing much that you should look forward to watching. Its the regular fantasy drama

The dampeners you should be aware of:

• Movie lacks punch. You cant compare it with LOTR or Harry Potter league of movies. These movies are just made for the heck of it!
• I didnt like the ending of the movie. Clearly tyrannical and stupid

My rating: 2.5/5

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Cast: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig

Director: Ben Stiller

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy,Drama

You gotto have a different frame of mind in order to enjoy it! Its debatable to like it or not!

Why should you watch it:

• Scenic Greenland,Iceland and Afghanistan. If you are bored of watching hustling and bustling London and New York everytime, this is your piece. :) Clean, fresh and beautifully shot, not so popular locations on earth!
• Ben Stiller done a good job for what he is known best. Silly, imaginary, yet simple portraiture :) Oh!! and some awesome skating there by the way :)
• The last half an hour, is the best loved moments of the movie. Simple things of life, presented with simplicity :)
• Kristen Wiig, is pretty :) If you are a middle aged single man, you would want her to be your bride :)
• And do watch out for the beautiful photographs during the ending film credits, post movie

What you can sleep over:

Dont curse yourself, if you feel why have you come to watch this movie,for some random events keep happening. Just enjoy the cinematography :)



The dampeners you should be aware of:

Script! Dont go with an expectation to find a story! Its just nothing, its crazy and makes no sense. But the locations helps you sit through it :) If you are a little adventurer out there, you may not mind it :)

  

My rating: 3/5

The Wolf of Wall Street

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio(Jordan Belfort), Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie

Director: Martin Scorsese 

Genre: Biography,Comedy,Crime,Drama

Easily movie of the month in its first week of January! A must watch! The best Caprio ever delivered :)

Caution: Choose your company right, they quite mean its rating aptly to be adult :)


Pluses:

• The starcast is huge, but Caprio comfortably manages to steal the show without undermining the roles of others even by a bit. Yes, he is the man! What a portraiture. I sure would want to go through the actual biography of Jordan Belfort. Nevertheless, this character was a sheer genius, at the same time a maniac, and nothing gets it better, as he is hilarious too! He is in a shade of gray, he is not the usual good or the bad guy in here, but rather a guy whom you can believe to be true! You will love to see Caprio making statements, addressing people, delivering dialogues! And enacting more than just the dialogues, every facial expression so awful, yet so lovable! You dont wanna miss it if you are a Caprio fan, period! :)
• I am not really in a position to comment on the script, cos it did look a lot exaggerated! However, it was an absolute pleasure watching it. The length of the movie is 3 hours. But you dont ever get bored, not even for a second! Very well edited and presented
• Martin Scorsese did a fab job. Caprio seemingly his favorite, he does surely know how to get the best outta him. And keep the audience entertained and bedazzled all through. 3 Cheers! Worth the celebrations :)
• Another major facet of the story gotto be Jonah Hill. He is like one of the consistent partner of Jordan Belfort in rhyme and crime. Inseparably friendly partner and a faithful one! You do fall in love with this character :)
• Margot Robbie covers the personal aspect of Jordan Belfort, in an amazing way! Much against your expectations, is a positive role in here:)

Lukewarm:

There were times when you may feel, that more than business, there is too much focus on his personal life! The name of the movie clearly doesnt suggest so! You might want to watch more business over sex

Minuses:

Debatable to call it a minus or not! But the adult content was way too much than probably required. Especially, one scene in which Caprio apparently records his wife's mischievous act and is simultaneously broadcasting it! Not relatively explained why he would do that and how so strategically placed camera :P In short, unwanted and redundant

  

My rating: 4/5

Dhoom: 3

Cast: Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif, Abhishek Bachchan,Uday Chopra

Director: Vijay Krishna Acharya

Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller

Doesnt leave an impression like that of its previous Dhoom series. You may love watching first half, and advisable to walk out past interval. All show off and less on technicalities

Pluses:

• Chase sequences. Dhoom series is known for bikes and chase. So this one offers you plenty chase sequences. Not a lot of marketting on bikes and brands, but all the run and chases were shot pretty awesome
• After a long time watched a movie, whose action is not typical south Indian copied action drama, barring one such action scene. As long as there was action in the movie, i enjoyed it :)
• Watch out for the best of the dance ever seen on Indian screens performed by an actress. Katrina Kaif dazzled on the floor. I bet you cant take your eyes off her and would ask for more, only wish that the songs were as international as the platform :)
• Yes, the song 'Malang' is a wonderful experience on big screens. Aamir and Katrina did a fab job in here and sets were mesemerizingly colorful and full of life
• Chicago covered so beautifully, most of the movie shot in the downtown area of Chicago. It looked awesome from the aerial view mostly. And then some final shots in the outbounds. All of them spectacular on big screens

Lukewarm:

• I would say, we have seen a lot better from Aamir before, most of the speculation was, whether Aamir can fill in for young, hot blood like that of John and Hrithik in its previous series. After watching the movie, i can for sure say, Aamir had all the potential to make it much better than what it is. Not his fault though, the movie, story, direction was not up to the mark. But given the rage of the movie, i cant count Aamir Khan a plus here
• Abhishekh Bachchan, was lukewarm as well. He was his regular 'ACP Jai Dixit', but we never see anything new of him,all of it has become very tepid by now. And what sort of cop is he after all! He could never stop a robbery or stealth in any of the Dhoom movies. All he does is to push the thief do the brink of a suicide :P
• Direction by Vijay Krishna Acharya doesnt live up to the mark of Sanjay Gandhvi. He gives his best but doesnt leave an impact. How disappointing!
• Barring the title track, rest of the music is just average. You perhaps wont ever download them yourself!
• Aamir is not a dancer, they made him do tap :D Didnt really fit well. Thankfully, John didnt have to dance in the original Dhoom, else you could witness pigs flying :D

Minuses:

• It took them 7 years to make a sequel to it, no extra ordinary! Bollywood is indeed going through its worst phase ever
• Dhoom is a series which is declared a story of loosers. I mean cmon, every thief so bold and hot and terrific end up suiciding. Give me a break. Every section of it was so predictable
• Second half was in particular boring, streched! There is just one ending chase sequence in the second half and only to end up in a fizz! Rest of it is forced drama.Aamir, please stop owning a film to yourself
• I didnt like the ending in particular,very illogical, just cooked up something to end it in a suicide. I will soon start 'Save the Dhoom con artist' campaign :D
• Katrina Kaif, totally wasted. She had nothing to do in the entire movie. Though she definitely left a mark with her dance, but cmon, practically no role at all! How is that acceptable
• Uday Chopra disappointed me this time. I really like his screen presence. He is cute and funny! But whats wrong with him in his home production! No funny lines, no 'Ali' effect. Same old lines and same show again and again and again! Couldnt even witness much of the bonding between 'Jai' and'Ali' in this one
• I didnt like the story at all. Family drama, father was a looser, he suicides, behind that a bunch of fools try to loot the banks, and they as well suicide by the end. What script does that make. They dont even show the robberies properly. No technicalities at all!And i always wonder, what do u mean by this that a thief can only be caught red handed! Does that mean, if he is successfull in his attempt, all his old records are cleared :P
• Relation between the two brothers, never understood. At one instance,he will abuse a brother and on the other will give away his life for him. The complicated emotions shared between the two was not very clearly depicted
• The first action sequence and the only shot in India, catches AB Junior and Uday Chopta in an autorickshaw stunt!!!#%$&% I mean why! And yet again South Indian trademark action! Sick and tired of it!

My rating: First half- 3.5/5

                 Second half- 2/5

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Cast: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage,Aidan Turner(Killi),Orlando Bloom,Evangeline Lilly(Tauriel),Luke Evans(Bard)

Director: Peter Jackson

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

 

 

Wonderful watch! Do not miss this if you like this series! Prefer a middle row with your 3D glasses on :)

Pluses:

• I didnt appreciate the last from Hobbit series, however i absolutely loved this one. The VFX were amazing, it does feel like an experience in itself watching this. The only fantasy story i really fantasise to be real was LOTR, and the way the prequels to it are made, is delighful watch again :) Its always nice to see all those characters come to life on big screens once a year to relive those moments again :)
• The Unexpected Journey was rather made up, in an attempt to get the favorite characters from LOTR and screwed it up completely. While this one even though lengthy wasnt boring at all.Peter Jackson did a great job this time. He kept all the characters interesting and engaged all the time. Its never an easy task to manage so many roles. He deserves an applaud :)
• Martin Freeman was a key character as the name of the movie suggests. And he wasnt a baggage in this one. He did a good job :)
• Other major characters were Richard Armitage as 'Thorin' and Luke Evans as 'Bard'. The jouney was that of Thorin and Bard shall play the next important character in this particular sequel. Both of them to watch out for
• Ian McKellen, with all due respect, great energy and powerful screen presence
• Orlando Bloom and Evangeline Lilly amongst the important elves. Elves, needless to say, have always been on a different class and amongst the brave and favorites :) It was beautiful to see Evangeline Lilly in a special avatar, i can remember her only from 'Real Steel'
• And we are not done yet, we have Aidan Turner as Killi, playing a significant role and an added romantic angle to the she-elf :)
• The script was throughout engaging and never slowed down. Many characters well managed and well weaved into each other. All the stories running in parallel and transition from one to another very well edited
• The experience in 3D was beautiful, this is surely a good watch in 3D

Lukewarm:

 

The character of the dragon was pulled a little too much. A talking dragon first to begin with, and on the top of that him passing so much time as if he was very keen on exhausting all his reserves immediately after his dormant state. This character was the major catch of the movie, one that you will wait to happen and i would say it kind of disappointed and didnt live upto the mark

Minuses:

Nothing notably a minus. I am waiting for 'The Hobbit: There and Back Again' to arrive :)




My rating: 3.5/5

R... Rajkumar

Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Sonu Sood,Ashish Vidyarthi,Mukul Dev,Asrani

Director: Prabhudheva   

Genre: Action, Romance

Watchable! Not as much a disaster :)

Pluses:

• I appreciate Shahid Kapoor only in this entire movie,for his work. Its just outright visible the amount of effort he has put in it. Be it the dance, or the action sequence or acting. He has really tried giving his 100%. I enjoyed watching him dance and fight
• Sonu Sood was good, i loved the final action, though as well hated him for a few scenes immediately past interval
• Mukul Dev was a good support
• Cinematography is worth appreciating and the various locations the songs and few scenes were shot were beautiful as well. Indian landscape, in its glory :)

Lukewarm:

• The story was just about fine. Nothing different, regular masala flick
• Ashish Vidyarthi was okay, he didnt have much to do
• Asrani was just there, nothing much to claim
• Sonakshi Sinha was average. Thanks to the well written romantic angle, she didnt suck that bad. She looks pretty in most of the movie and she didnt look as bad a match with Shahid as with Saif :P
• Music is average as well, the already hit music didnt sound bad, others were okay
• Prabhu Deva, we are bored of same old stuff repeatedly, please create something better next time

Minuses:

I really wonder if making movie for 2+ hours is a fashion these days, the half an hour of the movie immediately past interval was absolute dampner. I wonder why was this important at all! It was a mockery on every actor for those few scenes




My rating: 2.5/5