The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

 

  

 

Cast: Lily Collins(Clary), Jamie Campbell Bower(JC), Robert Sheehan(Simon),Kevin Zegers(Alec),Jemima West(Isabelle),Lena Headey(Mother of Clary),Aidan Turner(Luke),C. C. H. Pounder(Dorothea),Jonathan Rhys Meyers(Valentine)
Director: Harald Zwart
Genre: Action, Fantasy, Romance

 

Very much watchable. Enough CGI, drama and action to keep you engaged

 

 

Pluses:

• It aint any different from the regular ghost chasing flick. But it isnt devoid of entertainment. The length of the movie doesnt hurt. You can have a regular expectation and wont be disappointed
• Good that they didnt attempt building this flick in 3D. All the CGI's very much enjoyable in 2D
• Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell Bower are leads in the movie. Romance and action in abundance, keeps you flowing :)
• Robert Sheehan was an important support completing the love triangle. And rest of the support were ably provided by Kevin Zegers and Jemima West, also Lena Headey and Aidan Turner though in a very short role
• Jonathan Rhys Meyers was a handsome bad man, he though showed up pretty late as the mystery kept unfolding. Too many characters, yet C. C. H. Pounder deserves a mention :)
• I should not miss the credit to the Director Harald Zwart, without whose able direction, such genre could easily be a headache

 

 

Minuses:

 

Nothing notably wrong, just an average quality fantasy flick :)

 

 

 

 

 

My rating: 3/5

We're the Millers

Cast: Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts(casey), Will Poulter(Kenny), Ed Helms,Nick Offerman(Don),Kathryn Hahn(Edie),Tomer Sisley(Pablo Chacon)
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Genre: Crime, Comedy, Adult

Complete fun filled entertainer with raw humor!

Caution: Dont get your kids along for a first ever family movie of its kinds :D

Pluses:

• Laughter wagon from the beginning to the end! However application of logic is strictly prohibited. Just go with your friends or mate and enjoy a movie which out of all ultra modern odds of an American culture, brings you close as a family!
• Jason Sudeikis and Jennifer Aniston are the stars of the movie. You very well know what to expect when its Jennifer on board ;) Age no bar, comfort level no bar! Both of the leads equally complimenting each other all the way
• Emma Roberts and Will Poulter. the teenager duo are awesomest. They complete the rigged family picture though quite crude at times :D
• Nick Offerman and Kathryn Hahn were cute additions on the journey
• Ed Helms and Tomer Sisley are the rival bad men. Loved checking Ed out first time myself beyond Hangover series :) Tomer Sisley is worth a mention as well :)
• I loved the way they interweaved an adult comedy with a family outlook. Perfect blend and good fun :)

Minuses:

Dont want to taint it with any. Its just a joy ride :)

My rating: 3.5/5

Satyagraha

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgan,Manoj Bajpayee, Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Rampal,Amrita Rao
Director: Prakash Jha
Genre: Politics, Drama

A failed attempt in the process of recreating multiple failed public reforms in the course of our Indian politics. Dikhaana hi hai to success stories dikhao, jo fail ho chuka use hum dekhkar kya karein!!

Overhyped, same old regular drama, very well can put you to sleep. However, watch it for Manoj Bajpayee

PS: It is a clear win to John Abraham on his Madras Cafe over Satyagraha! :)

Minuses:

• Over dramatic approach towards everything. Be it Amitabh being too harsh on Ajay in the first half, or Amrita always in tears specially where she is simply asked to bribe an official for 100-200 bucks(as if she is harassed particularly), Amitabh slapping the officer, Ajay dropping years of amibitions and hardwork for simply something he never thought was important, Kareena acting as the one and only voice for entire India....god save me! This is what happens when TV serials are attempted in movie make!
• Boring boring boring! Nothing new happens that you havent seen before. God damn! the characters are also repeated in the same platform of Prakash Jha's movies repeatedly telecasting same old drama with new title. Havent we seen Amitabh playing a teacher with his tight grounds on morales in 'Aarakshan'-Prakash Jha again. How many times have we seen Ajay Devgan acting as a rising leader?? Soon we can expect his son to play the young fighting leader in Prakash Jha's next :P
• The entire plot is so so hackeyned from multiple dramas of Prakas Jha's own cradle! It doesnt raise any different public conscience! It doesnt help getting any patriotic, nor does it compel you to do something about our country's current state
• The base script upon which the entire protest is built up is very shanty! It almost feels that Prakash Jha only had the second half on his mind, and he never paid attention to its first half, when the base is the most important aspect!
• First half is extremely boring
• Music is pathetic, all the attempts of blending in rock with desi music, blunder! I have no idea what did the Music Director try to create. The desi item number in a regular disc, is such an eye sore. At least a better model would have done some good! And then you must notice all the high musical drama with utter chaos when the old Bapu is fighting with his life during his hunger strike. How can any sick person take all these!
• And to top it all! The movie gives no solution by the end of it! An open end and continued drama :D

Lukewarm:

• I do have special regards for Amitabh Bachcan but cant really add any credits for his role in this one. The caricature of Anna Hazare was just not required. What good is it going to do anyway. Does it set any role based model for the audience..NO!! Could the reforms of Anna Hazare bring about any change in the system...NEVER! Why then the entire drama once again at the cost of our hard earned money and time!!
• Ajay Devgan, same old avatar. Lame lame lamer this time! The story progresses 3 years after the beginning shots. 3 years before, he was heading to abroad for MBA, and 3 yrs hence, he not only does complete his MBA, he even builds a fortune for his profoundly known telecom start up! How many do you see running so fast :D And then the rabbit suddenly turns into a tortoise, leaves everything,sells everything to fight a cause which he knows best is an endless muddle. Stained his role right here and done for the rest of the movie :)
• Kareena Kapoor, i kind of hate her expressions. She just doesnt suit modest roles. Her attitude is trademark and shows up even in love making scenes, as if she is doing a favor to her partner  :P Good role to her but looks like she bought this one :P Such big news creating history out there and she and her channel is the only one addressing it till very long! Why was she even there in all the meetings where Arjun Rampal should have been there, crap!
• I am very very disappointed with Arujun Rampal. Not a very well defined character. He is the local leader with absolutely no attitude. He just is way too modest for a leader, ready to give in everytime to anybody at all! Looks like his and Kareena's roles were swapped :P

Pluses:

• Manoj Bajpayee is the only man which makes the watch all worth it. Trust me, all the while as the movie runs, i was waiting for his scenes only! One brilliant actor, awesome delivery of dialogues. More than the weightage of the dialogues, the weight was in his delivery. A natural actor tat he is
• And look who is here in the positives, none other than Amrita Rao. Unexpectedly significant role and she looks pretty throughout with least of make up and plays a support mostly but is appreciable :)
• Second half is watchable, much better than the first half
• One song romantically involving the lead pair is good to the ears

My rating: 2/5

Planes 3D

Cast: Dane Cook(Dusty Crophopper), Stacy Keach(Skipper),Roger Craig Smith(Rip Slinger),Priyanka Chopra(Ishani)
Director: Klay Hall
Genre: Animation, Advenure, Family

One cute family watch. While kids enjoy the visuals, adults can enjoy visuals as well as dialogues

Pluses:

• No extraordinary story, but a different outlook towards LIFE! Imagine a world without human, and only vehicles who is life like :) Thats what drives me to the animation movies. A whole new world of imaginations and fantasies :) Gives a fresh breather :)
• I am sure the movie will be adored more by the lads than the ladies, as these are less barbie dolls and more of automobiles, flyers, etc
• You are not going to get bored, this though has simple story but keeps you going! Never slows, never stagnates
• And then it takes you through a world tour flying over landmark countries across globe!! India beautifully represented and promoted. Feels good :) Thanks Disney :)
• All the voices behind the characters deserves an applause. Our hero of the movie, Dusty Crophopper, voiced by Dane Cook; Mentor Skipper, voiced by Stacy Keach; Bad plane Rip Slinger, voiced by Roger Craig Smith and nonetheless our very own Priyanka Chopra voicing for Indian plane. Kudos!

Minuses:

3D is not worth it. Disney needs to work a lot upon the various dimensions!

My rating: 3/5

Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai Dobaara

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha, Imran Khan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Pitobash(Dedh Tang)
Director: Milan Luthria
Genre: Action, Crime, Romance

Watch it for the 'tashan' :) All sort of bollywood tadka and catchy one liners! There is nothing more to it otherwise!

PS: This is certainly better than Chennai Express :)

Pluses:

• Undoubtedly, Akshay Kumar is the man of the movie. He can carry off a bad man avatar with quite a delightful ease. You dont mind him being a non hero material. Great style, good dialogue delivery and a nice pull off :)
• Dialogues are the USP of the movie. All kudos to the dialogue writer. Very well done :)
• The retro cinematography maintained well as from the prequel
• Sonakshi Sinha is surely getting better. And all the retro chic avatars kinda goes well with her
• Imran Khan is a cutie, he cannot look anythin but one :) He was a cute small time gangster :D
• Satisfactory support by Pitobash on the good side and Mahesh Manjrekar on the bad side of it :)

Lukewarm:

Music is not as good as the prequel barring one or two numbers

Minuses:

Not as impactful as the prequel, not even close. The romantic tadka in the story completely overshadowed the gangster angle in the movie. The story could never pick up well due to the same reason

My rating: 2.5/5

Jobs

 

Cast: Ashton Kutcher, Dermot Mulroney(Mike),Josh Gad(Steve),Lukas Haas(Daniel), Matthew Modine(John Sculley),J.K. Simmons(Arthur)
Director: Joshua Michael Stern
Genre: Biopic

Watch it for Ashton Kutcher; and if you are not aware about the history behind Steve Jobs and Apple. Only if the these two criterias are fulfilled, this is a good watch :)

PS: Dont compare this one with that of 'Social Network' on Mark Zuckerberg

Pluses:

• Needless to say, this movie belongs to Ashton Kutcher. This being the first time i am so overwhelmed by what this guy is capable of. He clearly lived in the bones of the character throughout while the movie lasts. Unmatchable aura. Ashton, you have got another fan added :)
• Casting of the movie is worth an applause. Such close resembling faces with scruplously done make up. Every character feels life like!!
• Josh Gad and Lukas Haas were real good support. As much as dear friends should be and could be, without getting nastier
• Dermot Mulroney has a shade of gray, but a man of business completely, some luck favoring on his side and sometime not
• Matthew Modine and J.K. Simmons are the corporate bad men in here. You cant call them villains yeah!! :D
• I absolutely loved the direction by Joshua Michael Stern. It gives you instances to breathe and to feel the surroundings. Alas! the story is too big to wrap up in two hours

Lukewarm:

Yes the projection is a lot documentory. May not appeal everyone

Minuses:

The movie could have been a lot better presented. Blame it on the script considered to be showcased or on the editing. It is very difficult to not expect another 'Social Network'. But on a much practical point of view, story of the making of Facebook was much easier, given the time frame that had to be covered on the life of Mr. Mark Zuckerberg in a span of 2 hours. While the later story spans over a lifetime almost, and almost impossible to cover in 2 hours meticulously. Hence, there were a lot of things missing, or not very well depicted, or simply cut short.It just doesnt feel complete. Probably they could have considered releasing this one in parts :)

Epilogue: Every human struggle and struggle through their lifetime. Anytime you watch any biopic on a success story, and you realize the world is not hunky dory, not even close. No one is never such a good decision maker nor a perfect human. Every individual have their own demons and an angel; and everyone makes mistakes. He earns a lot of praises and also earns equal or more number of curses to himself. Harsh enough but things dont entirely happen to you luck struck. One should realize his own stands, his own measures before taking the next step under any forsaken impulse. We saw Apple Inc rising and falling multiple times, and the journey continues even after the legend Steve Jobs....

My rating: 3/5

Madras Cafe

 

 

 

Cast: John Abraham, Nargis Fakhri, Rashi Khanna(Ruby), Ajay Rathnam(Anna), Siddharth Basu(Robin Dutt), Prakash Belawadi(Bala)
Director: Shoojit Sircar
Genre: Action, Thriller

 

Face of the politics unnerved. Feels like a long haul wait for a movie as gripping as this coming from Bollywood. It is a must watch

 

Pluses:

• The first credit to most deserving script writers Somnath Dey and Shubhendu Bhattacharya. So beautifully weaved, and so beautifully written, unfolding one by one without perplexing you too much
• Director Shoojit Sircar is the next person to the credit. If not so meticulously presented, the whole plot could easily mess up into a puny. The entire length of the movie totally worth it and completely utilized to every scene. He never lets you even blink your eyes as the series of events keep unfolding
• John Abraham is the man of the movie. He just knows where he suits the best, and he never lets that image loose in the industry amidst all the other experiments that he does in varied other genres. Really admirable, an actor best reliable for such a role. Tough and not necessarily always flaunting body :)
• Amazing re enactment of Jaffna-Sri Lanka at its worst during the civil war, as beautiful as the island can get and as pitiable to the plight of the innocent
• Very resonating character played by Ajay Rathnam as the chief of LTF, reminds you of Prabhakaran of LTTE
• There were more important characters played by Siddharth Basu and Prakash Belawadi at their best
• Other supporting characters, Rashi Khanna and the role played for the Prime Minister, short but significant to their own stance
• The story leaves you cold, intrigues many thoughts at the backdrop of how unsafe the entire world is, completely oblivious to all the facts as we lie safe in our cocoons

 

Lukewarm:

 

Nargis Fakhri :) She is trying to act, and i give her a round of applause for the trial :) This role suits her better nevertheless :)

 

Minuses:

• One dampner in such well written script is quite a put off. Vikram Singh returning back to the forest to LTF, meeting their chief's second in command, after being caught and released once in his original profile. How could anybody not recognize him! Duhh!!
• Didnt like the plot in narration to a church father and the way it abruptly ends. Sudden relief of his burden and his recluse for 3 years not explained well

 

  

My rating: 3.5/5