Step Up 4: Revolution 3D Movie Review

RATING2..0 OUT OF 5STARS
Step Up Revolution for most part runs like a typical bollywood potboiler- a rich girl with dreams her dad doesnt understand, a poor guy who is after his dreams, new love comes in the way of friendship and all ends well with a song and a dance. Severely cheesey and sweet to the point of giving one diabetes, what saves this film is the Dance. And Dance is aplenty here.

Much like the earlier versions of the Step Up series, Dance is the main reason dtre of the movie. Beginning with a beautiful energetic flash mob, Step Up revolutions tells the story of a group of dancers, called The Mob, who are out to win a you tube contest for most likes on their flash mob dance videos. Some innovative and scintillating dance sequences later the group decides to take it upon themselves to use the art form for saving their part of Miami from a rich hotelier. There is a love angle thrown in, for good measure and dollops of sappy dialogues. 

Visually, the film is smart. It has something for everyone- wow worthy dances especially the one in an art museum, ample shots of bikini clad babes on the beach for those who dont care much for dance, and a Twilight-ish juvenile romantic track for those who care for none of the earlier. Superficially, it also touches upon the idea of performance art taking form of protest art. How art, however harmless and joyful, is always looked down upon and penalized is also an inherent theme. Sadly, neither of these are fleshed thoroughly enough, resulting in a mish-mash of superficial candy floss. Emotions come across as fake, hormones on an overdrive and scenes look like fillers in between the dance routines.

It is evident that cast neednt know much apart from dancing. None of them can act to save their lives and depend heavily on drop dead looks and extremely skimpy clothing to pass muster scenes where their footwork is not on display. None is complaining too, since expecting anything more from the series is a mistake on the viewers part. The 3D works well, accentuating the dances, while remaining ineffective in the talkie parts. Watch this one only if you love dancing or to watch dance. For the rest, wait for it to come on the idiot box a few months later.

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Krishna Aur Kans 3D Movie Review

RATING 2 OUT OF 5 STARS
In a movie designed primarily for children, the violence should be kept to a bare minimum. In fact, if it can be done away with, it is even better. Younger children flinch at negativity shown on-screen and KRISHNA AUR KANS has some gory scenes in 3D that is sure to scare a lot many young ones away.

There's Kans Mama annihilating an entire village and killing seven newborn children of his sister Devaki, one after another, that is surely to dent a young mind. The reason of his killing is because he has been told that his sister's eighth son would prove to be his nemesis. So he is guided by his coterie to kill all even though he had decided to target the eighth son.

The eighth son is Krishna and Devaki and her husband are guided by the gods to take the son to Yashoda who has just given birth to a daughter. He is told to exchange the kids. Krishna is saved and Kans meets his harrowing end. 


Of all the characters it is Kans who stands out, not only because of his sight but because his expressions match his madness. Om Puri's voice also adds credence to his part. Animation wise, there's not much to compare or write about. The makers have played safe keeping away from flamboyance in their visualization. 3D is all about creativity and maximizing the effect for the viewer. Both are missing here.

However, the movie does have some cute moments with Krishna and the gopis and hismakhan-robbing escapades. Overall, it has more of demons and dark nights.

For those venturing to make movies especially for children, my request would be to keep it clear of violence and gory ends to characters, both of which you will find aplenty in KRISHNA AUR KANS, which in effect is its downfall. The length too is a sore point.

Just recently, we had ARJUN THE WARRIOR PRINCE. That film was art in motion. There was negativity, but watered down. There was also a final showdown, which was a technological delight. 


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Total Recall Movie Reviews

RATING 2.5 OUT OF 5 STARS
After the incredible Live Free or Die Hard director Lens Wiseman had my respect for having crafted a bang-on action thriller. Unfortunately after Total Recall he loses much of that credibility. If the movie didnt have a reference point as the original one to stand up to, then this might have been a passable popcorn entertainer but as it stands now this is a soulless, dumbed-down visceral assault on your senses. 

Unlike the previous movie, there is no Mars; the story is set on earth only. Much of the planet is considered inhabitable thanks to chemical warfare leaving only the United Kingdom and Australia as cramped habitable regions. Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell) leads an idyllic life commuting through the earths core to work and cozying up with his astonishingly attractive wife Lori (Kate Beckinsale). However the wanton need for spicing things up in his life leads him to Rekall, an agency that promises virtual artificial memories that give you a whole new life as anything you desire. Quaid chooses life as a spy, unfortunately the only glitch being that hes already been there and the process awakens memories of his past where his identity was Hauser. Soon enough hes caught up in a large conspiracy involving a lot of unsavoury characters and he has to use his new-learned Jason Bourne skills to survive. 

The movies design and vision of the future is impressive even if highly derivative of films like Minority Report and The Fifth Element but the CGI of this film incorporated in the 1990 one would have probably been the perfect onscreen iteration. The story sticks closer to the 1990 movie rather than Phillip K. Dicks short story and honestly tries to pack as much action into scheme of things than anything else replacing key reveal elements of the original with minor changes. 

The action gets tedious quickly even if the scale is grand at times, since much of the cannon fodder are faceless droids. The villains too dont quite have the menace rather seem more like mean high-school bullies. 

Collin Farrell surely is a better actor than Schwarzenegger can ever hope to be but doesnt have the screen presence which the latter commanded. Beckinsale doesnt quite have the same oomph factor as Sharon Stone nor the menace of Michael Ironside. Jessica Biel on the other hand is utterly forgettable. Bryan Cranston has a few good moments but hes capable of better.

Total Recall for me is one of the biggest disappointments of the year considering all that they could have achieved with it. Go rent the original and youll surely have a blast watching it even 22 years later. 




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Shuttlecock Boys Movie Review

RATING 3.5 OUT OF 5 STARS
In an industry pioneered by the Khans and the Kapoors, its very unlikely to see an honest, heartwarming film that can inspire and leave you with a smile. Thanks to the era of rising indie filmmakers such as Q, Sudhish Kamath, Karan Gour and many more were presented with quality films sans superstars or legends that are capable of touching thousands of hearts, if and only if we support them. Add Hemant Gaba to that list and his debut picture Shuttlecock Boys, which not only succeeds in entertaining but presents a sincere message that you may want to embrace.

Shuttlecock Boys is a story of every household, so commonly known to us that it instantaneously connects with one and all. The film is about four friends Gaurav, Manav, Loveleen and Pankaj with a dream to achieve but barely any kind of support. Powered by hope they embark on a journey that will change the course of their lives forever.

The strength of this film lies in its unexaggerated presentation. Hemant as a filmmaker doesnt innovate but leaves his characters to do the magic with their performance. With a plot as simple as you couldve ever imagined, SB triumphs with honest storytelling. What I really like about this film is its ability to encompass and bring forth the mirror image of a life most of us are living. The life that we think we are happy with but deep down inside we hate it. This film awakens that part of your life whichs been in deep slumber all this time.

Hemant also successfully storms in to the aspirational life of Indian middle class, around which all his characters are sketched. Through the eyes of the four protagonists you see the world we all aspire to see. As a viewer you empathize with the characters and that works in the favor of the film as it keeps you hooked and cheering till the last minute. More importantly, I loved how Hemant used badminton as a backdrop to shape his story. Im positive when you watch the film youd love and appreciate his brilliance with respect to this.

If Hemant was the charioteer of this film then his characters were the chariot, and they make this ride a smooth experience with their performance. I dont know if these actors have any acting background but they fit the bill perfectly. They werent expected to be top class actors because their roles needed them to be just like the way most of us are in life. Another plus point of this film is its music which is exhilarating and adds spark to the film. Kudos to Avinash Baghel, his music elevates the undying attitude and spirit of the film. For most part, it keeps playing like an anthem in the background and breathes life in to the film.

Finally, it all boils down to one man Hemant Gaba for nurturing this dream of his in to an inspirational feature presentation. The film had its own weak moments but it doesnt matter when the overall output has been beyond satisfaction. In essence; Shuttlecock Boys is a film that keeps hope alive and sends you back home with glee on your face.


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Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai Movie Review

RATING 1.5 OUT OF 5 STARS
Shakti Samanta's Aradhana Films was synonymous with romantic movies, so it doesn't come as a surprise that Shakti Samanta's grand-son debuts with a love story, YEH JO MOHABBAT HAI. In these fast-changing times, with more and more stories and films getting realistic, it's hard to find movies that take you back to the romance of the 70s. YEH JO MOHABBAT HAI revisits the times of yore.

Director Shree Narayan Singh and writer Dilip Shukla borrow from every memorable love story, from BOBBY to QAYAMAT SE QAYAMAT TAK to DILWALE DULHANIYA LE JAYENGE. The outcome, therefore, is a bland khichdi that gets unbearable after a point. 


The story around two wealthy families in Udaipur -- Rathore [Mukesh Tiwari, Anuradha Patel, Farida Jalal] and Choudhary [Mohnish Bahl, Rati Agnihotri]. An unsolved murder of a family member, combined with business rivalry and the need to prove to each other their supremacy, deepens the enmity. However, God has other plans. A girl [Karishma, portrayed by Nazia Hussain] is born to the Rathore family and a boy [Karan, enacted by Aditya Samanta] to the Choudhary family on the same day. 23 years hence, unknown of their family backgrounds, they meet each other in Poland, where the journey of love and togetherness begins. 

Based on old family feuds, YEH JO MOHABBAT HAI is a present-day Romeo and Juliet tale with the usual ingredients that you associate with prem kahanis [songs, heartache, parental opposition, a jealous lover et al]. Come to think of it, the film has nothing imaginative to offer. The cast is spanking new and so are the stunning locales of Poland for the viewers to witness, but the material relies so much on the tried and tested, been-there-seen-that kind of situations that you misplace concentration after a point. The sole silver lining, besides the scale of the film and the spectacular look, is its musical score [Anu Malik], who belts out a couple of hummable tracks. 

While the college romance dominates the first hour [in Poland], the post-interval portions, when the story shifts to Udaipur, are a drab with the family feud coming to the fore. Ideally, the film should've concluded right after the marriage song ['Big Fat Indian Wedding'], but the sudden appearance of the heroine's brother and the fight that ensues, results in the graph of the film going downwards. In fact, the film is unnecessarily stretched from this point onwards and the last half-an-hour gets agonizingly unbearable. 

The DoP [Fuwad Khan] captures Poland marvelously, while the locales of Udaipur add sparkle to the plot. The soundtrack is melodious. 'Pyaar Karna Na Tha' is the pick of the lot. 

The role seems tailor-made for Aditya Samanta, who slips into his character well. Nazia, who made her debut with SAY YES TO LOVE, is strictly okay. The film has a host of supporting actors, including Mohnish Bahl, Rati Agnihotri, Farida Jalal, Mukesh Tiwari and Anuradha Patel, and each of them enact their parts without much stress. The actor playing the jilted lover of Nazia does a fair job. 

On the whole, YEH JO MOHABBAT HAI is a regular love story with the standard been-there-seen-that aspects.

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Jism - 2 Movie Review

RATING 2.0 OUT OF 5 STARS
Indian storytellers are now breaking out of conventional shackles, while avid moviegoers are stepping into cinemas to view stories rarely attempted before.

JISM 2, an erotic thriller, is touted as the boldest film [in that segment] to hit the Hindi screen, but the question that crosses your mind is, does it boast of a captivating story as well? Do you carry the film and the characters in your heart once you exit the auditorium? Most importantly, do you reminisce about it? Does it have recall value? Or does one forget about it the moment the show concludes? 

Although JISM 2 is the second installment of the 2003 hit that starred Bipasha Basu and John Abraham, there's a huge disparity between the two films. JISM 2 is visually stunning, the aesthetics are just right, but the voyage of a woman from the lust bazaar who markets desire is far from perfect. The lackluster screenplay of JISM 2 is its biggest undoing! 

The star of the show is, without doubt, Sunny Leone. People are looking forward to watching JISM 2 for Sunny, erotica and a generous dose of skin show, in that order. In fact, a wide section of moviegoers might frequent the cineplexes to watch Sunny alone, but for another segment it could be erotica. As the reels unfold, you realize that Sunny delivers as an actor. Unfortunately, the script doesn't. 

The other issue is that the story of JISM 2 unfolds at a leisurely pace, which shouldn't be the case if it's meant to be a thriller. Also, it gets too verbose and talk-heavy after a point, with Randeep Hooda's character delivering idealistic lines that test your tolerance. Notwithstanding the blemishes, the fact remains, the curiosity to watch Sunny Leone will act as its savior. 

A porn star, Izna [Sunny Leone], is entrusted the responsibility of luring a dreaded assassin, Kabir [Randeep Hooda]. The people behind the task are two intelligence officers, Guru [Arif Zakaria] and Ayaan [Arunoday Singh], who need to recover some vital data from Kabir. Izna has to confront her bitter-sweet past, but the problem arises when Ayaan falls in love with her. She has to make a choice! 

There's no denying that Pooja Bhatt has extracted an arresting performance from Sunny Leone. But the screenplay plays a complete spoilsport. This could've been a convincing take on obsession, vengeance and infidelity, but there's hardly any movement in the story. Plus, a few questions remain unanswered [How does Sunny get into the porn trade? When does Arunoday have a change of heart and fall in love with Sunny?]. Besides, the film is stretched without much reason in its post-interval portions. Additionally, you don't have compassion for any of the characters, as the film draws to a close. 

The music of JISM 2 is soothing and soulful. The emphasis is clearly on melody here. The cinematography is top notch. The DoP captures the lush green locales of Sri Lanka magnificently. 

Sunny Leone is dazzling to look at and has an incredible body, but does she deliver as an actress? To start with, Pooja has, very smartly, cast her as a seductress. Sunny's gestures, body language, erotic scenes and sex appeal are, unquestionably, far more seasoned than most divas, who restrain a sort of hesitation when it comes to steamy scenes. She is scorching hot in JISM 2 and takes the heat percentage to an altogether different level. Sunny's maiden attempt at acting comes across as confident and charming, but, at the same time, there is scope for improvement, especially during the emotional moments. 

Despite Sunny and the hype adjoining her, Randeep enacts a pivotal character with aplomb. In fact, Randeep has lucratively carved a niche for himself, creating a space of his own with films like ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI, SAHEB BIWI AUR GANGSTER and JANNAT 2. He pitches in another striking act in JISM 2. Arunoday tries hard, but is not convincing enough. Also, he is awfully awkward and ill at ease in sequences that require him to breakdown emotionally. 

Arif Zakaria is a name you correlate with competent performances and he is effective in this one as well. Sumeet Nijhawan gets limited scope. Imran Zahid is hardly there. 

On the whole, JISM 2 has Sunny Leone as its USP, but the lackluster screenplay and the sluggish pace act as deterrents. However, Sunny Leone in the driver's seat, coupled with a generous dose of skin show and erotica, besides an attention-grabbing title, should act as a honey-trap to lure the audiences. But how one wishes this jism had soul as well!


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Ice Age: Continental Drift RealD 3D Movie Review

RATING 3.0 OUT OF 5 STARS

First came the God particle, the Higgs boson. Then came ``Ice Age (2002). Then, ``Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006). Then ``Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009). And now arrives ``Ice Age: Continental Drift, informally known as ``Ice Age 4, also known as a paycheck and a likely haul for all involved at Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox.

The new picture contains a valuable lesson in recycling. It opens with what I believe is a slightly abridged version of ``Scrat's Continental Crack-Up, the ``Ice Age short Fox showed in front of the Jack Black ``Gulliver's Travels two years ago. Preteens might not know the word ``rerun, since it belongs to B.C. (before cable) days of yore, but it's time they learned it.

Another chunk of ``Ice Age 4, with the key characters getting thrashed in the waves, is a recycling job as well, footage from a short preceding ``Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked. You know what I feel like doing right now? I feel like digging out an old review of an earlier ``Ice Age movie and ``re-purposing it, which will give me time to go do something else for a few minutes, like mow the lawn or water the lawn. Or bake a crumble.

``Ice Age 4 separates the woolly mammoth Manny (Ray Romano) from his family, for a while, as the land masses creak and groan, though not as loudly as the script's jokes, especially the ones ending in the word ``booger or ``puke. The saber-toothed tiger Diego (Denis Leary) finds a mate, voiced by Jennifer Lopez. John Leguizamo's sloth, Sid, becomes caretaker of his abandoned grandmother. Peter Dinklage voices a nasty pirate orangutan. The tone of the banter in ``Ice Age 4 is wearying sarcasm punctuated by frequent death-threats and pummelings and 3-D action sequences that reduce the entire experience to a sledding run.

The actors do what they can, because that's what they're paid to do, damn it, although in a sequel such as ``Ice Age 4 much of the acting comes to something other than voice-over work. It's more like whoooaaaaaa!-over work. Big wave coming! ``Whooooaaaaaa! The directors Steve Martino and Michael Thurmeier keep it moving.

It's not very funny, but your kids might like it. For the record.

MPAA rating: PG (for mild rude humor and action/peril).

Running time: 1:27.

Voice Cast: Ray Romano (Manny); Denis Leary (Diego); John Leguizamo (Sid); Queen Latifa (Ellie); Jennifer Lopez (Shira); Aziz Ansari (Squint); Nicki Minaj (Steffie); Peter Dinklage (Captain Gutt).

Credits: Directed by Mike Thurmeier and Steve Martino; written by Jason Fuchs, Michael Berg and Mike Reiss, produced by John C. Donkin and Lori Forte. A 20th Century Fox release.


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Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum Movie Review

RATING 2.0 OUT OF 5 STARS
Adult comedies are just coming into vogue in Hindi cinema and it will take a long time for it to mature and for us to have more Delhi Bellys. Till then, all we can make do with are cranky brainless set pieces of juvenile gags like Kya Super Cool hain hum masquerading as genuine adult comedies. 

Having said that, KSKHH is not a dull film. Only don't expect anything beyond toilet humor and adolescent pre - puberty humor and one would thoroughly enjoy the two odd hours of this swiftly set series of jokes. 

There is nothing much in terms of a story in this sequel to a surprisingly intelligent comedy Kya Kool Hain Hum. The film rests squarely on the shoulders of its leads, Tushshar and Reitesh, both of whom deliver double entendres whacky one liners and silly jokes in quick succession. Anupam Kher and Chunkey Pande are also foolish enough to suit the films tenor. 

For a film that has nothing more than this going for it, KSKHH is smartly paced, leaving one no time to dissect of look for logic in the proceedings on screen as one gag follows another. A slew of music directors on board the crew provide with interesting songs that are easy on the eye and the ear. None of that matters though, for the film is meant to provide cheap thrills in the crassiest possible manner and that it does with elan. 

Intelligent scripting, witty dialogues and tasteful yet "adult" situational comedy are not this film's forte. Made to cater to the front benchers and young college going crowd, KSKHH is a fun watch while it lasts. As for the true Hindi sex comedy, the wait is still on.

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Harud Movie Review

RATING 4.0 OUT OF 5 STARS

Harud is a film set in Kashmir. The fact that it doesnt play out like an Indian film or a Pakistani film is one of its comments on the state of Kashmir (pun intended). It isnt exactly a fun time at the movies but there is a devastating story being told here. Kashmir was once called jannat (heaven). The characters in the film identify its descent calling it jahannam (hell). Anything could go wrong here at any moment. The inhabitants live in perpetual dread, surrounded by constant danger, anyone looking for a future has one of the two directions to head: north or south. Anything in between is a land of hopelessness where every young lamb is up for slaughter.

Harud begins with footage depicting the ongoing insurgency in Kashmir. Tens of thousands of people have gone missing since the late 80s. Harud tells the story of a family that is directly victimized by this horror. Rafiq (Shahnawaz Bhat) has made peace with his brothers disappearance but cant seem to ward off the wraith that plagues his consciousness. He wants to be a photographer, his only hope to look at the world from a perspective that is not full of gloom. It is no surprise that his friends call him afsos duniya.

The mother lives in denial and the father lives in fear and consequently suffers spells of delusion. The father is played by Reza Naji who instantly reminds you of the cinema of the Iranian filmmaker: Majid Majidi. Except, this film has very little to do with Majidis cinema. The sensationalism and the sentimentality have been stripped off. It is made in the Italian neo-realist tradition, especially recalling the films of Roberto Rossellini and Vittorio De Sica. Major scenes which a regular film would show to raise shock value, are deliberately given a miss. There are a couple of scenes, which would make Robert Bresson extremely proud. Moreover, there is no music to tell you when to expect a perilous situation or stretch the emotional aftermath. Attention must be paid.

There is a definite authenticity here and you can make great cinema with all of the elements mentioned above, but alas Harud does not go the distance. Lack of information is never a virtue. Complexity can also come with clarity. A film may ask you to pay attention but it cannot side step major plot points wearing the mask of depth. The fact that there is enough power in the story saves it from spurting into disorientation.

Albeit, Harud is a film that deserves to be seen, films like these are important. Visually, it doesnt glorify or vilify the Kashmir valley. It isnt flooded with shots of the magnificent valley and leaves falling in slow motion (few that are there evoke beauty). There is a sub-plot of a character that Rafiq seems to be infatuated by but what progresses is heartfelt and sincere. In a lesser movie, she would be his love interest. The film is directed by Aamir Bashir, an actor I remember from A Wednesday (2008) and a TV show called Alpviram. Thankfully, Harud isnt just a film that raises an issue and expects you to jolt with the impact of its strong subject. It tells you haunting story and makes you watch it unfold in stunned silence.




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The Dark Knight Rises Movie Review

RATING 4.5 OUT OF 5

One man who deserves to be accredited for having given the Batman series a grand facelift is Christopher Nolan. Its not easy to keep a franchise going and making every film better than its predecessor. Undoubtedly, Nolans been a champion in this department and has been successfully giving us films that well cherish for a lifetime. His latest film The Dark Knight Rise is not a masterpiece but a great film thatll make his fans go gaga.

Eight years have gone by since the demise of Harvey Dent, a crime-fighting, loyal cop who lost his life for the people of Gotham. People are celebrating Harvey Dent day in his memory however rumor has it Batman is pinned for the murder of Dent and thats why hes been in hiding for a while. Meanwhile, a new Terrorist leader, Bane, has risen from the dead to conquer the city of Gotham and turn all its citizens to ash. The only one who could save the city from turning in to a graveyard is Batman, and nobodys seen him in eight years. Batman should join hands with the cunning jewel thief aka Catwoman and an honest cop, John Blake aka Robin along with Commissioner James Gordon to save Gotham.

The film is yet again carried by few of its characters; the key ones who are some way or the other connected to each other and therefore make the proceedings interesting. For example; Bane was also trained by Ras Al Ghul, who also trained Bruce back in the days however Bane was excommunicated from the league and now hes out seeking vengeance. The story is intelligently carried forward by the Nolan brothers, connecting every possible dot together to make sense. However one might feel the story was little too long but thankfully the film keeps you hooked throughout.

The first half of the film is nicely spent developing the character of Batman. His comeback from long absence not only delights the city residents but the audience likewise. The second half gets even more exciting; it completely supersedes the first in every possible way. Bane makes Batman go through the similar kind of pain he went through and therefore puts him in a place that gave him strength and hope. When the world around him is been torn in to pieces by Bane, Bruce spends time stirring up confidence by building hope and resistance and when all is about to end, The Dark Knight Rises. Brilliant! The twist in the climax is what you never expected from Nolan, and it explains everything and makes your every penny worth it.

Bane aka Tom Hardy is maniacal and devastating. At one point, you feel as though Bane has taken over Gotham and Batman but thats where TDKR exactly becomes one of the best films of the recent past. I was under the impression that after having seen the trailers of TDKR, I might actually like Bane more than the Joker but undoubtedly thats not the case. Bane was strong and powerful but the Joker was the nastiest of all and thats thats what made one of the most likable characters in the franchise. Bale as the Batman spends quality time trying to put himself together while the world around is convinced that he was responsible for the death of Harvey Dent. Bales character required lot of perseverance and you see it all in his performance.

Anne as the Catwoman adds style and wit to the film. Shes exactly opposite to the Batman and shes swift and extremely funny. Blake aka Joseph Gordon, the righteous cop whose only mission is to save Gotham with or without Batman shines in his role. One might feel his role may be sidetracked due to the presence of many others but its just a feeling and it passes when you reach the climax. Michael Caine aka Alfred, the Bats loyal servant plays his part as quietly as expected but hes the strongest of all because had it not been for him, Bruce wouldve never returned as the Batman.

Marion aka Miranda packs a powerful performance which youll only realize after you finish the movie. Her role is driven by its purpose and merely by acting. Morgan Freeman aka Lucius Fox gives what hes best at yet another mean machine this time one that takes off. Not to forget Gary aka Commissoner Gordon in his hapless role whose strength is his belief in Batman.

The Dark Knight Rises is spearheaded by one man Christopher Nolan who undoubtedly steals all limelight and makes youre watching experience a memorable one. Nolan keeps everything intact and doesnt leave any loose ends. All characters get their due time to explain who they are thus leaving no room for any criticism.




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Challo Driver Movie Review

The story is that of a puritanical slave-driver-with-a-heart ArjunKapoor (played by Mr directorVickrant Mahajan himself) and a typical Punjabi girl with an attitude Tanaya Malhotra (Kainaz Motivala).Tanaya, in need of money in order to start her own adventure travel agency, slips into the driver' s seat to play chauffeur to Arjun and that is what the entire film revolves around, a woman doing a man's job and dealing with the verbal sexual harassment that follows women stepping out of conventional roles.

I’m sure the film was supposed to be a comment on feminism and the film stays true to it in quite a few ways but slips again and again in order to make it the typical Mills&Boons saga it turns out to be.

The film progresses as a very simple straight-up tale of love slowly blooming between the two (who didn't see that coming), In fact it is so simple that Mahajan doesn't even bother introducing a harrowing enough twist to give the story any depth. I don't know whether to appreciate the simplicity of it, or yawn.

The film is categorised as a "romcom" (romantic comedy). Now, is it a 'rom'? Yes most definitely, the romance is just waiting to happen from the very first scene, but is it a 'com'? Only the scenes involving Manoj Pahwa, who gives a hilarious performance as Tanaya's loud and obnoxious Pappuuncle from Jalandhar who starts all his sentences with "oye..", qualify as comedy.

The performances are strictly average. After her strong performance inRagini MMS, the bar was set high but Motivala, sadly, falls short. While there are moments where she is charming, she looks too made up and delivers her dialogues like an 8-year-old in a school play. Mahajan should have stuck to direction and let an actual actor with actual acting skills take the lead. Prem Chopra is okay but not worth going on about, and what VJ Juhiis doing in the film with her blank face and flat dialogue delivery is beyond me.

The concept behind Challo Driver is decent enough but a bad script, uninspiringperformances and the dialogues ruin what could have been a feel-good flick.

Should you watch this film? No. There must be better ways to spend your time.


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GATTU Movie Review

Films with children as the main characters are no longer a rarity. Thank god for that! It’s imperative that our cinema cultivate a culture of entertainment that children can empathise with without the content becoming overpowering in its message-mongering motivations

Gattu is a delicately-threaded morality tale about a poor little boy, never sorry for himself, except when play-acting the role of the bereft waif to get his way, who is taken in by his uncle (Naresh Kumar, brilliantly in character).Now here’s where the subtle often slyly humorous film gets tangled. It tells us that contrary to stereotypical expectations, the uncle is no slave-driving villain. He has his good and bad moments with the kid. Gattu tells us there are no black and white zones to bring up underprivileged children. While child labour is prohibited, it can also be a way of providing sustenance for homeless kids. While Gattu longs for a school education, he uses the academic premise to hoodwink the students and teachers to implement his own devious plans.

While on the surface Gattu is a breezy blithe and effervescent look-see at the pangs and pin-pricks of growing-up at the grassroots, under the surface it ponders sensibly on the question of raising a poor child with dignity outside the rarefied precincts of a school. All the kids, specially Mohammad Samadin the title role, are delightful in their natural ability to own the camera space. Director Rajan Khosa enters the world of innocence with devious intent. He penetrates the surface of juvenile guilelessness to explore the cunning that often underlines the machinations of the the very young. Gattu portrays heart-warming moments within and outside the school premise. While making a fervent pitch for every child to attend school, the narrative never misses out on a chance for a bit of fun on the fringes.

Gattu is an endearing peep into a child’s life as he struggles with intuitive intelligence to bring together the two incompatible worlds of poverty and the solace of schooling. Mohammad Samad as the boy who who would fly higher than a kite is a prized find. Sandesh Shandilya’s ebullient songs and music brings its own spot of sunshine in this not-to-be-missed tale about coming of age.

Gattu carries forward the recent trend of sensible, intelligent funny and moving films about child protagonists, namely Taare Zameen Par, I Am Kalam and Stanley Ka Dabba. Add one more film to that luminous list of cinema on little wonders.

Rating: ***

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Mere Dost Picture Abhi Baki Hai: Movie Review

 

Mere Dost Picture Abhi Baki Hai is a satire on the formulaic functioning of the Indian film industry. In the film, Suniel Shetty plays a budding filmmaker who tells the lead heroine of his film to underplay while on camera. Sadly every actor in this film goes over the top. The film ridicules every formula in filmmaking from item numbers to rain songs but while doing so it conveniently resorts to them as well. It emphasizes how a picture can start as a pure plot but is often muddled with an overkill of external elements like action, emotion, sex, romance, family drama, foreign locations, et al. But while saying so, the film itself falls prey of these peripheral portions.

The story is about Amar Joshi (Suniel Shetty) who learns filmmaking from London and aspires to make a film in Bollywood. He writes script about a rape victim protagonist and wants to make a realistic film on it. However, the inflexible attitude of the impractical filmmaker keeps him jobless in Bollywood for months. Until he stumbles upon a random PR Agent (Rakesh Bedi), who agrees to produce his film. But Amar's struggle doesn't end there as his storyline is altered day in and day out over commercial considerations, till the point that his film ends up turning a different product altogether.

To be fair to the film, writer-director Rajnish Raj Thakur chooses a promising theme but unfortunately doesn't have the aptitude to craft it into a fine film. Like Zoya Akhtar's Luck By Chance or Chandan Arora's Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon that took a look at the film industry from the point of view of an actor and an actress respectively, this one had the potential to be the director's POV of the predetermined film world. Unfortunately Rajnish Thakur lacks the sensibility and sensitivity to come anywhere close to those masterpieces.

The director does employ characters that one would often associate with film industry from an asinine actress (Udita Gosami), her interfering mother (Neena Gupta), an underworld financer (Deepak Shirke), a confused producer (Rakesh Bedi), an 'inspired' music director (Suresh Menon), a masala -maker writer (Om Puri) - but sadly he ends up making caricatures of each of them. Not only do the actors ham, they end up as exaggerated and extreme characters. At several instances esp. in the first half, Thakur stereotypes Bollywood as an industry full of nymphomaniacs or superstitious people. With Thakur's typecast, uninformed, one-dimensional and, more or less, fictitious view of the industry, it seems like a frog-in-the-well syndrome.

Despite the immense comic potential in its subject matter, the film falters due to the director's lack of sense of humour. He isn't sensibly able to pull off a spoof nor does he have the sensitivity for a smart satire. Rather the film resorts to almost every element that it spoofs thereby making a mockery of itself. While it mercifully steers away from being a slapstick, the loud and hysterical acts cause much harm.

It's almost a decade since Suniel Shetty gets to play the solo lead (if you ignore the unmemorableRed Alert). He is the only one who underplays in the film while everyone else hams. Rajpal Yadav is boisterous but his broken English lines occasionally induce laughter. Rakesh Bedi, despite an awfully fake moustache, is endurable. Om Puri and Neena Gupta are plain average.Udita Goswami, Shyan Munshi and Shawar Ali can't act for nuts.

In the end, the idealistic Amar Joshi does get manipulated by the big bad world of Bollywood and thrives in mediocrity. We just hope the audience doesn't fall for such tackiness!

Verdict: Average
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The Intouchables Moview Review

You would imagine a film based on a contemporary true story to be one about an extraordinary achievement of an ordinary man. You would expect it to be a film about a man with his hand stuck in a canyon, or a man defeating cancer and appreciating the gift of life. Probably even a sports film about the worst team ever that becomes the best team ever. You get the drift. The Intouchables is a film inspired by true life events but it isnt about underdogs or triumph of the human spirit. This is a story about humanity and the best relationship two human beings can ever share friendship.

Most movies that are about friendship are usually about kids graduating from high school/ college or a bunch of 40 year olds reminiscing the good old days. This film doesnt go down that memory lane. It isnt about young punks either. It isnt about getting high, getting your heartbroken and finally drifting towards maturity. This tale of friendship is actually about two human beings and why we have a need to want and hence, make friends. These are two heterosexual men who develop a bond of companionship. It could have become a film about racial issues but it never lingers there. (Yes you could still make a case for racial stereotyping here). It could have made a comment or two on sexuality but it remains platonic. It could have been a film about class but it never comments on the vagaries of the rich and poor. It could have been a film about intellectuals or philistines but it only pokes fun at both. (The best conclusion there can be, in my humble opinion) You see how Im stressing more on what the film is NOT, than what it IS? The success of the film lies in how it doesnt become what it could have been.

Let's get to what the film is. Fundamentally, it is a film about two very different people and how this odd pair finds friendship. Philippe (Franois Cluzet) is a tetraplegic, he is white, rich, has a refined taste in art and his sexuality is subdued. Driss (Omar Sy) on the other hand, is physically able, he is black, unemployed, thinks music is only for dancing and his sexuality is overt. The commonality between these two gentlemen as subtly brought forth, is however different they may be physically, sexually or financially, damn it, their entire outlook on life may be different, but what holds them together is their emotional necessities. Their story is almost like a romantic-comedy, the way they meet, the fashion in which their story progresses, it seems like fate is bringing them together. Philippes hesitant chuckles which burst into laughter, while Driss is being himself. The scenes involving the paintings, music and the theatre are incredibly funny. The moments where we see both the characters misty-eyed (boys don't cry) are poignant to say the least.

While I mentioned many reasons why it could have been a bad film but its not. There are reasons why it could have been a great film but its not. It has its moments of sentimentality, which cheapen an otherwise strong film. The ending especially, could have been a little less clichd. Albeit, the main reason why the film doesnt soar towards greater heights is the fact that the real Driss is called Abdel, he is an Arab and not a man of an African descent. Did the filmmakers feel it would be too risky a move to make a film about a white man and an Arab in todays troubled times? With no visual effects to boast, I was surprised to find that The Intouchables has made $350 million worldwide. Would the film not have made that much money if the filmmakers didnt make this change in ethnicity? We may choose not to make (or watch for that matter) films about these pressing matters but these questions of commerce, creativity and socio-political responsibility will need answering one day.




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Cocktail Movie Review

 
If you put three different people under one roof, throw in some fun, drama and lend a touch of romance to the plot- what you get is a savory mix of a ‘Cocktail’ which is worth every buck you spent to relish it.

Yes, that is what Homi Adajania’s newest work is all about. Post his previous off-beat venture ‘Being Cyrus’ that got massive critical acclaim, the man has hit the nail on its head once again with the flick that stars Deepika Padukone, Saif Ali Khan and young turk Diana Penty.

So here we are introduced to the tamed Meera (played by Diana Penty), who lands up in the city of London to meet her husband Rahul (played by Randeep Hooda). To her utter dismay, Rahul ruthlessly turns her away after conning her off all her money and leaves her on the street without a roof in an alien land. She chances upon spoilt, rich bitch Veronica who parties hard, drinks like a fish but has a heart of gold. She pities Meera and takes her under her shelter and soon they become the best of friends. 

Enter Gautam (played by Saif), who flirts with every hot chick in the town with his cheesy one liners. Chances bring the three main protagonists together under the same roof as Veronica and Gautam start a casual fling without any commitment. However, things take a U-turn when Gautam and Meera fall for each other on a serious note during their South Africa holiday while Veronica realises that Gautam is THE man she must settle down with. Then what begins is a roller coaster ride of emotions, drama and fallouts amidst the trio.

Going by Deepika Padukone’s performance, this is one of her best so far. She hits the bulls eye with her portrayal of Veronica. Deepika manages to highlight the intricacies of the psyche of a woman who has had a troubled childhood, which propelled her to seek refuge in alcohol and hard core partying. 

Saif too has his own moments in the movie such as the one in which he hilariously dances wearing lingerie and make up and gets caught by his mother (played by Dimple Kapadia) during his live performance.

On the other hand, Diana Penty looks fresh as a daisy on screen but needs to polish her acting skills a tad more if she intends to survive the rat race.

For those who have loved Saif and Deepika’s ‘Love Aajkal’, ‘Cocktail’ will not disappoint you as it has some shades of the former. The storyline of the movie is gripping and will keep you hooked and booked. 


Talking about the songs, they are as foot tapping as they could get. “Tumhi Ho Bandhu” deserves a special mention here as it will make you get up from your seats and shake a leg as the song is played on the big screen. The locations of the movie are eye catching and the styling of the actors is in sync with their onscreen characters.


Final verdict: ‘Cocktail’ is worth a try!

Rating: Three cheers for this one! 


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3 Bachelors Movie Review

3 Bachelors Review - In Brief
A film about two boys Amit and Jai who along with their college professor Deepak Varma resort to lies in order to woo three ladies (including 1 college principal). However, they end up hurting their feelings. This is a film about mistaken identity and misconstrued romance.
 

3 Bachelors Review - Verdict
A film that was made in the year 2002 unfortunately fails to appeal, in any way. With a clichéd storyline, stereotypical characters and lifeless music, 3 Bachelors is quite a 'dud'. Even Sharman Joshi's presence fails to lift the film, in any way.
 

3 Bachelors Review - Short Plot
The story is about two bachelors, Amit (Sharman Joshi) and Jai (Manish Nagpal), who have just moved into Mumbai to study at a reputed college. However, fate hits them hard on the very first day. Not only do the boys get ragged on the first day, but also fail to acquire any accommodation. Only one landlady is willing to give a house, given that the tenants are a married couple. Jai bites the dust and goes for a makeover (a la Kamal Haasan in Chachi 420) and becomes Jaya, Amit's wife. Incidentally, the landlady, Shalini Devi (Himani Shivpuri), is also the principal of the college that the two boys study in. Shalini Devi's nieces Neha (Raima Sen) and Nisha (Riya Sen) fall for the two boys. There is another angle. A professor Deepak Varma (Manoj Pahwa), who is supposedly a widower (suggested, not told), is looking for a promotion at the college. In lieu of that, he tries to woo the college principal. Yes, the story is quite messed up. A lot of misunderstandings, a couple of songs, endless revelations and heartbreaks later, this 'dated' film reaches its predictable climax.
 

3 Bachelors Review - Performances
The two leading men Sharman Joshi and Manish Nagpal strike up brilliant chemistry. Both have great comic timing, and the duo manage to lighten up the proceedings whenever they appear on the screen. However, the film itself is so dated (it went on floors a decade back) that even the supposedly 'good' scenes fail to create an impact. The writing is to blame for this, which unfortunately, ends up spoiling the entire movie-watching experience (Irrespective of the performances). Seasoned actors such as Manoj Pahwa and Himani Shivpuri too, deliver fine performances, but are let down by the lacklustre writing. There are a couple of cameos in the film, Mika Singh crooningSomething Something and Nigar Khan in an item number. However, the film has already become too yawn-inducing to elicit any interest from the viewer, thereon. Raima Sen and Riya Sen are major disappointments. Since, their voices have been dubbed, albeit miserably, won't say much about their dialogue delivery, but the acting itself is appalling.
 

3 Bachelors Review - Technical
As already mentioned, the writing is horrible. The writers (Raghuvir Shekhawat and Ajai Sinha) come up with out-dated jokes, clichéd dialogues and an uninspiring storyline. The makers too, should take the blame for this debacle.

The editing (Sanjay Sankla) is average. When the film itself is bad, there is nothing much that the editor can do. The direction by Ajai Sinha is just about average. Can't keep giving the timing as an excuse! There were good films made, a decade back as well. Daboo Malik shells out forgettable numbers.

Had this film been released in 2002, it would have found quite a few takers. Such films used to work at that point of time (single-screen theatres were more in demand, back then). The producers should have released the film directly on television (keeping the financial constraints in mind), instead of giving it a proper release.
 

3 Bachelors Review - Final Word
The film cannot be watched, at one stretch. Maybe, if it does come on television, you may catch it to see the pre-Ferrari Ki SawaariSharman Joshi. However, not a single paisa should be spent on 3 Bachelors.


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Bol Bachchan Movie Review

Bol Bachchan Review: In Brief - A young man gets trapped in a web of lies with hilarious consequences...

Bol Bachchan Review: Verdict - A fun watch for fans of Rohit Shetty

Bol Bachchan Review: Story Plot - A young man Abbas Ali (Abhishek Bachchan) and his sister Sania (Asin) migrate from Delhi to Ranakpur when they lose their ancestral property to greedy relatives. In Ranakpur, with the aid of a family friend Ravi Shastri (Krushna Abhisheik), Abbas is forced to change his identity and impersonate as a Hindu named 'Abhishek Bachchan' to avoid communal tension when he breaks into a locked temple to rescue a drowning boy. Impressed with his valour, Prithvi Raghuvanshi (Ajay Devgn), a stickler for honesty and truth, hires him on as a supervisor of his estate. However, things get out of hand when 'Abhishek' has to keep on lying to save himself from being discovered as Abbas Ali. Meanwhile, Abbas also falls in love with Raghuvanshi's feisty sister Radhika (Prachi Desai) whereas the 'pehelwan' Prithvi is himself smitten with Abbas's sister Sania. Thrown in the mix is a danseuse Zohra (Archana Puran Singh), who has to impersonate as the mother of 'Abhishek' and Prithvi's right hand man Makhan (Neeraj Vora), who is suspicious of 'Abhishek' and his last minute invention of family members…


Bol Bachchan Review - Performances: Shetty favourite Ajay Devgn is in top form as the short tempered pehelwan with a penchant for translating Hindi proverbs in broken English, with hilarious results. What works for Devgn is his deadpan comedy and his bouts of anger, which had made us laugh in the Golmaal series too. Abhishek Bachchan is quite passable as Abbas Ali but it is when he pretends to be the pansy twin that he makes us guffaw in delight. Bachchan Jr, who has not tried an out and out comedy film in a long time, sure shows promise in Bol Bachchan. Unfortunately, Prachi Desai and Asin do not get to do much. Having said that, special mention should be made of Krushna Abhisheik, an actor who has made us laugh on the small screen with his comic timing. Krushna, a relative of the inimitable Govinda, brings the same magic to the big screen with his debut film and is an absolute delight to watch, whether he is bickering with his father Asrani or coming up with fresh lies at the last minute to save Abhishek's skin. Archana Puran Singh, Asrani and Neeraj Vora too perform their parts well enough…


Bol Bachhan Review: Direction - Director Rohit Shetty has claimed time and again that Bol Bachchan is loosely inspired from Hrishikesh Mukherjee's laugh riot Gol Maal and Shetty is gracious enough to doff his hat to the cult classic in quite a few scenes in the movie. Like all Rohit Shetty films, Bol Bachchan has its share of wacky humour, crazy characters, action scenes that defy the laws of physics and of course, cars that fly across the screen and perform somersaults in slow motion. Though the film starts with some melodrama about ancestral property and greedy relatives, things start getting funny when Devgn and Krushna Abhisheik enter the frame. However, though the movie is an enjoyable watch, this reviewer does feel that Shetty could have replaced some of the action sequences with more humorous situations and could have easily done away with unnecessary characters and angles like Devgn's evil cousin and their dispute over some power plant, which is anyways vaguely touched upon by Shetty.


Bol Bachchan Review: Music - The music of the film is not really memorable, except maybe for the title song, which plays at the beginning of the movie. Amitabh Bachchan as always is a delight to watch because of his easy grace and chemistry with son Abhishek, as he mouths Big B's unforgettable lines from his earlier movies like Mard and Amar Akbar Anthony.


Bol Bachchan Review: Final Word - Like mentioned earlier, fans of Rohit Shetty and his films are sure to enjoy Bol Bachchan though die-hard Gol Maal (the old one, we mean) loyalists might turn up their noses at Shetty's product…


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