Feel Aa Gayi Yaar

Gulliver's Travel: Lost from Start to Finish

2011-01-04T08:11:00.000-08:00

Gulliver's travels is by far the worst Jack Black movie i have seen. It just did not have anything to offer at all. The Story obviously is known to the world. The Difference could have been made through the treatment and the script. The least we expect is that Jack Black touch which makes the movie from bad to atleast average and watchable. This fails on all counts. No Chemistry. No Funny moments. Mostly Boring. A Definite Not Go. Bad Start to the year i say.

Gulliver Travels is a story about Gulliver a normal mail man in a corporation who goes to Bermuda Triangle for an assignment he undertakes. He gets lost and meets 'Tiny' people there. Becomes their Hero. Then is thrown out. Then comes back to save his 'friends' and everybody lives happily ever after types. Add to that a couple of love storys, some jealousy the usual fairy tale type stuff and all. The work becomes all the more difficult if you already know 'what' is going to happen. Then you watch a movie to know 'how' it is going to happen. But that is where the movie fails miserably.

The most important ingredient in a funny movie is the 'fun' part. I mean even if the jokes are stale, it should atleast be fun to watch and the audience is not supposed to get bored to say the least. There is absolutely no excitement anywhere. There are absolutely no 'wow' moments. Nowhere in the movie you feel that you are watching a 'fantasy', everything just looks too usual. I think the movie is all about Jack Black and even he couldnt do anything given the pathetic nature of the script. There are just no funny lines.

I think the love story angle etc took away from the movie's essence as well. The graphics were all too lame as well. the 3D was the most stupid addition that one can think of. There was absolutely no requirement of 3D anywhere. The build ups to the fights was too much and the fights themselves were like 'what! its over?' types. They end before they even begin. The height of desperation comes towards the end where they even include an anti war song, which was like the nail in the coffin, which make you go WTF man.. Seriously WTF..

Overalll: An Absolute bummer. Not funny at all.

Feel-O-Meter: 2/10

PS: May be i missed the point altogether here. May be its supposed to be a Kids movie and they might really enjoy the not funny jokes and the JB antics. Didn't work for me. So if you have a kid at home whom you want to take a movie to. Can watch given the fact that there is nothing else in theaters for the kids right now.

The Tourist: Stay Home, this season

2011-01-04T08:04:00.000-08:00

The first thought that comes to your mind when you are watching the movie is 'THIS movie got a golden globe nomination, that too in the best comedy or musical? I mean like seriously? The second thought: 'WTF! Angelina Jolie is also nominated as Best Actress, like seriously?' The Third: Johnny Depp is nominated too? and the final one: 'I think Golden Glones are fixed' That pretty much would sum up my feelings right now. The movie is just about below average for a one time watch if you are too desperate to watch a moviel, have free tickets and would definitely won't mind drooling over Depp/Jolie depending on your gender/preference. Apart from that on the 'movie' front. This one is nothing more than a 70s bollywood movie re-released in hollywood with a power packed cast.

To be honest, I wasn't too excited about the movie and had no plans of watching it. But i read in the papers today that it has received the above mentioned Golden Globe nominations and just wanted to have a look. And i absolutely regret my decision. The movie is nothing but sheer star power to draw audience to the theaters and thats all. Funny part is, that it is supposed to be a thriller and is nominated in the best comedy/musical category which proves that even the people who decided on the nominations were as confused as the audience as well as the film makers. Nobody seems to understand what the movie is all about. The movie also moves towards being a 'romantic comedy' towards the end too. The genre can definitely be classified as 'confused'. It appears that the movie was only supposed to generate buzz over the lead pairing with the supposedly hottest man and woman in hollywood and just survive a couple of weeks only on that buzz.

The plot revolves about a certain Alexander Pierce who has swindled more than $ 2 billion (yes, as ridiculous it sounds, it IS billion) from a gangster (who is after him) and since he also has not paid taxes on these earnings, the scotland yard is also after him. Nobody has seen him ever except Angelina Jolie, so the police and the ganster are after her also. Then there are twists and turns, plots and subplots but it seems nothing more than a 70s bollywood movie with absolutely no excitement or 'thrill' about it. The thrilling chase sequences are absolutely lame and there is no excitement about them. They match the pace of the movie too, which is dead slow. You start getting bored in the middle of the movie and just hope that it finishes already.

The chemistry between the lead pair is almost non existent. Angelina Jolie's 1000 times operated upon face (which btw looks nothing short of ugly) doesn't help the cause here as well. I think the role of 'M' in the current bond series would suit her more given the way she looks. Old that is. Johnny depps acts decent and is the only saving grace (to a certain extent only). He is the reason you don't get up and storm out of the cinema hall. You still wait till the end, which leaves you with nothing but an irritation. You are like WTF ! 'THIS' was the suspense. Oh Gosh, please shoot the writer will you.

Overll: A Below Average movie. Watchable only if you get free tickets. There is excitement at a few places but overall slow pace kills the impact.

Feel-O-Meter: 4/10

Tees Maar Khan: Bad Joke, Hasoon?

2010-12-24T08:13:00.000-08:00

As you might have guessed by now that the title of the post is borrowed of one of the dialogues of the movie. TMK is one of those movies where in you hardly have any expectations anyways. What you are looking for, is pure mindless 'entertainment'. Now the definition of this 'entertainment' as per our dear farah khan (and loads of other directors) is obviously Slapstick, Trying too hard to be funny actors, Spoofy Screenplay, Goofiness, People Slapping each other, plain simple craziness all over etc etc. And exactly thats what the movie offers. The two most enjoyable things about the movie were (Obviously) Sheila Ki Jawani and the End credits. There are a few jokes here are there which are funny but overall a pretty ordinary school-college spoof type movie. Can watch once if you can tolerate the irritating slapstick with absolutely no logic.

OK, First lay the expectations right. I obviously did not expect the movie to be in the same league as the 'intelligent comedies'. Yes, Ms Khan Comedies can be intelligently done as well and only people falling over each other, actors making strange faces and hamming, Jokes cheap borrowed from twitter oneliners or (even wors) roadside PJs do not constitute Comedy but obviously you don't believe in that and I already know that you don't. So the expectations were right where they should be. Go in the hall, Watch sheila ki jawani, enjoy some really sad/irritating/pathetic and sometimes funny jokes. Ignore the stupidities, hamming, slapstick, absence of story/script/direction. Forget about your life's problems for 2 hours and just laugh. If you find the stupid jokes funny then at the joke, If you don't, then at the director treating the audience as 5 year olds. In any case, just lay back and enjoy. And the movie fairs pretty decent if your expectations are right.

The Performances are just over the top and given the fact that the script is just about gags, the actors couldn't really do anything anyways. Upar se you have Katrina Kaif and Akshay kumar, both of whom hardly qualify as 'actors'. So even the remotest possibility of a 'performance comedy' is thrown out of the window as well. Infact, i feel if you had ANYBODY apart from these two. Their roles could actually have been delivered in a much funnier way. But i guess you can't really ignore the two box office magnets. Akshaye Khanna was the pick of the lot according to me and he portrays his role perfectly well. He is not given 1/4th the bhaav that Akshay Kumar gets but he still is miles ahead of him as per far as 'performance' is concerned. Ali Asgar doesn't disappoint either.

Enough has already been said about Sheila Ki Jawani and the number just takes off to another level in a cinema hall. I mean, i think 30% of my ticket price was already vasooled after the song. One Word: Woww . The title track is pretty decentish but all the other songs are absolute trash as if Vishal Shekhar were only asked to compose one item number and the rest were done by Farah Khan's Triplets.

Not to say, that the movie doesn't have its funny moments. There are actually a couple of scenes, which no matter how stupid they seem, are able to tickle the funny bone, especially when Akshay Khanna is on screen. Two or Three dialogues were actually quite witty too.

Overall: The usual 'Star studded slapstick Trashh' but with some actually funny sequences here and there. Watchable if your expectations are in the right place and you are gonna laugh either at the scene or the director. Watch it for Sheila and the End Credits

Feel-O-Meter: 5/10 (2 for Sheila included)

PS: Yes, Most might thing why i rate it higher than a Dabangg. The problem with Dabangg was that I just did not find ANYTHING funny in that movie. In this case, there are a couple of sequences, where you actually burst out laughing.

Phas Gaye Re Obama: Get Kidnapped

2010-12-19T01:16:00.000-08:00

Phas Gaye Re Obama is one of the very few 'good' comedies this year. It makes a point loud and clear that you are not required to be goofy/slapstick/stupid to tickle the funny bone. You don't have to resort to crazy antics to be funny and people can laugh off the script as well. Witty dialogues, Believable Performances, Topical Story, Crisp Narrative makes it one of the funniest movies this year. Must Watch.

PGRO is set in the post recession world wherein an (almost) bankrupt NRI comes to India to sell off his ancestral Haveli to save his mortgaged house in the US. First he cannot get a buyer for it because of recession in India and then he is kidnapped by the local gang since they think he is still the millionaire he used to be. The story about how he is passed on to the bigger and then even bigger fish in the kidnapping 'business' and how he comes out of the situation every time with an 'idea' and also pays back his mortgage through the 'ransom' money he himself was supposed to pay. Brilliant story, Crisp Narrative and Amazingly Well Written dialogues make it the best written comedy this year.

On the performance front, Although everybody has delivered a good performance, Manu Rishi and Sanjai Mishra were the best of the lot. Somehow i wish that there could have been somebody else apart from Rajat Kapoor playing the US return businessman because of the cunningness associated with his 'ideas'. Its hardly believable that a person like Rajat Kapoor can come up with such 'witchy' plans. But its to do with his image rather than his performance. Neha Dhupia seemed a misfit and appeared as if she is there just to draw crowds by increasing the glam quotient.

On the negative side, the movie becomes repetitive when the cycle of transfering the kidnappee from one gangster to the other is repeated. May be one of the transfers could have been avoided and Amol Gupte's unnecessary Piles problem seemed like a misfit and forced to create some moments which the movie was already full of. Could have avoided these two things. Cut the movie by 15 minutes in the middle and you have a cracker of a movie. Could have been in the same league as Khosla, Oye Lucky etc, but is pretty good even now nonetheless

Overall: A Must Watch for everybody looking for a topical and clean comidey. Satire at its best.

Feel-O-Meter: 8/10

Tron Legacy: Game On

2010-12-19T01:15:00.000-08:00

Tron Legacy is one of those movies which start like an absolute cracker and then somehow get lost in the middle with some heavy duty 'filmy' stuff. Don't really bother about the storyline because the movie is more about the 'coolness factor' and special effects rather than why is this happening. Some of the action sequences are really neat though remind you of the star wars and the matrix at more occasions than one. The background score is killer and (yes i am saying it now) can be compared to hans zimmer's the dark knight. A Definite watch for adrenaline junkies and sci fi lovers especially if you are looking for 'cool' special effects and a killer background score leaving the story and logic aside.

Tron is about a computer games developer who gets sucked into an alternate reality world (created by him only) and never returns and how 'accidentally' his own son gets sucked into the virtual world, where he fights a battle to rescue his father and his (future) love interest (if a sequel comes out) from a 'program' (which looks like his father).

The movie is all about how cool the sci fi stories are. It takes its inspiration largely from Star Wars and the Matrix. Even the costumes look too similar to the epics. The Hero's father looks like obi van and the villain looks like darth vader. There are references of calling the virtual grid as the 'grid' (The matrix types) and then even the bad guys are nothing but 'programs' (Agent Smith types). But the movie definitely takes the concepts a couple of steps further by redefining 'cool'. The costumes, the cars, the bikes, the interiors are just killer and you go 'wow' at more than one occassion.

The word 'awesome' falls short of describing the first fight sequence. Small sticks transform into bikes by clicking a button and every turn you go 'wow'. Sadly post this sequence the movie goes into a boring description of what happened, why it happened, how it happened etc etc. And you almost feel like going out and grabbing some popcorn. The movie just doesn't go anywhere from there. You keep expecting it to surprise you even till the end but it doesn't.

If you have to take one thing out of the cinema hall that is the background score by Daft Punk. With all those techno sounds in the fight sequences and heavy opera style score while approaching a fight scene, it reminds you of Hans Zimmer's The Dark Knight score at more than a couple of places. I think the movie would have fallen flat on its face, had the sound track not been as good as it was. Makes the movie, A Definite watch from a 'Watch it on TV'

Overall: The movie is pretty good when it comes to the action sequences, the 'cool' factor and the background score and scores really bad on the story/script/direction front. A Definite watch if you are an adrenaline/sci fi junkie. Avoid if you are not.

Feel-O-Meter: 6.5/10

Band, Baaja, Baraat: Not Aiwayein Aiwayein

2010-12-12T01:11:00.001-08:00

BBB is one of those movies which provide you with a fresh feel of debutant director movies. Its a regular rom-com with the only difference being in the setting of the plot. To be honest i only watched this movie only because of the aiwayein aiwayein song and was not totally disappointed with the movie as well. Everything seemed okay and neither the movie brings the house down and nor does it totally irritates. Its one of the movies where you just can't seem to make up your mind. For the regular north campus grad, a Definite watch. If you are not a Delhite watch it to get the flavour. If you are a delhite, don't expect a lucky oye or khosla. Watchable.

Well, I never like movies like BBB since they fall into the usual 'not bad' category. I mean neither can you fall in love with the movie or the characters nor can you absolutely hate it. This is the kind of cinema which just comes and goes away and in six months you probably won't even remember the movie. The worst part is, there is typically nothing to mention about the movie while writing about it.

Movie revolves around two DU grads, where Anushka wants to start her own 'wedding planning' business and Ranveer just doesn't want to go back to his native village. They start the business together. Fall in love. Have a fight. Break Partnership. Come back together. Realize and Stay together. Typical Rom-Com? Kinda yes. But the overall 'Dilli' setting makes up for the lack of originality/new-ness.

The movie does have that typical 'debutant director feel' where you can feel that the guy is actually giving his heart and soul to make the movie. Especially the first fifteen of 'Dilli Darshan' was just so 'dilli-ish'. Especially the college sequences in 'Tarkeebein' was absolutely typical north campus. Maybe i have this DU/North Campus bias and its just the nostalgia speaking but to be honest, the first half an hour for me was the most enjoyable. But i think to keep the movie fast paced, he wraps up the 'fun part' way too quickly. And then the regular rom com ingredients of milna-bichadna-phir se milna takes over and spoils the fun. I would have prefered some more 'ladai-jhagda' between the lead pair.

As far as the performances go, I think Ranveer is going to be a stunner in the films to come. Although he couldn't do justice to the role of the Regular DU Jaat (but i am sure most who aren't from DU won't even realize it) you could still feel the potential. A better suited role (may be an action hero) and you will see what i mean. As far as this movie is concerned, he looked like 'Gareebon ka Vivek Oberoi'. I still don't know if i like Anushka sharma or hate. Coz be it Rab ne.., badmaash company or this movie. I mean she just doesn't do anything for me. she doesn't feel like a bad actor but she just doesn't evoke any emotions through her performance. Same is the case with this movie. I think the role was so well written, anybody else could have just ripped the screen but she just again manages the average performance types.

Must mention that Aiwayein Aiwayein is an absolute kick ass track and aadha paisa vasool is done by the song itself. Tarkeebein is a bonus and these two songs along with the addictive BBB signature tune makes up for the rest of the 'can be ignored' songs. Totally worth it.

I think the second half could have been much shorter and the movie had almost starting to bore me. The whole freshness was almost washed away in the second half. The anger, the fights just seemed too frivolous and forced. I think the problem was with the actors. Had there been anybody else apart from the lead pair, it could have become an above average, but in this case, just the regular average easily forgotten movie for me.

Overall: Neither too bad to skip, not too good to cancel all the plans and go for it. Go if you are free and especially if you have studied at north campus. The first half hour will provide you oa full paisa vasool. May even come back after first half and go have some chinese at momo's point

Feel-O-Meter: 5/10

PS: (In a remote possibility) if you read my reviews, you must be aware that i typically don't give these average 5 type ratings but i still can't decide if i liked this movie or hated it. So have to stick with a 5 :(

Guzaarish: Don't expect 'Black' Magic

2010-11-21T01:01:00.000-08:00

Guzaarish is one of those movies, which rests on the very idea of making people cry through suffering and it succeeds to a large extent as well. There are a couple of scenes which shake you down but those are not enough to hold your attention throughout. It was a great idea on paper and it had that bhansali touch of grand sets, dark cinematography, use of whites, greys and blacks all over the canvass (although Red is an addition this time around) 'Black' style, stars who can sell movies just by their names, some really good actors in cameos, but there is something lacking. May be it tries too hard to do a 'Black' but sadly doesn't match up in any sphere. The first half was pretty neat and grippy but suddenly the second half felt like a different movie altogether and the last 20 minutes were just so unbearable. Can Watch for some really 'scenes' which make you cry though don't expect some 'black' magic.

The plot as most would already be aware revolves around Euthanasia(Mercy Killing), wherein a quadriplegic ex-magician Ethan (Hrithik) files a petition in the courts to allow him to end his life. Either the story seemed confuse or i couldn't understand the plot because the script makes the characters jump from one end of a viewpoint to another with in sequences. Hrithik at first is a person who thinks life is a gift and actually has written books on the topic. He delivers lectures on positivity and runs a radio show on the same lines. And Suddenly in the second scene he decides to kill himself. Anyways, the story and the helplessness of the lead character is touching to say the least but sudden changes in ideologies don't add to the narrative's consistency.

Performance wise, Hrithik's acting is mind blowing in a couple of sequences and suddenly you go, 'Dude, he's the man' and suddenly in the next sequence he would start hamming so bad that KRK seems like an Oscar winner. Though i feel that given this year's other films, Hrithik could easily take home a couple of best actor awards. Aishwarya according to me was a perfect mis-cast since she just looked too plasticky and emotionless (i am not sure, if it was deliberate from her end or she just ended up being like that). You just couldn't feel her love for Ethan throughout the movie. The winner according to me was Aditya (Yeah, ex-channel v vj aditya) who seemed so comfortable with the character he was playing. His performance was just too smooth to ignore. Others do justice in their cameos so no problems there.

On the direction front, i think SLB is trying too hard to go the german, french, italian cinema way. It appears as if he made this movie not for the story or the script or the indian audience, but to show the 'world' that he is a technical genius. I think he overdoes a lot of things, from victorian era sets to strangely dressed actors, just for making it feel 'different' from regular bollywood stuff. Too much of everything is bad and this is a prime example of the same.

Music is HORRIBLE to say the least. It is just one of the worst scores i have heard in recent times and definitely a let down. I think SLB was too busy showcasing his genius that he forgot that movie making is a team effort in the end.

Although, i must mention that there are 3-4 sequences where you just cannot hold back your tears or can feel Ethan's agony in your own soul. Those scenes just rescue the movie from the trash it could have been. For me, especially the sequence where Ethan sings 'Its a wonderful world' after his mother's death just nails it completely. Show me sequences like those and i will watch the movie again only for those. Hrithik just takes the movie suddenly to a different level altogether and those are the high points of the movie.

Overall: A Brilliant Story lost in SLB Grandeur. A pretty grippy first half but seemed to lost its way completely in the second. Watchable for 3-4 damn neat sequences which make you 'almost' cry.

Feel-O-Meter: 5/10

PS: I felt so bad for monikangana dutta, She is such a big supermodel and here, she was given 1 dialogue, 1 kiss and (i think) at max 2 minutes of screen time. As if the director got so angry with her that he cut her whole part or something.

The Social Network: Accept the Friend Request

2010-11-14T00:59:00.000-08:00

No points for guessing but The Social Network is easily one of (if not THE) best picture this year. It is exactly how cinema is supposed to be. No High flying cars, No over the top drama, No 3D or 'special' effects. Its the script, the dialogues, the characters, the direction, the acting and above all the pace. The movie is gripping and there are hardly any moments that let you wander your mind away. From the first scene onwards, although you might be/are are aware of the 'story' but its how it unfolds that makes it interesting. Everything about the movie was almost perfect. It stays with you after you walk out of the cinema hall just like alcohol. It slowly gets to your mind and stays there. The best part is, The Hangover stays. A Must watch, whether you are on facebook or not.

The Story (as all are aware) is about facebook founder, a 23 year old and world's youngest billionaire Mark Zuckerberg and how facebook became a worldwide phenomena. More than the story of facebook, the movie illustrates the relationships the founders share, the ruthlessness that comes with being an entrepreneur and the biggest irony that the person who united the world through one website making everyone connected with each others' friends, he himself didn't have any. He was a complete loner and remained till the end. THIS irony is something that i truly loved. How he got everyone connected but still remained disconnected. How he is lonely amongst 500 million friends.To me, THATs what the movie was about rather than a documentary.

The script is edge of the seat without the 'forced drama'. No hard hitting fights between friends, no emotional betrayal, no remorse, no crying. Exactly as the life. No exaggerations. That according to me made the movie it is. The subtleties make it a class act. Because of the same, you can relate to all the characters and identify with their motives and antics. You don't go 'aah.. thats not possible' anywhere. May be its largely because its NOT fiction but hey aren't we used to masala in non fiction as well? Also, i simply loved the ending, it just makes the irony of the loner with 500 million friends so glaring. Just superb. How the movie comes full circle. Brilliant. I will not be too surprised if there is an oscar nomination on the adapted screenplay bit.

The Dialogues were just crazy. I think this could be one of the few movies you could relate with the dialogues that will be repeated for some time to come and. Another thing to notice was the speed at which the dialogues were being delivered as if the actors were trying to meet the pace of the movie itself, which was another highlight of the movieThe movie just runs away without any hiccups and nowhere you had this 'ohh you can skip it' feel. It was among some of the most perfectly paced movies i have seen in recent times. Neither too long nor too short. Everyone performed their part amazingly well, but i somehow loved Justin Timberlake the actor the most out of the lot.

Overall: To be honest, I can't really think of any negatives as of now. May be if i watch it again. I might notice a few problems here and there.A Must Watch even if you are not aware of 'the facebook story'. The movie in itself is pretty engrossing. Just book the tickets and go.

Feel-O-Meter: 9/10

PS: May be i am too much of a facebook fan, but here i am only writing about the 'movie' and not the social phenomena that mark and his friends founded. BTW, i think Mark as a person is an absolute failure and a cunning bitch himself but just loved the entrepreneur in him.

Golmaal 3: Dear Mr Shetty, Please learn from your Comedy Circus Contestants

2010-11-12T08:15:00.000-08:00

What's the bad thing about a joke? No matter how funny it is the first time, It ceases to be if you hear it again and again. The same is the case with the Golmaal franchise, I think the first movie was a laugh riot and an absolute cracker of a comedy. One of the best in the last 10 years according to me. But then, the second was a little lesser and the third one seems just like a reflection of the last two. Rohit Shetty is riding a tiger called the Golmaal Franchise. He didn't know what to do and was too afraid to let go of the same. So he decides, Hey why not cash in on the brand recall. Atleast people will watch it once and it will be a hit anyways. And Eureka ! Exactly thats what happened.

Let me clarify that i am a HUUUGE fan of mindless comedies. The kind of movies where you can forget logic/sense and just have some fun. But the most important thing to keep in mind is that a comedy is supposed to be funny. I am sorry, but dogs biting people's asses, rockets burning down fireworks' shops, or people on a chaat wala tawa screaming are not funny to me now. Especially given the fact the last two instalments were funny not only due to the antics but due to the script part too.

The punches are pretty neat and topical but the thing that lacks is a common threat that binds the movie together. The 'plot' is not there. Its as if the director says, 'Who Cares about the story anyways right?'. I agree, that it doesn't have to be a heart warming story but even a very basic thread that binds the overall progression of all of whats happening on the screen is a very important requirement and THAT wasn't present. At 2.5 hours, it was too long for a comedy without a plot to sustain.

The movie just seemed like different Comedy Circus contestants coming together and making a movie. Where its not a 'movie' but rather a collection of different 'acts'. And ya, Mind you, the contestants on the show are FAR FAR funnier than ANY of the actors/writers/director of this 'comedy'. I think the 'judge' needs to learn a lot more from the contestants there.

Have you noticed that a number of times these Stand up comics come together, make a movie and nobody watches that. THATs also mindless but has brilliant comedians (much better than our movie stars) and still the movie is a flop. The reason nobody wants to watch these contestants on the big screen no matter how good the plot/script could be. Its like a reverse process in this case. The actors are bad, the script/plot is not existent but still it works because its the 'Brand' that sells.

The two things good about the movie were 1. Addition of Kunal Khemu, who provides some freshness to the stale cast. and 2. Some REALLY funny and topical punchlines.

Overall: A Mindless non-comedy. Give it a Miss. A couple of funny scenes here and there but definitely not worth spending 2.5 hours (Even if the tickets are sponsored)

Feel-O-Meter: 4/10

Anjaana Anjaani: Perfect Rom-Com

2010-10-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

Well, What do you expect when you are going to watch a Bollywood Rom Com? Cat Fights between the leading pair (who more often than not are exactly opposites) in the first half and then some lovey dovey chemistry in the latter, Some Cute moments, Some Stupid but funny sequences, Thoda sa Romaaance, Good music/songs, Decent Direction, Story, Script and a lot of 'those' moments which just make it neat. Right? And that's all is there in Anjaana Anjaani. Should watch (Preferably with your boyfriend/girlfriend/prospect).

Every Rom-Com has to have those 'moments' which make you smile and AA has its own share of these moments. The movie is (obviously) about two strangers meeting, both of them are trying to commit suicide and then try to 'live' before they die. Then comes the usual Rom Com stuff with full on Ladna Jhagadna, Pyaar ka Ehsaas hona, milna, bichadna,Thoda drama, Realization hona, Phir se milna, etc. Same old formula with the difference being that the leading pair is Simple Story. The only difference could be in the 'treatment' and there is. The movie has its own 'fresh' appeal despite you already knowing what would happen. Even though a couple of sequences seem slightly forced or predictable, you still enjoy the package overall.

One of the most important reasons of AA working is that i think the roles suited both the leading actors just perfect. Priyanka Chopra is her own bubbly self and you can't escape having a smile on your face when ever she does(or even overdoes) her smiley part. For Ranbir Kapoor, the actor, i already have tremendous respect among the future super stars of bollywood. Every role that he plays seems written for him. Be it his serious role in Rajneeti or loserish lover in Amar Prem ki Gazab Kahani or even the sardaar in Rocket Singh. In AA also he doesnt disappoint at all. He is as smooth as you can get. Full Marks to both of them there. Even if they are good on stand alone basis, i think they become better when it comes to their chemistry. They come across as friends on screen as well as off screen. Either they are, or they are just pretty good actors. Others anyways have no role to play so no need to mention anybody.

Music is plain simple Kick Ass. Almost EVERY song rocks. The range in the album is pretty broad too which could be explained by the variety of singers on the sound track. On one hand you have Rahat Fateh Ali Khan with his soulful sufi in Aas Paas Khuda and on the other you have Shekhar/Shilpa Rao with their jumpy title as well as I feel good tracks. You have mohit chauhan's melodious voice in tujhe Bhula Diya on one hand and on the other you have lucky ali in his rockish avatar with Hairat Hai. Though there are a couple of songs which seem ill fitted in the narrative, but Overall, i think the sound tracks adds to the overall feel of the movie and makes it a better from a good movie.

To be honest, there was hardly anything which i had a BIG problem with. Its one of those movies, where you just go to have some easy masala entertainment with good music, cute moments minus the cheap/overzealous comedy. And you will not be disappointed.

Overall : A Definite Watch.

Feel-O-Meter: 7.5/10

Khichdi: Over Cooked

2010-10-03T08:10:00.000-07:00

I have always been a crazy die hard khichdi fan and as soon as i saw the promos on air, decided to watch it first day. And That's what i did. The promos were fabulous and all the jokes (in those 5-6 different promos) were crazily funny. The problem is, those were ALL the funny moments in the movie. If you have seen the promos, you have seen it all. The problem with the jokes is that if you have heard it earlier, it might be the craziest joke ever, but it just sound the same, its just not as funny as the first time. Exactly what happens here, the jokes are neat but since ALL of these were already shown in the ads, they just dont feel 'khichdi' enough. I just love the crazy nonsense on the TV series and have hardly missed an episode. But the movie is not even 10% of the series. May be because the story/script was funny only for half an hour but it got stretched to 2 hours. If you havent seen any of the promos and are a khichdi fan. MAY Go and watch if you have absolutely nothing to do and get free tickets and ride to a good cinema hall along with popcorn, drinks etc.

I think apart from the lack of (number of ) funny moments, another problem was that the movie was too dependent on prafull and hansa. But their chemistry, no matter how good it is, cannot compensate for (overall) bad writing. The stage was set from the initial draft of the story itself. I mean take the funniest gujju family in India, Add to it some sardaars and try to have a marriage between the two. But sadly, the execution did not live up to the story expectations. The script just did not have that punch. Mind you, i am not saying that the jokes were not funny, but at the end of the day you are watching a movie and not a re-run of a laughter challenge show. So those jokes have to be told 'through' the script. I expected a lot more idiocy, lot more goof, lot more over the top humor, lot more slapstick. But sadly, none of it came true. Infact, with in the first half an hour i got bored and started looking at my watch because the story was not going anywhere.

One the performance front Prafull and Hansa rock, but thats the problem. They are the only characters which are funny and they are not the center of the script. To be honest, i think the producer who also playing the lead role has something to do with it. May be he just wanted to put HIM in the limelight, so he made a movie keeping him as the central character. JD should realize that he is NOT funny and no matter how desperately he tries, he just CANNOT be. So he should have given more space to the characters who are. Had he kept Prafull and Hansa in the middle and made a story AROUND them, it would be much funnier. The Jayshree cast replacement also did not help either. The actor who plays the role in the movie is not even 10% of the original. The only funny thing i could find was to do with a perfect (mis)casting of a pretty hot damsel in the role of a perfect sardarni bimbo. To be honest, she looked too good to be dumb and definitely did not have any sardarni-sh demeanors about her. The Sardar cliches were too.. hmmmm... cliched..

Overall: A thumbs down if you are a khichdi fan. A big disappointment. Wish they come up with another one but with prafull and hansa in the center of the storyline. As far as this is concerned, Would advise to watch the re runs of the TV series on youtube instead or watch the trailer @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asS1nFf3CjY. That should be good enough :)

Overall : 2/10 (For the 4-5 ammmazingly funny jokes here and there)

2010-09-28T08:38:00.001-07:00

Dabangg: Not 'Wanted'

2010-09-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

Dabangg is one of the worst movies this year. Although you (obviously) expect nothing but a masala movie, it falls short even on that front. Its one of those movies, which just tries too hard to do a lot of things and is an absolute failure on (almost) all the fronts. Bad Script, Bad Direction, Bad Performances, none of the jokes were funny. The only saving grace was the music, EVERY song is either foot tapping or soothing. But you dont watch movies because of songs right? You buy/download the CD. Do that. But do not fall prey to this marketing gimmick. If this grosses more than 3 Idiots, it would be shameful for bollywood.

Let me clarify one thing to start with. I am NOT one of those intellectual cinema lovers who make faces when somebody mentions 'masala' movies. For that matter, I loved Salman Khan's last masala flick Wanted. But this is absolute trash. Funny Sequences are not funny, Romantic sequences are not romantic, Action is not pathbreaking, You almost laugh at emotional Scenes, Story goes here and there (almost everywhere) but just doesnt make sense at all. There is just no idea as to what and why are we watching this. May be the brief was, 'Okay, Lets make a movie with say 5 Crs(Salman cost Zero, New Director cost Zero, New Actress cost Zero, Arbaaz Cost zero, Malaika Item song cost Zero) and spend 20 Crs on marketing, Show Salman on Every channel (Indian or Pakistani), Add the Katrina Break up bit, Generate some publicity, Fool people into watching it one time and gross about 50 Crs in the opening weekend and Laugh at a whole nation coming out of the cinemas looking/feeling like Idiots'. Well, the plan was a success!!

Salman returns with his 'Hello Brother' BS minus the pungiiii. He tries so hard at being funny, but he just isn't. More because there is nothing in the script that can be called funny in the 200 mile radius of the word 'funny'. (PS: Funny, the way i used the word funny so many times in the last sentence :P ). Arbaaz is a stupid actor and his stupidity is proved that he actually looks smart in a character that is supposed to be stupid !! Om Puri is wasted not being given any scope to perform. Sonu Sood (as expected) does nothing apart from showing off his Steroid-swollen Body. The only saving grace on the performance front was Sonakshi Sinha. I think she was too good for this movie. I would really want to see her in a meaty and more sensible role in the future. If she gets some good performance oriented roles, i think she can beat the hell out of the current Katrinas of the world.

As already mentioned, The music is just fabulous. Every song strikes the chord its supposed to strike. Munni is an absolute sadakchaap club number for the drunken men in shaadis. Tere mast mast do nain is soothing and just touches your heart in Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's vocals. All the other songs are pretty smooth too. There isn't anything else that is worth mentioning to be honest. Nothing on the technical side also came out and said 'Oh thats new' to me.

Overall, Garbage in the name of 'Masala'. Do not watch unless you are offered a ticket free of cost and you are going with your college friends (read: NOT girlfriend). Watch it in a tier 2 city in a single screen theater instead. I am sure the atmosphere in the cinema hall will entertain you more than the movie itself

Feel-O-Meter: 2/10

Peepli [live]: Do visit

2010-08-22T00:26:00.000-07:00

Take Jaane bhi do yaaron, Hero Hiralal, Phir bhi dil hai hindustani and make the setting rural. Take some of the fine 'actors' (not stars) and give them characters (not roles). Take compelling Social issues and put a dose of humour. You get Peepli [live]. The movie humor but its own tongue in cheek style. For me, the best part was the performances , fantastic dialogues and absolutely precise casting. Music by Indian Ocean rocks. Direction is tight. It has everything but lacks that 'something' which shakes your soul when you have such a serious issue at a film's base. But still is one of the better movies this year. Do not miss.

The movie is about two brothers-one of which convinces the other to commit suicide so that they can get some money from the government, TRP hungry media, Don't care a damn Bureaucrats, Will do anything to stay or come in power Politicians. Apart from the main farmer suicide issue, the movie dealt more with the migration of workers to cities than villages because there is no option left for them, in a very subtle way.

The Best part about the movie was perfect casting. Everybody (and i mean everybody) scores. Be it the confused Natha, The Schemey Budhia, The venomous Mother, The irritated Bahu, The Politicians (local and national), The Reporters. Everyone suits one's role as if he/she was cast first and then the role was written after keeping him/her in mind. While watching you hardly seem to notice actors, but characters. I bet if you open your eyes and roll down car's windows tomorrow, you will watch all these characters on the street. And that obviously lead to one of the finest (collective) performances i have seen in a while.

The dialogues were pointed, satirical, entertaining and pinching at the same time. I have seen and heard budhia and Nathas in my locality as the press wallahs, the doodh wallahs, the maids in my childhood and you can take my word for it, that the words were absolutely the same. They are not the dialogues written by an urban 'scriptwriter' to be spoken by 'actors' but you can feel that earthy feel with every word uttered. Music again is typical Indian Ocean and (obviously) has that folk-y feel. The cinematography is neat (I really liked the scenes where actual media-cameras were used in the media-crowd scenes).

No doubt its an honest movie made from the heart, but it loses its steam in the middle when things start to get repetitive especially when the media spoofs become too spoofy. They are entertaining, no doubt, but I think the point was already made and it seems that it was stretched too far and wasn't required. Another thing that i felt could have been done was to actually stop the 'fun/humour' element at some point and the movie could have been given a 'darker' feel in the second half. With the subject like this, I think it would have been amazing if the movie could just spin over its head and suddenly turn negative and brutal.

According to me, Alls well that ends well applies most to movies. Most people take the last few sequences out of the cinema hall. Thats what they remember. It (any movie) could be a fantastic movie , but if the ending sucks. You suddenly ignore the better parts (just an example, not that it applies in this case) and come home only with the worse ones.

I would have really liked a 'Play-like' Ending, when the lead actor is lonely and sitting in the corner with a spotlight on, and it fades slowly. But in order to reach that build up, more brutality was required. You should feel for Natha, even cry for his state. He has the whole family back home. Wife, Mother, Brother, Kids but Here he is in the city, absolutely lonely. No one to talk to. He cant even go back. He cant even talk to them and still you don't feel as sad for him as you should have. Make the second half absolutely darker i say. For eg, what Dibarkar Banerjee did in LSD (the Love Story Chapter) when you have this spoofy feel throughout and suddenly the pair is killed brutally. THAT kind of a treatment towards the end could have taken the movie at a different level altogether. It could have made the audience 'feel' more for Natha.

Overall, one of the better movies this year. A Definite Watch

Feel-O-Meter: 7/10

PS: I think there were a lot of hidden messages in the script which i missed. Would definitely want to watch it again to understand it even better. For eg. Why was Natha riding a wedding horse while asleep? or What does the handpump signify? Do tell me if you have any idea.

The Expendables: Dispensable

2010-08-14T23:32:00.000-07:00

The Expendables is a perfect example of how you can take up the biggest action stars like Stallone, Statham, Jet Li, Mickey Rourke, (cameos by) Arnie and Bruce Willis and two (almost) hotties and still make like the worst movie possible. Its exactly what its meant to be. The 80s action movie. The problem is we aren't in the 80s anymore, where idea of an action movie was blood splattered all across, gory throat slits, 1:236 Hero:Men Killed ratio, Mindless Explosions etc etc. Offers absolutely nothing except.... okay.. nothing. Even the A-Team was better.

Dear Sly, We have loved you so much in Rocky and Rambo series, butthat doesn't mean that we can love you over 60 doing actionsequenceslike a 20 something and romancing a 28 year old hottie, justbecauseyou are the producer (and the director). I mean for God's sake,she looks (and is more than) half your age. It was just gross to eventhink of, to be honest. Please Act your age.

The main plot is like any other TOLLYWOOD movie, that puts even Rajnikant to shame. Guys go on amission. One Guy falls in love with a girl there, who is left behind.The guy goes back with his other friends to rescue her. Villains,Villains' Chamchas, Hamming, Fire, People falling here and there,Blood, Blasts, Throats Slits, Hand Slits etc etc and the girl isrescued. The only difference being that the girl is (probably) lessthan the hero's daughters age. Its like Dharmendra teaming up withAmitabh Bachhan, Sunil Dutt, Shashi Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Pran etc torescue the love of his life (hmmm say Priyanka Chopra) from evil Ajitand (my favorite) Ranjeet. Even Priyanks is running full speed whenAjit is trying to take her away from Dharmendra.No wonder to be honest. If there is a choice between Stallone and the villain, any girl would choose the latter.

Most probably you would expect a mindless action movie, but the problem is that the action is also very 80s. There is nothing that impresses apart from a shot gun that blows (yes literally.. blows) you in half. The special effects are so bad, as if it was a animation project of an Arena Multimedia 2 month summer course's student. There is cacophony all over and you dont even seem to realize who is killing whom or who is blowing whose face/ body/helicopter/plane/drums/palace etc etc. Even the fights are so WWE kinds that they turn you off completely. I mean its full of those fake WWE locks and clotheslines and pearl drivers. I mean its ok that you have Steve Austin as a side villain but that doesn't mean you will choreograph the fights also like WWE.

Overall, the plot is pathetic, the action sequences are badly executed, funny lines are (except one or two) not funny, No chemistry between the lead pair or even the gang. There is absolutely nothing in the movie you might enjoy to be honest. Even Gisele Tittie ooooops... i mean Itie also stops being interesting after 10 minutes of screen time. Do not watch, even if you are paid to.

Feel-O-Meter :2/10

Star Wars: THE original epic

2010-08-08T09:06:00.000-07:00

What makes Star Wars tick? There are so many movies and movie series, then what is in the george lucas' epic saga of the galaxy far far away that makes it different from all others and makes it what the others aren't. Afterall, there are series which have (arguably) made more money, have had better technology/special effects, had better story, had better characterization, had better performances, better heroes, better villains. If you are a performance oriented movies lover then Godfather scores. If you are the techie then LOTR and the Matrix. If you are the adventure kinds then the bonds and the bournes are there. If you are the fighter then the rambos and rockys are always there. Then What makes Star Wars so special?

Well, my take is that simply because it had All of the above and much more. The foremost thiing that i can think of is the story. Every movie (in its basic form) has this Good vs Evil story to begin with and then it moves further. Star Wars was no different. But to me, the humanness of the story is the biggest reason. More than anything else. The viewer just immerses in the story as if he is actually a part of the same. When in Empire Strikes back, Darth tells Luke, I am your father. You suddenly forget its a story and your heart just goes Ohhhh.. Now what!!! What would happen now. What would Luke do. Even in Return of the Jedi, when Luke confronts Darth Vader in the end, although you know that in the end Darth would turn good in the end, you still have your heart in your mouth, when those lightsabers collide. It is THEN, the movie stops being a technological show and you feel that a story is being told and the galaxy, the warships, the special effects or anything else is just ancillary to the basic plot of good vs evil and the human relationships in between.

The way Star Wars (although being a techie/special effects movie as far as the setting is concerned) deals with human relationships at the very basic level is portrayed in the most beautiful way possible. The Conflict between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker as father-son is just the best portrayal that you could imagine. The father who once was a good man but now iis the warlord who is trying to kill the son and his friends (etc etc), but the son still feels that he has some good left in him.

On the relationships front only, there are these different friendships which bind the whole cast together. Starting from the phantom menace(i will go in the chronolical order of the story and not the release), we see that between obi wan and qui gon. Qui Gon and (young) Skywalker also have a similar friendship/chemistry despite their age gap. Even if you move further the friendship remains the essence of the series. Then between grown up Anakin and Obi Wan in the attack of the clones and Revenge of the Sith. Although Qui-Gon & Obi wan as well as Anakin and Obi Wan have this master disciple relationship, their friendship is still the more basic feeling that they feel for each other. Or for that matter, take Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, Han and Chewbaca or even (rather especially) R2D2 and C3PO. Despite them being robots, you can still feel that trust, care and friendship between the two. As if they are infact more human than the rest of the cast.

On the technology front also, i hear that LOTR was better or Matrix etc. But one thing we fail to realize is that when the first star wars was released. The wachowsky brotherw were yet to enter their teens. There was no internet. There were no movies(that i can remember) which had any special effects to talk about. First, the conceiving a story which was based on something hardly ever heard of and then thinking of ways to portray that onto the big screen was something. That too when most of us(who think that we have the authority to write anything on cinema :P ) were not even born. That was a feat in itself.

I dont quite know how much more i can go on and on and on, on each aspect of the movie. Infact i could just go on writing a note on each of the characters. On (arguably) the greatest movie villain of all times. On the adventure. On the Excitement. On the Chemistry. And a thousand other things. May be i am just an awestruck fan who thinks that the movie deals what cinema is supposed to do. Take you out of your daily miseries and tell you a story. A Story that will bind you down. A Story that stays with you even after you walk out of the cinema. A Story you would like to hear again and again no matter how many times you have heard it already. A Story that will take you to a wonderland where you have never been earlier. A story that lets you experience something you have never experienced earlier. Thats what Star Wars was. A Story that did all that. More than 3 Decades ago, still has the same effect even now and hopefully, will have the same effect on the generations to come. May the Force be with you. :)

Aisha: Sucks :P

2010-08-08T01:24:00.000-07:00

Aisha is Jane Austen's Emma Adaptation, which has almost nothing to offer except two (may be three) good songs, three or four funny dialogues at the interval of around 30 minutes each, pretty good performance by the debutant amrita puri. Thats it. Its a perfect example of how badly you can screw up with an amazing subject because the film is produced by the lead actor's father. Make it 20 mins shorter. Throw out Sonam Kapoor and still can be watchable. I hope somebody else makes it coz i really liked the story. Don't watch.

The biggest problem with the movie was sonam kapoor. I mean for god's sake. SHE CAN'T ACT. Just because your father is an actor does not mean you have the ability to carry off a movie on your (almost anorexic) shoulders. The funnily squeaky voice doesn't help either. Its irritating to say the least. Every time she is on screen, I was like damn man, isn't there a fast forward option here. The worst part is that SHE is all what the movie has. Every single scene, frame, she is there. There is no scene that i can remember where she wasnt present and that screwed the matters even worse.

I understand that the movie is called 'Aisha' and she is supposed to be there but i wonder if Anil Kapoor hadn't produced it, same would have been the case. It looks like another 'Karate Kid-2010' where will smith made the movie just as a birthday (or whatever) present to his son. Anil has done the same may be. Sonam: "booo hoo hoooo, Daddy i am not getting any movies". Daddy: "'Ohhhhh, my poor baby, you want a gift. Okay let me produce a movie for you. You will play the lead. No one else will have anything else to do. And out of your 469 scenes may be somebody might notice ONE scene and you get another movie" types. Gimme a break..

To be honest, I think rest all were fine. Amrita puri has delivered a cracker of a performance. She is sweet, cute, stupid, bubbly and much more. She is the thing to watch out for. Ira Dubey din't have much to do and she doesn't hurt the eye. Abhay Deol has not been given any space to perform. He comes, says a dialogue or too. Goes away. Comes back again and has been given the most stupid lines. Lisa Haydon and Arunoday Singh do what they are supposed to. They look hotttt. Period. Cyrus Sahukar is funny here and there. Anand Tiwari is decent and thats it. Its Amrita puri all the way as far as performance is concerned.

The story (although borrowed) is pretty cool and deserved a much better female lead to carry it off. I wonder if a Preity Zinta could have done what Sonam couldn't. Athough there are 4 lead pairs and A loves B, B loves C, C loves A, D loves B, E loves A, F loves E and blah blah blah. You stilll realize (in the first 30 mins only) that who would land up with whom. The loser lands up with the loser. The hottie with the Hottie. The middle class with middle class. Childhood friend with Child hood friend. and in such a scenario only the situations and timing could have saved the cause. Sadly, it doesn't.

There were two or three very funny dialogues but almost come at an interval of 30 minutes each and till that time you are bored as hell. Some of the lines specially towards the end are amazingly stupid and not funny. You are like, WTF man...Who says that.. types..

Rajshree Ojha tries her best to save the movie from Sonam Kapoor and dheeli script and i am sure given a better actor and script, she would deliver a much better movie. Amit Trivedi has done his magic again in the title track, gall mithi mithi bol and Shaam. Background score is pretty so so. Nothing Dev D like.

Overall : A Pretty promising subject screwed due to a bad script and pathetic performance by the lead actor. Remove Sonam and make a tighter script and remove all the loser-ish dialogues in the second half and could be watchable then. Give it a miss otherwise.

Feel-O-Meter : 3/10

PS: I think the title role should have been given to Amrita Puri and she could have taken the movie to a different level altogether. and yeah, iif you like sonam kapoor (which is unlikely) and can tolerate her funny voice, you can watch it once i guess. :)

PPS: Even in the image, Abhay's Expression is like 'Like seriously??? and you call yourself an Actor??? :P

PPPS: The title of the note is borrowed from a friend's status msg :)

Once Upon a time in Mumbai: Salim Javed ruled bollywood

2010-08-05T10:04:00.000-07:00

The movie more than being set in the 70s, is actually made like a 70s movie. Every frame reminds you of Manmohan Desai, Prakash Mehra, Yash Chopra, Ramesh Sippy, Salim Javed, Amitabh Bachan, Deewar, Don, Shaan, Trishul, Sholay, Zanjeer, even Agneepath (though late 80s). It reminds so much of those dialogue heavy film making when the movies were not about the story but the dialogues. Most 70s movies you can relate to, will have atleast one dialogue you will remember. From 'Mere paas Maa hai' to 'Main aaj bhi faike huye paise nahi uthata'. From 'Tera kya hoga kaliya' to 'Vijay Dinanath Chauhan'. Once upon is exactly in the same league. It does not overdo it like Farah Khan to show that she loves the bollywood of that era. Rather it takes the same setting and makes the movie exactly as per the narrative. Stunning performances, Kick Ass dialogues, Decent Music, Controlled direction. (Almost) everything was good. A Definite watch if you haven't already.

I'll be honest, i didn't actually want to see this movie. The strongest reason being presence of Kangana Ranaut and Emraan Hashmi. If i could, i would throw these out of bollywood right now and forbid everyone to do any movie with them. I think they are among some of the worst actors we have here. But still, i was too intrigued by the Haji Mastaan parallels and wanted to see it. So reluctantly decided to watch it and promised to ignore the two (non)actors i just mentioned. And am i glad i did that or what?

The movie is set in the 70s (as already established earlier) and is pretty close to the underworld Don Haji Mastaan and to be (at that time) Don Dawood Ibrahim. Former makes the latter other only to be betrayed later. Its typical 70s cinema when the protagonist rises from the streets and is seen as a 'maseeha' in its locality. Too much information on the plot is neither relevant nor makes any difference.

The surprise package for me was Randeep hooda (who ironically is mentioned as a special appearance in the credits). To me, he was the pick of the lot. Yes, Even better than Ajay Devgan. May be because from Devgan you expect a certain standard while playing gangsta roles especially after company. Randeep had the most amazing dialogue delivery and i havent really heard such a deep voice in the younger actors since ages. His performance was exactly where it should be. Neither in the under acting nor in the hamming zone. Just at the line. Ajay (obviously) was amazing and actually adds to the dialogues through his delivery of content. Emraan Hashmi (to my surprise) was tolerable. (May be i liked the dialogues too much that i dint really bother about who was saying those :P). Kangana. . Prachi Desai dint have much to do anyways.

Another thing i (could have) liked was the background score had i not known the original tracks Pritam lifted it from. I was surprised how shamelessly the guy can pick up such popular soundtrack as Rock n Rolla and pass off as his own. I dont think he knows that the movie also released in the metros and there are people who follow hollywood. A couple of songs (original or otherwise) are hummable especially pee loon. Also, i dont think Pritam was able to give that retro feel that the narrative deserved.

Direction was crisp, although the first half seemed slightly longer. The movie dint actually move too much till the interval. I would have liked it more if the animosity between emraan and ajay should have been kept for some more time, given more time to cook and then the climax. Because of the stretched first half , the ending seemed abrupt and all too sudden.

Anyways, I hope a sequel is on the cards (PS: please dont keep emraan hashmi there)

Overall : A Definite watch to remind you of the 70s cinema

Feel-O-Meter: 8/10

PS: Do you think randeep portraying Emraan's role could have been taken it even further?? Just a thought :)

Udaan: Fly High

2010-07-18T09:14:00.001-07:00

Udaan is one of those movies which leave you teary eyes at times and sends you rolling in your chair laughing on others. Its a movie which everyone can relate to at some point or the other. Its about growing up. Its about difference of opinions. Its about the endless arguments with parents. Its about freedom. Its about individuality. Its about finding your own place in the sun. Its a movie which is supposed to be felt rather than seen. It touches a chord somewhere and you come back home with a smile. Good performances. Amazing Writing. Terrific Background Score/Tracks. Gripping Direction. Its almost the most perfect movie this year. Must watch for everybody.

As a background, Rohan (Rajat Barmecha) is expelled from his school and is sent back to his hometown jamshedpur. Back home he meets his step brother for the first time. His father is a strict disciplinarian who wants him to study engineering and work in his factory part time, but Rohan wants to become a writer. Its about his free spirit being slowly poisoned and how and whether he will break these shackles and fly high, where he belongs.

The main reason why the movie strikes an instant chord with the audience is because of its simplicity, realism and honesty. What every movie tries to, Udaan is. Althought he plot may be seem to be an extension of taare zameen par or 3 idiots, but the treatment is fresh. The audience just forgets everything and just gets immersed in the narrative. I think the credit goes to Vikramaditya Motwane, who as most first time directors, does everything that he can to remain honest about the story and gives the narrative its due credit at its own pace.

Another good thing about the movie was that the characters look like characters and not actors reading their parts. Rajat Barmecha as the 17 year old, Ronit Roy as the disciplinarian father, Ram Kapoor as the loving uncle and even the 6 year old Aayan Barodia. Everyone delivers.

Amit Trivedi's music and background score is a treat to listen and take the narrative further. It actually feels like a character in the script rather than a being just another background score. The songs just enhance the overall treatment. The last sequence when Rohan runs from his dad and the background music there just takes the movie to another level altogether.

There was nothing negative about the movie but the engineering college senior plot doesn't really add any value to the narrative and the first half seemed slightly slow towards the interval. 15 Mins shorter would have made it even better. But Its brilliant nonetheless.

I just wish that bollywood just takes a new flight of refreshing new cinema from this movie and reaches greater heights. :)

Feel-O-Meter : 9/10

Inception: Dream On

2010-07-18T09:11:00.000-07:00

Inception is the new science fiction-psychological thriller-drama which tests your brain till its limit. Its the kind of a movie wherein you have to be at the edge of your seat at all times. One, because you are so engrossed in the story telling and second, because if you dont you are going to miss the plot altogether. Beautiful Concept. Phenomenal Direction. Terrific Background Score. Amazing special Effects But Average Performances and Very Confusing in parts. First entrant to the oscars this year and a Definite watch if you are a 'heavy-brainy' movie lover.

Leonardo Di caprio is plays an extractor who can enter people's dreams and extract information. He is approached by Ken Watanabe to perform an exercise called inception (which is basically planting an idea in a person's mind in his dreams) on a rival corporate leader to split up his large empire, and in return he would make arrangements to allow leo to enter US again where he is wanted for the murder of his wife, who happens to still be in his subconscious and keeps creating troubles for him whenever he is in his or somebody else's dreams. Add to that a few side kicks who help Leo perform inception. Anything more about the plot and you will get confused already and the story itself would run into 2-3 notes.

The best and the worst part about the movie was its plot. It was sheer brilliant as a concept and full marks to Nolan to even be able to come out with such a thought. How he takes a simple thought and takes it to a different level altogether and all the viewer can do is to wonder how the hell did he even think of this. Loved the dream with in a dream and the concepts of slower passage of time as you travel deeper. Full marks there, but as i said, its the worst part about the movie as well. Sometimes you have to concentrate so much that even if you miss like 30 seconds you are left wondering as to what exactly happened. As one of the characters in the movie herself says 'Whose subconscious are we in exactly, right now!!!' Its great but the layers seem so deep that it might end up frustrating you if you miss certain points.

I wasn't really impressed in the performance department by anybody in particular actually. Most might not agree, but i again think Leonardo was a misfit for the character. His very similar role in shutter island didn't help the movie either. There was no surprise or oh thats great element in the performance front. I more mature actor (especially in terms of looks) could have taken the narrative even further i guess.

The special Effects and CGI graphics were actually a surprise coming from a Nolan movie to be honest. But they were nothing short of extraordinary. Every single CGI scene had that 'Oh Shit, Can you really do that !!' factor. Hans Zimmer's score is phenomenal to say the least and reminds of The Dark Knight all the time.

The Movie seemed 20 minutes too long and the skiing/chase sequences seemed more like a transporter/bond movie and could have been avoided altogether. Also it reminds you a lot of the matrix. But definitely one of the finest movies this year and establishes christopher nolan in the league of camerons, spielbergs and scorseses if not surpassing them. A must watch if you like the movies wherein you get to use your brain. A Definite Oscar entrant for Best Movie, Best Musical Score and Even Best Special Effects may be this year.

Feel-O-Meter :8/10

PS: I know a lot of you would have given it a 10/10 but i guess too many complications, leo's repetitive performance after shutter island, the length of the movie, the forced action/chase sequences, and unimpressive acting by the cast overall would force me to deduct 2 :)

I Hate Luv Storys : Break Up :(

2010-07-03T22:59:00.000-07:00

The movie starts on a promising note and ends up being absolutely rubbish. There is nothing in the movie except a couple of good songs, one or two good one liners and Imran Khan's cuteness (that too only in the first 30 minutes or so). Actors are Pathetic. Script is below average. Narrative seems broken at quite a few places. Background score is irritating to say the least. Its not the 'Damn.. I am frustrated' material and gives you a few moments here and there, which make you smile but thats the problem the moments are just too 'few'. Can watch but get ready to be irritated through a considerable part.

(Obviously) The movie is about a guy who doenst believe in the concept of 'luv' and a girl who just loves the idea of being in love. They Meet, They Hate, Girl likes him, then falls in love, Guy says No, Misses her, Realizes, Comes back, Girl Says no, Some twist and turns and the mandatory filmy ending. Funny part is that the movie mocks the whole concept of love stories and the 'bollywood cliches', but then ends up being the same ghisa pita formula itself. (May be that was the idea as well, but honestly if you had to come back to square one. Then spending crores and making a movie justifying the love-ness in bollywood was not really worth it i guess).

Its a cute-ish movie in the first half but drags so long in the second half that you are like ,'oh come on ya.. ho gaya.. ab bass kar mere baap'. But no, it goes on and on.The first half an hour was indeed very enjoyable and i went 'Hey.. I like this movie ya.. Pretty cute'. And i think 'Nazar lag gayi'. The movie just goes off the track suddenly. The second half is torturous to say the least, as if the director finished the movie and realized 'Oh shit. Only one hour long. What to do now? and then stretches it to another hour and 15-20 minutes. It just goes absolutely rubbish post intermission. Its like a different movie altogether. As if the crew was not paid and they took out all the frustration in the latter half just to take revenge.

It tries to mock the YRF-KJO genre but remains one of those itself. The Director just seemed to have no clue, as what he was trying to make. A Love story, Comedy, Drama, Parody and just leaves the script run amok without any sense of direction or purpose. Another example of trying to do too much and achieving nothing.

NONE of the actors were close to being 'average'. Almost everybody sucked. Some sucked bad. Others worse. The only saving grace(a bit) was Imran Khan, in the first half. He looks cute and performs sweet (and ya.. thats about it). Sonam Kapoor is anyways as irritating as her voice. Others are not even worth mentioning here. One of the worst 'complete package non-performance' this year. I think mis-casting was one of the prime reasons for its being a below average movie. I think the movie was not as bad as it turned out to be. Just replace everybody (including imran to ranbir) and it could have been an average one. Some lines were funny but they were delivered so bad that the jokes committed suicide

The thing that i liked about the movie was its Art direction, (to some extent) costumes design and (a much better) cinematography. Some of the dark shots taken under a spotlight were damn neat. But i dont really think these things can pull the audience to the theaters.

Overall : The most disappointing overhyped movie of the year so far. Its not bad but just not good enough. Can watch if have free time and tickets given that there is nothing else which is ON right now. But i suggest you leave after intermission.

Feel-O-Meter : 4/10

The A Team: B Grade

2010-06-30T10:13:00.001-07:00

The movie is nothing but nonsensical high on adrenaline low on everything else bull shit. The only thing worth going for are two (at best three) innovative action sequences done on a very huge scale. Rest all is.... hmmmm... actually nothing even mentioning. If you are a hard core action fan and has absolutely nothing to do and have free tickets, you may go and watch it. Else, Go watch Iron Man on DVD instead.

To be honest, i dont think that the story even matters here. So wont even bother giving details. Well lets just say, its about 4 army rangers (who incidentally who have stripped off their ranks and have put in jail through a conspiracy. And in full bollywood style, they are in the avenge mode. Then some action. Then some more action and in the end, there is some enormous amount of unrequired large scale action.

Okay, (possibly) for the first time i dont have anything to say about a movie. Simply because i dont even remember what happened or i was just too bored between the action sequences and did not bother to even pay attention. You might find it surprising but Jessica Beil couldnt help either.

But, i must praise the action sequences. The scale and the canvas was as huge as it can get. Some of the sequences were pretty novel too. Especially two sequences, one with the tank flying experience and the last one with the dock yard explosions. Those two sequences were like.. wow..

Overall : Must Avoid. If you are not a die hard action movies fan and can survive two long hours for two 5 min sequences.

Feel-O-Meter : 3/10 (thats also pretty high i guess)

PS: Yes, Even i am amazed at the length of the review, but honestly, dont have anything to say at all.

Toy Story 3 : Toys R Us

2010-06-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

The movie is a treat to watch. It manages that fine balance of emotions, adventure and humour in the most perfect way possible. You actually start feeling for the toys as if you are living their lives. Watch Toy Story and you will think twice before throwing away your old toys. It is like melted butter, have no hiccups anywhere and is as smooth as a movie can be. There are no awkward sequences filled to increase the length or anything else. In the end it just leaves you with a 'happy' feeling out of the cinema hall. Must Watch (even for those who havent seen the earlier two installments).

The movie is about friendship and togetherness. Andy is 17 years old and is off to college now. The Toys are scared that they might be thrown away now since he might not love them anymore. Accidentally, the toys land up in a day care center, which is ruled by the cutest teddy bear that you can imagine along with the sweetest 2 year old kid (doll) that you can find. The center is is like the best place on earth they could have hoped for. But then, if all is well, then there is no point making a movie right? The movie takes its twists and turns, full of adventures and misadventures and an amazingly powerful emotional ending that may even leave you teary eyed, if you get involved in the movie.

The narrative is grippy, the voices are superb, the animation is neat, the characters (though are toys) are believable. You even start relating to the characters' dreams and despairs as the movie progresses. There is this edge of the seat excitement where its required. The best part is that the movie doesnt try to do anything special. It is as smooth as a movie can get. There are no special sequences which could divide the movie in parts. It IS indeed a story as a whole rather than a colleciton of some good and some not so good scenes. Almost nowhere in the movie you feel like getting up and going for a leak or popcorn.

I think the only thing which i wished was better, was the quality of 3 D effects. I mean to be honest, there was absolutely no 3 D feeling in almost every sequence. It just looked like a normal 2 D animation movie but less bright and vibrant because of the black 3 D glasses. I would suggest you to watch it in 2 D only.

Overall: Absolute must watch if you are the animation movies kinds, even if you havent seen the earlier two installments. I hadn't either but still absolutely enjoyed it to the core.

Feel-O-Meter : 8/10

Robin Hood : is not Gladiator

2010-06-27T10:14:00.000-07:00

The movie was pretty good as expected but the only problem was that it was only good. I mean with Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe you dont expected 'good', you expect much better. Its just not the DVD you would want to buy as soon as its out. You would most probably prefer to watch it on HBO. The movie had everything working for it but just misses out something which just makes it fall short of a great one. Its just not special enough. Good Cast. Good Performances. Good Direction. Good Cinematography. Good Art Direction. Good Background Score. Good Scipt. Everything was Good. Just 'Good'. There were no complaints in any of the departments from my side except that it felt a bit longish. About 20 mins shorter and it could be every more gripping. Not a 'Must Watch' but surely worth a 'One time watch'.

Quite Unexpectedly, the movie is NOT about Robin Hood's adventures. Its more like a prequel. It tells the story of him before he became the outlaw, which gives me a feeling that it could be a series planned already and this was the first instalment just to gauge ground. Its about how robin longstride became robin hood. The story has no 'oh my god' moments or surprises, but still i would refrain from mentioning anything about it.

The performances are very grippy and solid. Russell crowe is phenomenal as always. Cate Blanchett is okay too. Mark Strong is pretty good in his villainous avatar. Overall, no where you feel uncomfortable and can relate to the actors as characters. Another thing that i liked about the movie was its lack of special effects and Gore. I mean Ridley could have spilled blood all over, slicing people in half with swords or cut throats here and there, but he doesnt do it. There is no 'extra' effort in making it disgusting or painful to watch. The 'Story' matters not the 'Action'

The best thing about the movie was to do with its look, sound and feel. Locations, Art direction, Background Score and cinematography are all top notch. You feel like you are watching an A Grade hollywood flick. Especially the wide angles from the sky give you that grand feel while watching and background score makes it even grander. Definite thumbs up there.

Overall : A Damn Good movie and definitely one time watch, and you won't come back home irritated (read: raavan). If you have to choose a movie to watch this week (or next). This is the one.

Feel-O-Meter : 7/10

The Karate Kid : Needs to Grow up..

2010-06-27T10:13:00.000-07:00

There is absolutely nothing new in the movie. As you already would be aware, its about a kid who has had absolutely no prior training in karate, trying to learn it from his master. The training is pretty boring. The fights are pretty boring. The love angle seems too forced. It just doesnt seem to connect at any level possible. The worst part is that the 'Kids' seem more grown up than the grown ups themselves. There is too much of 'maturity ' in the way they carry themselves. They look like actors playing their parts and not characters. Give it a miss

The only (i guess) new angle to it is that the kid is african american rather than chinese. He has to shift to China since her mother is transferred. Then Bollywood kicks in, as he falls in love (yes.. there is a love story with a 12 year old Black Boy and a Chinese Girl). Then there are villains (all not even teenagers) who kick his butt and in order to save his ass, he has to participate in a karate tournament. And (obviously) Jackie Chan trains him and the kid wins the tournament in the end.

The movie failed at multiple levels for me. As already established, the Kids dont seem like Kids. It looks like a high school/college love story. There is too much 'No mercy' for kids in their pre teens. The fights seem to violent. The tournament itself, doesnt look like a kids' tournament. It looks like a bloody royal rumble or a world heavyweight boxing championship. The (12 year old) kids are out their to break each others' legs or necks with their deadly moves and the trainers ask them for 'No Mercy'. Even the Moms are cheering!!!

The training seems too 'Rocky Balboa-ish', with the kid flexing his biceps while training. Also, there was no 'training' per se. After a (not so much of a) routine for a couple of days, suddenly the kid learns karate with in 30 seconds or so. And then (obviously) he beats up the 'trained' kids one by one in the tournament. Too much to achieve with too little training it seems. And thus, movie loses its 'Oh.. It is possible'-ness.

Also, when the movie has 'Karate' in its title. You expect some karate in the movie and not a 10 min sequence at the end filled with 'ropey antics'. There was too little karate for a karate movie. There are no emotional moments. No Ohh poor kid scenes. Absolutely nothing that one might remember after one comes out of the hall.

Jackie Chan should stick to what he does best. Doing unbelievable non traditional martial arts stunts, which make you go, 'Ohhhh.. How did he do it?' rather than acting like a drunkard trying to (yes, only trying to) teach karate to a 12 year old kid.

Overall : An absolute failure at every level. Do NOT watch

Feel-O-Meter :2/10

Raavan: Good Cause Gone Evil

2010-06-20T23:11:00.000-07:00

I write this review with utter disappointment and despair. I am more sad than frustrated or irritated. Cant believe that a film maker like Mani Ratnam could make such a movie. Infact, when i heard from so many people thats its pretty bad, i assumed that they would not have understood the plot and Mani would have made it too 'Interpretative'. But sadly i annoucne, that the movie is just one of the worst i have seen in recent times. It is just plain boring.

It had the most promising Storyline on paper, but unfortunately it stayed only on paper. The execution was as bad as it could have got. Actors are hamming to the core. Dialogues are pathetic. Narrative is slow. Music is as if Rahman just went to some old box of music sheets and gave it to Mani Ratnam as he was too busy composing for some international project. Background score is cacophonous to say the least. The only redeeming factor was excellent cinematography by Santosh Sivan, a few interpratations of Ramayana which were very thoughtful and... hmmm.. nothing else actually.

The plot itself was the backbone of the film. Imagine taking Ramayana and giving the 'Good vs Evil' a whole new interpretation. According to me, the central theme was 'Good is Who does Good' and nothing can be described in Good vs Evil just by itself. In the movie Raavan doesn't kill anybody in the movie who is not a policeman. He even leaves Ram and Laxman Alive when he gets his chance as well. But Ram uses Sita as a tool to kill Raavan. How Ram can become Ravana and how Ravana can be a hero just by their deeds. Phenomenal Storyline but the execution screwed it all.

One problem that i found was with the marketing, even the name of the film itself. When you name a movie 'Raavan' you already disclose every single thing about the plot and the audience is never interested in the story because they already know about it. Its a different high altogether when you go to the cinema hall and then 'decode' the inferences to the epic. Thats what raajneeti did amazingly well. You dint know it was based on mahabharata but as you went ahead in the movie, you started drawing parallels and had that 'ohhhh.. thats a nice way of putting things in perspective' expression. It would have been much more interesting had he not disclosed that it was based on ramayana. Then, 'finding' out that its based on the epic would be much more exciting and gripping. The characters like ram, sita, raavan, hanuman, laxman, supranakha,vibheeshana would make more sense.

As already established, it was amazingly written on paper in terms of giving a new dimension to the epic's interpretation. I just loved the parallels that mani drew with laxman cutting supranakha's nose and in the movie it is done through her rape. Even in hindi Naak Katnaa is equivalent to rape/pre marital sex itself. I think that was amazingly put across but such instances were too few to quote.

I just wish that movie is made again without the 'Stars'. Abhishek bacchan was the worst of the lot. He hams more than KRK. Has no idea what is doing and why. Just flexing his facial expressions and doing a nana patekar here and there. Aishwarya is doing nothing but flaunting her cleavage in skimpy and amazingly tight blouses. I wonder how she was breathing. (PS : Though i am not complaining here ;D ) Govinda was pretty sweet in his hanuman portrayal. Rest nobody had anything to do anyways.

Music (specially background score) was Cacophonous to say the least. God knows why 'Ranjha Ranjha' started playing in Rekha Bhardwaj's spooky tone in one of the sequences which was irritating to say the least. Suddenly Ganesh Acharya comes in the middle of a song sequence. There was no head and tail with any song what so ever. They were just there coz film maker thought I have to have a few songs if i am paying rahman for the job.

Overall: One of the most disappointing movies in recent times. I still cant believe maniratnam screwed such a great story. I just wish somebody makes it again with no 'stars'.

Feel-o-Meter : 4 (which i think is on the higher side, but 2 each for a couple of 'interpretations' in the narrative were very thoughtful and good cinematography)

Shutter Island : Scorsese Meets Shyamalan

2010-06-06T10:15:00.000-07:00

The movie is an absolute edge of the seat stuff. From the very first scene when leonardo enters the shutter island, you can't even think of taking a call (boss' or natures included) and you just want to remain seated and witness scorsese's brilliance. Its a psychological blink and you miss thriller. Every 10 minutes you have a different question in mind. Whether this is happening or that? Sometimes you even start to feel schizophrenic yourself. Sometimes you feel its a thriller, Others it seems like a horror flick. But then, you don't expect the master to do a horror flick, right. The best part is its unpredictability. The screenplay is just amazing. Must Watch at any cost.

Well, Almost throughout the movie i kept thinking about M. Knight Shyamalan style of psychological thriller types movie making. It was as if the movie was not by Scorsese but by him. It was the same creepy feeling, the same 'I see Dead people' kinda feel to it. And it works amazingly well.

The only problem about this review is that i cannot divulge any details with respect to the storyline or else it'll be a spoiler. And the flip side is no matter how much i praise this movie, the review will not give you 'the feel' that the movie will deliver. The movie is about a mental institution headed by Dr Cawley (Ben Kingsley) where prisoners are sent to for treatment, at a secluded island. Edward Daniels (Leo), a US marshall comes to investigate the case of a patient who suddenly disappears from her locked room. Edward has his own history of being a US soldier in germany during second world war and a wife who died because a fire broke out in his house. To top that, Edward thinks that the institution itself could be practicing human experiments and the patients are the just the guinea pigs for those experiments. The movie goes back and forth from one story to the other layer by layer and the ending is just crazy (in a good way)

The Score by Gustav Mahler reminded me a lot of the great Hans Zimmer and i dont think i need to say anything more. It was just plain brilliant. It just took the movie to a different level altogether. It just sends chills through your spine in every single shot. The cinematography with all those grey tones was fabulous. The art direction and the sets were top of the line as well.

Overall an absolute cracker and a must must watch.

Feel-O-Meter : 9/10 (I know i havent said anything bad about it, then why 1 point less?? check out the PS note)

PS: I just wish that in place of Leonardo, the movie had Russell Crowe (even Bruce Willis would do). It would have taken the movie in a different trajectory altogether. Leo was not bad but he is just not as brilliant an actor to take the load of such a heavy script. His main problem is his looks. No matter how hard you try, you cannot take out 'Titanic' out of him. Just imagine Russell Crowe in the last couple of sequences in the movie while watching and you'll know what i mean. :)

Raajneeti: Absolutely Kick Ass

2010-06-06T10:14:00.000-07:00

Raajneeti is definitely the film of the year (in the first six months of 2010) for me. It is an absolutely intense political drama which derives its roots from mahabharata. Prakash Jha imports the plot to the current times, removes all the unnecessary details, packages it with pretty saving grace performance by the 'non actors' some intense performances by the 'actors' and you get a cracker of a movie. It is in the same league as his earlier films like Apaharan and Gangajal but would be much more successful than the others because of its ensemble cast who can draw the 'non serious' movie going crowd as well. Dont miss it no matter what.

The movie (as already described) take its inspiration from the Mahabharata and Jha makes its own improvisations in the plot for commercial fitment and sets it in Madhya Pradesh (and not Bihar as in the earlier movies). Add to that an NRI 'kid of the family' Ranbir who comes for a vacation and gets absorbed in the violence and power politics (Think Virasat, Sarkaar etc). The cousin, Manoj Bajpai, wants to be the CM at any cost and is supported by Ajay Devgan. The movie leaps forward through a whole series of events through which every half an hour the power pendulum keeps swinging from one side to the other. The story is unidimensional but the screenplay backed by some powerful performances takes it to another level. For me, the interpretation of mahabharata and setting the characters in today's time was an awesome thought and executed beautifully.

Apart from a very gripping screenplay, the soul of the movie lies in the power packed performances by (almost) all the actors. Saying anything about Nana Patekar's performance is like belittling him. He is the choice of the lot and even when he is not delivering his lines, just his screen presence is enough. Next in line is Manoj Bajpai. Man, is he good or is he phenomenal. He plays the sidelined, power hungry, jealous cousin in a way only he could have. He has this 'feel' around the character that can only be felt and not described. I think its his best after Satya. No complaints from Ajay Devgan. I think he proves the 'Its all in the eyes' theory to the core. Ranbir does a very fair job knowing his acting limitations and sticking to them. It shows the maturity that he is gathering as an actor. The non-actors (Arjun Rampal and Katrina Kaif) are tolerable as well and you dont feel uncomfortable when they are on screen.

Overall : The first (i guess) Mahabharata improvisation till date. Definitely the best movie so far this year and a must watch.

Feel-O-Meter: 9/10

PS: I just wish they could cast somebody place of Arjun Rampal (who looks good till the time he doesnt open his mouth) and also the case with Katrina Kaif (Yes that irritating tooti footi Hindi is still as bad as earlier). and ya, it is NOT inspired from the Gandhi family.

Pathshala : Fail :(

2010-05-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

The movie is so bad that i dont even feel like writing the review. It was like the most amazing and noble idea which got screwed because everything just went too bad. I even started wondering that how in the world, can every department fail such synchronistically. Director almost forgot what he was trying to make. Actors were either hamming or were trying to desperate to look cute or most of the times had no idea what were they doing. Script had like the worst written scenes. Story just kept moving without having any sense of direction or idea. Songs (except one which is ammmazing to say the least) were as bad as they come. Half way in the movie i lost interest as well as the plot. I was hardly bothered about what was happening on screen and was chit chatting with my friend. All in all, not at all worth your time even if you are like the wella-est person at the weekend.

After i heard the bekaraar song and heard about the plot, i was pretty excited to watch this movie. The movie is (obviously) about a school, its principal (and his principles), teachers, students and its trustees. It is (supposed) to talk about the recent branding and commercialization of education/schools in the recent past, where in the parents are least bothered about the education system in a particular school and are rather concerned about the brand name. This was the basic premise, but the director in order to make sure that it appeals to a larger set of audience, zabardastily introduced a number of different sub plots like use of children in reality shows etc. The movie just lost its main plot and i somehow got lost in the middle as to what was the point it was trying to make. I think it was one of the better storylines in recent times (at least on paper) and could have done wonders if made correctly. It had all the right ingredients present. Everybody wants to go back to those school days but it just did not hit at the right spot at all.

Actors (apart from Nana Patekar) were as bad as they are supposed to be, given their (supposed) acting prowess! Shahid Kapoor was as usual his stone faced best. Ayesha Takia did not have anything to do in the movie anyways. The Kids were too over exposed already on television, so they already have lost the innocence in their performances. The grown up kids look like wannabe models (and some of them already are as well ). Nana Patekar delivers a very powerful speech in the end (Just like Amitabh Bachan did in Rann) which according to me was the only good thing about the movie. And i doubt you would want to spend more than 2 hours and a couple of hundred rupees to watch a two minute monologue.

Even on the production front, i think it was among some of the worst movies in recent times. Even the make up was so pathetic that it looked like a 90s TV serial with characters wearing fake moustaches (Honeslty speaking, we used to have better make up even in my inter collegiate theater days). A kid whose face is supposed to look like its burnt or damanged, looks as if there is a black chewing gum stuck on his face. Just the worst ever.

Positives: One song(which is amazingly written, composed and sung but picturized in the worst possible way) and a 2 minute monologue by Nana Patekar.

Negative : Everything else.

Overall: The movie was a disappointment on all front for me. Don't watch even if you have all the time and free tickets

Feel-O-Meter: 2/10

PS: Funny it is that i started the review by writing that i do not even want to write the review and still managed to write so many negatives about the movie ;)

Badmaash Company: Average Returns

2010-05-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

The movie is one of those 'average' movies which neither leave you excited nor complaining about anything. Its just a plain simple movie which can easily ignore and also not mind watching it. There is almost nothing in the movie which makes it special but you would not leave it in the middle too. It just goes on at its pace without any hiccups for a pretty good time, then comes a small preachy bit which irritates you and then comes back on track for the happy ending.

The movie is about friendship and 'lets get rich' quick mentality. Its set in mid 90s and unfolds in India and US in first and second half respectively. The friends want to make some quick bucks and they start using the customs Duty regime in India in a very cunning and con-ning way. The movie then moves to US with similar tricks. Then comes the preachy 'oh we are friends', 'lets forget rich and get respected', 'i love my family (and india)' stuff, and then it ends with a cunning but not con-ning way of making money with a happily ever after K3G types ending.

All the actors were pretty decent and i never felt uncomfortable about anybody's performance. Infact, i really liked Chang (Yes, the guy from Indian Idol)'s act. He was pretty smooth. Rest all were decent and there were no hiccups anywhere (although a couple of smooches were definitely not required) And ya jfyi, Anushka Sharma is just not hot no matter how low her tops or how high her skirt is.

The title track is pretty groovy and your shoulders just start moving when you hear it. There were a couple of 'what!!! is that really a song' kinda crappy songs too which i am sure you will ignore. Baaki, nothing great to write about anywhere else.

Overall : I'm sure you are not dying to watch it anyways but if you get cheap tickets and have time, you will not get too bored either

Feel-O-Meter : 5/10

Iron Man 2 : Loha Garam hai.

2010-05-09T10:16:00.000-07:00

For me, Iron Man has never been anything to do with the hi tech gadgets or kick ass action. For me, It has always been about Robert Downey Jr's portrayal of Witty, Flambuoyant and not to mention Self Obsessed Tony Stark. I think Tony Stark it the super hero every one wants to see. Who doesn't live behind curtains. Who doesn't have anything to hide. Who wants the world to know that 'He' is the reason why every one can feel safe. now THATs what i call a super hero. Superman, Batman and the other lot. Take a hike, coz Iron Man is back with his 'F**k Off' attitude. The best part about the movie is that you want Downey to be in his real Tony Stark mode more than the Iron Man Avatar.

The movie is an absolute cracker with loads of style, attitude and amazing soundtrack. No matter how many times you have heard Highway to Hell, it still does something to you in the end credits. This is not your run off the mill super hero movie where the larger than life villain is trying to end the world and the superhero is the only hope the world has. Here, the villain is as much flesh and blood as the Super Hero himself and THATs what makes it different coz no matter how unbelievable all that gadgetery might look it, it still feels believable coz of the 'human' (not in a senti way) touch that Downey gives it to the character. He is just not your regular 'good' man. He is just an eccentric billionaire who also likes to tackle the bad guys to (may be) boost his ego even further. Ironically, in the very first sequence Tony says, "Please, Its not about Me" and you know it IS only about him and still love it.

The movie is about a certain Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) who wants to destroy Iron Man's superhero image publically. "If you could make God bleed, people will cease to believe in Him", he says. The reason is apparently coz his father had some problem with Tony's Father (or whatever). And what the heck, who cares about the plot in superhero movies anyways. The background Score is Amazing. Special Effects are kick ass. The Introduction of the other Characters played by the likes of Scarlett Johansson, Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle adds up to the franchisee. In terms of performance, (obviously) Robert Downey Jr steals the show from the very first shot. But Others were equally good too. Infact Sam Rockwell did a pretty neat job in his not so elaborate stark's rival hammer role.

Overall : A Kick Ass Super Hero Movie which is way more than the gadgets and the super powers. Watch it for Robert Downey Jr.

Feel-O-Meter: 9/10

Fly me to the Moon : Takes off and then goes down

2010-05-02T10:18:00.000-07:00

3 Flies looking for an adventure and sneak into Apollo 11 when the first manned flight to the moon takes off. Looks Promising right?. The problem was that the 'adventure' was not adventurous enough. The 3 D graphics are superb to the say the least but lack of 'ohhh shit' scenes just completely washed that out. You just dont feel that 'edge of the seat' excitement and that screwed a perfect idea and the movie went down the drain (well almost)

The movie had a fantastic storyline. But thats all it had. You keep thinking that something would happen now and keep hoping that it happens but it doesn't. And since the director had no idea how to stretch this one sentence story further. He adds some russian flies who are planning to sabotage the US mission and some US flies who are trying to stop them from doing so, which could have worked only if they had some real sense of 'oh my god' moments or even some 'wise cracks'. But that was not the case.

The reason why people go and watch animation movies is that they take you away from the real world into a world of possibilities. Where things which cannot take place do take place. A world of impossible-ism and making it possible. The ideation part was good. The characters on paper were cute as well. But the execution (and i repeat 3d was crazily kick ass) was not too great.

The director just didn't know how to take it forward. I am sure the moon mission in itself would have been pretty adventurous with a lot of ups and down in reality. Rather than exagerating those moments, the movie just makes it a too-simple a hitch ride. The flies just get in, reach the moon, wave and come back. Absolutely no adventurous. No breath taking moments. No 'oh shit they are gonna get killed' scenes. Absolutely nothing.

The only positive thing that bound me was Absolutely Stunning 3D effects. If you have seen Avatar, Clash of the Titans in 3D. Do go and watch this and THEN you shall realize how pathetic they looked in 3D if you compare with Fly me to the moon. The flies are almost at your nose especially in the first 2-3 sequences and that sets the pace for the movie. Just lack of direction and screenplay couldnot keep up with the technology or else it could have been an amazing movie after Up.

Feel-O-Meter: 4/10

Overall : Take your kids if you have promised them to show some movie this weekend or if you want to experience some REAL 3 D

PS: Just noticed that movie was released in US in Aug 2008 and was the first animation 3D movie. The Effects seem even more impressive now.

Housefull : What else do you expect

2010-05-02T10:17:00.000-07:00

Before the movie begins, Sajid Khan declares that the movie is a tribute to the cinema of prakash mehra, hrishikesh mukherjee and the like. It is the way he perceives cinema as.. Entertainment. Which is like a disclaimer of sorts that there is not going to be anything in the movie but you are going to leave the cinema hall entertained. Now how the 'entertainment' is going to come is a different question altogether. May be his definition of entertainment means slapstick, people hitting each other for no reason, women jumping from windows, confusion all over, queen elizabeth speaking marathi, Double meaning dialogues, The done to death (male) Kantaben sequence and yeah forgot to mention. If everything fails, try laughing gas.

This review is almost not required to even state which so obvious.All of you understand this BEFORE watching the movie and i am just writing exactly the same AFTER watching it. And yes, let me make it very clear that i am not criticizing the movie in anyway. Any movie i go to, i have an expectation in my mind as to what is the reason for me to watch this movie. That's the reason i enjoy DD-Govinda genre like nuts. Same is the case with housefull. (Obviously) you know what to expect from the movie even if the disclaimer/tribute was not even there. You know it is going to be a stupid movie which will not make any sense what so ever. And all the things mentioned earlier are expected to happen. The difference is if even the most lame jokes are still able to tickle your funny bone or not. In this case, Its somewhere in the middle. Some of the jokes, scenes are irritating as hell but some are damn funny too and you almost go ROFL.

The story i dont think is even remotely relevant so i am not going to waste a sentence on that. It starts in a very irritating fashion, then goes further with some funny sequences and ends in a pathetic fashion almost as if the director was like, 'oh shit, how do i end it now'. Oh yeah, why not try laughing gas. I am going to drive home a senti point but wait a minute, its a funny movie so all actors should laugh. Voila.. Laughing Gas!!!!

And yes, since its a commercial movie with (almost) A list actors. Lets throw in some exotic locations, foot tapping-club type music, a remixed item song. and i forgot, there are 3 damn hot actresses too, so throw in some bikini/lingerie, coming out of ocean, cleavage revealing shots and we have loads for the masses to ogle at. Not to mention that it lifts off a number of scenes from hollywood movies like night at the museum, meet the fockers, bollywood movies like kal ho na ho, and also some south indian movie which my friend told me about.

Actors (i am actually confused if i should even use that term though) do what they are supposed to. Akshay, Riteish try their best (btw, you already know that this is the best that they can do, so you dont complain). Girls make the guys go all wide eyed with their already described talent. Boman Irani for me is the one whom i liked the most and Arjun Rampal does his 'wooden' act to perfection as always.

Feel-O-Meter: 6/10 (You might think its a bit on the higher side, but theek hai yaar, chalta hai)

Overall: (Again, Obviously) Its one of those stupid movies you want to watch just to forget what is going on in your life. You watch it, Keep criticizing it all through that how dumb this movie is, but still enjoy it.

Clash of the Titans : No Oh My 'God' factor

2010-04-03T01:35:00.000-07:00

Clash of the Titans is a Men Vs Gods Greek mythology War epic which has the usual larger than life scale, scary monsters, cool graphics, emotional turmoil of the lead character but still doesn't work because there is nothing new to offer, because everything in the movie has already been seen/done before. There is no 'oh my God' factor anywhere. Everything seemed to be inspired from earlier movies. Watch it only if you have nothing better to do and your idea of cinema is watching creepy and enormously large creatures screaming with their mouth full of saliva and throwing their tail(s) here and there and in turn killing hundreds of people. Nothing apart from that.

The movie is (supposed to be) an epic tale between Men and Gods. Wherein the Hades(The God from the underworld) gets angry with a King, since his queen compared their daughter to the god and said that the men don't need Gods but rather the Gods need men for their worship. Now, Perseus (Sam Worthington) who is half man-half god needs to go to some witches, kill some giant scorpions, slay medusa's head and yeah.. kill a may be a 200 mtr(or even higher) Godzilla + T Rex look alike called Kraken. Needless to say, He does all of it (almost) alone.

There is nothing to mention about the performances, since nobody really had to act anywhere during the movie apart from looking scared, stone faced, creepy and screaming your lungs out. I think this is where the movie did not do anything for me. I could not relate to the characters at all. I wish the movie was made with a better cast. I understand that the budget would (obviously) be polarized towards the special effects but i am sure they could have done with some better actors. What about Morgan Freeman as Zeus or Russel Crowe as Perseus?

As far as the Special Effects and CGI(or whatever) Graphics are concerned. They were pretty good, but everything seemed to have been lifted from other movies. The locations reminded too much of LOTR. The Scorpions and the Djinns reminded too much of The Mummy Series and the Scorpion King. Even the Monster Kraken looked like a cross breed between a T Rex and Godzilla. The sequence where the princess is being offered to the Kraken, reminded just too much of Peter Jackson's King Kong. All in all, everything was seen and heard of, so it just does not offer anything new for the audience. The last 10 minutes are pretty neat but i am sure you don't really follow 80-20 principle in movies ;)

Overall : The usual Larger than Life epic tale , which did not do justice to the scale it deserved. Above Average but no OMG factor. Watch it if you are looking for some really BIG monsters on screen and nothing else.

Feel-O-Meter : 4/10

PS: I hope you get the pun with God being in quotes ;)

PSS: You could find the review too harsh and the reason could be that i watched 4 action flicks (2012, GI Joe, Transformers 1 and 2) back to back before i went to see COTT.

Aice in wonderland : Down the rabbit hole

2010-03-28T01:32:00.000-07:00

This i think could well be my shortest review ever. Not because it was a bad movie but may be because i was just too bored to notice anything good or bad about the movie. The movie just didn't do anything for me. Neither the uni dimensional story nor the over the top performances. Neither the script (or the lack of it) nor the (unimaginitive) special effects. It was just all too boring to say the least. Do NOT watch.

Performances were too loud. Johny Depp was trying another Jack Sparrow but fails miserably. The only saving grace was a couple of laughters here and there with Helena Bonham Carter's portrayal of the Red Queen(which i earlier thought was natalie portman).

The story was more like an extension to the original Alice in Wonderland where from the time she arrives in wonderland what is going to happen in the end. And exactly what wa told in the beggining takes place. So no surprise factor here too. Alice is supposed to slay a dragon to win back the crown from the red queen and pass it on to the white queen. Yes, thats all. And nothing adventurous really happens through out the movie.

Special Effects were also too not special. And frankly after Lord of the Rings and Avatar, a 'wonderland' would never really be as amusing as you might expect it to. It all just looks too simplistic.

Overall : Don't go unless you are a 5 year old. (well, honestly dont go even if you are, coz there are some super duper animation movies which could kick this one's ass left right and center

Feel-O-Meter: 2/10 (Honeslty, i think that also is slightly high but still Zero dena accha nahi lagega) ;)

LSD: Go.. Snort!!!

2010-03-28T01:29:00.001-07:00

The movie is impressive to say the least. It has everything that you look for in a movie. Edge of the seat excitement. Stories you can relate to. Different Treatment. Something new to offer. Gripping Performances. Almost everything works. There is nothing wrong anywhere but still when you come out, you feel 'something' was missing which you cant really describe. Nonetheless a must must watch especially if you like the new age cinema taking bollywood a couple of strides ahead.
The movie is as different that you cant really compare it with anything that ever happened in bollywood. First i thought, it was just trying to be different for the sake of being different and to generate a buzz that would pull the audience to the theaters. I was not all too excited about it, because first person camera angles and sleazy MMS scandals just didn't do it for me. I was almost proved right till the first 20 minutes and then did the narrative take a new leap or what. The movie just went in the top gear and stayed there almost till the end.
As the name suggests, the movie is about 3 different (but interlinked) tales about Love, Sex and Dhokha. The first one talks about a sweet couple who live in the dreams of bollywood, DDLJ and Aditya Chopra and run from their house to get married. The second is about the hundreds of MMS scandals that we have heard about. The Third is about the (usual) Sting Operations and the how media works type gyan. Well, on paper, thats hardly something interesting. It sounds as if the director was running short of ideas, so he thought why not have 3 stories (just like the forgettable Dus Kahaniyaan) rather than one. But towards the end of the movie you begin to realize how stupid you actually were thinking that. When the stories start getting linked and characters from one moving into the other. Kick Ass i say.
I would also like to highlight the way the 'objectification of women' have been portrayed in a very subtle manner. Be it honour killings, making MMS scandals to make some easy money or to use money as a use and throw option. It never went preachy anywhere. It was like watching a news bulletin in its true sense. Without taking sides. It just tells you that these things are happening, without shouting from the rooftop.
Performance were as top line as possible. The movie proves that you need 'Actors' and not stars. The whole cast looks like students doing acting courses through NSD, FTII, types. And are they good or what. Every single character was as amazing as it gets. From the loser lover boy to the sweet little thing who falls in love with him. From a run off the mill guy who is trying to make an MMS with his girlfriend to make some money to the girlfriend who just wants to be loved. From the Punjabi singer who wants to bed the girl who wants to do his music video to the cameraman who is trying hard to get this one sting operation over to make some money for his family. I repeat EVERYONE was phenomenal.
Full marks to the Dibakar to have thought outside the box and having the courage to experiment. To have made a different movie rather than only claiming its different. Although the camerawork might look shaky but thats the way its supposed to be. I am still not sure if i loved the camera work or got irritated but yes, i couldnt think of any other way the movie could have been shot too.
Overall: A 'Different' movie with almost no negatives.
Caveat : Dont go if you go hawwww hearing cuss words or are only interested in YRF ;)
Feel-o-Meter : 8/10 (Yes, i am deducting 2 for god knows what. I couldnt really find anything bad which i can describe in words. Just that it was not a 10/10 material. Too good nonetheless )

Road, Move: RED Light

2010-03-07T01:34:00.000-08:00

Road, Movie (Hope you notice the comma between the two words) is one of new age movies for the 'Intellectual' audience. One where the movie is not made only to be seen but interpreted and understood as well. The ideation was good but execution was not. The characterization was interesting but performances were not. The movie is like a painting, you can't just look at it and enjoy unless you understand what it stands for. I am very disappointed that such a good idea has just gone wasted due to poor execution. The director forgot that its a 'Movie' and not a narrative. The Audience wants to get 'entertained' also apart from 'Intellectual Stimulation. It falls in the trap of being too arty to the extent of being boring in most parts.
All through the movie you keep guessing, what is the movie all about, what is the central plot, where is it leading, to the extent that you start asking what the hell is going on here? Suddenly the movie ends and you come out of the cinema hall thinking what actually happened in there. Well, Thats not a nice feeling i tell you If you are not in a mood to exercise your brains and only watch a movie for its entertainment value. Don't waste your time.
The Plot: Road, Movie on the surface is a one line story of a guy who doesn't want to sell hair oil likehis father and goes on a road trip to leave an old truck to its destination and enroute meets 3 different people who first become his co-passangers and then friends. The movie moves forward (or atleast tries to) with the background of water smuggling in rajasthan, a mela, corrupt cops and a couple of other sub plots. As i said, the movie is not about witnessing a story but in trying to figure out director's interpretation of the plot.
My Interpretation: Road,Movie according to me tries to depit life as a journey (read: a road trip) where you meet strangers who end up becoming your friends. Its a tribute to 'cinema' per se. Whenever you are down on that road and meet obstacles or problems, movies provide you the relief that you are looking for. At the weekend when you watch a movie. you forget about all your worries and cinema actually takes you in a different world altogether. Movies are like 'Tel Malish', whenever you are stressed, Movies work as the champi which takes all your worries away. On papers, i think it was one of the most powerful and subtle parallels that could have been drawn between life and cinema. But, sadly it just did not have the same impact on screen.
The Irony: Ironically, the movie talks about Movies working as stress reliever and the audience actually has a head ache trying to understand what the movie was all about. According to the movie, A Movie is supposed to entertain the audience taking one in a different world altogether where one does not care about the problems of one's life and just gets engrossed and comes out relieved and stressfree. But it does exactly the opposite. It was more like a puzzle you are trying to solve rather than 'enjoying' a movie. You hardly get entertained in any of the sequences. There is no 'happy' feeling when you come out of the cinema hall. Infact, it actually gives you more stress when you are trying hard to understand the director's vision. Performances: It was a big disappointment for me from all the actors. Just nothing to mention. Everybody was just very average.
Miscellaneous: Direction was loose. Just like the characters' journey in the movie, the movie itself was lost during most of the narrative. You just did not know where the movie was heading or what point the director was trying to prove. Script was weak. Scenes just seemed to spring from nowhere. Suddenly characters were being introduced from every nook and corner. Dacoits suddenly started having a change of heart after using a hair oil. It was just too arbit and random. Apart from the strong 'idea' the only thing worth mentioning is cinematography. The colors hae been captured very beautifully. Even the night sequences had just the right effect. Kudos to the cinematographer.
Positives: ' The Thought', Cinematography.
Negatives: Everything except the two mentioned above.
Overall : Go if you are the 'intelletual cinema goer' types and do not care about 'entertainment'
Feel-O-Meter: 4/10

Up in the Air: Takes off and Stays up there

2010-02-27T07:24:00.000-08:00

The movie is a dark comedy that explores economic downturn, layoffs, 'casual' one night stands, relationships and what life is all about. The movie definitely has its funny moments but on the whole is a drama making its points in a 'smooth' way. There are no hiccups, no speed breakers, no 'now, where did that come from?' moments. The best part about the movie was its unpredictability. Even when you are half time in the movie, you can hardly realize where it is going to end up. For me that was brilliant stuff, since it does not fit into any of the typical stories. Performances are very crisp and controlled. Script is just perfect. Story is topical. Direction is very to the point. I loved how the importance of 'people and relationships' thing was played. Loved it. Go watch.

Plot: The movie revolves around George clooney playing a corporate hit man. He does what the bosses are too scared of doing. He tells the employees being fired that they are being fired. That they have to look at it as a new beginning and an opportunity to do what they always wanted to do. He doesn't care about relationships, Likes living out of the suitcase, Travels 322 days and spends the rest 43 'miserable' days living in his apartment and his ultimate goal is to reach 10 million frequent flier miles. He meets two women on his way. One is 'his own self but with a vagina' who is just looking for a casual relationship with him and Other, is a young cornell grad trying to automize the whole process of communicating the bad news to the employees through internet so that travel costs can be reduced. The movie moves further to explore George's confusion as to what his ultimate 'goa'l is.

Performances: George Clooney delivers another Michael Clayton and its hard not to get reminded of Clayton in almost every sequence. Vera Farmiga is almost perfect in her portrayal of an unemotional alter ego for George's role. Her charm is just too difficult to ignore. Infact, she does the same to the guys what George has been doing to the girls all his life. Anna Kendrick is also very balanced in both funny as well as emotinal sequences. 10/10 on the performance front.

Miscellaneous: Well, something that did not work for me was the endless advertisements from Hilton to American Airlines to Hertz. At times it started to feel like a 2 hour long product placement. That for me compromised on the essence of the movie. It was required to establish his travel schedule but it was just a bit too much for me. Secondly, at one point i thought the love story angle was a bit filmy but then as the plot unfolded i realized how important the same was.

Positives: Excellent Performances, Tight Script, Topical Story, Crisp Direction, Just the perfect balance.

Negatives: The product placements were a turn off.

Overall : Excellent. Must Watch. Don't miss it. I have a feeling that it may even make it to the oscar race.

Feel-O-Meter: 8.5/10 (yes i know some of you might think its too high but seriously i really liked the movie. It just hit the right chord for me)

PS: The movie may remind you many a times about Thank you for smoking and Michael Clayton.

My Name is Khan: Minus the hype, Above Average

2010-02-13T06:48:00.000-08:00

My Name is Khan for me was just another post 9/11 movie. Another one in the same (or rather similar) league as Newyork, Kurbaan, Khuda Kay Liye. It tries the same old 'Muslims are not terrorist' and 'Islam does not stand for killing' trick in a slightly different storyline but rest all remains the same. Performances are pretty good. A Few scenes are very moving. There are some cute moments. Thumbs up to Karan Johar to try something different from his candyfloss family melodramas. Production quality is superb. Music is good. Written very well. Directed very crisply and does not bore you anywhere. The only problem i found was that you could feel that SRK was trying too hard to perform as an 'actor' or to pull off a forrest gump, which dint quite happen. Gets 'Filmy' in parts too. A must watch nonetheless. An 'Above Average' start to the for the 'starry' movies this year.

Plot: Rizvan Khan (Shahrukh) suffers from an autistic condition (which is not relevant to the plot). He meets Mandira (Kajol), a divorcee with a son. They marry and post 9/11 the son is killed in a racist act. Mandira leaves Khan thinking he is responsible for her son's death and asks her to tell the whole of the US including the President, 'My name is Khan and I am not a terrorist'. The movie is about his journey about the same.

Performance: This was the only department where i had (some) problems. SRK for me was just trying to hard to prove that he can act apart from the K Jo genre too. Well, the stage was perfect. Character was so well written that you would fall in love with him while 'reading' the script let alone watch the movie. There was also this 'Emotional Blackmail' with the autism angle. But still for me it was a 'good' performance not a 'great' one. May be i was expecting too much. (But hey, with all the hype already, don't think anybody wouldn't). Kajol as usual is as smooth as she has been in every role she has portrayed. For me she has always been one of the actors who would just get into the skin of the role with such ease that you simply forget that she is an actor but concentrate on the character. She does the same and obviously i was pretty happy with her performance. Overall, nobody else was noticeable.

Music and Background Score: 'Tere Naina', 'Sajda' and 'Noor e Khuda' were pretty good. Background score was not impressive and was just above average. Nothing major to write anything about on music actually.

Scenes: Two scenes were very moving. One, when the son dies and Kajol is furious over Khan and asks him to leave. That for me was the one of the best scenes in the movie. Other, when Khan is narrating his love for his dead son. That scene for me wiped out every 'Overperformed' sequence by SRK. He redeems himself to the fullest. Its hard not to have tears in your eyes in both the sequences.

Positives: KJo coming out of his comfort zone. Well Written. Well performed. The 'Smooth' factor.

Negatives: SRK's usual 'Overperformance', Gets a bit 'too filmy' in a couple of scenes.

Overall: Worth a Watch even without the hype.

Feel-O-Meter: 7/10 (Coz i did not get too 'Feely' anywhere during the movie. For me it was another above average movie. Does NOT deserve a 9 or a 10 in my books)

Striker: Pretty neat From Break to Finish

2010-02-06T21:59:00.000-08:00

Striker is one of those movies which leave you with a surprised reaction. More often that not, you will not even notice this movie unless it releases during a lean week. You would go with almost no expectations and come out pretty happy that you watched it. Almost no marketing halla. No star power to attract you. No Reality Show appearances by cast. Its a very honest movie (And you can feel that). New story. Decent performances. Gripping Script. A couple of very well written dialogues. Some nicely executed scenes. Its one of those movies, you will not fall in love with but still would like it. Give it a dekko if you have some free time at the weekend. I'm sure you will not be disappointed.

I just wish they would have taken a slightly more credible cast (Please remove Sidharth and Aditya pancholi and take more credible 'actors' ) and marketed the movie slightly more aggressively (even the poster made it look like a B-grade movie only) so that more people could actually come to the theaters to see this movie. Its a cause gone lost because people are just not 'interested' enough to watch and are missing on a pretty good movie.

Plot: The movie is a (declared) inspiration from a series of true stories happened in a small locality called malwani duing 19992 babri riots. It travels between the late 70s to the early 90s and is a story of a young carrom player who gets entangled in the carrom mafia because of his family circumstances. He doesn't want to play for/with them but he has to. There are sub plots of the local underworld manipulating the hindu muslim equation during the babri masjid riots, Two love stories, A hindu-muslim brotherly Friendship also which actually take the movie ahead in a pretty smooth manner.

Performances: I think Siddharth could not do justice to his role there. It had immense potential and he seemed fake in a couple of sequences. His voice doesn't add any positives either. Aditya pancholi (in his 'as fake as you can get' scarred face )was a perfect example of miscasting. Anybody else could have done wonders to his role there. But to me the actual 'hero' of the movie was Ankur Vikal (who also featured in Maqbool and Slumdog millionaire in small roles) who plays a cocaine snorting, over energetic, high on life friend who motivates the hero to start playing again. He is absolutely fabulous and reminds of Deepak Dobriyal of Omkara and Chandan Roy Sanyal of Kaminey. Seema biswas does okay in a couple of scenes she has. Others all have done a pretty decent job and you never feel uncomfortable anywhere.

Music: 6 Composers. Yes the movie has 6 composers and all the tracks are pretty good. A couple of them especially Cham cham sung by sonu nigam remind of A R Rahman and i was actually wondering if Rahman has composed those or not. Yun hua by Vishal Bhardwaj reminds you of Kaminey title track. Maula has that typical Sufi feel and is definitely good. Overall a pretty good album to have.

Technicals: Cinematography is crisp with some really good close (especially night) shots. Pretty good there too. Background score by Amit Trivedi helps the story move ahead. Especially towards the end when the intensity increases and he uses a bass guitar to provide that thumpin feel. Amazing it was. Although much was desired in terms of production quality. The sets actually looked like sets and that was a thumbs down from my side.

Positives: Gripping Script. Fresh Story. Decent Performances. Good Music. Great Background score. Some Very Good Dialogues.

Negatives: Miscasting (especially aditya pancholi) . Almost No Promotion. A couple of sub plots (like the second love story) not required.

Overall : Definitely a watch if you are not saving for My Name is Khan next weekend (!!!) You will not be disappointed.

Feel-O-Meter: 7/10

Ishqiya: Real, Rustic and Remarkable

2010-01-31T08:53:00.000-08:00

The movie is an absolute treat to watch. Everything is just about perfect. Performances. Script. Dialogues. Direction. Music. Technicals. Everything. Its as gritty (and grippy) as it gets. Its like omkara part 2 with 'characters' staying with you even after you leave the cinema hall. Must watch.

Plot and Narrative: The movie is set in eastern UP village of Gorakhpur and is a story of two thieves who take shelter in a woman's house running from a don because they owe him money. In order to get 'out' of their problem, they land up in a bigger mess. There are twists, turns, plots, subplots, confusion and chaos and thats the fun part. Cant provide 'details' since it may spoil the fun. It starts on a lighter note but somewhere in your heart you know that its going to turn darn pretty soon and it does with utter smoothness that you hardly feel any jerk.

Performance: EVERYONE and i mean EVERYONE delivers. Be it Naseer in his 'Dil to baccha hai ji' portrayal of a 60 + lover who covers his grey hair with surma and is in love with a much younger woman though he cant express it. Be it 'high on libido' Arshad Warsi, who as soon as entering a new village asks 'where is the red light area'. Be it a cold blooded and manipulative Vidya balan in her 'Ch*****m sulphate' act. Or even the other character actors like Tai, Nandu, Verma, Mushtaq etc etc. Everyone just delivers perfectly. No overacting. No underperformance.

Music: The music is already topping the charts with 'Dil to baccha hai ji' leading from the front. Even 'Ibn e Batuta' ' strikes the right chord to set the pace for the movie. A mention about lyrics must be made while discussing music for the movie. Dil to baccha hai ji explains the mention make up of an old man who does not have love in his life so perfectly that it makes Naseer's performance much easier. Remarkable to say the least.

Miscellaneous: The whole 'eastern UP' setting has been captured in a very rustic way. It reminds of Omkara in every frame. Dialogues are like the soul of the movie. They are very crisp and so well written that it just strikes a chord even if you do not belong to north India and can't understand the meaning fully. They are explicit but that is exactly what the plot required. This is the kind of language which is spoken there. The Kids know more about 'Tamanchas' than 'Potty training'. It has to be that way, else soul of the movie would have been compromised with. Also, the liplock between Arshad and Vidya again was required to show that the woman can go to 'any' length to get what she wants.

Positives: Script. Dialogues. Performances. Music. Direction.

Negatives: A Bit confusing in parts. Not a universal Appeal

Overall: An Absolute must watch for anybody who liked Omkara and loves VB's cinema. (Even though its not directed by him but you can see HIS influence everywhere)

Feel-O-Meter: 9/10 (Yes, you might think thats a bit too high but hey I have never been known to hide my 'feel-ings' ;)

PS: How many of you guys think Ishqiya is actually a combination of Ishq+Chu***a. Just a thought ;)

Rann: Fights and just about Survives

2010-01-31T08:48:00.000-08:00

The story was good and the intention was great but it suffers on the count of being too preachy and lengthy. Its good in parts but if you are not the serious cinema lover, then there is no 'entertainment' value in it. The performances are very crisp and impactful though. Watch it if you are looking for some serious work by technicians and actors.

Plot and Narrative: The movie is about the media-politics nexus and how they use each other for their own benefit. How news are not shown but 'made'. How news channels are nothing but loudspeakers for political parties. How a news channel is mis-used by a political party to topple a government. And in the end in true triumph of good vs evil style. Order is restored with a long (rather too long) and preachy speech by the lead character to drive home the point.

Performances: Everyone delivers. Amitabh Bachhan in his larger than life media persona commands respect. Sudeep (Phoonk fame) reminds of 'Bhawani' of Shiva in every frame. Ritesh delivers a very controlled and (thankfully) not exaggerated performance and does not over acts anywhere. Paresh Rawal is good and Rajpal Yadav funny as usual. Even Gul panag is decent in a couple of dialogues that she has. Mohnish Bahl, Suchitra Krishnamoorthy and Rajat kapoor are pretty good too. There are no hiccups here.

Technicals: The cinematography is experimental and delivers well especially in terms of camera angles and usage of shades of grey in the background. I just loved the close shots. Almost the whole movie is shot in close ups and that proves the weight being placed at actors' shoulders. Music is pathetic to the extent of being cacophonous but the background score accentuates the overall feel of movie. It gives a very broad dimension to the sequence and makes it larger than life.

Miscellaneous: At times the movie feels like a sermon, almost preaching media to being responsible. It begs media houses not to take sides while presenting, which is where it gets boring. Length is another problem area. Sometimes, you even feel like going outside to take a stroll and come back. It could easily have been made a good 30 minutes shorter and would have increased the impact as well. The end speech by Amitabh Bachhan again becomes too lengthy and too preachy. Dialogues are very well written especially while mocking the media and its functioning, when it compares Making news with Making Movies, stating that in reality they are both the same. A news is nothing but a small 5 minute movie only.

Positives: Performances, Technicals, Background Score, Good 'Thought'

Negatives: Preachy, Lengthy, Too Serious, Dark, Monodimensional, Boring at times

Overall: Go if you are a 'serious' cinema lover and can tolerate long stretches of boredom for some good performances.

Feel O Meter: 6/10

Chance Pe Dance: Take no Chance

2010-01-16T23:00:00.000-08:00

Chance pe Dance is another 'Struggler turns hero' story which tries everything but still fails to impress. Its like a music video and the director tried to make a movie around it. Performances are pathetic. Shahid and Genelia both ham in 90% of the movie. Music is bad except two songs. There is a kids plot thrown in (i guess) just to stretch it till 2 hours. Full of cliches. No humor. No story. No chemistry. Just nothing, except Shahid's ammazing dance moves (but i guess, that you can watch on Music channels itself).

Plot: The movie is Luck by chance (funny that even the names are similar), Naach and School of Rock combined. Its full of cliches. The struggler doesnt have money,gets ditched by 'friend', is thrown out of his house, takes up a job as a dance teacher in a school, (with in 20 mins that plot is over btw and suddenly you are like, 'What?? Thats it??), has to participate in a reality show, etc etc etc. The movie tries to stuff so much that none of the storylines seem complete. Suddenly one scene gets over, other plot starts and the process goes on. I wonder if they had a story to start with or just thought of 'Hey lets go and make a dancer-struggling actor story with a few good dance moves and add some marketing'

Performance: I dont think Shahid kapur has matured enough as an 'actor' to take up the responsibility of managing a movie on his own. He looks stupid when he tries to be funny and almost funny when he tries to be emotional. I think he needs to go and take some acting lessons. He dances Damn neat and thats all is to it. Genelia (obviously) is as cute as she is. (Btw thats why i went to the movie anyway). Just that poor thing cant act and has a squeaky voice. There is nobody else to even mention about. Parikshit sahni (although repeats his 3 idiots cameo) is pretty good in that one (or two) scene(s) that he has. The lead pair looks cute together but still no chemistry there too.

Technicals: The movie has nothing to offer there as well. No sense of direction (as to where the movie is going). Even 2 hours seem long enough. One of the songs, shows Genelia and Shahid taller than most of mumbai buildings running in the city, is nicely done but again is an old idea and reminds of 90s music videos. Choreography is Amazing though and i guess thats the only saving grace for the movie.

Music: Funny part is, its a dance movie and still the music sucks. Pe Pe Pein and Pump it up are nice and VERY foot tapping. These two have what i call 'The shoulder effect'. When your shoulders start moving to the beats. But that isnt enough i guess. Other songs are just pathetic.

Points to be noted: Genelia portrays a choreographer and dances so pathetic that you seem to start ignoring her cuteness. The School of rock theme just starts, stretches but ends abruptly in a 1 min song and the kids end up winning. You cant seem to relate with the 'strugglers' struggle. You feel irritated rather than touched. Pathetic.

Positives: Choregraphy, Dance moves, Two songs, Genelia and one or two scenes here and there

Negatives: Everything else sucks

Overall: Only if you are hard core dancer and don't mind watching a movie for the final song.

Feel-O-Meter: 4/10

Sherlock Holmes: Stylized with No soul

2010-01-10T22:58:00.000-08:00

The movie is not the best ones i have seen but also not the worst ever. Robert Downey Jr is pretty good. Cinematography is VERY good. Background score scores. Not impressed by the plot or the direction. Not at all a typical guy ritchie. Leaves much to be desired. Watch it if you don't have anything else to do.

The movie spends too much time to reach the point. Its only 2 hours but still feels longer. Its more like a graphic novel than a movie. CGI graphics, scenic (but computer generated) locations, No great performances(RD is pretty good though), Zabardasti ka old married couple like bickering between Robert and Jude through out the movie. Too much of mechanical locha(s) for me to handle. Also, i never thought of sherlock holmes as an action(!) hero, fighting bare chested in brawls.. and Whats with the smelling EVERYTHING and finding what would have happened (!!!!). I wonder if he was a sniffer dog in his last life!

Moreover, the movie never felt like a guy ritchie. It tried to be funny in parts but i felt that it was trying too hard there. I understand that all guy ritchies cant be lock stock or snatch but still, this definitely wasn't something i would remember anywyas. I think the plot was too simplistic. Had he taken a more twisty plot. The movie could have been almost wonderful.

Plot: Set in victorian ear when london bridge was under construction. The villain gets resurrected (!!!) to take over England (and then the world), Sherlock and Watson trying to find out how it happened, A series of murders. Add to that some witchcraft. Some mechanical locha and last 10 mins which explain everything.

Performance: RD does his best to look hot, cute, charming, funny, and he succeeds there but i dont think thats enough. May be i just never related him with the character. Jude law looks more like RD's wife than his sidekick. Nothing to mention there. Rachel McAdams anyways had nothing to do but to look pretty. Mark Strong is pretty good and looks scary in parts.

Technicals: Damn neat cinematography. Although you know that its all CGI etc but still the set up looks believable. Especially the slight Sepia tone during the day and 300 like tinge during the night sequences were just amazing. Also, the dockyard fight sequence was done damn neat and you almost feel you might get hit by the flying objects. Hans Zimmer's background score is another strong point. Although, the sequence where violins are playing while the bomb blasts take place (in full slow motion style) was over done according to me.

Positives: Cinematography, Background score, RD's charm and end credits(yes, you read it right!!!!)

Negatives: Too stylized. Doesnt have a soul. Nothing stays back with you after you get out of the theater.

Overall: Watch if if you don't have nothing else to do.

Feel-o-Meter : 6/10

PS: I have not seen/read any sherlock holmes stuff earlier so might miss out on the characterizations bit.

3 Idiots: All iz Well.

2009-12-24T20:48:00.000-08:00

I'm officially a fan of raju hirani's cinema now. The movie is among some of the best i have seen in recent times. Every thing is just perfect. The story, the script, the performances, the technicals and above all that the 'feel'. Everybody can relate to the movie at a very emotional level since almost all of us have shared the same experiences in our lives. All of us have been a part of the same rat race which most of us are still running. But you still remain a rat even if you win it. The movie makes the same statement (although a cliche) in a very non preachy way and thats what works.

All the points are made but in a very light hearted manner. Its a lesson but you never feel that you are being taught. Its a sermon but you dont feel sermonized. Its like a lecture of your favorite professor on whose class you never got bored and wanted to 'really' attend it. Same is the effect on me. Would wanna go back to the class.. Again.. and Again.. and Again..

Its not the movie with the best story or the best performance or the best technicals or the best music or the best anything but still comes across as the best movie. there is a synergy there. Where the sum of all parts exceeds the sum itself. More than anything you come out of the cinema hall with memories, characters and a strange happy feeling, which for me is the reason i go to movies anyways.

Plot: There is a twist here. More than 'Three' friends. Its about one guy (obviously aamir) and his relationship with other friends. Loosely based on five point someone. Some sequences are a straight lift from the book. Its about the typical engineering college (and hostel) life and adds a (slightly) preachy 'Follow your dream/ Do what you want' point. Its about love, friendship, entrepreneurship, fun. everything rolled into one.

Performances: Aamir (obviously) is very good. But i really liked Sharman Joshi and a guy called Omi Vaidya (who played Chatur) also. Omi was phenomenal in his portrayal of a guy with a think (i think) mallu accent. His Teacher's day speech is gonna be a rage and reminds me of andaz apna apna.

Technicals: Honestly, neither did i notice anything nor do i give a damn. Coz i was way too engrossed while watching.

Positives: Everything is (almost) perfect. Performances. Plot. Story. But the best part for me was characterization (although the credit here goes to Chetan and not Hirani). The 'Happy' feeling when you walk out of the cinema hall thinking you have a 'paisa vasool' here and wouldnt mind watching it again.

Negatives: Yes, i am an awe struck fan but would also mention a few flaws(Although i ignored them coz of the overall feel while deciding the final rating). The script sometimes appears as if have been taken from '101 management book' and 'quotable quotes' translated in hindi. I could so easily find out the english quotes from which quite a few dialogues were straight translaged. 'Cinematic Liberty' took a new dimension altogether some times especially when the kid's heart starts beating after hearing 'All is Well'. It was stupid and not required. And a couple of more points here and there.

Overall : Best movie of the year (Tough competition Dev D!!). Have to see it to relive those college moments once again and come back smiling.

Feel-o-meter: 10/10 (For the fulltoo 'Feeel' factor and ignoring a few negatives here and there)

Avatar: 'Just about' Lives up to the hype.

2009-12-20T20:07:00.000-08:00

The movie is a visual treat no doubt and has (obviously) the best graphics in cinema till date. Also has its own share of love story masala, environment conservation preachings and cliched dialogues. For me what worked was (again obviously) the Special Effects and also the 'human touch'. You almost seem to relate with the Blue creatures. What din't work for me was the sluggish pace in the first half and too much detailing, which was more like a distraction. Also, may be i expected too much from the movie especially after all the hype with the budget and almost a decade in planning.

"The problem with research is that it takes too much time". That exactly was the problem with the movie. If reports are to be considered true, then the movie took almost a decade to reach theaters and all the sci-fi and CGI stuff which was supposed to be 'pioneer' in the new age cinema was already (almost) matched up before Avatar could even release. No doubt its absolutely stunning. But just about manages to live up to the hype, which for me is not good enough when there are no seats available for any shows at the weekend.

Plot: The movie revolves around the human mining for a material called 'un-obtain-ium' (Yes, the cliches start here) on a planet (or a moon) called pandora. In order to get unobtainium, humans need to destroy a tree and throw out the 10 foot tall blue inhabitants (Na'avis) of the planet, who are not going to do because of their 'spiritual' association with the tree. The person who was supposed to convince the inhabitants falls in love with the tribal leader's daughter and switches sides. And (predictably) the fight of Good vs Evil takes place and you (obviously) know the end result. Simple and Straightforward.

Performances: Well, I dint go to watch any oscar performances and was not disappointed. But yes, Zoe saldana was pretty decent.

Technicals: Well (at the cost of being repetitive), the CGI graphics are absolutely amazing and almost real life especially when it comes to the Na'avis. Their expressions are captured phenomenally life like. But i would like to provide a caveat here. It gets kinda video gamish towards the end. The color pallette is so vivid that you might want to watch it in 2D since the 3D version makes it too dark to enjoy.

Positives: Graphics.. Graphics.. Graphics.. A bit of emotional connect too.

Negatives: Cliched dialogues. Too many expectations. Slow first half

Overall: You HAVE TO watch it, atleast once just for the graphics and realize where movie making has reached. Its not a movie but an experience.

Feel-O-Meter: 7/10

PS: I guess, the movie also is a take on America's foreign policy too. Just like their war on terror towards Iraq (for the oil). Just a thought!! ;-)

Rocket Singh: Din't take off!

2009-12-14T20:10:00.000-08:00

Rocket Singh is another one of those 'follow your dreams and you shall achieve what you want' to type movies. It has its share of positives being a 'different' storyline, decent script, relateable characters and refreshing performances by all but still there was something missing. The problem that i saw was, that it dint really has those 'moments'! Moreover, i found the whole ethics, customer service plot to be too preachy which dint work for me again. It also dragged a bit in the first half where the movie was just not moving everywhere. The movie was supposed to be super on paper but doesnt really reach thatlevel anytime. Its a one time watch when you dont really have nothing much to do.

Okay, first things first. I think i may appear to be highly critical of this movie and it doesnt mean that i dint like it. I liked the movie especially the characters and their performances. But i feel disappointed as it is one of those 'could have been great' movies and i expect much better work from shimit amin after chak de and ab tak chappan. To me, This was a disappointment coming from him. I think the story was 'different' but too predictable and one track. I expected a slightly more funny movie especially after the 'pocket mein rocket hai' became such a big hit. Funny it is that its not even there in the movie.

Also, I think it was a marketing faux pass to even promote the movie as a comedy. Coz it was anything but a comedy. It tried to tickle your funny bone in bits and pieces but the wait for those moments was too long. There would be a dialogue or two and then a long wait for the next.

As for the positives, I think it was a fresh new story not told before. The story of a salesman. A plot which has never been touched before (Though i am not sure how many can actually 'relate' to that plot). The characters were as real as they come. You turn your head and you could see one of the characters around you somewhere. Secondly, Performances by everybody was top of the line. Be it Ranbir or D Santosh (The computer service guy). Ranbit definitely does a good job keeping it restrained and not going the 'funny sardar' way. Some of the dialogues were very quick witted too. The movie was 'different' for sure. And the second half was way better than the first. It was quick and grippy.

Overall : A one time watch provided you dont really have anything better to .

Feel-O-Meter: 5/10

PS: Generally i divide my review in plot, performance, technicals, positives, negatives etc. But here honeslty, i dont feel like writing much. Its may be because i was not really excited about the movie after the movie as i was before. :-)

Paa: Moving !!

2009-12-06T20:14:00.000-08:00

The best part about movie is its non-preachy nature. It did not use tears but smiles as a medium to take the story further. The characters do not cry on their situations and blame fate, but rather come out strong and take life day by day cracking jokes, having fun, enjoying each day as it should be. THAT for me was the strongest point of the movie. Its very moving and emotional but at the same time never goes overboard through tears. It has everything in order. A 'Different' story. Gripping Script. Strong performances. Soulful music and background score. Good Cinematography. Although some scenes could have dispensed with to make it slightly tighter. But with performances like those, I am sure i can forget the flaws here and there. Must Watch!!

More than a father-son-father story (Which i think was just a marketing gimmick to generate hype). The movie is about relationships and acceptances. The Relationship between two lovers, Mother-Son, Father-Son, Grandmother-Grandson and Best Friends. And acceptance of people as they are. The best thing for me was that no footage was 'wasted' on crying about a disease and the patient. There were no 'ohh.. thats awful' scenes where people would just break into tears because a 13 year old could die any time soon. It represented the positivity about life (however small it may be). Its about living every moment of life, till the time we are alive and not dying everyday thinking that we may die soon. The movie is full of one-liners and jokes and puts across the point in a humorous way. It has the perfect balance of humour and emotional elements, without being 'sad'. THAT for me worked in the movie.

Plot: Auro (Amitabh Bachan) is single mother Vidya's (Vidya Balan) son who suffers from a rare disease called pregoria where the kid physically grows 4-5 times faster than usual. Vidya left Amol Atre (Abhishek Bachan), an inspiring politician who asked her to undergo abortion since he could not marry her because of his career. Rest i think is pretty obvious as to what happens in the end. A Simple Story but told in a very 'different' without any crying or preaching.

Performances: Amitabh Bachan all the way. It was amazing to see his acting through his body language and eyes only, since his make up did not allow him to use his facial muscles to express his feelings. He leads from the front and shows why he still is treated as the star of the millennium. None of his dialogues are aimed at making the audience cry but still leaves a tear in the eye. No surprises here. But Vidya matches him at every step. Every single scene that she portrays is as 'strong' as her character itself. She is just amazing specially in her scenes with Amitabh and her mother. Abhishek is average but notable mention must be made about Arundhati Naag (Grandmother) who delivers a stellar of a performance. Even the kids are too cute and equally good.

Technicals: Cinematography, Direction, Background Score, Make up, Editing. Everything is just perfect.

Music: The Paa theme is the most hummable and does not leave you even when you come out of the theater. Rest songs are pretty average although Mudi mudi is better than others.

Positives: Performances, Story, Script, Cinematography, Background Score, Non-preachy nature, Humour.

Negatives: Drags a bit in the middle where footage is wasted on establishing Abhishek's political career orientation. Social messages like Using condoms, Keeping the cities clean etc etc were not required and work as distractions. The tagline of 'Father-son-father' story does not seem to be apt as its more about relationships in general.

Overall: The movie delivers the message with a perfect balance of humor and emotion. Does not get preachy about the disease and no shedding of tears for the 'unfortunate' condition of the little boy. Must watch!!

Feel-O-Meter: 8/10

The Rebound: Not the usual run of the mill Rom-Com

2009-12-05T20:18:00.000-08:00

The movie is all about (the usual) mismatched couple. Their meeting. Falling in love. Falling apart and then getting back together. But the movie STILL is not your usual run of the mill rom-com. It has the usual formula but still has something which makes it different. It has all the usual checkmarks but still has something special. May be its the performances by both Justan Barth and Catherine Zeta Jones(not to forget the two ADORABLE kids). Nicely written. Well executed. Good performances and a believable (and logical) ending. The movie is not only about romance or unbelievable endings, where the couple realize their love, where the heroine is flying abroad and the guy reaches the airport and proposes and happy ending etc etc. It is as realistic a rom-com that you can get. Its not about stupid one night stands and people landing up together. Its not ONLY about 'ohhh he is so cute' stuff. It is one of the most 'believable' love stories that i have seen. And i think we may have a new Hugh Grant on the scene. Justin Bartha has come off age after his supporting actor roles in National Treasure etc and has grown up. He is just so charming. I am sure a lot of women would fall for the 'cute' guy and go 'ohhh he is so cute'. Plot: The movie is about a relationship between a 40 something recently divorced Sandie (Catherine Zeta Jones) who moves to a new city where she finds a 25 year old Aram (Justin Bartha) working in a coffee shop. And NO they dont fall in love with each other. The guy babysits her kids and becomes a part of the family. They gradually realize their importance for each other but then the 'Age' difference plays its part. They get apart for 5 odd years and then reunite in the end. No mushy stuff. No unbelievable romantic antics. The 'believable' stuff of slow realization. Performance: Justin Bartha takes the responsbility on his shoulders. He leads from the front. He plays the 'young but responsible' 25 year old with amazing ease. He is cute but not too sugary. He is responsible but not cocky. He is compromising but not unbelievable. Catherine, on the other hand, still manages to look as graceful and stunning as she has always been. She suits the part perfectly well and she carries it with elan. Special mention of the two kids, who light up the screen whenever they come on. They are just adorable. Overall, good performances by all. Technicals: Its a rom-com, so no jazzy stuff was expected anyways but it doesnt feel awkward anywhere as well. Positives: Believable Story, Good performances, Tight Script, Nice overall feel. Negatives: Tends to lose grip in parts. The ending might not appeal to all. Not too mushy. No Awwwww scenes. Overall: Not too mushy but more of a mature and (may be) thought provoking rom-com

Feel-O-Meter: 7/10

De Dana Dan : Confused, Crazy, Exaggerated, Stupid and i loved it

2009-11-29T20:21:00.000-08:00

The movie is a typical priyadarshan, where chaos and confusion prevail upon logic and story. Situations take precedence over script. It has more than 25 characters and almost 5-6 different stories all taking place at the same time. It is a crazy laugh riot and did not let me relax even for 5 minutes. I was just laughing and laughing all through out. Fulltoo paisa vasool and time pass. Do go with a bunch of crazy friends. And ya, Do watch out for the climax. Its so stupid and yet so funny.

Okay, First things first, If you the intellectual cinema lover, Do not even read this review and watch a documentary insteadl. If you are a crazy cinema fan who loves David Dhawan and Priyadarshan genre, then also stop reading this and book tomorrow's tickets. Its a crazy movie (and i mean it in a good way) full of funny situations and slapstick. Must watch according to me. Another Do knot disturb or All the Best this year. Another thing that i liked was that, The stars were not given any unnecessary bhavs. They were treated like characters and according to the requirement time and space was allotted to them, which did it for me.

Plot: Well, the movie starts with a Dog kidnapping plan, and then travels across atleast half a dozen storylines and almost 25 characters. Numerous funny situations. But credit must be given to the writer, who could actually write all that chaos and confusion and still not get confused himself. I kept asking my friend, who is he, who is she, why is he here, what is she doing with him etc etc. But honestly, i dint really care about all that in the end.

Performances: Akshay and Suniel (surprisingly) dont even have that long a role, especially in the second half when paresh rawal takes over the show with johny lever and others. They are simply awesome. Katrina and the other girls have their moments of looking pretty (but dumb) and they do it with ease. All the 25+ characters did their job pretty good. No complaints there too.

Technicals : I think i made it very clear that its a situational comedy. So wont even bother writing about cinematography etc. Next question please.

Music: Paisa Paisa has that groovy, hip hop-ish feel. Rishte naate is hummable. I HAVE to mention another song which goes like, " Feel me, touch me, hold me, i am your naughty babe in town" picturized on Neha Dhupia. It is hilarious. Its just soo funny i cant explain. Rest of the songs(if any) i dont even remember.

Positives: Edge of the seat excitement, Sense between chaos and confusion, Amazing comic timing. Some really funny dialogues and situations.

Negatives: Same as above. Because there is nothing except what is mentioned above. The confusion might actually frustrate you at times when you cant keep a track of whats happening.

Overall : Typical situational comedy with some really funny sequ3nces

Feel-O-Meter: 7/10 ( I know most would treat this as high. But mujhe full feel aa gayi. I was rolling in my seat almost at every stupid sequence. So for me, it deserves an extra 2 for those extra silly moments which did the trick for me)

Andaz Apna Apna Quotes

2009-11-26T10:06:00.001-08:00

Collection of most dialogues i could remember or find.. Kick Ass i say!!!

* Main Jaanta tha.. Main Jaanta tha

* Teja Main hoon, Mark Idhar hai.

* Main Teja hoon kyunki mera naam bhi Teja hain

* Nahii.. Ghutna Nahi.. Ghutna Nahi..

* Arey. Udhar idhar kya dekhte hain. Idhar udhar dekhiye.. Idhar udhar..

* Happy Budday Robert

* Nahi Nahi tum lo. Tumhari budday hai. tum lo

* Lagta hey katcha khiladi hai yeh.

* Na surat, na shakal, na akal. Jise dekho chala aa raha hai

* Unkey ek ek sawal hamarey do dod jawab...Sawal Ek Jawab Do. sawal jawab sawal jawab...chupp.......

* Jhakaaass...shabash cheetey, shabaash...ab aya hy oonth pahaar k nichey..

* Gogo Sahab, aapka ghaghra.

* Teesri baar tu khush hua tha. Jab tune apni maami ke ghaghre ka naada....

* Langde Baapu.. Langde baapu

* Robert : aapne bataya nahin sir, aaj mera bday hai.

* Ye bichhu ka zeher hain. Pinewala 2 hi minute main pila hokar nila ho jata hain. Kifayati aur bharosemand!

* Dhak ki tiki dhak ki tiki dhak ki tiki dhak ki tiki,,,dhaa....isme toh ek hee goli thi!!!

* Bread ka badhshah ur amlet ka rajja BAJAJ humara BAJAJJJJJJ !!!!!

* Robert: Phir Sir aap kyon nahi gaye London???
Teja: Kaise jaata main? kaise jaata....? Kya mujhe London dekhne ka mann nahi hai kya? kaise jaata...? Pehle uss Mugambo ka dus karor ka gaphla kar baitha ab uska bhatija crime master Gogo mujhe dhundh raha hai... usse kisi tarah bach raha hoon! aur doosra apna munim Harisha...nkar tha na... uska maine galti se game kar diya... lekin achcha hua... bahut bore karta tha saalaa, hameshaa dharm-karm ki baatein karta tha... bahut bore karta tha... achcha hua uska bhi game ho gaya...!!!

* Abhi Aap.. Piyo.. Arey piyo piyo.. Peeta hai ya lagaoo sir pe ek. Abey peeta hai ya lagaoo bum pe ek

* Uncle aa gaye , Uncle aa gaye. Uncle humne apni jaan par khel ke bachaya hai... aaiye aaiye uncle .. yahaan aage aaiye , are phir main chalaoonga kaise.. uncle beech main aaiye.. uncle uncle 'Dandi' pe baithiye.

* Ye dekh... ye dekh... ye dekh...

* Kya namaste,namaste?? dawat pe aye ho kya???

* Sir, Yeh Vasco da Gama ki Gun hain.

* Siir lakh lakh ke pachas cheque hoyenge...

* Yeh Teja Teja Kya Hai??? Ye Teja Teja .....??

* Ailaa !! Seeta aur Geeta ??!! Seeta aur Geeta nahi be, Raam aur Shaam. Han han wohi wohi :))

* Khandaani chor hun main, khandaani... Mogambo ka bhateeja GOGO :))

* Raveena ki maa mai aa raha hoon!!

* Goli nahin thi toh bataya kyun ...

* Aankhen nikaal kar gotiya khelunga....

* KISKE Mama ki Gun hain!!!

* abe ye firauti ka paisa hai ya maiyat ka chanda

* Main darta nahin, bas thoda sa gabrata hoon.

* chal chal...uttar niche...godiwale...

* ye dekh goga, in heero'n ko aakhri baar dekh le! tere kisse se ek aur naya kissa jud jayegaa ... haath ko aaya par muh na laga

* mera boss??....kaun hai mera boss???....mera boss kaun hai????

* Babulal kaha tha kaan sabhal k katna

* Kaun sa mark re .... kahe ka mark yaar... Teja main hoon safed Ramu ... Main Teja hoon.........Teja Main hoon mark idhar hai !!!!! BHaad mein gaya mark ... main idhar hoon na yaar

* yeh topi aapne New York se kharidi hai? nahi America se.. accha accha mujhe laga New York se..

* Sala circus ka retired bandar lag raha hai.

* sala shakal se to bidi ke kharkhane ka majdoor lagta hain..........!

* sir shakkar dalnai ka time ho gaya?

Tum Mile : (Surprisingly!!) Survivable..

2009-11-15T05:36:00.001-08:00

Well. This was my first emran hashmi movie and yes. I just about made through. Its a very average movie but ya, you can survive through it, provided you keep an open mind and stop looking at actors(obv you have to think long and hard to watch an emran hashmi starrer) and noticing characters. The characters are very well written. Script is not too loose. Storyline is pretty simple but intriguing. Performances are pretty average (but i obv was not expecting an oscar winner here anyways). Music is very nice (Infact thats one of the main reason i actually saw this movie). Overall not the worst movie ever made. If you have to watch it, you can.

But somehow i felt that the love story was much more interesting than the 25/7 setting. If the setting can be discounted and movie remade with a better star cast and only the love story. I think it can work ammazingly well. A few moments were actually touching. The love story is very well thought of. And most will actually be able to relate to it. The 25/7 background (i believe) was only there to create hype, and was not required. Infact, that works as a distraction from the main story. Make it again with better actors and without the 25/7 background and i will watch it a few times over.

Plot: The plot revolves around a live-in couple who have their share of laughs and fights and end up separating only to meet again during 25/7(Quite filmy.. I know). During that one night they realize that they are made for each other and has a happy ending with a few (unrequired) twists and turns. Just get rid of the 25/7 setting please.

Performances: Soha does a pretty above average job(Given that i did not expect her to be able to 'act' at all). Although i cannot tolerate Emraan at all, but i tried my level best to not be biased because of my personal dislike and infact i kinda liked what he did. The guy acts in his limited capacity and does not go overboard at all, which i seemed to liked. Rest there is nobody else anyways in the cast.

Music: I quite liked a couple of songs. Especially the title track. I think it was damn neat. Also Dil Ibadat and Tu hi haqeeqat are worth mentioning.

Technicals: Very ordinary. They could have done a much better job while creating the 25/7 sequences. But that obviously would have required some more spending which i am not sure would have been allowed. Rest nothing worth mentioning.

Positives: Neat Story. Decently tight script. Does not lose its pace mostly. Okayish performances. No hickups. Pretty smooth actually.

Negatives: Again not any major problems but the 25/7 background did not work for me. Also could have been even shorter. I wish it was only a love story minus the setting and the fact that its an emraan hashmi movie!

Overall: Pretty average and survivable if you dont have any major hang ups against emraan hashmi!

Feel-o-Meter: 6/10 (Yes. You read it right.. 6.. :-p )

2012: Kick Ass. Plain Simple.. Kickkk Assss!!!

2009-11-14T05:37:00.000-08:00

100% paisa vasool for me. I ONLY went for the graphics. Ignored anything else and was damn damn happy with the movie. Some of the scenes are so 'Oh my Gawdddd' that you just cannot afford to miss it. And there were some like "How the hell can they even imagine this.. forget about filming". And For god's sake, dont go with that 'Whats apart from the graphics' curiousity. Just go for some spell binding, kick ass action and you will NOT be disappointed. And for all those who think its nothing but graphics and action. You guys are damn right and yeah.. F**k you!! :-D

Every single scene.. You just go.. How the f**k can they even think about this. I mean the canvas is too friggin big. I still am in the awe of the writer/director who COULD think of such masssive scale and effects. Whole buildings going down in a flash. Trains flying in the sky. Highways gone in a flash. A whole city just breaks in half and is wasted in the sea. Tsnunamis hitting the himalayas!!! wow.. wow.. and WOW!!! Full marks for even daring to 'imagine' forget about thinking of filming it!!

Plot: Do you really care?? I mean in hollywood sci-fi flick these days. Do you really bother about the plot or the story or the 'message'!!! Its a one liner plot. Some eruptions from the sun has some heating effect on the earth's core and there are earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, shifting of poles etc etc. The world is coming to an end and there are some people who are trying to survive.. Blah.. Blah..

Performance: What else can be expected apart from the usual screams and exaggerated expressions going.. aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh.. Ohhhh shiitttttt.. Runnnnnnn... etc etc. Nobody has any other thing to do apart from those screams etc.

Technicals: Ofcourse special effects are the biggest, meanest, most imaginative and craziest EVERR on screen. But when there are no special effects and in close shots, it gives a kinda 'sit comish' feel. I guess its gotta do with some new technology of cinematography used or something. But gives an uncomfy feeling during those shots. But yeah. I dont think i know enough to even comment on special effects of that stature.

Positives: Kick Ass Special Effects. Ammmmmazing creativity. Imaginative.. Just too f**king imaginative.

Negatives: Too lengthy. Gets a bit preachy in the middle and you start to feel, 'when would the next big sequence' come, Gets repetitive since there is nothing one can do apart from running from nature. But i think EVERY negative is forgotten once the sequences start flowing. I just wish that ending had been less preachy and more kick ass like the start!!

Overall : Fullll Feel. Kick Ass action, Graphics and Special Effects. Must Must Watch

Feel-O-Meter : 8/10

Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani: Naah.. Nothing 'Ghazab'. No Prem. Definitely No Kahani. :-(

2009-11-13T05:39:00.000-08:00

Well. Not that i HATED the movie but honestly, i dint come out with anything after the movie. Good movies you have something left with you after you are finished. Something that reminds me of that movie. In this case. I dint get that feel at all. The movie is too overrated and i dont understand why on earth have some critics given it 4 stars!!!! There is almost no chemistry between the lead pair. Story, Script, Direction, Comedy, Senti Stuff. Almost nothing worked for me. But yeah, A couple of sequences here and there are quite funny, but overall. Feel nahi aayi yaar. Katrina looks pretty (obviously). Ranbir is cute(obviously). But nothing else, I guess i was expecting too much from Santoshi after being a die hard fan of Andaz Apna Apna. Disappointed.

First things first, Its not that i dont like Silly Slapstick stuff or something(For the record: I loved 'All the best') but this just didnt do it for me. The jokes were too stale. The slapstick was straight out of a school skit. I guess the movie just tried too hard to be funny and it shows. Santoshi so desperately wanted to replicate an AAA. Named the key character as Prem. Even the villain's right hand is called 'Robert'(and even casts the same actor, Viju Khote). The climax also tried the same AAA setting and slapstick but just dint work. You cant copy your own classic and lift a few sequences and expect to make a kick ass movie out of it. And that exactly happened. It just ended up being a confused movie. I am still not sure if its a romantic comedy with some senti twists or is it a comedy with romance as the side plot!!!

Plot: There was nothing 'Ghazab' in the story. Its a very plain simple love story with a couple of predictable twists. Guy meets girl. Starts liking her. Girl loves somebody else. He tries to help her find the true love. Twists. Turns. Predictable Ending. Done. With these simple storylines, 'Treatment' makes the difference and in this case. It dint.

Performance: Ranbit is Cute. Katrina looks pretty. hmmmmm.. I guess thats it.

Technicals: Technicals!!! What!!! You actually are looking at ANY sort of technical expertise anywhere?? Anyways. Nothing noticable. One song picturized full frozen(Madonna) style was pretty good. Baaki.. Nothing to mention.

Music: I guess the only saving grace for the movie. Nice songs. Some very good too. I liked Dil tera, Tu Jaane Na and Prem ki Naiyya a lot. Worth a buy(or download). Definitely!

Positives: Hmmm... The Cute Ranbir. He has done a pretty decent job. Songs. A couple of really funny sequences. A couple of really well written dialogues too. But nothing much apart from that

Negatives: Trying too hard to tickle your funny bone especially in the end. Stupid twists(Kat and Ranbir Stammering!!!!). Very ordinary script and performances by most.

Overall: Can watch with friends (or girlfriend/boyfriend) if dont have anything better to do. Ignore some stuff and enjoy some of the funny moments and come back. Zyada load nahi lene ka

Feel-O-Meter: 4/10

LONDON DREAMS: Buy One, Get Two !!!!

2009-11-01T05:40:00.000-08:00

COMBO OFFER!!!! Buy one ticket and get Two dreams free. One on screen called london dreams and the other one in your sleep during the first half!!! Infact, there are two movies in one. It sucks in the first half but picks up in the second. Its a classic example of being plain Stupid to sheer amazing from first to the second half. Cinematography and AD's performance are damn neat. Salman is okay. Music is Bad. Story was damn good but script screwed it. One time watch and i soooo wish somebody makes the same movie again but keeps it short and to the point without stupid jokes and masala stuff. Watchable.

First things first, Its not too bad a movie as well provided you can survive the stupidity, not funny jokes, zabardasti ka character establishment and illogical stuff (i am sure you are not looking for logic in a salman starrer anyways..) The second half is very nice specially performance by AD. He does his usual best in the intense scenes.

Plot: I am sure you would have guessed through the promos, that its a story of jealousy between two friends because the second is more successful than the first. Just to add that extra flavour, a love triangle is also thrown. Add to that some senti family pride motivation. and you get London Dreams' plot. Honestly i love the storyline but script and dialogues were just so pathetic that you start pitying the poor story writer.

Performance: AD rocks. He is known for his intense performances and he delivers damn damn good. You just need to be patient and ignore his spiked-gelled-colored hair, earrings, tight white t shirts, tight brown checks wali trousers and yeah.. he does look damn funny when he tries to perform on stage like a Rockstar!!!!! ;-p But once you ignore that part. He is amazing. Salman does his bit as the 'star performer'. Keeps the audiences interest alive. His character is written pretty well, just that the extra bit of his being a 'playboy' was not required. Asin has nothing to do but to 'dance' in the background while a rock performance(!!!!) is going on with all that 70s look. (Imagine!!!!) She does her bit as the cute wide eyed girl who just runs here and there and keeps giving a shy smile. Thats her job and she does it well.

Technicals: Cinematography is damn good. Ammazing actually. The color combinations in 'Tapke Tapke' was great. Light sequences during stage shows were damn neat as well. Apart form that everything sucks. Direction, Script, Music, Dialogues everything.

Music: One or two songs are hummable. Rest are PATHETIC to the core. You tend to start laughing actually!! I sooo missed Rahman :-(

Positives: AD's performance. Cinematography, Salman is good too.

Negatives: Direction. Script. Dialogues, Stupid jokes, Length

Overall : Its a one time watch with a few friends when you are just planning to have fun. Provided you can ignore Salman and AD miming at hindustani classical songs wearing Black suits with white ties (that too with silver polca dots!!!) AD Rocks. Definitely a one time watch for him.

Feel-o-Meter : 5/10

PS: I soooo wish somebody makes the same movie again with a tigher script, keeps it short without the stupid jokes and parallel tracks, AR Rahman as music director. I will watch it 10 times over. Is anybody listening :-(

All the Best: You get what you expect!!

2009-10-21T07:23:00.001-07:00

You get exactly what you expect from this movie.. A totally crazy mind less comedy with ammmazing feeel.. The jokes are lame but still work. The script was written on the set and still is kick ass.. The comic timing is just about raapchick.. and performances.. The same old slapstick returns with 'situational' tricks.. Take some crazy friends along, maaro some seetis on PJs, ennjoy, come back, forget and get back to work!!

Okay, first things first. If you the 'Intellectual Cinema Lover' and dont belong to the David Dhawan, Rohit Shetty genre of comedy then, DO NOT read this review. Just go and watch some film festival type movie and discuss the camera angles. IF you just watch movies for fun and dont try to find logic anywhere, then also DO NOT read this review.. Go to the theaters and watch this flick!!! hehe..

Plot: Do you realllly care??? Its just some confusion thrown here and there. Add to that some funny characters with some very funnny PJs and decent treatment and you get the plot.. If you are still interested its about lies and coverups and rest you can go and figure yourself

Performance: Obviously nothing award winning, but yeah, nobody seems like an awkward fit anywhere. All were decent. The girls anyways dint have anthing to do but look pretty. They did that. Johny lever dint have anything to do but to make strange faces. He did that. Ditto applies to others too. Sab theek thaak hai..

Technicals: Yeah sure.. IF you are actually gonna watch this.. I am sure you are NOT the technical types anyways.. But ya.. the color combination could have been slightly less pink, green, orange-ish..

Positives: Tremendously funny comic timing, Crrrazy pull your hair out PJs, Slapstick.

Negatives: Arrrey Chill maar, relax karr aur forget about the negatives

Overall: Dont Think. Just Grab a couple of wella and crazzy friends who dont make faces while watching un-intellectual cinema, Go, Enjoy and come back.

Feel-O-Meter: 6/10 (Yes.. You are right.. I rate it higher than Blue)

Blue: Just Style No Substance

2009-10-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

Well, Its not the worst movies ever made But definitely not worth a second watch. Pathetic Performances, Almost No Storyline, Good for Nothing Script. On the positives, It has some kick ass action sequences and ammazing under water photography. Go only if you have nothing much to do this weekend. And restrict yourself to the normal seats, dont waste money on the Gold/Premier Class.

First things first, The movie has almost nothing on the substance front. One line story, Bad performances, Stars who dont fit in characters, no script, no direction, almost nothing. What it lacks there, it compensates on the style front. Lara Dutta in her usual cleavage flaunting best(or should i say breast.. hehe), Classy action sequences, Kick ass marketing with all the hype around it being the most expensive movie ever made(although i couldnt understand WHERE that money was spent), Decent background score etc.

Plot : As already established, its about a treasure hunt with a few twists and turns (The bad part is that the hunt itself lasts for 15-20 mins and the build up to the hunt stretches almost 1.5 hours) and honestly i was not impressed by nothing there.

Performances: Not a single name comes up. Akshay kumar anyways is only known for his action sequences (although in Blue i dont even remember a single one from him) and not his acting prowess. Sanjay Dutt should take a break from action movies and concentrate on stuff like lokhandwala. He in his 50+ looks such a miscast that its almost pathetic. And Top that with her pairing with LARA.. I mean dude.. get a life.. Zayed khan: No comments. Lara Dutta: Does her bit in those tiny winy bikinies.. (Hey.. what else you expect from her). Katrina : Yeah, she is there too in a couple of sequences. NOBODY impressed.

Music: A Couple of tracks are nice but i doubt if you take 'em with you after the movie is finished. Background score is kick ass. Those chase sequences have some really ammazing background score. Full points there.

Technicals : Okay, THIS was the only saving grace for the movie. The phoren cinematographer captures the underwater shots ammmazingly well. The lighting, the colours, everything just perfect. I think for me he was the actual hero for me. Honestly speaking, I think the director was too bored to direct the movie so he just gave some extra money to the action coordinator who did a pretty good job in most sequences (specially the earlier chase sequences, which became repetitive later on though).

Positives: Hmmmm.. Action Sequences, Cinematography and Ishtyle Quotient

Negatives: No story, Pathetic Script, Bad Performances

Overall : Only style no substance. Watch only if you dont have anything better (or as i always say "Less worse") to do. Got some extra cash to spare. And you dont really bother about storyline, script, performances and like a movie for ammazing marketing and hype!!! ;-)

Feel-O-Meter: 5/10 (2 each for action and underwater cinematography and 1 for sheer scale and bravado)

Do Knot Disturb: Do Not Bother!!!

2009-10-05T07:10:00.001-07:00

Yeh kahaani hai Gobar, Buntoo, Nunnu, Mangu, Dolly aur Diesel ki.. Yes, These are names of the characters from the movie!! Need i say more. Honeslty, i dont mind goofy, stupid, DD-Govinda ishtyle comedies.. But iss baar thoda zada ho gya.. Everything was too repetitive, as if DD had decided on a 20 min movie and then thought its too short and stretched it to two hours. Funnily enough, Even 2 hours seem like 4..Infact, I started accessing FB in the middle!!!

Top it up, with some sleazy shots of Lara Dutta at her cleavage exposing best. I felt she was kept so that atleast the male audience keeps their eyes on the screen (For sometime atleast!!). But that too became too repetitive!!

I am not the 'intellectual cinema lover' types and understand that I need to keep my brains out of the cinema hall while watching a DD-Govinda movie. But, even after that. It was just not funny. Every scene was stretched like a chewing gum. Ek hi joke baar baar.. Thoda zada ho gya.. I sooo wanted to see this movie after the 'Dolly dolly' Ad.. But that too was used atleast 10 times in the movie!!!

Also, the whole starcast (supposedly) lives in Delhi and the movie is entiredly shot in Dubai!!! (No, i am not finding logic here, but wondering WHY did DD mention Delhi anyways.. It wasnt required right??) A Slapstick comedy is something but this hamming personified. I felt as if the dialogues were being written on the sets!!!

On paper, it was supposed to be an Awwwwesome laugh riot.. Imagine, just the starcast is enough.. Govinda, Rajpal Yadav, Ranvir Shorey, Riteish Deshmukh, Manoj Pahwa.. All of them excellent comic actors.. Add to it, two stunningly hot former Miss Universes, Lara and Sushmita and then put the DD brand name!! Still.. It didnt work. I guess this proves that brand names alone cannot make a movie. You cant take the audience for granted. And Songs itneee wahiyaar hai ke bass kya kahein!!!

As a BIIIIG DD-Govinda fan, I wish that come back with an insanely comic relief and wash this 'Daaman ka Daag' for them! :-(

PS: I am not getting into the positives, negatives, technicals, performances and plot of the movie. Reason- I am too damn bored to even write the review!!!

Overall: Even if you are a crazy DD-Govinda fan like me.. Still dont think you'll be able to tolerate it beyond the first half hour..

Feel-O-Meter: 4/10 (Woh bhi thoda zada hai, but still Thodi toh DD-G ki izzat karni padegi)

Wake up Sid: Refreshing.. Loved it!!!

2009-10-03T11:19:00.001-07:00

Its like a breath of fresh air.The movie is about 'growing up'. Its about movement from boyhood to manhood. That too without any preaching.. From the first scene onwards. The pace is set. Ranbir(surprisingly) has done a Fab job. You just cant seem to find anybody else fitting in the role so amazingly well. Great music. Tight Script. Fresh 'Feel'. Nice performances. Everything worked for me. Funny enough, I cant find anything bad about the movie. (Given that i am known for my 'destructive' criticism!!). Nothing overdone. No preaching. No zabardasti ka emotional drama. Just a plain, sweet script with nice performances. But scores on the 'FEEL'. A mustt watch!!!

The best movies are those where you can see yourself in the characters. Its like watching your own self on screen. The days when you were in college. When all of us wanted to do something 'creative' and not run of the mill stuff. When all we cared about which movie to watch and things like career, life etc took a back seat. And then, you realize that you need to find your place in the sun. What you are meant to be or do. What is it that you want to or have to do. Whats your story and how are you gonna write it.

The Plot: Its a no brainer. The movie is about a boy who needs to wake up and realize that life is not only about partying hard, cars, movies, gaming, credit cards, spending father's money etc. And how an event changes his life and how he transforms form a 'kid' to a man.

The Performances: For me, Ranbir has actually 'grown up'. or may be the part was written just for him. I cant seem to imagine anybody else but him in the role. He is ammazing. Kongkona is as usual fabulous. Anupam kher and Supriya pathak score in their cameos.

Music: I generally dont mention music in my reviews but couldnt help this time. ALL the songs were better than the other. Be it the soft 'Iktara' to the full feel-ed 'Kya Karoon' which describes the plot unbelievably well. The title track is just too ammazing and even the english parts (as background scores) are just fabulous.

Technicals: Top notch. Script is tight. Story is simple. Direction is gripping. Music is fab. There are no dull scenes. Anil Mehta has done wonders in the cinematography department. Sets. Colour combinations. Even the clothes are just class..

Positives: Everything. Be it performances, Plot, Script, Music, Direction, Lyrics, Feel. Everything was just right.

Negatives: Funny enough, I cant find anything negative in the movie. Its just scores perfectly well for me.

Overall: Its just such a refreshing story telling that i just cant describe. Script is tight. Direction is almost perfect. Music is Fab. Performances rocking. Everything just how it should be. Go and Grab your seats NOW!!!

Feel-O-Meter: 9/10 (I am sure all are gonna say its too much but you tell me why not??? )

Inglourious Basterds: Mr Waltz.. Get the oscar speech ready!!

2009-10-03T11:15:00.000-07:00

Good(and i hate to use that word for a tarantino movie) but not Great!! I think the problem lies in expectations and build up. I expected too much from the movie, and thats where i was disappointed a tad bit. An Excellent setting, Good Story, Great Actors and above all.. The Brand called QT.. But still, the movie is above average for me. Watch it if you are NOT a QT fan. If you are.. you might be disappointed. And

First things first, It took me almost half an hour to think of the opening paragraph to describe the movie but still couldnt get it right. The worst part is, I already had a DVD of the movie with me and even then i decided to watch it in theaters just because its a QT. I thought a QT deserves to be seen only in a cinema hall, more for the respect i have for 'The God' !! And then, coming out of the movie, i felt kinda disappointed. Had it been any other movie but a QT, i would have liked it still. But i guess its about expectations(As always)..

It had every possible 'tickmark' for a masterpiece, that you can imagine. A World War setting. Jews Vs Germany. Great Actors. Phenomenal performance by Christopher Waltz. But i was disappointed by the slow pace of the narrative(That took the magic away). The problem area according to me was scene length(There were only appx 5-6 scenes overall in the movie). No matter how amazing the dialogues are. No matter how great shots/Camera angles/Background score you might have. No matter how good the actors(and the performances) are. If the scene is too long and verbose. It tends to lose its effect.

Plotwise: I think it was FAB. The movie might be 'Ahistorical' but its interesting in its own way and you tend to keep guessing how the end is going to unfold. For me, the plot was just too amazing. But longish scenes spoilt the fun. I dint like the way Hitler was portrayed in a comic book villain kinda style. And 'Ingluorious Basterds' (The group) themselves look like a cameo rather than THE plot.

Performances: Its a cracker by Christopher Waltz. For me he has already EARNED an oscar this year. Ammazing.. Ammazing.. Ammmmazing.. is the word. Every scene he comes on screen. He sets it on fire. His dialogue delivery. His mannerisms. Man.. I am already a fan.. Full points to him. Except him. I dint find anybody else being even half as good as him.

Technicals: Meri Aukaat nahi hai QT pe comment karne ki. And (for obvious reasons) i dint(and i cant) have any problem what so ever. Great background score. Amazing camera work. Kick ass action. The QT trademark violence. All good.

Positives: Great work by Christopher Waltz. Amazing Storyline and Overall setting of the plot. Ammazing sequences here and there.
Negatives: The slow pace. Long sequences. Too many Dialogues and less QT action!!

Overall: A good watch (and ek baar to banta hai) but you tend to feel like going for a walk when the sequences get too stretched. Go for Christopher Waltz and you will NOT be disappointed. Or else, 'I' will reimburse your tickets if you don like HIM.. Kick ass performance by him

Feel-o-Meter: 7/10 (3 only for Chris ;-D )

UP: Two Thumbs Up!!!!

2009-09-26T07:40:00.001-07:00

Ammazing.. Cute.. The Awwww Factor.. Characters you would fall in love with.. Kick Ass Animation.. Touching Story.. Action.. Adventure.. Humour.. You say it. UP has it!! All in all.. A Kick Ass Animation movie for those Shrek, Wall-e, Monsters inc, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ice Age Fans.. Take a bow and make way for Up.. Coz its right 'up' there at the top..

I am sure the paragraph above has given you an idea as to what this review is gonna be like. Infact i am running short of words now. And yess. It is in the same league as all the movies i mentioned above if not better.. (although shrek still takes the first place for me.. hehe..)

The best part about the movie is that its not a 'kid' movie. It would appeal to all age groups(i think). The movie is about a 80 year old man who wants to fulfill his dead wife's childhood dream to go to an Island and have a house there.. They keep postponing it due to finances and then the wife dies (awwwww...) So tadaaa!!! He ties 10000 balloons to his house and airlifts it to the island.. Simple.. Isnt it?? Not exactly.. Add to that a kid trying to get a 'Help Elderly' kinda badge, A rare species of bird whom the villain is trying to capture and ya.. how can i forget.. a pack of dogs who can SPEAK... yess you read it right.. SPEAK!!!

All in all an ammazing adventure and hehe.. The adventurous is spell binding.. Its thrilling and emotinal at the same time. Infact a couple of times,i myself went Awwww.. and looked for a tissue!! hehe..

Another thing worth mentioning is, that the movie doesnt have ANY star voices to boast of. And THAT in itself is an achievement.. To Take off the audience's focus from the ACTORS to the CHARACTERS.

All the characters are so ammazingly written, that you cant NOT fall in love with them. Be it the Grumpy Old Man or the sweet little talking dog or the wilderness explorer kid or even a colorful bird that CANT talk!!!

Animation obviously is amazing. And that is taken as a given anyways from a pixar movie. But what worked for me was that i dint even notice the animation in the movie. It just struck me where it should and then i dint really bother about the animaiton or technicalities. Just engrossed in the adventure.

Bottomline: Kick Ass.. Go watch it. Period

Feel-O-Meter: 8/10 ( Saving 2 for the 3D version.. coz i saw the normal one only :-( )

Catch the trailer on : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USpI6Jzl3No

Quck Gun Murugan: Okay.. But Rajni is the king, i say!!!

2009-09-07T08:03:00.000-07:00

I am sure you'd been tempted to see the movie after the promos and you should watch it once too. But make sure to keep your brains outside and go with a few friends who are the 'seeti' types and you are gonna love it. The movie has some really damn funny sequences but just the wait for those is an ordeal in itself. I very well understand that its a spoof and its supposed to be tacky, but i guess it was too spoofy and no dhinchak rajni ishtyle which i was lookin forward to.

As far as the goods are concerned, it is refreshing and 'different' from the usual masala flick and has its own place in the sun. Some of the jokes are damn funny and would make you rolling in your seats. But as i said, they are too far and few. The plot in itself is very novel and the 'idea' seems to generate a lot of interest but i guess the problem would be that the movie doesnt have a repeat value. Performance wise, QGM stands out and but Nobody else. And he cant keep the movie on his shoulders all the time.

The problem is presence of too many 'buts'.. Nice idea But not great execution. Good performance by QGM but others. Decent Script but technically a dud. Good one liners but too few o them.. An idea which could have made it BIG but ended up being just another spoof ..

Infact i toh had imagined a few sequels even before the movie. QGM as a brand. He could have been a cult. The character which could have had repeat value. More like the Jauhar Mehmood series during yesteryears.. But was disappointed. My heart bleeds to write that its such an amazing opportunity wasted.

There were so many 'could haves' there. I mean just imagine Rajni and all his antics. I just wished that there were many more crazy fight sequences. I mean the stuff where you throw a blade in the air and shoot a bullet bang in the middle, the blade snaps, and there are three dead bodies.. THAT kinda stuff, i just wish the director had been just a tad bit more creative and not only dependent on the character but situations too!!
Technically, Treatment toh tacky hona hi tha. but i guess thoda zada ho gya. Production quality was more like a serial or channel V's any other reality show.

Overall: Its such a brilliang idea and character but feel nahi aayi yaar.. I just wish that the next instalment is better (or as i always say, Less worse)

Feel-O-Meter : 5/10

PS: I wish Good, Bad and the Idly rocks.. :-)

Aagey se Right: Wasted Effort!

2009-09-07T08:01:00.000-07:00

I just feel so bad when you take actors like Shreyas and Kay Kay Menon, a kinda funny idea but still manage to screw the movie. The funny part is that it takes an almost not known actor like Vijay Maurya to provide fresh air during an otherwise boring and stupid affair. For me, HE and a few dialogues just save the sinking ship. Ignore the stupid antics and watch it once for some really kick ass performance from him.

Plot toh i am sure everybody already knows, Its about a cop who keeps losing his guns and in (trying to be) funny circumstances, keeps getting into trouble and Still manages to come out as a winner through sheer luck! On paper, i thought it was a kick ass plot. I mean kinda mr magoo and pink panther or even a bit of mr bean i guess.

We could have had a series of movies based on the character. The funny cop who keeps getting into all sorts of trouble but always comes out clean and is rechristened as a 'supercop'(with full superman attire too). An Opportunity wasted. There was soo much scope if they had only taken this one character and built the entire plot.. but nahi. masala bhi to daalna hai.. He added a stupid reporter, a bar girl, a terrorist falling in love, a crazy police commissioner, and a mallu cateringwallah cum gangster(who incidentally is the only performance worth mentioning)

Performancewise, As already mentioned, Vijay Maurya stands out. HE just picks the movie everytime its falling. I mean he is just too funny man. His dialogue delivery, body language, is just so awwsome. I just fell in love with the character. There is one scene where he teaches kay kay to walk in a 'cool' style and how to call an 'item'.. That is just Kick Ass... Rest all are pretty average.. Even kay kay and shreyas!!!

One thing worth mentioning are the dialogues. Script weak hai but dialogues amazing. There was one dialogue which went 'Ibtida e lafda hai.. locha hai kya.. dimag ka dahi horela hai.. etc etc'. Kick ass man.. I was rolling on the floor laughing and half the hall was looking at me and my friend was getting embarassed. I am sure she is not gonna watch another movie with me so i would need somebody else to watch such stupid movie with me.. help!!!

Also, the sequences where vijay is teaching tapori language to kay kay are just so sexy but the wait for those is too long and the other sub plots are nothing less of frustrating and irritating!

Technically, Nothing at all. Infact a couple of sequences were so blurred as if the cinematographer forgot to adjust focus only. Music ekdum bandal. Gaane bilkull bakwaas.

Overall: Go for vijay maurya and some crazzzzy dialogues. One time watch to banta hai if you are bored and there are no other movies to watch.

Feel-O-Meter: 6/10 (out of which 4 are for vijay maurya)

Tere Sang: Nah.. The 'Awww.. So Sweet' factor!!!

2009-08-26T09:54:00.001-07:00

Its not the most pathetic movie of the year but still is pretty 'not good' (Intentionally NOT using 'BAD'). Credit goes to no dum in the script. Old treatment. Not one performance to mention about. Too much of preaching. Too much 'trying to be cute' masala. Too 'Kiddy-Mushy' for me. Although there are a few moments in the second half which are cute as well as touching but are too few and you seem to doze off waiting for those moments.

Plot: Its about how a teenage girl 'accidentally' becomes pregnant coz bacchon ko feel aa jati hai. Then the preaching part begins where they dont want to 'Kill' a child. Add to that Running away from home masala and mix it with the second half of 'maine pyar kiya' way where the guy tries hard to make a living for the 'love' of his life and the gal tries to manage the house (A few scenes are pretty nice too). And in the end it all ends with some amount of gyaan session for both the parents and the kids.

Performance: Both the kids are cute, but thats the end of it. (And I am sure they were cast for that quality too and not for their acting prowess, so no complaints there). The guy whatever his name is, is better(or rather less worse) than the gal. Both of them look damn sweet together too. Waise bhi, the movie is more about the 'moments' than the performances. It rests on creating that 'sweet' feel, which makes you go 'Awwwwwww'. Thats it

Technicals : Nope. Nothing to mention. Even so that i dont even remember anything about anything. Soundtrack is equally pathetic (Although i think 'Morey Saiyaan' is one of the best songs of the year). Absolutely nothing to mention about

Overall: If your girlfriend is one of those 'Awwwwwwww.. Thats so cute' types. Go ahead and watch it. She can watch the movie and you can watch her. ;-)

Feel-O-Meter: 5/10

PS: Do download Morey Saiyaan.. Its a FAB FAB song..

Sikandar: Not Impressed

2009-08-26T09:33:00.000-07:00

I might be being too harsh on the kids, but the movie just dint do anything for me. It had a good storyline, gripping script and decent direction, but i guess the 'kids' were trying too hard to be 'grown up actors' Thats where the movie lost its innocence for me. Its another 'could have been' but 'couldnt' movie.

First start with the positives. Its has a very strong plot, which talks about a kid who accidentally finds a gun and ends up in the struggle between politicians, terrorists, spiritual leaders and the army. Nowhere in the movie i found it to be preaching about anything. It talks about terror from a kid's perspective (just that the kid seems to perform like a grown up). A couple of twists are indeed very surprising and when ever you feel a bit bored, the twist just retains you on your seat.

Technically, the camera work is pretty neat but i guess credit goes to kashmir's locales rather than the cinematographer himself. Direction is pretty solid too since he takes out pretty okay work from (non)actors like madhavan, sanjay suri etc. But I had the problem with the backgrouns score, It is too 'cute' for a terrorism based movie. It is not as dark as it could have (or rather should have) been. May be the usage of softer instruments (i dont know the names but they have a very 'stringy' and kashmiri feel to them) took away the effect. Serious scenes mein bhi soft type background.. Feel chali jati thi.

Performancewise, There is a cameo by one of the actors who plays a terrorist in the first half was the only performance that impressed me. That too, coz of his FAB kashmiri accent (may be he actually is a kashmiri). FAB.. Just FAB.. As already said earlier, The kids (Parzaan and Ayesha) both try to act like grown ups. The effect of being 'kid-stars' is very obvious in their performance. They seem to be 'acting' and not portraying 'characters'. (I know i am being too harsh on the kids but being honest in my opinion). Thats where the movie lost its charm for me. Had their been not known kids, i am sure it could have been a damn neat movie.

Overall : An Okayish watch if you dont have anything else to do. (Afterthought: Less than okayish watch actually)

Feel-O-Meter: 5/10

Life Partner: Not 'THAT' bad actually!!!

2009-08-26T07:47:00.000-07:00

The movie is nothing great but its not bad either. Its a very normal movie but kinda funny too (in parts). Its not among those irritating comedies which try too hard and end up frustrating audience. It has a decent script with some quite a few funny punches here and there.

Well.. First things first,I am gonna keep it pretty short coz there is nothing 'great' to write. But ya, its not as bad as you might expect it to be. I expected it to be complete trash (and you cant blame me given the cast), but i was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. The movie infact is pretty okay and does not bore you anytime. Even the jokes are too old, still it works. May be its to do with Govinda's timing.

Although Govinda is a complete miscast on paper. Imagine, govind in his late 40s (or early 50s) playing a casanova kinda character with baalis in his ears.But you cant take away his timing. He still has it.

Plotwise, Its a comedy with a pinch of gyaan on how life changes after marriage and adjustments involved therein!!!! Its purely situational, nothing else

As far as performances are concerned, Govinda has done pretty well. Others obviously are not doing anything great (for the simple reason, that i don really think genelia, fardeen or tushar can act to save their lives, but thats a separate point i guess)

For me, a decent script with some quite funny dialogues and scenes did the trick.

Feel-O-Meterl : 6/10

PS: I went to watch it for Genelia and wasnt disappointed. She is a pathetic actress no doubt, but is just too cute otherwise.. ;-)

Jashnn: Surprisingly 'Not Bad' at all.

2009-08-15T05:44:00.000-07:00

Surprisingly, the movie is not bad at all. Its a very sweetly made movie. It has no tantrums, No Show off, No marketing gimmicks, No stars, No out of the box creativity, No path breaking script writing, No great technicians, Almost Nothing. But STILL the movie worked for me. Because there was an honesty by which the movie has been made, which you can feel. Its not a Fab movie on which you would generally spend money and watch it, but still its better than the recent kambakht ishqs and Luck crap!!

I know most of you wouldnt even bother about the review or the movie and also might think that why in the hell, would i go and watch 'this' movie. Some of you might think that batla has lost it that he is actually reviewing a bhatt camp movie. The reason is simple, i heard about it through a couple of hardcore movie buff kinda friends and got reasonably not bad reviews and ya, if i can tolerate kambakht ishq and luck, then things cant get worse anyways.

The movie has a very cute and sweet soul, it has no showey attitude about it. It doesnt promise out of the hill top that its the best movie ever made. It doesnt have ANY hype whatsoever associated(obviously with 'stars' like adhyayan suman and anjana sukhani). There are no good performances(again pretty obvious). Absolutely nothing extraordinary about it. Infanct, this ordinary thing worked for me. It had just no tantrums. It was a very simple story, already told like a zillion times and no new treatment also. But its just a sweet movie thats it.

Plotwise, Its a story already told a zillion times over. Take a a struggling singer trying to make his mark add to it a love story and an angry and powerful brother(of the girl ofcourse) who is trying to screw things up. The guy hits rock bottom and then rises to win a singing competition and wins the brother over too. Nothing new, Pretty predictable but still you dont feel like leaving the theater before the finish.

Performances also are very ordinary. I think thats where the problem with lies. Even though it has a pretty decent script, since the budget was tight(i assume), they 'couldnt' take any established actors and 'dint' take any FRESH talent. They just did with reasonably known(just known) free actors. Adhyayan Suman was the biggest problem with the movie. Poor guy just cant act to save his life. He tries soo hard and it appears on screen. You can feel that he is giving his best in every shot but may be even that is just not good enough. Anjana Sukhani(I understand most of you wouldnt even know who she is, not that it matters too) again is a non-actor so cant expect anything from her too. Even the other actors are just not good except shahana goswami who couldnt save the movie on her own since hers is more like a character role.

Some of the scenes are actually pretty good especially the scene where Adhyayan steals a woman's purse and gets caught. Also, when he later earns some money after sweeping floors and goes to pay off a restaurant manager who threw him out. You just need to learn to ignore the 'actors' and concentrate on 'characters'. As already said, Casting is the villain in the movie. Had the movie been made through a bigger banner or fresh 'stars', it could have been another 'Jaane tu' (Dont be surprised, i am very serious).

Music is pretty decent, not great for a 'music' movie. But pretty decent nonetheless. Compliments must be given to the new jodi of music directors sharib and toshi who incidentally have been singing reality show contestants!!

Overall, A Nice Script.Age Old Story. No Great performances. But Good Treatment. No Flashy Airy stuff. Just a plain simple straight from the heart movie. Watch it (if its still in cinemas) if you nothing better to do. (If you can watch Kambakht Ishq and Luck then might as well can sit through this as well)

Feel-O-Meter: 6/10

PS: Please make it again with a better casting. I will watch it again. ;-)

Kaminey: Fort Kut ya Chota Fortkut!!!

2009-08-15T03:58:00.000-07:00

The expectations were huge. The build up was too much. The hype was great too. Full 'Feel' bhi thi but it dint turn out to be full 'Dhan te Naan'. Vishal started to make a tarantino and he did, but ended up (literally in the end) mixing it with priyadarshan. Damn good script and dialogues have been written immaculately and delivered equally well. A Good watch but not a Vishal bhardwaj masterpiece. I think in order to do too much, the movie ended up not being 'up there' but just falls short of it, but even then it is FAB.. Damn FAB.. I just wish that the ending was a bit 'less filmy'

My heart breaks when i write anything negative about it but gotta mention the weak points too. The critics i guess are not writing about the negatives, since criticizing a vishal bhardwaj can outcast you big time. It IS damn good even now but promised to be much much more. It had all the ingredients. Gripping Script. Amazing Story. Phenomenal Actors. Great technicals and Crazy Background score.. EVERYTHING.. But the movie loses its direction a couple of times and just falls short of being as pathbreaking as it promises to be. Bas yaar, ending change kar ke ek baar aur release kar do. I will watch it 100 times over.

Its about two brothers one who stammers and the other who has a lisp, who cant stand each other's sight. There are sub plots, a mushy love story, more than 10 different characters with their own pursuits and a plot that brings all of them together.

The first half is a bit slow but its justified. Its more like a play than a movie. It explains every character in detail and gives full bhaav to all the characters, not only to the 'hero-heroine' types. I guess thats why even after the movie is finished, you still remember ALL the characters. It builds up for a cracking second half.

The second half begins with a bang and delivers full throttle. Edge of the seat excitement and phenomenal work by all the characters AND the actors. But just when it reached THE level, priyadarshan and guy ritchie take over. The greatest movies have the best of the endings, and thats where the problem lies.

In order to mix humour with drama, he tends to dilute the intensity of the movie. He brings all the characters at one place and kills them all, which i thought was a phenomenal idea. Another Godfather i guess. But the problem was with the treatment, he leaves scrosese and tries to do a priyadarshan (hera-pheri, malamaal weekly, hungama types). I would have loved him to do a Godfather or even a Lock, Stock.. could have been great but sigh.. All the build up goes out when 'filmy' comedy takes over and add to it a tottal filmy 'new twins birth'.

Performances to SABKI todu hai specially the surprise package from Amol Gupte (Taare zameen par fame), Chandar and Shiv Subramanyam. Priyanka is Fab too. Shahid i guess was good but doesnt do a saif(omkara). Sexy ensemble of cast but i wish in place of shahid if he had taken somebody else. Cant think of who but i have that feel somehow.

Music toh has already been discussed everywhere, almost ALL the songs are phenomenal, whether its Dhan Te Naan, Fatak, Pehli baar mohabbat or Kaminey. Every track is Fab. Just superb

Technically, the camera work is damn neat but goes a bit blurry and shaky in a few close shots, but may be thats because Vishal wanted that effect. Background score is just like another character which maintains the pace of the movie from start to finish. Script and Dialogues to Bhayankar roop se Todu hai boss!!!

Overall, The movie is damn damn neat.. But just loses its focus in the end, i sooo wish that vishal had taken a scorsese-ish stance than a priyadarshan-ish. Even a Guy ritchie could have been pretty neat. Change the ending and i wish watch it 100 times over..

Feel-O-Meter: 7.5/10 (-2.0 for the ending and -0.5 for a somewhat slow first half, Rest ALL's good)

New York: Pretty Decent

2009-08-11T10:13:00.000-07:00

Well.. I dint have many expectations especially after the disastorous kabul express. Moreover, Katrina Kaif, John Abraham and Neil Nitin Mukesh are definitely not the 'actors' who have impressed me in any way. But i was pleasantly surprised to say the least. The storyline is nothing new, performances are not that great but still the movie scores for me. Nicely shot, simple movie which doesnt do too much of 'experimentation'. Go to the theater, Watch, Enjoy and Come back types. nothin more nothin else. Definitely a must watch, atleast once.

Plotwise, its an extension of khuda kay liye and talks abt the treatment of muslims post 9/11 in the US and how the brutal mental and physical torture in the name of interrogation leads an otherwise 'normal' guy to take up terrorism. Take that and Add to it a hint of Departed where the cops send an infiltrator(who incidentally is the terrorist's friend) to spy for them. And ya, thoda sa love triangle ka tadka and perfect masala movie with a difference ready to be served.

Performancewise, I give full credit to Kabir Khan!!! I never thought i would actually be happy with the performances of any of the three actors in any of the movies ever in life. But i think Kabir has taken out Fab work from all the three. John and Katrina are damn neat, they dont look like the 'model types' in any of the sequences. As far as Neil Nitin Mukesh is concerned, I have always had a problem with his voice. He just doesnt sound right ever. But nonetheless, does a decent job. Irfan Khan as usual is pretty amazing and does justice to his character

As far as Direction is concerned, although the movie looks like a hollywood ripoff(The shots are so similar to any of the A list hollywood movies and i mention this as a compliment). In no shot you get the 'bollywood' feel. But the frisk scene where the cop 'feels' Katrina is a striaght lift from a movie(Crash if i am not wrong). Overall Top class work. Be it the arial shots in the opening sequence or the tight shots in the emotional scenes. Good job there.

The script is very tight and never gives you a dull moment. From the very first shot you are engrossed in the movie(even though the story is quite predictable), the chemistry between the three friends has been portrayed very neatly, you actually start feeling like 'part of the gang'. Although i thought the love triangle bit was not required. But what the heck. I like it anyways

Overall: The movie is very well made and shot, with a tight script, pretty decent performances from 'non-actors'. It has its moments of ups and downs and scores in the end. The plot and a few scenes seem too 'inspired' but a good watch nonetheless, atleast once. Go for it. IF you have not seen it already!!

Feel-O-Meter: 7/10

Luck: Yuck!!!!

2009-08-09T08:28:00.000-07:00

Are you 'lucky'? Yes, if you are shot in chest on the left side and the doctor declares, 'you are so lucky, your heart is not on the left but on the right side'!!!! I dont have the words to describe the disgustful 'feel' that i have for this trash. I fail to understand how bad a movie can be made. Do film makers think that hollywood 'inspired' stunts is ALL that the indian audience is looking for?? I think the movie had everything but story, script, direction, performance, music and... may be a couple of more things!!! Pathetic to the Core. If somebody pays you to watch it.. Run and Hide.. Thats it..

One of the worst movies since kambakht ishq!!! The movie has absolutely nothing to offer. I still am not sure why Sanjay Dutt still does shitty movies like this. He has enough money i guess. He doesnt need to act to survive if i am not wrong. Or else, what in the world could be the reason for his appearance in this piece of trash.

Plot: Whats that?? I dont think there IS a plot. I am sure one fine day the director would have woken up feeling 'lucky' and next day started shooting, thinking that if they actually are 'lucky' the script writer would write something good during the shoot, actors might act well, and ya.. if they are TOOOOO lucky, there could be a few people who might ACTUALLY pay for a ticket and watch this movie. The movie talks about 'the luck factor' in normal people's life. A 'lucky' gangster brings some other 'lucky' people together and runs an international racket of 'luck games' which include shooting the other one with one bullet in the gun(full gabbar singh style), jumping off an airplane with a bag (it may or may not contain a parachute, depending on your 'luck'), finding a key out of 300 which might be able to save you from a couple of sharks in the sea, and ya.. my favorite.. The doctor telling you that you have been shot point blank in the left part of your chest but hoooray, you are soo lucky that your heart is on the right side!!!!

Performance: WTF!!! Imran Khan, Shruti Hassan, Ravi kisshen(!!!!) cant act to save their lives. God knows whats wrong with Sanju Baba that he is not able to find good work. Pleeease for god's sake get over the sanjay gupta trash genre.

Technicals: Just some hollywood 'inspired' stunts which leave you 'yawning' rather than go 'ohhh thats some action'. No cinematography. No sense of direction (or purpose). ABBOSLUTELY nothing to mention

Music: Equally pathetic (except 'khudaya re' which obv doesnt fit into the movie, but is Ammmmazing) There is a cacophony of Luck aazmaa(Rock as well as the normal version) again and again. once again, Absolutely pathetic

Overall : If somebody offers you a free ticket (plus money for popcorn). Dont fall for it. Its a TRAP and the person might be looking to force you to commit a suicide in the theater. Just turn the other way. Run and Hide

Feel-O-Meter : 1/10 (1 for the khudaya number)

State of Play : The usual 'Pretty Good' Politico-Journo Drama!!

2009-08-09T01:31:00.000-07:00

Well. Take Kevin Macdonald(Director : The last king of scotland), Russel Crowe, Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, Rachel Mcadams in a political drama. What do you expect? A Cracker of a movie. Thats where the problem is, the movie in isolation is pretty good. Gripping performances, A Tight Script, Nice Technicals, Everything (Almost).. But still lacks that special 'feel'. So turns out to be another above average movie.

Plotwise, its a political thriller about a rising congressman (affleck) and an investigative journalist (russel) embroiled in a case of brutal murders, with the usual twists and turns, add to that a few surprises (which are not the usual over the top or 'Wattt,Oh come on' types). The congressman talks about morality but is cheating on his wife!! It also deals with the ethical dilemma that crowe goes through while segregating his professional and personal lives.

Performance wise, No surprises here. Russel delivers a powerpacked performance. His grip on all the characters he plays is just unbelievable. Maybe we are seeing another pacino or brando in the making. Ben is the usual 'okay' kinds and there are no others who actually stir up any emotions.

Technically, i think Kevin has done a Fab job in not going over the top in terms of anything from camera work to lighting or anything else. The shots are crisp and close. Another point worth mentioning is the background score that moves in tandem with the movie's pace and actually facilitates the narration.

Overall, a 'pretty good' movie, which neither stirs up any emotions or is path breaking in any way. The usual 'good movie' types. I dont even know if its been released in India or not. So Grab a DVD if you can. A one time must watch

Feel-O-Meter: 7/10

Love Aaj Kal: Refreshing Indeed

2009-08-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

The movie is about the thin line that every (or rather almost every) youngster goes through. The line between 'being in a relationship' and 'being in love'. The movie breaks 'the guy meets gal. they fall in love. some troubles.. dishum dishum.. twists.. and they live happily ever after' clutter and provides a fresh breather. Its not a soooper movie with great performances with dhinchak technicals, but it does have a tight script and that 'feel good factor' which leaves a stupid smile on your face when you walk out of the theater.

Plot wise, The movie deals with the difference between the 'Love Fundamentals of 'Aaj' Vs 'Kal'. The movie starts with post break up scenario between saif and deepika wherein both are just 'friends' and claim to have 'moved on' from the relationship. Add to it a parallel (not really) track of a flashback romance between a young Rishi Kapoor(dont get confused: Played by Saif himself) and Harleen(A 'Brazillian' punjaabi kudi). There are twists and turns and realizations of movement from 'relationship' to 'love' and everyone lives happily ever after.. Phew!!!

Performance wise, (Obviously) Saif and Deepika disappoint. If you replace both of them with two 'Potatoes' the movie wont be any different because its not about the performance prowess of any of the characters. Since i dint expect any of them to deliver a power packed performance, i was not disappointed. As already established. The movie is not about actors or even characters, its about the situations and realizations.

Technically, i think Imtiaz has done a Fab job when it comes to the sepia-toned 'kal' story. I think it just fits perfectly with the script as well as the timeline. The tone distinguishes the current plot from the past as well as eliminates the confusion that could have arisen from the continuous current vs past tracks.
One think worth mentioning here is the use of Saif as Rishi Kapoor's younger version. Most people i spoke with seemed to have a problem with that. But i guess they miss a very crucial point, Rishi says that Saif reminds him of his younger self and Rishi himself is the one narrating his story, so its pretty obvious that he sees saif in his own flashback. Confusing but has been taken up very well.

Music is just out of the world. Take ANY track and you are gonna love it. From 'aahun aahun' which just simply doesnt go out of your head no matter how hard you try to the mushy 'dooriyaan'. EACH and every song blends perfectly in the narrative.

Overall, a must watch (atleast for every individual who is confused with the concept of 'love' and 'relationships' and the difference therein). Dont expect great performances, but a sweet story with no zabardasti ka mush-wush, Superb direction, Decent technicals, Great Music, A tight script and Gripping Narrative.. Imtiaz all the way from my side..

Feel-O-Meter: 8.5/10

Food for thought: Would Ranbir had been a better choice (if the money was not provided by Saif!!) to play the lead. Hmm.. For one, He is dating Deepika(so chemistry). Second, He is Rishi kapoor's son so HE playing HIS younger version would have been more realistic(Mind you, Neetu Singh also plays Rishi's wife in the movie). Third, The movie has a very 'fresh and young feel' which i dont think Saif does justice to.

Gulaal : 'THE' Scene

2009-07-19T09:55:00.001-07:00

"Tumhe kisne kaha ke MAIN sab ka istemaal nahi kar rahi"

Was watching Gulaal again and couldnt resist writing. No doubt that the movie itself is a masterpiece. But, i think this one scene deserves a special mention.

For those who havent seen the movie, contrary to popular belief, that its about college politics or the struggle for a separate rajputana state and has a 70s struggling flavour to it. The movie is above all this. All those things are sub-plots and the movie is about a simple need of recognition as legitimate children for a brother-sister pair. They need that recognition and WILL get it at whatever cost possible. Even if the cost is to sacrifice his own sister and going till ANY length to achieve it.

This particular scene takes the plot to the end when you realize that the helplessness of Dileep when he comes to know that the woman she blindly loved, doesn't love him at all and was only using him. She keeps on telling him the same thing again and again and He keeps on justifying HER actions. He tells her that she is BEING used and then she says 'THE' dialogue. Man.. THIS is wat script writing is all about. I just don't have the words to describe how i 'feel' when she says that one dialogue which sums up the whole movie in a sentence!!!

The struggle to realize the truth is so amazingly portrayed by Dileep, that it is just out of the world. The innocence which forms the basis of his character is still not lost and can be felt through his thick framed eyes too. You can almost reach Dileep's heart and feel the pain inside. The same guy who trusted this girl more than himself. The same guy who gave up everything for this one girl. The same guy whom most might term as a typical 'emotional fool'. The same guy who picks up a gun and kills 5 people becomes so helpless when he has to face the girl who 'loved' him.

Kiran on the other hand, is just as cold blooded as one can be. She knew what she wanted and was ready to go to any length for it and thats what she did. Be it using dileep or sleeping with other men to realize her goal. Even in this cold blooded portrayal you cant escape feeling for her too. In this one scene, you can feel the pain that she has gone through all her life, being called an illegitimate child. For her, Dileep is nothing more than a stepping stone in her bigger scheme of things.

'Trust' and 'Betrayal' are two sides of the same coin. Its just the way you look at it. Dileep trusts Kiran so blindly that even when she herself tells him the truth. He just cant believe it. He keeps justifying her actions and thinks that 'others' are using her. He just cant understand the concept of betrayal. he just needs to flip the coin and look at the other side. But he doesn't or rather he couldn't. The scene looks at the 'Love is Blind' cliche and multiplies it manifold. Dileep is so 'blinded' by love that he coudn't see the truth. You might call him 'naive, an idiot or a dumb-ass' who doesnt fit in 'today's' definition of love and relationships. But he is not all that. He is just simply in 'love'.

Phenomenal. Nothing short of it.

Transformers 2 : Revenge of the Fallen

2009-07-12T11:08:00.000-07:00

Take $200 million, spend most on special effects, hire no script writers, spend more on special effects, don't give any screen space to the REAL actors, spend a little more on special effects!!! What do you get?? Bingo!!! Transformers 2. Its too long. Has too many special effects and explosions. The characters just keep jumping from one explosion to the others and that too in slow motion. It runs for 2 and a half hours and then suddenly stops. But ofcourse, for the next sequel!!!

THATs the problem, even after such a ho-halla abt the sequel. Rumors abt Optimus Prime's death. High expectations. Superb Marketing.Crazy spends on Special Effects. 2 and a Hour length.. and STILL you come out of the theater with not even a single moment that you can remember!! The movie only focuses on special effects and the moments are made of Actors AND Characters. The Actors dont do much apart from running and hiding. The Characters have all been established in the earlier movie and there is no growth therein.

As far as the special effects are concerned. They are KICK ASS!!! No doubt about it. But the novelty of idea of 'TRANSFORMATIONS' from robots to cars was good enough for the first movie. In the second one, much more was expected. Atleast a story line and you can't really make a successful movie ONLY out of special effects. If that was the case then world over, computer graphics artists would get paid much more than movie stars. Buts thats not the case.. AS YET!! And add to that not required PRODUCT Placements like LG and CISCO in every second frame!! Come on Mr Bay. Get a Life

The whole movie is nothing short of a Video Game with excellent graphics. From the first shot onwards you realize that the movie is not about logic or story line or anything else. Its only about spectacular action sequences and impressive graphics. But after a certain point(especially in a 2.5 hour long movie) you start to feel the need of a plot. You cant just keep on watching chase sequences after chase sequences. Explosions after Explosions. Transformations After Transformations. I guess thats what differentiates successful movie franchisees like Terminator or for that matter Matrix and Transformers. Honestly i cant remember ANYTHING worth mentioning about the movie.

Bottomline: I repeat, the action and special effects are just freakin Awesome BUT thats about it. There is nothing else. Generally i say, Forget the plot. Dont apply your brains. Go with friends. Sit back. Enjoy and Come back. This time around, i say, DON'T. Its not worth it. Watch the first part instead in the comfort of your home rather than spending money on this one. Or better still!! Go and watch Hangover Again!!

Feel-o-meter: 4/10

Kambakht Ishq: Akshay and Kareena should jump off a cliff.. or Better still.. Should be pushed from one!!!!

2009-07-03T12:04:00.000-07:00

Bhaad mein gya review.. Aur Tel lene gayi FEEL. Pehle mujhe ye batao.. Who is this Idiot who wrote this piece of crap and what was the storyline?? A doctor forgets her wrist watch in a stuntman's stomach and they live happily ever after!!!!

This is like the shittiest movie ever. To give you a perspective Even Chandni Chowk to China was better or rather Less Worse as i say!!! I mean i dont even know what do i write yaar. It doesnt even deserve a mention anywhere ya. This is like nothing but a bilkul bakwaas and defective product in an attractive packaging. Bas publicity kar di. 4 hollywood stars se guest experience karwa diya. Bas ho gayi movie. I understand that some movies are brainless comedies but this is like sh*t.. No humor. No punchlines. No witty one liners. No script. No comic timing. NOTHING!!!!!

Kareena Kapoor just going down and down adjusting her inner wear trying to show her non existent cleavage in every second shot possible. The movie is full of sleaze too. I just did not understand why did she have to run, run and run in like a dozen shots in a skimpy top without any 'you know what'. I guess she was trying to give shilpa shetty a RUN for her money trying to Shut Up and BOUNCE!!!! Just pathetic ya. But i guess you cant do much if you dont have anything for script, story or direction. You just need to use cheap tricks. But this was not expected out of an A list movie with A list actors like Kareena and Akshay. This is in the same league as Masti and Kya Kool hai hum, just that the other had SOME comic timing.

Story bata ke kuch fayda nahi, because anyways its not gonna make any sense what so ever. Kab kya ho raha hai and kyon ho raha hai. Kisi ke baap ko nahi pata!!!!! Once toh i thought that director had taken a compulsory core leave and gave the director's cap to somebody else in some other unit who was shooting some other movie altogether.

Performance wise, NOTHING worth mentioning. Akshay is trying sooo hard to be funny that it is Sad. Kareena couldnt find time from adjusting her top to flaunt some you know what. Javed jaffrey couldnt do anything because he did not have anything to do in the movie. Boman irani is wasted in a cameo which could have been decent. Amrita Arora just comes in and goes out and in the middle is wearing like a dozen skimpiest thong bikinis possible and is either IN the pool, or AT the pool side or taking a bath. Gross just too Gross for me. Go and watch a C rated masala movie instead!!!

Music sucks anyways. There aint even ONE song worth mentioning. Although the title track which is more like an item song is still tolerable and is quite a clubbing kinda number.

I am very disturbed, almost angry at the fact that this movie was shot alongside A list hollywood stars like Stallone, Routh, Denise Richards etc and THIS is the reason the Indian movie industry is looked down upon globally. If they watch the movie, the impression of the Indian movies being ONLY full of trash and latka jhatka masala stuff will always remain. I guess there should be a ban on using Hollywood stars or even releasing a movie in the international market unless the script is approved by a central authority!!!! Kam se Kam kuch izzat to bachegi

Overall, The most bakwaaas movie ever witnessed by me. Akshay, Kareena, the director and the whole crew should release a public apology for making such filth. Bottomline, If somebody offers you a free ticket or may be WITH a couple of hundred bucks.. Run and Hide!!!!!

Feel-o-Meter : ZERO/Ten

(It doesnt deserve to be reviewed EVEN by a wella movie reviwer like ME)

The Hangover

2009-07-02T04:52:00.000-07:00

An honest confession first. The review might be a bit biased since i am an absolute teetotaler myself and it may be very natural for me to not be able to relate to the incidents. But what the heck..
The movie had everything. Smooth Timing, Gripping script, Witty one liners, Nice chemistry, Starry Cameos, everything. I mean every checkbox was ticked. Dont know why but there was something that didnt work for me. May be the build up was too much. Every single person who had already seen the movie called or messaged me and said.. Freak, How come you havent seen it as yet, go and watch it.. Its Awesommmme.. In different words and accents, But the essentially FEEL was the same.. So as i was entering the theater i already had very high expectations and nothing short of Awesommmme would have impressed me and Exactly thats what happened. The movie is pretty amazing otherwise and has all the ingredients for a perfect comedy.
As far as the story is concerned, nothing needs to be mentioned as the name itself suggests that its about.... surprise!!!. A Hangover. 4 friends go for a bachelor party, get drunk and wake up to find out that the person who is supposed to get married tomorrow is not to be found, but a Tiger in the washroom!!! And then, starts the process to find out what happened last night in order to ascertain where their friend is. And THATs where the chemistry and the mystery is unfold.
Performance wise, Zach Galifianakis just beats the other 3 hands down. He is just tooo cool. Heather Graham's role is a total waste and dint even deserve to be in the movie. Mike Tyson's cameo is just not funny at all. But i think the movie should be seen for the chemistry between the four friends rather than individual performances.
Overall a pretty decent watch and in case you have had a Really Bad hangover anytime in your life. You are just gonna LOU it. Go with friends. Forget about Office, Relax, Sit back and Enjoy the fun.
Feel-o-meter : 7.5/10

Terminator Salvation

2009-06-30T06:27:00.000-07:00

Okay.. First things first. Think of the ruthless terminator from the first movie and just make him around 60 Ft tall with mototerminators(which are nothing but terminators + ducati bikes) coming out of his thighs driving at a more than 120 mph dodging cars, bullets, flying pieces of scrap. Whats the first reaction??? Kick ass.. right?? Not really.. coz when you realize that THIS is all what the movie offers especially given the responsibility it carries on its shoulder given the legacy of the franchise. It isnt just enough..

Secondly. set your expectations straight.. What do you want to see in a Terminator Movie?? Kick Ass action, Ammmazing Special Effects and Hard core Chase Sequences. and THATs all the movie delivers.

As far as the story goes. I am sure that nobody is bothered about it anyways. Terminator Series has never been known for its screenplay or storyline, but for its futuristic look, crazy action sequences and a bit of masala. This is no different but to be honest. FEEL NAHI AAYI YAAR.

For starters, it dint feel like a Terminator movie at all. The franchise is known for its hard core feel and not toyish stuff like the transformers.. This feels like the sequel of the latter more than the former. And i guess thats where the problem lies. No where in the movie you get the FEEL of the original series. It feels like a different movie altogether with just a couple of characters taken from the original. McG has its share of blame to take in this case. I mean he still has too much of Charlie's Angels in him left, to fit in the shoes of Mr Cameron.

The storyline is not relevant except that John Connor is all grown up and is fighting the machines in 2018. Rest is all the same. A Terminator is sent to kill him the only difference being that the terminator this time around is in the form of a spy and he (or rather IT) doesnt even know that he is a machine himself. He considers himself as a man full of emotions!!! Nice twist to the story.. Performance wise, there was nothing to mention, even Christian Bale couldnt do anything about it coz there was nothing in the movie that he COULD do too. Its not a character specific movie but Franchise specific.

The problem lies is the Zabardasti ka Masala too.. Arnie makes a guest appearance, just for the heck of it. and All the good work that is present in the first half wrt the special effects goes waste when the movie becomes a drag and starts preaching the basic difference between the man and the machine and blah blah blah starts. So much so that you stop empathizing with the characters too. The Final battle too doesnt impress much. I guess the movie should have ended at the interval and a lot of people would have come out of the show happier.

Bottomline: If you have wella time, some extra bucks, already seen other movies this weekend and are an ardent T-series fan. Go for it. But come out before the second half begins coz it spoils the amazing stuff portrayed in the first half. Dont apply brains. Dont care about the minute details. Just go for the mind blowing action and especially the moto-terminators, coz they ROCKK..

Feel-o-Meter : 6/10

Dev D: Mr Rahman here comes Mr Trivedi. Run and Hide!!!!!

2009-06-24T09:07:00.001-07:00

Well.. Firstly, i know i am writing it like 6 months too late but what the heck. The FEEL is still the same. Most of us are already aware that it is a Sooooper Album and complements the movie in every way possible. Its like a central character in the movie itself and lyrics don't feel like songs but a narrative. Without the sound track, i guess its very difficult for somebody to actually even imagine the movie.

Dev D. is the most versatile and complete album that i have come across in a VERY VERY long time. I mean i am just crazy about every f**kin track. There is not even a single song out of the 18 on the album, which can be classified even as Average. It is just amazing how different can all 18 songs be from each other and Still bind the movie together.

Sometimes, i actually wonder if Amit Trivedi himself composed all the songs!!! Its very difficult to imagine somebody compose songs so different from each other and including genres like rock, pop, folk, bhangra, semi-classical and EVERYTHING works!!!!

I am not sure how many would have noticed the 'By Gods' in "Paayalia". I am amazed to even imagine how he would have actually thought of putting these words in the song randomly and it is nothing short of genius. I think the soul of the music lies in the how different instruments have been used so imaginitively together and Amit Trivedi manages to get just the right mix.

Emosanayal Atyachar which obviously is the most popular track of the album for its DIFFERENT brass band sound and since everybody has already heard it like a million times so no point discussing it further. But i must appreciate that even the rock version although doesnt give the full FEEL of an international rock band still is not that bad either.

Bhangra songs like Hikknaal and Mahi Menu are just as good as they come. Former is fully unadulterated and rustic, and latter is more on the UKish bhangra pop.

Pardesi's fusion FEEL with English Lyrics at the beginning and then completely to folkish stuff, Use of Electronics, Turntables along with Sitar is out of the world.

In terms of vocals too, Amit leaves his mark in ALL the songs that he has sung, be it Duniya (specially when he says Horran bajaye), Aankh Micholi, Nayan Tarse or Saali Khushi.

Now the problem is that i think i can deliver a lecture or write atleast a post for EACH of the track but i dont really if others get the same FEEL that i get from the album or not. So wont even talk about it anymore.

The bottomline is that arguably this is the BEST ALBUM by far since a pretty long and i am just in love with it and Amit Trivedi is nothing short of GOD in terms of versatility. I would love to see how he beats THIS the next time he composes. Mr Rahman, you've got competition!!!! and IF this is not a flash in the pan, Start worrying as well.. Because THE trivedi has arrived.

Whats this 'FEEL' all about!!!!

2009-06-21T06:31:00.000-07:00

"Best Feelings are those which don't need any words to describe them"
This ghisa pita cliche has been used by me like god knows how many times and again it has come back with an idea to have a blog dedicated to 'FEEL'. Something that cant be explained. But just felt.

Okay.. First things first. Everybody who knows of this one phrase can relate to it automatically. Others no matter how much i explain, can just never get it. So why bother??

FEEL aana is more like something that can never be defined, but may be described after a hell lot of an effort, which i am definitely not in a mood to put in right now. Ye woh bala hai jo Direct Dil se nikalte hue dimaag mein ghar kar leti hai aur phir jaane ka naam nahi leti. ;-)

Its a phenomena wherein you look, hear, smell something in this world and are just spell bound by it. No matter how trivial or normal it might appear to the junta around you. YOU are the only one who can experience it and normally it happens with in a zillion-th portion of a milisecond.

Have you ever experienced a new play or a song or a movie or a book or god knows what and just found it toooo ammmazing and just couldnt find words to describe it to somebody else. Thats what 'FEEL' aana is all about.

The funny part is that if i cant describe something in words, how the hell do i plan to WRITE on this blog!!! But, that shall be taken care of sometime later. Abhi toh.. Lets start.. and i hope with in a few posts.. The concept will be clearer..

Anybody who has a clearer understanding of the concept.. Pls write back so that i can incorporate the same in the blog too..

Take Care..

Wolverine: X Men Origins

2009-06-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

I think the problem was with the expectations. I expected too much out of the movie. I mean, you take one of the finest action trilogies from hollywood and then base a movie on the most popular character of the series, the expectations were always supposed to be very high. So even though the movie is pretty good. When you go in the theater with such a high level of anticipation. 'Pretty Good' is just not enough.

The movie has got everything. From Spectacular Action sequences, Great Casting, Decent Story line, Phenomenal Special Effects. But Still... There is something missing. It promises so much and ends up with another 'good movie' feeling rather than 'Man, It was awesomme'.

Well. Nothing to mention about the storyline. As the name suggests, It talks about Wolverine's origin and is a prequel to the X men series. It talks about Love, Hatred, Revenge, Anger, Everything possible. But mentions everything so quickly that you seem to lose your way in the middle somewhere.

Technically, the cinematography is amazing. The Action sequences are spell binding. Special Effects too cool even for the current hollywood standards.

But the movie neither scores on the script nor on the performance. One thing thats worth mentioning is Hugh Jackman and the effort that he has put in to get his new physique. He surely gives our own Aamir 'Ghajini' Khan a run for his money. Man, He looks soo ammazing.

Bottom Line: If you have not seen earlier X Men movies. Dont get lost. Just enjoy the action and in case you are a woman then Hugh's huge muscles and come back. Dont apply too much brains and its gonna be worth it. 'Pretty Good' but not too great.

Star Trek

2009-06-09T22:17:00.000-07:00

First, an honest confession.. I generally dont really like sci fi and action flicks, but still LOVED it..
Star Treak is not your regular run of the mill sci fi movie with great graphics, amazing sound track or crazy special effects. Actually its all that AND much more..

Its like a bollywood masala movie, with everything thrown into it. From Spell binding action sequeces to Great Emotional Connect. From a bit of rona dhona, senti wenti to Phenomenal Special Effects.. From poori Filmi Revenge ki kahaani to Ammazing One Liners..

Fulltoo paisa vasool and If you are a physics student (unlike me). You' get a lesson on two extra in the same ticket!!!

As far as i remember, Movie talks about the revenge of the villain who wants to destroy all the planets through a process by which he creates a black hole with in a planet and the planet consumes itself with in like what 10 seconds o something and blah blah blah.. etc etc... And the parallel track is obviously of kirk and spock with kirk's father's sacrifice for saving a few hundred and people etc etc and spock's' inherent dilemma wrt his half vulcan and half human identity. Add to that Well.. If the movie is as gripping, I dont really care about the part actually..

In short, The movie is fast paced. The script is tight. The action is sharp and the Adventure is captivating. Just go,sit back, Relax and Enjoy the ride. Ek baar to banta hai yaar..

Defiance

2009-05-11T22:18:00.000-07:00

"Our Revenge is to LIVE". This one dialogue describes Defiance to the core. The movie is about struggle and war but more than that, its a tale of survival, resistance and retaliation.

Its a True story of 1200 survivors, whose new generations spans tens of thousands people, who spent almost 2 and a half years in a forest in belarus post world war 2.

I dont know what is it that makes War movies great. Although Defiance is not in the same league as the finest, It still makes a mark and leaves you feeling for the families. Step by Step you start loving the 3 Bielski brothers (The leading one being Daniel Craig).

Performance wise, Daniel Craig, who portrays a spectrum of emotions from being an angry man who takes the revenge of his dead parents in cold blood, to the leader of the clan whose lone objective is to survive and to help others live.

But, i think the script overpowers the direction. The narrative and the story itself is so strong that you wish that the director takes the story in a different plain altogether, which just doesnt happen.

"We Jews are only good at dying". The words seem so tragic and hit just the right chord with the audience and thats where the movie scores. Overall a good movie worth a watch but not in the same league as Schindler's List. But i think the comparison itself is not fair.

Little Zizou

2009-04-27T22:19:00.000-07:00

I know its quite late to review Little Zizou but heck ,there are no movies releasing these days because of the producers' tiff with the cinema halls.

Its a very simple and sweet movie set around the parsi community. There are no central characters in the movie, rather everyone is equally important, which actually does the trick for the movie. Honeslty speaking, there is nothing special that i found in the movie but its not bad either. Its like a collage or rather a sequence of events and there is nothing intellectual about it (in a positive way). Its not the kinda movie where in you come out of the hall with a thought or a new perspective. Its more like a short story rather than a classic novel. But ya, you do fall in love with the characters be it the Jahan (little zizou), Imaad Shah, Shernaz Patel or Boman Irani.

Although i have a strange smile on my face when the movie ends but may be being a punjabi i have not been able to identify with the bawas and bawis. I know, this is like a confused review but i dont really know if i love the movie or dont. Its somewhere in the middle. But ya, one time watch, definitely it is.

Barah Aana

2009-04-27T22:18:00.000-07:00

Well, I don’t know whats wrong but may be these 'multiplex' movies are just bombarding the cinema screens with no sense of direction or purpose. Its more of a financial proposition rather than anything to do with movie making per se.

They are like 'Big Bazaar' sale. They cost less, Recover cost quickly because of one or two actors and provide some decent amount of profit for the producers. That’s it. I sometimes feel may be the phenomenon is nothing more than Mithun movies releasing every 15 days about 5 years back which cost less, had mithun as a crowd puller and made decent money. They are like the moving assembly line of Bollywood. But atleast, they provide platform to new age 'actors' (not stars mind you!!) to show case their talent.

Anyways, Coming back to the point, As far as the movie is concerned, Despite presence of actors like Naseeruddin Shah and Vijay Raaz, the movie is pretty ordinary. It talks about the constant struggle for people belonging to the lower income strata of society and how every day angst keeps getting accumulated and then burst like a volcano in the end. Movie simply puts one very straight forward point: There is a limit to every thing and EVERYONE has one's self respect.

Performance wise Naseeruddin Shah is good in his restrained performance. Due credit should go to him especially since he has almost no dialogues in the first half. Vijay Raaj also does justice to the role. Casting wise he is the obvious choice given his command over the UPish accent that he has and he delivers to the core. But isnt that expected from him and high calibered actors like Naseer???

May be since my expectations were too high and the movie just about matched it, so i wasnt too impressed. Its a good movie but i think takes too much time to establish characters and their struggles. Its too simple a tale to actually specially go and spend your money on it. Given the recession, Might as well buy (even better, Rent) the DVD (that too pirated) and save on the popcorn atleast (which sometimes cost more than the tickets!!!). Save money for the better days.

Gulaal: Colored me Red

2009-04-08T22:20:00.000-07:00

Okay.. Describing this movie in a paragraph or two and doing justice to it is a daunting task in itself and then using the correct words for the description is even more difficult. After watching Dev D i thought Anurag Kashyap has given his best and then as most filmmakers he might not be able to top it up. But i was proved wrong and that too so soon.

The first word that comes to my mind is AMAZING. The whole thought which starts from a simple song by sahir ludhyanvi and then coming out with such a tight script is just a genius' work. And the layers in the movie where parallel lines are being simultaneously being portrayed in the constant struggle of the characters which coincide in the last part of the movie.

Most people (even those who have already seen the movie) think its about college politics or the struggle for a separate rajputana state and has a 70s struggling flavour to it. But in the end you realize that all those things are sub-plots and the movie is about a simple need of recognition as legitimate children for a brother-sister pair. They need that recognition and WILL get it at whatever cost possible.
And THATs the bottom line.

Technically by far among some of the best that i have witnessed, the sets, the colors used in the background from dark greens to yellows to bright reds are a part of the storyline itself. The usage of lights to accentuate sequences is just out of the world.

On the performance front, EVERYONE delivers. Be it kinda character roles by Abhimanyu Shekhar Singh (Rananjay), Deepak Dobriyal (Bhatti) or Piyush Mishra(Prithvi Singh) or the leading actors like Kay Kay Menon, Aditya Srivastava, Ayesha Mohan, Raj Singh Chaudhary.

Characterwise, Ayesha Mohan's character stands out. The layers that are shown both in terms of characterisation and portrayal is just awesome. The pain that is reflected by tears in her eyes in the last scene describe the struggle that she has grown up with every moment of her life.

I can go on and on and on.. The movie is just plain brilliant.. Period..

If you havent seen it. You have definitely missed out something.. Go grab a look before some new 'brilliant' commercial flick like Aa Dekhen Zara replaces it from the cinemas.. ;-)

Anywhere but Home

2009-04-05T22:20:00.000-07:00

I generally like romantic comedies but this one just dint click for me. There is no comedy and absolutely no romance. Every romantic comedy has two very special ingredients 1. The Chemistry between the leading pair and 2. The presence of sweet incidents which stay with you after you come out of the theatre. The movie dint have either.

Reese and Vince just dont look like a couple. It appears as if they have been imported from different movies and have been placed in this one. Vince looks atleast 15 years older to Reese and is almost 1 and a half feet taller than her. It seems like the oddest couple imaginable.

It tries every trick in the book to tickle your funny bone. From Sexual encounters to Slapstick but nothing works. You come out of the hall minus the smile that is THE absolute necessity for every romantic comedy. There is a difference between being funny and being stupid. Absolute Rubbish..

DO NOT watch it. Rather Go have a coffee with your boy/girl friend.If you are a woman and single, Give me a call ;-)

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans

2009-03-30T22:21:00.000-07:00

Well.. An honest confession before i comment.I have never liked this Vampire, Monsters, Werewolves genre and its my first watch in the same league.
I wasnt impressed much as there is no story line, no sense of direction, no straight line of thought that binds the movie. It is just a sequence of events which is served with the usual masala of special effects, make up, sound engineering and pretty neat action sequences.
Movie just keeps wandering here and there, sometimes about the inner struggle of the main character and others the love between a vampire and a sort of werewolf. If you are thinking about serious cinema then its too obvious that you wont go and watch it.
But ya, If you are a bit stressed in this recession time and do not want to apply your brains and don give a damn about the story line and wanna feel relieved and do not have anything better to do, then Just go, Keep your brains aside, sit back, enjoy the ride, have some popcorn and come back.. Wont be too disappointed either.. ;-)

The Reader

2009-03-27T22:22:00.000-07:00

The Reader is a tale of love between a 15 year old guy and a 30+ woman though its not a love story. It talks about war crime and holocaust and still not a war movie too. The tender intimacy of the love story gives the film its strongest moments. It’s a simple, sombre, soft, somewhat emotional but confused movie. Kate is phenomenal. Even the young David Kross has done his bit.

But if slightly slow paced movies are not your cup of tea then you better give it a miss. The movie has everything but still there is lot more which one feels missing. It just doesnt give THAT indescribable 'FEEL'. The Movie should be seen more for Kate's acting prowess rather than anything else

Aloo Chat

2009-03-27T22:21:00.000-07:00

The movie is another COULD have been movie. It could have been a sweet love story. Could have been a laughter riot. Could have had great cameos. Could have been so much and ends as nothing. It tries too hard to showcase SOME amount of chemistry between Aftaab and Aamna. But to no avail. The movie has its funny moments but there are too sporadic and few.

Aamna Sharif should stick either to television soaps or rather to selling soaps and detergents in Television commercials as she looks as if she is posing rather than acting in every frame possible. Aftaab anyways has never been known for his acting skills. Both of them look good and thats it. The movie tries soo hard to tickle your funny bones but the jokes are just not funny.

May be i am being too harsh but i dont think the movie had any script of sense of direction where the movie was headed. May be it was only supposed to be a movie with funny moments which never took place. In short, Its like a big Vaccuum cleaner. It SUCKS. Aamna sharif should jump off a cliff and Aftaab should be thrown.