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Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
A Sure Shot Take from the Marvel Studio
A movie that lived up above the hype, that's what I felt like after seeing this movie. I am huge fan of Russo brothers after seeing their epic Winter Soldier movie but felt disappointed with their take on Civil War (Strictly personal). So, in order to avoid the hype, I decided not to watch any tv spots that released, and that method worked btw.
The movie started exactly where Thor: Ragnarok finished. As usual the movie followed the same pattern that every marvel movies does. Its loaded with a lot of fun during the battles but everything is well balanced. Each character got their own screen time. If anyone ask which character scored above all it is so hard to tell. I felt like Russo brothers managed to give the importance that each character deserves. The movie is packed with a lot of Goosebumps scenes which is enough to burst out the cinema hall.
I'm not getting into the story as there is no point in explaining considering the hype but everything that a marvel fan needs is included in this movie. It took more than 10 years to see Thanos properly, but I would like to say that he just went a long way beyond my expectation. Visually the movie is top notch as we can easily identify that the studio invested a lot of money which resulted into eye popping action.
Overall in my opinion THE BEST MARVEL MOVIE ever made by the studio (Previously it was Winter Soldier). The movie got only 1 post credit scene which was scheduled at the end credits.
Black Panther (2018)
Long Live The King
This time I agree with the same old cliche dialogue "The best marvel movie till date" Undoubtedly the best standalone movie made by marvel studios.
The story starts right after the events happened in CA : Civil War. The movie starts in slow pace, but once the Killmonger gets introduced the story shifted into a fast pace momentum. Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa scores just like he did in Civil war. But the real performer - Michael B Jordan plays the brutal Killmonger steals the show especially in the climax area.
The movie is well balanced with right amount action and humor. No one liners or jokes in between battles. Cinematography is another one which eligible for a round of applause.The way they showed Wakanda.So much detailing in every aspect. With a perfect color tone, well managed CGI and some kick ass stunts the entire movie delivers a different experience for me.
PK (2014)
A Complete Fun ride in this Christmas Season
Forget the results and success, each time an Aamir Khan movie releases, you can expect the unexpected and there are tons and loads of expectation on his films and the situation is all the more at its peak as the actor is reuniting with none other than another hit maker director Rajkumar Hirani. In PK, these two names synonymous with movies with quality as their trademark symbol come together for the second time in their successful career.
PK is a beautifully crafted movie that is totally a different one in terms of story line and with solid performance from Aamir Khan to back it, the film hits the right chord among the audience. Rajkumar Hirani comes up with another film that has fun and entertainment but at the same time try to pass a strong message to the society.
Just briefing about the story which i will try my best to ensure that nothing is revealed to act as spoiler. PK ( Aamir Khan) lands up in our world in a desert in Rajasthan and gradually becomes part of our daily life. But he questions the belief and custom we follow in the name of religion, God and human Gods. The rest i am leaving it to you to watch and see for yourself on big screen. The first half concentrates on fun element while the latter half takes a small u turn and gets into a serious mode retaining the fun part.
The treatment especially towards the end has definitely shades of the Munnabhai series where the protagonist tries to prove his point to the public but in no way it is a copy or inspired versions of those films. As said, the plot is something unique in its own way that makes a connection with the viewers right from the word go. Rajkumar Hirani on the direction side has done his part and his vision and what he wanted to convey is there on screen crystal clear. His trademark style of narrating a story of victory for goodness and passing good messages to the people is visible in PK as well.
On screen, Aamir Khan is the perfect cast as PK. This character is definitely one of his best in his career and PK the movie is driven largely by the sheer screen presence of AK, the actor. He speaks in Bhojpuri language and the dialogue delivery by the actor was too good evoking laughter in us. Anushka Sharma as Jaggu supported Aamir Khan and complimented him in the film's overall perspective. Sushant Singh Rajput in a brief role as Sarfraz was impressive and the same goes for Sanjay Dutt. Boman Irani and Pareekshit Sahni who are the regulars in RKH movies is also part of the cast. Technically the film stands out with good cinematography and smooth cuts. Background score and songs were also good and jelled well with the film.
So overall, PK doesn't disappoint and offer a pleasing movie experience with good doses of spoofs, comedy and sentiments. He came and he conquer our hearts and make us think. Yes PK from Rajkumar Hirani with Aamir Khan for me is a must watch film and my personal rating is eight out of ten. Enjoy the fun ride and be ready for a little surprise in the end.
Interstellar (2014)
Technically Brilliant & Outstanding
Christopher Nolan's Interstellar is just awesome and absolutely brilliant piece of work. Coming from a master craftsman with such a high directorial range, the concept the vision and the ambiguity of a bigger canvas used to convey this complex theme puts Interstellar as one of the best films from Hollywood that has been visualized and conceptualized brilliantly.
Set in a not so distant future where Earth is on the brink of extinction, Cooper and family notice strange happenings at their home and surroundings. To find a solution to this problem and to save mankind, a group of astronauts lead by Cooper on the advise from NASA chief venture into the galaxy through a wormhole to find a new home for mankind for their ultimate survival. Hope i have the story line written correctly. Honestly, i need to watch it a second time to get a better picture of the plot especially the final half an hour.
Based on this plot, Nolan has created a marvelous film that you should watch only in theater and not on DVD. Such is the magnitude of this magnum opus that provides a grand cinematic experience on the big screen. Direction is top notch and the execution is perfect. The importance given to the emotional aspect between Cooper and his little daughter Murph was too touching and made us connected with them.
Matthew McConaughey as Cooper was brilliant and Mackenzie Foy as the little daughter of Cooper was also impressive. The other supporting actors like Anne Hathaway, Micheal Caine, Jessica Chastain, Matt Damon and Wes Bentley also did their part in making the performance area stand out.
Technically too, the film is one step ahead and for that each and every area contributed their best and among them the background score was too impressive and outstanding to elevate the film. So here is one film that you should not miss at any cost and I go with a double thumbs up to Christopher Nolan.
The Equalizer (2014)
Old School Action
A one man show from Denzel Washington in The Equaliser makes it an engaging action movie even though the film is too predictable and clichéd. Smart dialogues, old and conventional but good doses of action and above all a stylish performance from the Academy Award winner DW makes this film a watchable one. Robert McCall who is leading a quiet and peaceful life after retiring as a Black Ops Commando is forced out of his self imposed exile to get back to where he was and what he does best. On trying to help his female friend Alina who is a sex slave in the hands of her pimp, McCall confront and take down the Russian mafia single handedly to extract revenge.
Story wise, the film has nothing new to showcase but Washington deserves full marks to make the film a watchable one through his smart and stylish acting , action and dialogue presentation. Its not that we have action each and every scene but an action mood is created throughout the entire length of the film.
On the acting side, as said earlier its more or less a one man show from Denzel Washington and he is supported well by a host of other actors especially Marton Czokas enacting the character of Teddy the main henchman of Russian mafia don Pushkin.
Nice camera work and cuts along with impressive background score too. But the VFX had some drawbacks, to be specific the bombing scene of undercover building of the gangsters. The latter portions have been too stretched and deserved a trimming of ten to fifteen minutes.
Overall, here is a money worth old school action and revenge movie for a target audience that serves its purpose and i go with seven out of ten for The Equaliser. With a sequel in the early planning stages doing the talk, its better you get a feel of the movie now and get ready for more thrills.
Bang Bang (2014)
A Complete Illogical Masala Flick
Knight and Day, the Tom Cruise movie is remade with changes in Bollywood by Siddharth Anand as Bang Bang. The big question coming to our minds is whether Knight and Day was such a good movie that deserves to be remade!!! Not sure since I have not seen it but from what I have heard and read, K&D with negative feedbacks fared poorly and was one of Tom Cruise's film that received a cold response from movie buffs.
Coming to Bang Bang, the film has everything in store for action movie lovers but when it comes to content or substance the movie is a let down. As an action flick, Bang Bang has some high voltage fight sequences, car and bike chases, some brilliantly shot on the run action in water added with flavors of romance and songs and this is quite exciting for a hard core action and masala movie fan. But in terms of content, the film does not excite much. Running on a light or rather wafer thin storyline line, the movie ends up as an ordinary fare and comes no where close to the pre release hype or that mind blowing trailer that was such a big hit.
The story revolve around Harleen Sahni played by Katrina Kaif working in Bank of Shimla as a receptionist. She ends up in all sorts of trouble after meeting Rajveer played by Hrithik Roshan. The film begins from London where we are introduced to the antagonist Omar Zafar who wants the Kohinoor diamond stolen and is ready to pay a big sum as reward. Kohinoor ends up in someone's safe hands but how that happened is a mystery. From London, the story shift to Shimla and moves to many a scenic locales like Thailand, US, Prague, Abu Dhabi and Dehradun.
The first half was a pretty decent one with good tempo but the latter half had dragging moments but what that takes the movie forward is Hrithik's screen presence and his on screen chemistry with Katrina. Siddharth Anand has exploited the maximum from his hero utilizing his talent in action and dance. Not to forget his six pack body that is flaunted quite often to excite the fans.
On the acting side, Hrithik did his part to justify the director's choice of his hero for the film well supported by Katrina Kaif as Rajveer's lady love. Danny Denzongpa as Omar Zafar was good but he doesn't have a major screen presence though he is the main antagonist. Javed Jaffri, Jimmy Shergill and a few other actors are also part of the cast without much prominence.
Cinematography was nice that was aided by the visual beauty of places like Thailand, Prague, Shimla and Dehradun. Cuts were OK but the length was too much at more than 150 minutes. Music by Vishal Shekhar was good and the songs were well choreographed to exploit the dancing talent of Hrithik but placement of couple of songs took away the free flow of the film.
Overall, Bang Bang will be a one time watchable action and romantic movie for the hardcore fans of the actor and a likely candidate for a 100 crore club membership but for a neutral audience it is just average and ordinary.
Annabelle (2014)
Don't Expect A Masterpiece Like The Conjuring
Conjuring was one movie in the horror genre that stood out for its narrative and treatment in horrifying the audience to the maximum with its visual and sound effects though story wise it was the same thing of possession that we have seen numerous times in films. But it served the ultimate purpose of frightening the audiences. Now we have a prequel following up The Conjuring as Annabelle begins before the incidents unfold in Conjuring. About Annabelle, the film is watchable and scare the viewers but somewhere, the zing or the X factor is missing here to make it a memorable, well crafted and an effective horror flick. So this an average film when compared with some classic horrors.
John and Mia are a happily married young couple expecting their first child when John gift Mia a big doll. But they are in for a nightmare as strange things happen in their life once this doll enter their life. Yes you guessed it right; this doll is possessed creating havoc in John and Mia's life that continues after Leah their baby is born. Rest every thing is a predictable drama with familiar climax and series of events that we have seen and is quite common in horror flicks.
The film has few moments that will scare you but those are very limited to make Annabelle a highly engaging film. No comparisons can be made between Annabelle and Conjuring as the latter is far ahead of the former in many aspects. But as a separate movie, Annabelle is passable with least of expectations.
The actors who portrayed John and Mia were good in their respective roles. A lady character enter John and Mia's life at the fag end of the movie and it was a nice performance from her though the role was small. Last but not the least, Annabelle the doll deserves a special mention with that smiling but haunting looks. On the technical side, visual effects were OK along with good sound design.
Overall, without a comparison with any of the classic horror movies and conjuring, Annabelle is passable and qualify to be an average film.
Haider (2014)
Absolute Masterclass From Vishal Bharadwaj
Vishal Bharadwaj completes a trilogy of adapting Shakespearean plays with Haider. Maqbool (Macbeth) and Omkara (Othello) being the previously adapted ones and now with Haider inspired from Hamlet, it completes a perfect trilogy. An intense family revenge drama, Haider is truly a masterpiece set in Kashmir caught in political turmoil and what that makes it a brilliant film is beyond doubt the performances from Shahid Kapoor and Tabu. Not to forget the visual treat we experience with the locales of beautiful Kashmir that elevates the film to another level.
The story is set in Kashmir in the mid 1990's where militancy and military occupying centre stage. Haider (Shahid Kapoor) is a student at Aligarh and his father Dr.Milal mysteriously disappear leaving his wife Ghazala played by Tabu and young Haider in tatters. When Haider learns about the actual reason for his father's vanishing, his mind gets broken and revenge creeps into the young man's mind. Rest of the movie focus on the mental aspect and conflict within Haider after the realization of truth. Film narrate this revenge drama packed with solid writing and backed up by performances with excellent direction from VB.
For those who cannot sit patiently and watch slow films will find it a bit difficult to cop with and to get to terms with the movie as the build up is quite slow and it takes time to settle amidst the presence of class written all over. As said earlier, performances, writing, direction and presence of Kashmir on the visual side is what that makes this film a must watch for ardent lovers of class films.
It seems Shahid Kapoor had reserved his best for this movie and comes up with a performance that will surprise everyone. We could feel the change in him that transform Haider to the revengeful man with varied emotions and this was done brilliantly. Same goes for Tabu as Haider's mother Ghazala. These two are well supported by Kay Kay Menon as Haider's uncle Khurram and Shraddha Kapoor as Haider's lady love. Also it would be unjust if a word of mention is not made about Irrfan Khan's extended cameo.
Cinematography is another highlight helped by superb visuals of Kashmir to make each and every frame a treat for our eyes. Edits were fine. Songs were really nice with visuals and good background score matching each moment provided the needed feel lifted the film's technical side.
On the whole, a dark but remarkable and haunting piece of work is this latest movie of Vishal Bharadwaj. I personally recommend this film to everyone who love to watch something that has a quality stamp affixed all over.
Dracula Untold (2014)
Failed To Meet Expectations
"Anyone expecting a hardcore horror film will be a disappointed lot". This is what director Gary Shore of Dracula Untold had to say and that's quite right as the title mislead you on many counts as the film try to give a new look and story to Count Dracula without any reference to Bram Stocker's Dracula. The film is a mix of action, adventure and drama that fails to evoke any sort of excitement though it had something to offer story wise. But that gets spoiled by a weak script and average performances except Luke Evans who appear as Transylvanian Prince Vlad Tepes.
Tepes' s wife, his people, his young son and his Kingdom is threatened by Sultan Mehmed who wants thousand young boys from Transylvania including Tepes's son to join the army. To protect his people, kingdom and family, Tepes reach Broken Tooth Mountain where he meets a powerful vampire named Caligula and the two reach an agreement for making Tepez a powerful man who can fight any force. But this can happen after making some compromises as the deal will make him a blood thirsty vampire.
The film showed some promise that gradually fades away making the it a disappointing movie. Literally, a golden chance to roll out an engaging piece of work gets wasted, thanks to poor performances and a below par script. So in summary this Dracula tale is a misconceived attempt that neither scare you nor does it make for a compelling watch.
In the acting side, except Luke Evans and to an extent the actor who portrayed Caligula (largely aided by good make up) none could make an impact to score a point and that's a big letdown. Visual effects were not that great but cinematography was good with reasonably fine cuts and background score.
So its a below par Dracula reincarnation by Gary Shore that fails to meet the expectations and I am going with four out of ten for the untold story of the master vampire.
Kaththi (2014)
A Socially Relevant Film
Trailers of some movies promise much but when it comes to the actual product, it will be a disappointment. The opposite too happen where the trailer gives a lackluster or ordinary feel but the end result or the movie would be a good watch. A. R. Murugadoss directed Vijay starrer Kaththi falls under the second category. Kaththi marks the coming together of A R Murugadoss and Vijay after the hugely successful Thuppakki.
The film is a mass entertainer but not the typical mass film for a Vijay film. But it is a watchable one that does not disappoint. At the same time Kaththi tests the logic level on many times but who cares when it is a Vijay film where logic side of the brain takes a backseat.
Dealing a socially relevant theme with the case of a mistaken identity in the backdrop, the film begins from Kolkata where Kathiresan escapes from jail but ends up in Chennai and have to take the role of Jeevaanandan, a social activist fighting against a Corporate house trying to forcefully take ownership of a land in a remote village. The film focus on the fight by Jeevaanandan and the villagers to protect their land that can serve water for two neighboring districts.
The film is not a typical mass masala film with action, songs and romance in high doses but each of these elements are present in the right proportion with songs and fights well placed that makes it a good watch satisfying Vijay fans as well as neutral audiences. On the flip side, the length at 161 minutes could have been easily trimmed by twenty minutes which would have made it a more pleasing watch without any dose of boredom.
Coming to acting, Vijay as Kathiresan is your typical mass hero with mannerisms which we have seen from the actor very often while as Jeevaanandan he had a different role to play and he did both these roles quite well. For Samantha it was the normal Tamil heroine role but she had good screen presence without much dialogues to say. Sathish as the Vijay's sidekick did his comic role well and supported by Neil Nitin Mukesh as the central antagonist.
Action, choreography and camera work stood out in the technical side. Pre interval punch scene and coin fight are scenes that will raise the adrenaline rush especially if you are a hardcore Vijay fan. Anirudh's music and background score elevated the film and helped in providing the needed feel. The song sung by Yesudas that appear at the fag end of the movie is my personal favourite and a good melodious number.
Overall Kaththi is a watchable mass film and without any comparisons with Thuppakki and with limited expectation, it doesn't disappoint you. So it is not a razor sharp and thrilling film from A R Murugadoss but a sharp flick that serves its ultimate purpose of entertaining you.
Gone Girl (2014)
Slow But Engaging Thriller
David Fincher's Gone Girl is a slow paced thriller and engages you for the full two and a half hours with a different way of story telling which is not something that we see quite often. The film stands out with solid performances to complement and back the narrative to make it a must watch thriller that is mixed with the right doses of emotion and drama. The variety in how the story has been treated is too refreshing and puts Gone Girl in the league of some of the best films from Hollywood.
The story has two central protagonists Amy (Rosamund Pike) and Nick Dunne (Benn Affleck). They fall in love and gets married but gradually difference of opinion puts gap in their marital life. On their fifth wedding anniversary day Nick returns home only to find that Amy is missing leaving some hidden clues but not conclusive enough for a breakthrough. The investigation that follow for the search and cause of Amy's missing is presented too well in this film from Fincher.
The film has a slow pace initially but gradually picks up momentum and the treatment of the drama is such that never the movie goes dull or unexciting. As said earlier, direction and screenplay is backed by solid performances from all the actors to make Gone Girl a well crafted film in every department.
Ben Affleck was in fine form as Nick Dunne portraying the character entrusted to him with such perfection and finesse. Matching equally was Rosamund Pike as Amy. Kim Dickens (as Detective Rhonda) was another actor who stood out with a terrific performance to match the lead pair. Also impressive was Carry Coon as Nick's sister and Tyler Perry who is the advocate helping Nick in his legal battle.
So in every aspect, this movie stands apart and here is one cinema you cannot miss at any cost. Since i haven't read Gillian Flynn's novel, i am not in a position to say how far the adaptation from book has been but that does not stop me from giving four out of five for David Fincher's Gone Girl, a slow and an engaging thriller with a presentation that deserves a big thumbs up. "GO FOR IT" is the final verdict from here.
Happy New Year (2014)
Visually Stunning But...
Well one of the biggies from Bollywood has reached cinemas to ignite the spark already we have in the country with all the celebrations connected with the festival of lights and crackers in full swing. As expected, the film has lavish sets and foreign visuals, rich & colorful feel with vibrant costumes and above all the towering presence of the Badshah from Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan. But other than these and other than what the trailers showed, Happy New Year directed by Farah Khan has nothing much to offer content wise.
The story mixed with humor and revenge has a heist backdrop and that is quite common in Bollywood these days with every superstar becoming part of such plots now. Charlie /ChandraMohan Manohar Sharma (Shah Rukh), Nandu (Abhishek Bachchan), Mohini (Deepika), Jagmohan (Sonu Sood), Tammy (Boman Irani) and Rohan (Vivaan Shah) are the six people or rather losers who are the participants of World Dance Competition in Dubai with a hidden agenda. How these losers become the ultimate winners is what the movie is all about.
For a festive season, people looking for a mass film of this magnitude,HNY might be more than enough to satisfy their entertainment quotient but as a cinema other than technical finesse and rich visuals this is not a great film and perhaps if you leave your logical side of the brain at home before taking off to theaters, there are chances that you might be able to enjoy this stuff that has nothing much in terms of any unexpected twists and turns.
The biggest highlight and life of the film even with the negative aspects is of course SRK. He brings that much needed color to the film when the proceedings becomes tiring. So it is more of a Shah Rukh Khan show all packed in a predictable and clichéd Bollywood film with all the mass elements. Abhishek was comical but went overboard at times. Deepika was sexy and charming, Boman Irani was funny well supported by Sonu Sood and Vivaan Shah. Jackie Shroff as the baddie was stylish.
On the technical aspects, cinematography, edits, choreography and background score were impressive. Also the costume designer deserves praise for coming out with such varied and colorful costumes to give some richness to the overall feel. I wouldn't say Vishal Shekhar has done a bad job in composing the songs but they were not impressive either.
Overall this three hour film is just an entertainer and a one time watchable one apt for a festive season with nothing much to rave about in terms of content. Whether you want to watch it and whether it will make you Happy or not it's up to you to watch and decide.
P.S - Please don't miss out the end title credits. There is something special out there.
Sex Tape (2014)
Better Avoid It
"A movie about a movie they don't want you to see". This is the tag line of Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel starrer Sex Tape. The tag line perfectly suits this film on all counts and correctly sum up the film's fate. Yes, this is one film you don't want to see and even if you have seen it, you would like to erase it from your memories at the earliest. I would put Sex Tape as a ninety minutes boring comedy drama that fails to provide any sort of excitement matching the subject and making it a dragging film.
Jay and Annie are happily married for past ten years with two kids. To reignite their sex life and spice up their love life, both of them decide to make a hot sex video of themselves on bed trying out each and every position in The Joy of Sex, an illustrated manual on sex. They did everything once the video is captured but not delete it. To make matters worse for the couples, the next morning their private video goes missing leaving Jay and Annie desperate to find the same or leave it to fate to see their private acts on the Internet. Rest of the film narrate the duo's search for that "HOT" property.
The story is interesting but it is the screenplay that let down the film to make matters worse. There was scope for fun but that aspect gets wasted here. Fun and comedy on screen doesn't make us laugh or enjoy making the film a disappointing one. The censor board here has also done their part in chopping some exciting scenes as the initial portions looked bumpy with those cuts in between scenes.
Coming to performances, Jason Segel and Cameron Diaz tried very hard to come out something special in a sinking ship and the duo could not make any impact. Same thing about rest of the casts. So in summary, its a painful film that looses the steam and make you bored instead of exciting you. Sex Tape, a film that can be skipped if you have any plans to watch it.
Godzilla (2014)
Best Godzilla Film Compared to Roland Emmerich Version
First of all don't expect more by seeing the trailer which was so awesome. Godzilla which is a reboot of Roland Emmerich version released in 1998 which appears more bigger and stronger creatures that its previous version.
The film tells us the history of Godzilla's previous appearance from the past and its rivalry with MUTO (MOBILE UNIDENTIFIED TERRESTRIAL OBJECTS). About the story line its good and will get proper knowledge about the things that happened in past. The main highlight of this film is its VFX. The intro of Godzilla is so cool and awesome with a stunning BGM. The fight between Godzilla and MUTO is so good which gives us goosebumps.
Godzilla's less screen space is one of the negative side that I noticed in the film. In the case of MUTO its vice versa. Another one is about the Human characters. Bryan Cranston is the only one that I find appealing. But sadly he just only for few minutes only. Aaron Taylor is just for covering the screen. 3D effects is another negative in this film. Nowadays 3D is considered as a best way to make more income.
To sum up Godzilla is one the best reboot film compared to the previous version. But don't expect awesome stunts like Pacific Rim and set your expectation level to the bare minimum, you should be able to enjoy the film.