MovieInspector Reviews

Bodyguard (I) (2011)

a superb romantic action film/drama that should appeal to absolutely everyone

[10/10 · 1 September 2011]

Siddique, who actually wrote the story, screenplay and directed this film, has made a marvellous debut in the Hindi film industry.

The story, in a nutshell ( I won't give anything away) is about a very disciplined Bodyguard called Lovely Singh (Salman Khan), an orphan who is instructed by his boss to report to the same person his dad worked as and actually died serving, and that he is Sartaj (played by veteran Raj Babbar). Sartaj has a number of people out after him and so is worried about the security of his daughter, Divya (Kareena Kapoor or Bebo as she's commonly known as). Lovely is appointed as her bodyguard by who goes everywhere with her wearing his much talked about uniform that the mischievous Divya doesn't like him wearing. The content that follows is funny, highly emotional and has been garnished with some fine action sequences. Oh and IT IS NOT your typical cliché plagued kind of thing. That's what makes this movie so good.

The film is packed with good performances. It looks like Salman Khan will get more recognition come awards season next year for his performance. Kareena is surely a contender for the best actress awards too. Look out for the supporting actors and actresses, not least Aditya Pancholi who conveys so much through his eyes, the newcomer Hazel Keech who plays a very interesting character very solidly, film maker Rajat Rawail in his acting debut in a comic role (look out for the interesting messages on the front of his shirts) and Mahesh Manjrekar.

The music has topped charts everywhere, not least here in the UK where the BBC Asian downloads chart has been dominated by the track 'Teri Meri'in recent times, and it does stand out. 'I love you' and 'Desi Beat' are also very good tracks too and have also entered the charts in high positions.

Overall: good cinematography, story, screenplay, music and performances by the whole cast. I give it a double thumbs up!! RATING: 9/10.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)

Very enjoyable but there are a few little problems.

[9/10 · 24 July 2011]

ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA is Zoya Akhtar's latest venture after directorial debut with LUCK BY CHANCE. It is a very entertaining movie that keeps things simple and evokes laughter without going over the top like many comedies.

Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol and Farhan Akhtar are terrific as they play three friends travelling to Spain for a bachelor trip of sorts. Katrina is good and is clearly looking to cement her place at the top of the Hindi film industry by being very selective. Naseeruddin Shah is good in a cameo as is Deepti Naval. Ariadna Cabrol is wasted.

The cinematography is exquisite and the dialogues by Farhan are refreshing. In addition, the locales of Spain have been captured nicely and the music is entirely appropriate and fits in. The whole soundrack is very good but 'Ik Junoon' and 'Senorita' stand out. Shankar-Ehsaan- Loy have delivered again and, by doing so, have shown why they are amongst the best composers in the industry.

However, there are some problems. One is the running time of the movie. A shorter movie would have packed a bigger punch since the film gets talk-heavy in places, and the viewer may get a little restless as a result. Also, mocking doordarshan is totally unnecessary and doesn't do anything for the film. The film also lacks in drama in the first hour or so.

ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA is still very impressive for it looks at life in a very interesting way, inspiring the viewer to make the most of it. After all, zindagi na milegi dobara (you won't get to live twice). Director Zoya Akhtar's ability to incorporate offbeat elements into her films needs to be appreciated.

I don't rate this quite as highly as DIL CHAHTA HAI but that doesn't take away the fact that this, like DIL CHAHTA HAI, can be watched and enjoyed many times. I'm looking forward to Zoya's next

Verdict: inspiring, entertaining, refreshing and universally appealing. One of the best bollywood movies of 2011 so far. You don't want to miss it.

Rating: 8.5/10

Chak De! India (2007)

The second best Bollywood movie of 2007 after "Taare Zameen Par", and the best Bollywood sports movie ever.

[9/10 · 10 July 2011]

Shahrukh Khan stars in "ChakDe! India" as a former Indian national hockey player and someone, in his own words, who wants to defeat the reason why he lost out in his own career by this time coaching the Indian women's hockey team to world cup glory. For him, it's all about believing that you can win, and he makes this clear quite often.

Equal opportunities in sport (something we all take for granted), religion, self-belief and teamwork are themes central to "ChakDe! India" have been cleverly handled by director Shimit Amin.

Shahrukh's performance is brilliant; one can totally understand why he won filmfare best actor for this. Out of the team of girls, the performances that stand out are those by Shilpa Shukla (as Bindia), Sagarika Ghatge (as Preeti), Chitrashi Rawal (as Komal) and Tanya Abrol (as Balbir).

Director Shimit Amin has done a good job with this. He clearly is a very talented director and this is evident in every frame of the movie.

The screenplay works great and the cinematography is brilliant.

From the soundtrack, "Chak De India" is the most memorable song and is probably the best song from the list.

Verdict: A national award winning sports masterpiece from Yash Raj Films that should not be missed!! I give it 9/10.

Guzaarish (2010)

After disappointing with "Saawariya", Sanjay Leela Bhansali comes back with a masterpiece

[9/10 · 13 June 2011]

Back in 1999, Sanjay Leela Bhansali released "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam", a high profile movie which did impress. Three years later, he released a very high profile multi-starrer "Devdas", which was also very good, and continued with "Black" 3 years later which was also very impressive. Two years after that, he released "Saawariya" which was very disappointing, though he did give the industry another rising star in the form of Ranbir Kapoor. We've had to wait 3 years for this one. One thing's for sure: he has absolutely nailed this one. Brilliant!

Hrithik Roshan plays the role of a quadriplegic effortlessly; everything from his facial expressions to his dialogue delivery is just superb. He reminds us how underrated he is as an actor. Aishwariya is superb in her respective role too. Aditya Roy Kapoor really caught my eye; he's someone to look out for in the future. Shernaz Patel and Suhel Seth are good in their supporting roles too.

The cinematography is great; the screenplay is great and the direction is brilliant. Sanjay Leela Bhansali's talent shines through in every single frame of the movie.

The music of the film is quite appropriate and has been nicely incorporated into the narrative. "Sau gram zindagi" is easily the best track.

Verdict: a masterpiece from a brilliant director. Hrithik shines as does Aishwariya. A romantic and profound drama that shouldn't be missed! I give it 9.5/10

Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji (2011)

A nice romantic comedy

[8/10 · 6 June 2011]

Madhur Bhandarkar, a national award winning director, is well know for his hard hitting movies such as "Fashion" and "Chandini Bar", and that's why you have to give him lots and lots of credit for going out of his comfort zone.

The performances by all 3 of the leading males (Ajay Devgan, Emraan Hashmi and Omi Vadiya) are good. The character development makes up the story; hence, we get to know more about the personalities of the three characters as the film progresses. Their respective stories are all different so the theme of love, of course, is thoroughly explored.

The cinematography is good as you would expect, as is the screenplay.

Music has been nicely incorporated; there are no songs that don't 'fit in'.

Verdict: a nice, funny and romantic movie that shouldn't be missed. 8/10.

Ready (2011)

A wonderful and refreshing family entertainment package! Clearly, entertainment is an alien concept to some people.

[10/10 · 3 June 2011]

After impressing with "Wanted" and "Dabangg", Salman has given us a family entertainer that defines Bollywood by incorporating all of the main aspects: action, music, comedy and romance.

Anees Bazmee has shown us what a talented director he is in this genre, and his talent is evident in every single frame of the movie. He sets the mood with the opening credits and maintains it throughout. Even at the interval there is something (I won't tell you) that nicely replaces Intermission/Interval.

The performances are nice. Asin reminds one of Madhuri Dixit in "Hum Aapke Hain Kaun", and Salman plays Prem just like he did in that movie, and his character has some similarities to the guy he played in HAHK. He's at his entertaining best. Paresh Rawal is at his comic best, and Sharat Saxena and Akhilendra Mishra provide good support. Mahesh Manjrekar is good and Manoj Joshi has done well too. Special mention to Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan and Zarine Khan who make guest guest appearances. Zarine shines in the chart-buster "character dheela", Sanjay Dutt is funny and serves a purpose as does Ajay Devgan.

The music is wonderful. "Character dheela" is the most memorable song but "Dhinka Chika" isn't far behind. I must say Devi Sri Prasad has recreated the "ringa ringa" magic with Dhinka Chika. "humko pyar hua" and "meri ada bhi" are nice too. Pritam has impressed again.

The film is incredibly lavish, and the wonderful scenery of Thailand in particular has been cleverly used to add to the overall effect of the movie; not only that, it also helps maintain the mood of the film, similarly to Hum Aapke Hain Kaun.

Verdict: a light hearted and refreshing family entertainment package that will definitely better your mood, even if you're in a good one already. I give it 9.5/10. Better than WELCOME (2007) and "SINGH IS KINGG" (2008)

No One Killed Jessica (2011)

We're starting to expect this from Vidya Balan. Rani Mukherjee is very good too.

[9/10 · 2 June 2011]

This film is based on quite a famous case in the history of the Indian legal system, and the director, Raj Kumar Gupta, has got this one just right.

First of all, the performances by Vidya and Rani are brilliant. The characters are totally different and, as the movie progresses, they, Vidya's character in particular, develop brilliantly.

Music is nicely incorporated into this fast paced thriller. The song that undoubtedlystands out it "Dilli Dilli" which fits into the story particularly well. The cinematography is good as is the screenplay.

Verdict: unmissable, and will thoroughly even someone who is unaware of the problems in India. 9/10

Unthinkable (2010)

Do the ends justify the means?

[9/10 · 2 June 2011]

This film is one of a kind. Not only is it a fantastic, fast paced thriller, but it also raises some important questions which, I must say, the average human being may think a lot about before answering.

Samuel L Jackson excels in his role, as does Carrie-Anne Moss as an FBI officer. They are on top form here. The performance by Michael Sheen is brilliant.

The violence in this movie is very graphic, but it only adds to the impact the film has.

The cinematography is good, the screenplay is great and it's safe to say that the director has done a wonderful job here.

Verdict: this one packs a powerful punch. I give it 9.5/10.

Like Stars on Earth (2007)

Brilliant

[10/10 · 30 May 2011]

I was expecting great things from this movie, since it is an Aamir Khan production after all, and he has never let us down. Well, all I can say is that I got much more than I expected.

Darsheel Safaray is brilliant as the child; he excels in a role every child would struggle to handle, and this is the best performance from a child artist I've ever seen, that too by a long way. What can I say about Aamir Khan? His performance is near perfect as the teacher, and the strange thing is that he's only in half of the movie yet still makes an impact. He truly is a genius.

The film's message is universal. Of course, all of us already know what children are like, but not all of us are aware of the factors that influence how children think, and we definitely don't know what is going through their minds all the time. This film explores how children think, and looks at the attitudes of adults towards children.

The cinematography is wonderful, and the direction by Aamir Khan is superb. Kudos to the screenplay writers for giving us such a wonderful and touching film.

The music is wonderful, and the songs do actually help the story along.

Finally like to emphasise that this film is not just for kids, and that everyone should watch it.

Verdict: unmissable - one of the finest movies ever made. 10/10.

7 Khoon Maaf (2011)

Great. It's all Priyanka. Intelligent film-making at its best.

[9/10 · 14 May 2011]

Vishal Bhardwaj didn't impress me that much with Omkara, but his last two films (Kaminey and this) have really impressed me.

The story is based on the Ruskin Bond novel 'Susanna's seven husbands', about a woman who gets married 7 times in search of true love.

The performance by Priyanka is out of this world. Out of the seven husbands, the most impressive ones are John Abraham, Irfan Khan and Naseerudin Shah.

The screenplay is brilliant, and the cinematography is good. Characterisation is brilliant too. The direction is simply superb; Vishal Bhardwaj almost takes things to the next level with this.

The music of the film is quite appropriate. I wouldn't say it is chart-buster quality, but it certainly adds to the film.

Verdict: recommend this to serious film fans. It's just a wonderful movie. 9/10.

Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010)

Very good movie which recreates the 70s era perfectly. Ajay Devgan steals the show

[9/10 · 6 May 2011]

Milan Luthria is not a big director in Bollywood, but he's done very well here. The direction is brilliant, as is the cinematography. It recreates the 70s era perfectly.

The film tells the story, from the point of view of a police officer, about Sultan Mirza (Ajay)who went from nothing to the ruler of Mumbai, and Shoaib Khan (Emraan),the only son of an honest police officer who wants to make it big so badly.

The performance by Ajay Devgan is simply superb as Sultan Mirza; there isn't a role he cannot do. Emraan is good as Shoaib Khan, but I think his serial kisser/lover boy image just got the better of him here. Kangana Ranaut is good as one of the female leads, as is Prachi Desai as the other one. The problem is that Prachi is that she isn't as convincing in the movie in her role as Kangana is in her role. Still, Prachi has made a mighty good effort.

The film is full of good dialogues; a lot of them are one liners. I can tell you one thing for sure: you won't forget them that easily after you've seen it.

The music of the film is great. The song 'pee loon' stands out from the lot.

Verdict: A good gangster flick providing wholesome entertainment. One of the best films of 2010. I give it 9/10

Raajneeti (2010)

Prakash Jha does what he does best. Katrina is the weak link.

[8/10 · 29 April 2011]

After 'Gangaajal' and 'Apaharan', this is Prakash Jha's most recent venture. Let me talk about the performances first of all.

Ranbir Kapoor puts in a very fine performance here. His character is more or less a push over with more or less no conscience, succumbing to the pressure applied on him by certain circumstances. He does it well, so much so that you dislike his character quite a bit, but also sympathise with him at the same time. Manoj Bajpal is very good indeed. Nana Patekar is amazing - his character comes naturally to him. Ajay Devgan is solid.

The weakness of this film is Katrina Kaif. I don't know what Prakash Jha was thinking, considering that she's just known for glamour, and doesn't know much Hindi at all. She also has a strong English accent, which comes through in every part, with the exception of the dubbed parts. I'm sorry, but in a film like this, the cast need to know the language very well, since the dubbing can be very obvious, and is in this case. The one time sleeping together pregnancy thing is strange when you think of it, since it happens more than once, but I wouldn't say that it is a flaw because it is possible.

The music of this film is average, with a few good tracks, notably 'mora piya' and 'ishq barse'.

Verdict: A great film minus Katrina Kaif. Definitely worth watching. I give it 8.9/10

Dum Maaro Dum (2011)

One of the best films so far this year. Kudos to Abhishek Bachchan, Prateik Babbar and Rana Daggubati. Very stylish indeed.

[8/10 · 29 April 2011]

Rohan Sippy, son of the well-known Sholay director Ramesh Sippy, has given us a crime thriller here. I must say the film doesn't disappoint. Very good script.

The film starts of well with Prateik Babbar. The pace is fair as the film introduces the characters in the movie and lets you develop opinions of them. Things continue at a fast pace, with plenty of unexpected events along the way, keeping you interested throughout.

The music of the film is average. The remix of the famous song 'Dumb Maaro Dumb' doesn't live up to the original from the Zeenat Aman starrer. It is an average item song, after the season of chart-buster item songs last winter. Deepika tries her best to save it, and is helped by the music, which is very good.

The performances are good. Abhishek finally impresses after Guru, this time as a cop after the second in the Dhoom series. Prateik impresses again after Dhobi Ghaat. The performance of Rana Daggubati is very good too. Bipasha Basu is OK. Aditya Pancholi does very well indeed.

Verdict: go and watch it. It is worth a trip to the cinema (theatre). If you don't, you might just regret it.

Devdas (I) (2002)

Sanjay Leela Bhansali does it again, but Dillip Kumar remains the original and unbeaten Devdas.

[9/10 · 11 April 2011]

This film was, at the time of its release, the most expensive film. I can totally understand why. It is all completely lavish and the sets are wonderful. The acting is the best part though. Shahrukh Khan excels in the role of Devdas, a role I think only him and perhaps Aamir Khan could do well. His performance is totally out of this world. For me, Aishwariya Rai ruins the film a bit; her acting is ordinary, if that, and she just doesn't do much to add to the overall effect; the other two steal the show. Madhuri, on the other hand, is absolutely fantastic. The music of the film is one of a kind, with the stand out tracks, for me, being 'Maar Daala' and 'Dola re Dola'. Technically, everything is superb; can't fault the screenplay, cinematography and editing. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has got it right once again. Hats off to him.

Verdict: one of the finest films you'll see. I give it 9/10

Salaam-E-Ishq (2007)

Lovely

[8/10 · 21 March 2011]

Salaam-E-Ishq is a movie directed by Nikhil Advani that tells the stories of 6 couples and their common problem: love. The music of the film is especially good; not a single track is below great. The John-Vidya story is probably the most heart wrenching one. The Salman-Priyanka story is good, and so are the stories of Govinda, Anil-Juhi and Akshaye-Ayesha. I think the Sohail-Isha story was a little bit of a waste, but it is still funny nonetheless. What I really liked was the fact that each story was interesting in its own way. The film could have been a little shorter perhaps, but that isn't really a flaw. It is definitely a great tribute to the power of love. I'd like to praise the entire production team, but especially director Nikhil Advani and music director trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy for doing such a good job here.

Verdict: A great romantic family film, a must watch. I give it 8/10

Koyla (1997)

Could've been a better film without SRK's annoying grunts + screaming during the action sequences.

[5/10 · 21 March 2011]

When you think of action, you don't think of Shahrukh Khan, who only plays the role of a romantic naturally. First of all, I'd like to say that Madhuri's performance was superb; she didn't overact at all and kept things going nicely. Shahrukh, on the other hand, totally overacted, like he did in the other few action movies he made (with the exception of Darr of course, but that was a different role). He kept screaming annoyingly loud and grunting in the action sequences. No wonder he has kept away from action movies for the last 15 years (with the exception of Don, but there was no convincing action on his part there - mostly car chases). The music is good, and so is the story. Amrish Puri is as great as ever in his role. Could've been much better had they chose someone like Salman Khan to deal with the action sequences as effortlessly as he does.

Verdict: worth a watch once or twice. I give it 6/10 just for the story + Madhuri's performance.

Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996)

Great

[24 February 2011]

After watching 'Khiladi', the first in the khiladi series, I had incredibly high hopes. Needless to say that I wasn't disappointed. The performances by Rekha and Akshay Kumar are great.I was particularly impressed by Rekha who plays underworld don Maya incredibly well. Gulshan Grover is good as is Raveena Tandon; you couldn't expect much more from them. Brian Lee is good as the wrestler called undertaker.The action is great. The story is, of course, very good.The screenplay is great as is the cinematography. The music, on the other hand, could've been better.

Verdict: watch it if you liked 'Khilad' (1992). I give it 9/10

Ghajini (2008)

Aamir 'mr perfectionist' Khan does it again. Newcomer Asin is great too.

[10/10 · 24 February 2011]

Credit must be given to the director, A.R Murugadoss, and the production team for their part in making this a great film. It is actually an unforgettable film, with a hard-hitting performance by Aamir Khan as someone who suffers from Amnesia following a particular incident. He has shown why he is the best actor in bollywood.Newcomer Asin has also done a great job in the female lead; I expect her to have a great career after making a great start with this. The screenplay,music and cinematography are all good. The action is great. The music is also great. The best two songs are 'Guzaarish' and 'Aye Bachchu'.

Verdict: unmissable. I give it 10/10.

Fanaa (2006)

One of Aamir's and definitely Kajol's finest performance in recent times.

[9/10 · 24 February 2011]

First of all I'd like to praise the production team for coming up with such a good script. The director, Kunal Kohli, deserves all the praise in the world for doing such a great job here. Technically, the film is great; there's a great script, great screenplay, cinematography and acting.Aamir has given one of his finest performances in recent times. Kajol has given her best performance of the decade here. Rishi Kapoor and Kirron Kher are also good in their roles. The music of the film is great, and the best song has to be 'chand sifarish'- one of the best love songs you'll ever listen to.

Verdict: Watch it for the story, Aamir and Kajol. I give it 9.5/10

Khiladi (1992)

Akshay isn't called the khiladi (player) Kumar for nothing.

[9/10 · 20 February 2011]

This movie is one of Abbas-Mustan's best movies. The direction is great as is the screenplay. The cinematography is good. The music, on the other hand, could've been better. Akshay kumar has given us a great performance here. Deepak Tijori, Shakti Kapoor, Ayesha Jhukla and Sabeeha give us decent performances. The action is superb; you can't fault it. It is so Akshay Kumar (high kicks, fast punches etc.). This film is an all-round entertainer with action, comedy and a lot of suspense.

Verdict: If you haven't seen it yet, see it and look at what you've missed out on. Thumbs up - 9/10.

Taal (1999)

Good movie with memorable music.

[8/10 · 17 February 2011]

I am a big fan of the work of Mr Subhash Ghai,a very talented director who makes meaningful films with wonderful music time after time. The story is nothing too complicated, but the film is almost flawless technically. The cinematography is great as is the screenplay. Akshaye's role wasn't for him; someone like Salman Khan or SRK could've made it a great movie. Still a good effort by Akshaye. Anil Kapoor is superb; his performance is great. I never thought Aishwariya had it in her, but I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this film. Amrish Puri and Alok Nath are also good. The unique selling points of this movie are: the music, screenplay, cinematography and acting by Ash and Anil. Speaking of music, the music of this film is great; the lyrics by Anand Bakshi are really good.

Verdict: you don't want to miss this one. I give it 8/10.

Patiala House (2011)

One of Akshay Kumar's best films since 'Dosti: friends forever' (2005).

[8/10 · 13 February 2011]

First of all, I'd like to praise the entire production team, but especially the director, Nikhil Advani, for doing such a great job with this. It doesn't actually feel like a film because the characters are so believable and their livelihoods are very normal. The film's story is relatively simple, but it conveys a very important and nice message. Hats off to Akshay Kumar, Rishi Kapoor and Anushka Sharma - they all have given really good performances here. Dimple Kapadia and the supporting cast also do their parts really well. The music is also good. The best tracks are 'Adat hai woh' and 'Laungda Lashkara'. The screenplay is fabulous and the editing has been done very well.

Verdict: this film deserves to be a success at the box office - go for it!. I give it 8.5/10.

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)

Fun, but nowhere near the likes of Mughal-E-Azam, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Maine Pyar Kiya.

[7/10 · 12 February 2011]

Let me start off with the performances. Shahrukh Khan was just himself; nothing too special about his performance. Kajol was her usual emotional self too. Amrish Puri is OK in the film as is Farida Jalal and Satish Shah. The story is like every single film of it is kind. It is nothing special.I don't actually understand why this film is so famous; there is nothing about the story or acting that justifies the film's status. What Kajol wears throughout the first half doesn't do her any favours as an Indian actress. The music and dialogues are the only two good things; everything else is very typical. This doesn't come close to Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), Mughal-E-Azam (1960) and QSQT (1988), but it is still a decent watch Verdict: just music and romance - I give it 7/10

Jeet (1996)

Highly intense action movie. Sunny Deol steals the show.

[9/10 · 6 February 2011]

I'd like to start off by praising the production team, and specifically the director, Raj Kanwar, for doing a great job here. I didn't expect a film like this to come under the Nadiadwala Grandson banner; I was pleasantly surprised.

One of Sunny Deol's career best performances. He is as convincing as ever in his role. I'm very surprised that he didn't win some awards for this. This is one of Karishma Kapoor's best performances; she does a great job in the female lead. Salman Khan is good too, as is Tabu. Alok Nath is OK, and Amrish Puri does a good job as he always does when he plays the role of the villain.

I would also like to say that the screenplay is great and it has been edited very well.

The music is nothing special. There's only one good song: 'dil ka kya karen sahib'.

Verdict: It is not often you get to see Salman and Sunny in an action movie. It is a must watch. I give it 9.5/10

Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998)

Great entertainment.

[9/10 · 3 February 2011]

First of all I would like to praise Sohail Khan for doing a great job with the direction and screenplay. The film is well known for the famous song 'O O Jaane Jaana', which is worth a listen any day of the week. There are other good songs besides that.

Salman Khan is great.It is not often these days we see him in such roles since he does a lot of action movies, and that's why you have to watch this one. Kajol is superb too; she isn't much different here. Arbaaz Khan plays the tough elder brother very well. You can't fault Dharmendra; he is consistent throughout.

Verdict: If you don't watch it, you'll miss out on tons of entertainment. I give it 9/10.