maneckk-414-209658 Reviews

Jobs (2013)

The name is JOBS steve jobs

[6/10 · 25 August 2013]

It is somewhat ironical that the man who always signed his name in the lower case 'steven p. jobs' has the movie in his name titled in capital JOBS. For me this was the most awaited movie of the year, more so because of having read the biography a couple of times. The ironies however does not end with the case of the font but the perfectionist he was, I am sure if among us today he would have wanted some (major) iterations in the movie before his actual story came out to the public. A movie reaches out to a much wider audience exponentially than a book and those of you who have read the book should agree with me that movie did not do complete justice to Jobs biopic.

Joshua Michael Stern who is known for directing dramas, has concentrated more on the dramatic side of Jobs rather than the genius his was. He has failed to explain the reason behind his outbursts, his mad passion for perfection, and the primary reason for the personality that was the Steve Jobs. I would not dwell into the particular events but Stern could have shown the cause and consequence for the milestones he achieved. Whether it was shortage of time or bad script writing the movie would fail to connect with audience who do not much about Jobs. Moreover, important events which made Jobs what he is like the creation of NeXT, the buying of Pixar and his fight with cancer are completely missing.

Ashton Kutcher has come a long way from portraying the stupid kid in That 70's show to portraying one of the geniuses of our generation. He is eerily similar to the original Steve Jobs and full marks to him for taking on the nuances, the body language and the talking style of the Apple founder. The jaw line was perfect and as a young Jobs he was flawless. The script could have given him more to showcase his acting prowess but sadly the whole movie cracked around there. I am sure Jobs family would also share the view of Kutcher doing a brilliant "JOB".

The only other character worth mentioning is that of Mike Marrkula played by Dermot Mulroney a brilliant actor with an equally brilliant performance. Matthew Modine, James Woods, John Getz and others are just supporting the main man as the in his real life it was all about himself. The music is good and you get to hear some famous Bob Dylan songs in the movie, as Steve was a big Dylan fan all this life.

Even though for me Steve Jobs life has been a 5/5, I had expected a much better product from the production and so would have Jobs. A 3/5 from me sadly for the movie and for all the Jobs and Apple fans this is a must watch. However I would suggest you read the book before going to the movie. Alternatively, if you have seen the movie and not the read the book, now is the time to pick it up and do it.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag there is no Finish Line!!!

[9/10 · 19 July 2013]

The most awaited movie of the year, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is the story of one of the greatest athlete India has ever had. A story of achievement & disappointment, milestones & nightmares, passion & apathy. Most importantly a story of grit & determination and the struggle to achieve success besides all odds. To describe or write about a movie of this stature one cannot find enough words to express oneself. But, I will definitely try and summarize it from the heart on the different levels the movie worked for me.

I came out pretty impressed with the way Rakeyesh Omprakash Mehra has managed to depict the life of "Flying Sikh" in a movie slightly over 3 hours and NO, I did not get bored at any time in the movie. The script demanded the detail and though some sequences definitely match upto speed of the man on whom the movie is made, the rest of the film jogs along just fine. The race sequences have been shot very well and the climax is enduring and keeps you on the edge though most of us already knew the outcome.

A true account of the life of Milkha Singh, the movie starts with him loosing the legendary 1960 Rome Olympic race and flashes back to his life tracing the journey from his child hood (born in the undivided India now Pakistan) to the great athlete he ultimately becomes making India proud. The various times in his life are brilliantly interwoven into the plot from the time he lands up in Delhi as a refugee from Pakistan to taking up the life of crime and then moving onto the Indian Army which ultimately changes his life. The sequences where the natural athlete in him is discovered by a Services coach and his ambition to wear the Indian sports contingent blazer are emotional yet inspiring. Full marks to Rakeyesh Omprakash Mehra for using his signature style of inter-weaving flash backs with the present to tell a story which is not only inspiring but emotional to the core. He has been able to effectively depict how necessity drives a man to ambition and that ambition converts to passion. Mr. Mehra will make you fall in love with Milkha Singh and you'll end up wondering why you never read or heard about this awesome man.

Farhan Akhtar has been the best at whatever he does besides acting, including directing & singing, but I am sure he would also be contemplating that this is his best performance till date. There was no Farhan Akhtar in the movie, you could only see Milkha Singh in the movie. He became one with the character that one could not differentiate between the two. His rigorous training sessions to acquire the lean body of the athlete definitely shown in the movie and his dedication matched that of the original Milkha Singh. Some sequences have of course been dramatized for the movie effect but Farhan makes them look so believable, you end up disputing the fact that they actually happened. The part where he tells his coach that he will wear the Indian team blazer one day has makes you want to do the same. Farhan's look is as close to the real Milkha one could get. The original athlete's nuances, the running style and the inner turmoil which he went through has been picked up closest to the original and though it has already been said countless times, no one could have done a better job of portraying this character.

Only 2 actors that can be mentioned in the same breath as him are Divya Dutta and Pawan Malhotra. Divya Dutta as Milkha Singh's elder sister, the one who looked after him after his parents were killed, gives a powerful emotional performance and ups the emotional quotient of the movie manifold. Every time she comes on screen you can't help but cry even when she doesn't say much. Pawan Malhotra who has proved himself time and again as an actor, once again proves as Milkha Singh's coach that there no a better actor than him when it comes to supporting roles. The large than life character and the actual influence this coach had on Milkha's life is portrayed by flawless ease and his comprehension of the character adds another dimension to Milkha's character. The young Milkha Singh portrayal by young Master Jabtej Singh is equally brilliant and the intensity the kid showed as the young Sikh makes him a deserving for future accolades. Yograj Singh (cricketer Yuvraj Singh's father) as Milkha's coach Ranvir Singh and Prakash Raj (finally he gets a break from playing baddie in Cop movies) as his unit's commanding officer support the lead character well. Sonam Kapoor as Milkha's love interest gets the best composed scenes, and though she does not have much to say in the movie, she delivers an effective understated performance. Rebecca Breeds from Australia in her first Indian movie gives a pleasant and light performance in the otherwise intense movie.

Music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy, forms an integral part of the movie. The title track "Zinda" is something you'd come humming out of the theatre. My favorites were the Army barrack song "Havan Karnege" and the "Slow motion Angreza" shot in an Australian pub. The music is easy on the ears and difficult to forget.

Milkha Singh ran for our country for long and has been remembered for time immemorial. A rare sports person and you can read about him all over the internet. This movie does complete justice to his biopic, both as a sportsman struggle and symbolically conveying that life's struggles don't have a finish line.

The movie takes Indian cinema to another level and though there will be many more to come this year, my nomination for the Oscars is definitely Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Irrespective of your preferences this is a must watch for all Indians.

World War Z (2013)

World War 'Z' should've been World War 'Y'?

[5/10 · 10 July 2013]

A movie for me, most of the times is either good or bad or somewhere in between. Very few movies evoke a response like, Why? Though I have been contemplating writing a review … a friend suggested I should write one if I completely wanna crash it.

Now we all know that World War Z stands for a future war to prevent extinction of mankind and 'Z' for the obvious reasons meaning Zombie. But coming back to my point why World War Z should have been called World War 'Y' … Lots of 'Why' in my head after the watching this Brad Pitt Production.

'Y' did Brad Pitt produce such a movie especially after the his last highly acclaimed production Moneyball?

'Y' did Brad Pitt act in such a movie?

'Y' did the World War Z happen and how did the zombies come about spreading like an epidemic?

'Y' on earth the zombies or the "UNDEAD" who are on a mad warpath totally able to annihilate some of the finest armies of the world?

'Y' is there a sermon by some scientist about mother nature being a serial killer and some other philosophical bullshit which virtually has no context to what is happening?

'Y' does Brad Pitt manage to keep his cool and look hot 'n' sexy despite being in a life ending accident, mauled by Zombies, surviving a sure- shot death air crash and still be the only one to come with answers?

'Y' most importantly when we have so many uber-cool villains, technologically advanced aliens and our home grown vices did the production team had to depend on a 1980s lame formula of introducing funny faced Zombies to end our existence? Surely, we as a race deserve a more worthy nemesis.

'Y' could not the movie start with a much stylish origin and end with the good guys winning … it is just horrifying to think that they might be cooking up a sequel to it.

'Y' was the climax (like a friend suggested) straight out of Michael Jackson's thriller video and the audience couldn't help but laugh even in such a grave situation?

'Y' ………………. ?

Just look out for Brad Pitt in the movie … oh wait … there is no one else you'll see so don't worry about it.

The flip side to it is, spend 116 minutes in an AC cinema hall in this sweltering heat and enjoy the 3-D effects if you must.

Man of Steel (2013)

Man of Steel ... is finally here to stay

[6/10 · 21 June 2013]

For all of us dads who are the first superheroes in the lives of our young ones, Man of Steel did cash on the father-son relationship through the movie.

Superman has always been different from all the other superheroes. The others are humans first and the superhero is their alter-ego. Kal-El (Superman's real name) is an alien/ superhero first and Clark Kent is his alter-ego, or more importantly he models his human character on how he perceives a human being.

Man of Steel commences from the birth of Kal-El and how is parents Jor- El and Lara, send him away from their Planet Krypton, before it is destroyed. Most of us have grown up reading Superman comics and watching Christopher Reeve (the original Superman from the series of 4 movies) play the part and know the story by heart of how superman was born and the journey of a child with super human strength from a baby to a savior of mankind. This movie however for the first time has gone in-depth tracing the origins of Superman and not only his birth but how the transformation and adaptation came about. The attention to these details seems to have dragged the movie a little to the point of sometimes being boring.

There are interesting points in the life of Superman highlighted and shot well, but the plot bounces around a lot from current day to flashbacks demanding a lot of focus and attention from the viewer. Every time I watch a superhero movie, I feel the high point is the grand entrance (preferably saving a damsel or human in distress) which makes you wants to clap and whistle. Somehow, the makers of this movie failed on that front. The human connect is almost non-existent, barring the scene where Clark Kent as a kid rescues a school bus (which was kind of cool), & his interactions with his Dad and Lois Lane. Man of Steel comes across more like a sci-fi movie rather than a superhero trying to save the world. The build-up to the character seems to have been the focus in the first half, which will keep you riveted, but the second half disappoints with the not-so-required action sequences.

Full marks to the special effects team for creating worlds beyond imagination, at times I was wondering men creating these concepts must be thinking way beyond any normal human's realms of imagination. Zack Snyder created the cult epic 300 and I was really impressed with his take on Superman. Having to break the mould of so many past movies, TV series, printed comics takes courage and conviction and one thing I would like to tell Mr. Snyder, this one by far is my favorite superman, who looks and acts the part. The sequels to Man of Steel should be the ones to watch out for now.

Henry Cavill with his tough body, boy next door looks and intense eyes fits well into the part of a confused but strong individual. Cavill depicts the inner turmoil which Superman would have gone through with a terrific performance and ironically, a man of steel who can emote. Now that he has arrived, Superman is here to stay and only Cavill can do justice to the character.

Amy Adams as Lois Lane does her part as a journalist pretty effectively, but she is not as hot as we had always presumed Lois to be. Her character has been carefully written and she gets lots of opportunities to shine in an otherwise one man film. This movie is an ensemble of great actors like Kevin Costner, Russell Crowe, Laurence Fishburne & Diane Lane, all of whom have small parts. Kevin Costner impresses in his small role of Jonathan Kent (Superman's earth father) especially in his interactions with Clark, the rest however did not get the screen space to make a mark. Michael Shannon as General Zod is menacing and a worthy villain to Superman with his towering personality. The young Cooper Timberline as the 9 year old Clark gets a meaty role and does complete justice to it with his surprisingly realistic performance.

Now that Man of Steel is here to stay on our planet I am hoping the subsequent plots would revolve more around and his arch nemeses Lex Luthor. Even though my rating would be a 3/5, I would suggest you go and watch the evolution of the first and the original superhero.

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

To boldly go where no one has gone before Into Darkness with Star Trek

[9/10 · 27 May 2013]

My generation grew up on Sunday morning Star Trek series created originally by Gene Roddenberry At one point of time I and all my friends thought of growing up to become Space Trekkers like Captain Kirk or Mr. Spock. Mr. Spock the lovable no-nonsense Vulcan and the Enterprise's (as the space ship is called) First Officer who needs no introduction was a role model to us and has us kids aping his actions and look. When I come to think of it this fixation with the series has not grown any less with age and even after 30 years I still admire and love the characters as much.

Into Darkness takes off from the first part of the Star Trek movie, with Captain Kirk heading the USS Enterprise and a selected crew to complete a mission to protect a Class M Planet Nibiru (It's so cool when you read something like a Class M planet on screen). The starting sequence however sets the precedent for the bitter-sweet but stronger than oak friendship of Kirk and Spock. Kirk with his "bend the rules" attitude and Spock with his "no-nonsense logical approach" take us on a whirlwind space trek on a manhunt to take on a dangerous one man army. The Man on a mission to destroy the Starfleet is not seemingly what he is portrayed and the secrets that are unveiled form the basis of the plot. Star Trek is one movie where the plot needs to be as justifiable and strong as it characters because we expect them to perform superhuman feats. The plot though not as strong has been worked out brilliantly in terms of science and technology and will definitely keep you riveted to your seat. This is one movie I enjoyed in 3-D because it is fun to be exploring the final frontier as a part of the Enterprise's crew. The first part was exciting because it showed us the origin of each character and how they became a part of the Starfleet, but I believe the second part and all the consequent parts would take us on an exploration beyond our imagination and it would not be fair to compare one to another (which a lot of people are doing).

The characters are the heart and soul of Star Trek and I could write a separate post on each one of them and maybe I will one day. Chris Pine as Captain James Tiberius Kirk is brilliant with his boyish charm look and rebellious attitude. An undisciplined man in the most disciplined army of explorers Chris Pine is "made to order" for this role and like the English would say it "as cheeky as they come". His friendship with Mr. Spock is legendary and despite Spock's clinical approach, Kirk always manages to teach him a thing or two about relationships as well as leadership. Chris Pine is fast becoming onto a cult figure like William Shatner the original Captain Kirk.

Zachary Quinto I am sure would have been a big fan of Mr. Spock himself to have auditioned for the legend's role. The casting for Mr. Spock would have been the most difficult for the production and Zachary Quinto would have been God-send for them. He fits into the role (with his Vulcan chiseled face) of Spock effortlessly like he was born to do it and fills in the shoes of Leonard Nimoy (the original Mr. Spock) with great ease. Leonard Nimoy has been a part of both the movies playing the older Mr. Spock from future and Zachary performance is unmatchable even in scenes shared with the original. His chemistry with Kirk is the highlight of the movie their dialogs have been written well with a lot of wit giving us the lighter moments.

Bones or Dr. McCoy played by Karl Urban is subtle, understated but a man who even Kirk listens too. Karl displays a personality and persona which makes him the perfect choice for Bones originally played by DeForest Kelley. Zoe Saldana as Uhura, the communications officer and Mr. Spock's love interest is attractive and intelligent in character. John Cho (the famous Harold from Harold and Kumar series) as Sulu the resourceful helm officer of the enterprise (the driver of the spaceship to put it bluntly) and sometimes the acting captain is a treat to watch. Anton Yelchin as Chekov who doubles up as the navigator and an absent minded engineer has captured the accent brilliantly and uses it to charm you throughout the movie.

Simon Pegg as Scotty, the chief engineer and the funny man on the enterprise is no surprise and lights up the screen with his English accent and wit no matter how serious the situation is. Scotty comes as a savior at the worst of the time and Simon Pegg managed to pull of the sequence brilliantly with his subtle brand of humour. Benedict Cumberbatch as the one man army is both sinister and believable as Khan and the most hunted man in the Galaxy. He is as expressive as a chameleon and displays multiple personas as Khan. He is a brand of villain to watch out for both in the movie and in his future outings.

The action sequences are impeccable and even though over the top, the technology used makes them s believable. Director J.J. Abrams with his penchant for directing action movies leaves no stone unturned for this one. These men and characters are taking a legacy created by Gene Roddenberry (a visionary and genius by any standards) to the next level and venturing into unchartered space … "To boldly go where no one has gone before".

Iron Man Three (2013)

Iron Man 3 The Man in the Can confronts his demons & more importantly his emotions

[8/10 · 27 April 2013]

Iron Man 3 as the name suggests thought is the third Iron Man movie, we've already seen him in 3 movies before including Avengers. The movie starts with Tony Stark in the flashback remembering how he created some personal demons due to his egoistic and brash personality, without realizing it at that particular moment. Of course the build-up is quite obvious, leading us to the present day where Iron Man is back from his encounter with the Aliens in New York (the movie The Avengers) and as usual spending most of his time in his laboratory at his Malibu mansion playing with his toys, the Iron man suits. Enter the Mandarin leader of an international terrorist organization called Ten Rings, hell-bent on teaching the United States of America a lesson, nothing original about that, controlled by a suave scientist Aldrich Killian, who can manipulate the brain cells and use it as a deadly weapon literally turning a person into a bomb.

But behind this plot this movie is different from all the earlier ones. It is about Tony Stark's emotional ride experiencing friendship, love, anger, fear and most importantly anxiety. There is in fact a scene in the movie when a kid asks him a question and he feels weak. Jarvis (the voice behind the suit) tells him that he is perfectly fine besides just feeling anxiety and his reaction is of complete disbelief. Seeing his world being destroyed in front of his eyes, the cool Tony Stark succumbs to the emotion of vendetta and sets out to seek the Mandarin. Robert Downey Jr. was meant to be Tony Stark, period. The skill with which has interwoven the complexities and eccentricities of Stark along with the responsibility of Iron Man is a treat to watch. As a man he has no superhuman powers or strength, just his intelligence and money and this side of him has been exploited to the hilt in this outing of his. In the previous 2 movies he was building Iron Man, but this one is more about the development of both Stark and his Iron Man Suit. As he rightly remarks, at the end of it "I am just a Man in the Can". Gwyneth Paltrow, as Pepper Potts has transformed into a strong personality and like all husbands/ boyfriends, even the Iron Man listens to her and pays attention. The chemistry between them forms the underlying basis of the movie and for me the whole plot is interwoven around relationship of Tony Stark and Pepper Potts.

Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan, Tony's bodyguard and now security manager of Stark Industries is awkwardly brilliant and funny, albeit in a small role. Guy Pearce as Aldrich Killian, the brilliant scientist using his intelligence for devious means, is menacing as well as good looking. The woman would love the shirtless scenes of the man and his suave style. With her assistant Maya Hansen played by Rebecca Hall the form a formidable team of villains. Ben Kingsley (our very own Mahatma Gandhi) is a great actor and shows it in his performance as the Mandarin, especially when his secret is revealed. Don Cheadle as Col. James Rhodes and the Iron Patriot (a blue and red Iron Man which was seriously cheesy) lends complete support in the fight against the band of villains.

The surprise package in this one though is the young actor Ty Simpkins playing Harley, a young kid in a small town with a knack for technology bordering on the lines of a whiz kid. His chemistry and the scenes with Tony Stark are the best in the movie (more like a badly behaved dad and a mature son) and we see a promising actor in the making. Maybe Iron Man might have a protégé in the future.

Shane Black's direction is surreal and the screenplay adds a lot of wit and humour to an action movie. The Airforce One crash scene and when Tony's mansion is attacked are one of the best action sequences I have witnessed using technology. You do come out humming the background music out of the cinema.

Iron Man 3 is full of one liner's, puns, emotions and some wild twisted humour besides over the top action. Tony Stark has detached himself from the suit and at the same time emphatically stated that no one can take away the fact that "He is Iron Man". This movie is a must watch for all Tony Stark lovers and of course the Iron Man fans.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)

G.I.Joe: Retaliation Yo Joe!!!

[7/10 · 31 March 2013]

G.I.Joe for me is not just a movie. It is part of our growing up culture, when my younger brother and I used to collect their action figures (some 25 years back) and recreate the battle scenes between the Joes and Cobra's army in our bedroom. Boys and their toys are inseparable even when they grow up into Men and when the first part of the series G.I.Joe: The Rise of Cobra was released, it was like a dream come true to watch our action figures doing live action on the big screen. This was another reason why I took my son to watch it with me and he gladly shared the passion.

G.I.Joe: Retaliation is the second part of the series (I am hoping there would be many more in the making) and a lot of people might not share my passion but I was still in awe of the movie and the action sequences. You have to realize that when you are going to watch a movie about the most elite fighting force (as the Joes are called) in the world, action (well actually over the top action) is the only thing you can expect and don't complain about it (like most of the intelligent critics are after watching the movie). To like a movie of this genre you have to have the passion for action and love the Joes. My suggestion … don't watch it if you are not a big action fan.

The first part set some incredible precedents for the sequel both in terms of technology and action sequences. The chemistry between the characters in the first part was much more visible and enjoyable and I honestly admit, this was missing in the second part. Retaliation is based more on the internal threats faced by the force from the government while trying to fight the evil and battle the deceptive forces of Cobra. The movie takes you from the deserts of Pakistan to the mountains of Tibet, from underground high security prisons to a conference of World leaders (surprisingly India is also there in the top 7 nuclear powers of the world). The story starts with the Joes being compromised on a mission in Pakistan and the daring escape of Cobra commander from a high security prison. The plot is more a continuation in the lives of G.I.Joes who fight the hardest when hit the hardest. Zartan (the master of disguise in Cobra's army) played by Arnold Vosloo is the mind behind the whole commotion and plays a pivotal role in the plot. The story is simple and the director has concentrated on the action sequences which seem to be the focus of this 3-D movie. The part where Snake Eyes kidnaps Storm Shadow from a monastery high up in the Himalayan Mountains has been brilliantly shot and the Ninjas fighting on the ropes lends an innovative touch to the whole sequence.

Dwayne "Rock" Johnson is fast proving to be a dependable action hero and looks the part of "RoadBlock" in the G.I.Joe Team. Sadly, you won't see much of Channing Tatum, who plays Duke, in this one and I kept hoping for him to return. Lady Jaye makes an entry in to the G.I.Joe team played by Adrianne Palicki along with Flint played by D.J.Cotrona. Snake Eyes played by Ray Parker (though he hardly speaks or shows his face) is one of the most lovable characters (even as a kid he was my favorite and now he is my son's favorite). The chemistry between Snake Eyes & Storm Shadow played by Byung-hun Lee, his nemesis, is electric and every time they share screen space you are bound to witness mind blowing action. I missed General Hawk but we did get General Colton played by Bruce Willis who seems to be getting old but still gets the one-liners.

The climax hints at the third part in the making and I hope they can better the first 2 parts in the next one. For all you G.I. Joe lovers …… Yo Joe!!!

Flight (I) (2012)

Flight to freedom

[28 March 2013]

Flight on the outset is a movie about an airliner crash and the investigation that follows. The movie however revolves around life of an unstable airline pilot, Captain William "Whip" Whitaker who is piloting the plane on the fateful day of the crash.

The character of Captain Whip has been essayed by Denzel Washington who was nominated for the "best actor" category at the Oscars this year. Flight is a Denzel movie all the way and he admirably carries the story from start to the end on his capable shoulders. The movie starts with Captain Whip getting up on the morning of the flight, hung over from excessive drinking and doesn't mind sniffing a few lines of coke before a flight, as he says "to get in line". The characters around him, some aware of his alcoholic streak and some intimidated by it, take solace in the fact that he is an extraordinary airline pilot.

The first 20 minutes of the movie which depict the crash are extremely riveting and very well shot. The captain (even under the influence of alcohol) exhibits amazing calmness and innovative decision-making trying his best to save the plane. The crash sequence will keep you on the edge of the seat, even if you know what is going to happen and you are in awe of the pilot throughout it. The transition from awe to doubt to sometimes hatred, combined with the idiosyncrasies of Captain Whip is what forms the basis of the plot.

Nadine Velazquez plays a drug addicted single woman who despite needing help herself helps Captain Whip to confront his demons. Don Cheadle as the Captain Whip's lawyer plays a focused man and as always delivers a crisp performance. Bruce Greenwood as best friend and confidant supports brilliantly. The surprise element of the movie was the loudmouthed coke dealer and friend of Captain Whip played by funny man John Goodman. His character is independent of Whip's character and lightens up the mood in the otherwise heavy drama.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis, who we all will remember as the director of Back to the Future series, he makes a mark with this one too.

Flight works on various levels of human relationships, faith, inner peace but for me the crux of the movie was not the obvious, which is the airline crash, but Captain Whip's flight to freedom. A must watch for all Drama lovers.

Special 26 (2013)

Special Chabbis (and not twenty six) a special entertainer for all movie lovers

[9 February 2013]

After having watched "A Wednesday" by Neeraj Pandey innumerable times, I stepped into the cinema hall with high expectations from his latest movie Special Chabbis. And Pandeyjee has managed to pull off another amazing entertainer with a fast-paced & exciting plot. This is one of those movies which keeps on lingering in your mind even after the climax and you keep going back to the brilliant sequence of events and how they were executed throughout the plot.

The movie is set in 1987 based on a true incident when a person posed as a fake CBI officer and robbed a famous jeweller at the Opera House in Mumbai. This incident forms the basis of the plot and how a group of conmen conduct false raids as CBI or IT officials to con politicians, businessmen and high profile people to rob them of their money. These heists are never reported as most of the money is black money and none of these high profile people want to be in the news for wrong reasons.

Neeraj Pandey after his directorial debut with A Wednesday completely redeems himself with Special Chabbis and reaffirms his position as a master director. He is definitely not a one film wonder and a director to watch out for in the future. The best and the most noticeable part of the film is the period that it has been set in. 1980's have been very effectively portrayed in the movie, whether it was the cars running on the roads or the streets of Delhi especially well known areas like the Connaught Place, whether it was the print style of the newspapers or the clothes and jewellery worn by the actors. The whole movie seems to be set in 1980 and all credit goes to the art director along with the director. I am still wondering how he shot in the heart of Delhi with all these props from the 80s.

The casting is perfect and each character in the ensemble of great actors delivers are powerful performance. Akshay Kumar has always been a great actor for me despite critics and so-called intelligent viewers writing him off. As the linchpin of the team he is subtle, intelligent and still manages to be funny in his own earthly way. This is definitely another feather in his cap with his long list of successful movies. Anupam Kher as a vulnerable supporter of the leader and a lustful old man (considering his long line of children) is superb and reminds of a perfect Punjabi uncle. Rajesh Sharma (Munjal from the movie Khosla ka Ghosla) as the third character fits perfectly into the well oiled team as the big guy from a Purani Dilli joint family. Kishore Kadam as the oppressed husband though a reserved role makes an impact. Jimmy Shergill's portrayal of a frustrated suspended police officer is very believable and you can't fail but empathize with the character of Sub- Inspector Ranveer Singh. But, Manoj Bajpayee is the actor which never ceases to amaze me. You put him any role and he shines, sometimes more than the protagonist. As a no nonsense CBI officer he again steals the show and gives another honest performance worth a standing ovation. Kajal Aggarwal (from Singham) is a pretty girl and looks pretty, however her character's contribution to the story is a little frivolous.

The climax hits you in typical Neeraj Pandey style which I am sure is fast becoming his signature style in his movies. Full marks to him for great direction, amazing portrayal of all characters, great plot, superb casting and above all perfect detailing.

Go and watch it, and I definitely can again. This one definitely lived up to my expectations and left me hungry for more (I waited till the end of casting hoping there would be another surprise scene at the end).

Race 2 (2013)

Race 2 ... glamour and stupidity

[5/10 · 2 February 2013]

I like to think of myself as a movie buff, who does not hate any movie. Every movie I watch I have something good to say about it. A movie has to try very hard to bore the hell out of me.

Race 2, the sequel to the superhit and definitely exciting movie Race, has managed to just that to me. The plot, I don't think one should care about considering the Director duo Abbas-Mastan themselves seem to have lost it, is to get the viewer entangled in a web of trust and mistrust among the characters. Then after the interval try to untangle the same web, which was created for a reason so frivolous that it had the audience in splits of laughter (atleast in the theater I saw).

Now in between this plot, throw in some hot women, who dress up hotter than their bodies allow, a bimbo, an old man who thinks he is young, a good looking protagonist, a beefed up actor and a forgotten actor. Now mind you all these well known actors are not trying to run the movie on the merits of acting but, on style and glamour. So what I ended up watching was a fashion show of well known actors who tried to act a little for our benefit.

Saif Ali Khan, is still stylish and with his blue blood looks is the only good part of the movie and he will manage to sweep the hearts of women through is portrayal as Ranveer. Deepika Padukone tries to look hotter than she actually is and I would like to forget her fast. John Abraham as the negative guy, beefed up as a don cum street fighter cum businessman. Looking at him reminds me of a dialogue from Johnny Lever in the movie Badshah, "Aadmi has ya mutton ki dukaan". Jacqueline Fernandez needs to settle down fast in life, coz movies are not for her. Anil Kapoor who I used to admire in the days of Tezaab and Ram Lakhan, needs to know that he is an old man and there is a difference between women he can act with and women who might be his daughter's age. Hollywood seems to have ruined his judgement about choosing roles. Ameesha Patel as the bimbo secretary to Anil Kapoor has tried to get by suggesting sex to her boss through the whole movie. Why was she there, my guess would be as good as yours? And before I forget there is also Aditya Pancholi … did I hear you say "who?" … never mind.

The good part, well if you like to shop for dresses on screen, witness fast cars and watch a travel show instead of a movie, this one is for you. The rest of you can watch TLC on TV.

The Impossible (2012)

The Impossible A real story of courage and belief

[8/10 · 14 January 2013]

The true mettle of a person is tested during Impossible times and that is when the Impossible happens.

The Impossible is a true story of a family of five who were at a beach resort in Thailand during the Christmas of 2004, when the dreadful Tsunami struck the Indian Ocean. We have all heard about it but the movie reinforces the fact that Mother Nature's wrath is something no man or man-made property can withstand. What we tend to take for granted in our everyday lives can be taken away from us in a whisk of a second.

Excellent direction by Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat in a heart wrenching story, which is told in a seemingly simple way without any frills or complications of commercial cinema. The Tsunami scenes are well shot but not over the top, keeping the focus on the various emotions of the characters. Through the characters we experience, love, joy, fear, pessimism, optimism, sadness and humanity.

Naomi Watts delivers an impactful and hard hitting performance as the mother of the kids. Her emotive eyes take you on a emotional roller- coaster. The surprise package and for me the star of the movie is young actor Tom Holland who plays the role of the eldest son and stays by the side of his mother through dangerous and emotional times. A scene in the movie when his mother's top comes off and she is oblivious of it speaks volumes of this actor's acting prowess without speaking a word. Ewan McGregor as the father is very expressive and believable. The character get's under your skin and makes you ponder what would you as father do when totally helpless against a force much stronger than anything.

Without divulging the plot much, I highly recommend this movie. This is one of those movies which will keep you riveted throughout the screening and make you feel what the characters feel.

At the end of it you do believe that belief does make the impossible, possible.

Dabangg 2 (2012)

Dabangg 2 Kamaal karte ho Pandeyjee, your histrionics never fail to entertain

[7/10 · 2 January 2013]

Ever since multiplexes came into the picture (pun intended), I have missed the whistles and the catcalls, viewers getting up from their seats to dance on catchy numbers or clapping on one liners delivered by the hero. But, when a Salman Khan movie is released, you are guaranteed the audience will indulge in these antics right from the first scene. Rest assured you can definitely go in expecting to get your paisa vasool (value for money). A Salman Khan movie is not for the faint-hearted or pseudo-intellectual. You have to be passionate about the actor, love his antics and style to love his movies.

Dabangg(2010) gave us a lovable super cop Chulbul Pandey and Part 2 completely banks on his popularity. Chulbul aka Robin-hood Pandey lives life on his own terms and is practically a law unto himself. He continues his fearless streak and headstrong attitude to take on the criminals of a higher stature in a bigger city. No matter what people say about the story, I believe it has been deliberately kept simple so that you can concentrate on Salman and Salman only. Chulbul Pandey carries forward his madness along with his band of, practical sometimes corrupt, side-kick cops who give amazing support to their lovable Super Cop.

From the word "Go" you notice that this movie is more of hero worship, when the bad guys are totally in awe of Pandeyjee and willingly take a beating from the man with superhuman strength. You almost feel that the bad guys would rather be beaten up by the almighty Salman Khan than any other hero in the Indian Film Industry. From villains to the rest of the policemen, the street vendors to the journalist, everyone is happy to share the frame with Robin-hood Pandey.

The rest of the actors albeit in a supporting role, most of them have been retained from the first part, I guess for the original flavor. Sonakshi Sinha, Vinod Khanna & Arbaaz Khan (also the producer) are basically family and add to an enhanced emotional side of Chulbul Pandey. The only other actor worth mentioning in a supporting role is the villain Prakash Raj as a corrupt, power wielding politician, who somehow failed to pose as a threat in front of the Super cop. Manoj Pahwa as the SP Police is actually the funny man in the film and gives great support to the comedy track.

Music by Sajid-Wajid retains the original flavor of the first part and the song "Fevicol Se" shot with Kareena Kapoor and as expected has already become a huge hit effectively filling the gap left by "Munni Badnam". The action and stunt sequences are the fun part and generate the loudest whistles and claps.

Though touted by a lot of critics as a film with weak screenplay, I would like to call it a heavy entertainer with heavy doses of action and larger than life portrayal of Salman Khan. The directors and producers have heavily banked on the star power of Salman and let him carry the movie alone on his shoulders, which has been a very intelligent move.

If you are a Salman Khan fan, this movie is a must watch for you, and if you are not maybe you should watch it and finally become one.

Skyfall (2012)

Skyfall the old ways are the best ways

[8/10 · 14 November 2012]

I remember when I was a kid, Dad used to take me for English movies especially Bond movies as those were his favorite too. Ian Fleming's James Bond movies complete 50 years and I thought of no better way to watch it than to take Dad for this one. I am happy I took him because he got witness the birth of a new James Bond.

Daniel Craig reveals the more human side of the invincible MI6 agent, an agent who bleeds, gets emotional, is not scared to show his attachment for his boss 'M' and for the first time reveals his family background in 50 years. The movie advocates and reminisces the olden days and the old ways. This intent is revealed quite early in the plot when Bond's partner Eve watches him shave with an old-fashioned cut-throat razor implying that "old ways are the best".

The movie starts with a signature Daniel Crag chase sequence trying to recover a hard drive from a professional assassin. The first 10 minutes really set the tempo going and the high adrenaline chase which starts on foot, cars, motor-cycles culminates on top of a train in a brilliant finale which sets the mood for the rest of the movie. The plot revolves around tracking a mysterious buyer who is buying MI6 secrets and challenging the secret service at every step. Without revealing the plot much, 'M' has a more substantial role in this one, who is questioned by the new age politicians about her agency's old ways, while she keeps Bond on her toes despite his questionable attitude and fitness after he fails to track him down in Istanbul, Turkey. Like all bond movies this one takes us to the streets of Istanbul, high rise buildings of Shanghai, casinos of Macau, London underground and finally the castles of Scotland.

Daniel Craig has always been my favorite bond. His love for one on one fights of settling a score has been exploited to the fullest in this outing of him as James Bond. He shows a vulnerable side to James which no other actor who worked as Bond has ever revealed. For the first time he revisits his past and connects with his roots giving insight into his inner demons and as 'M' aptly puts it in "Orphans always make the best agents". Dame Judi Dench as 'M' has a much meatier role than any previous series and seems more like a mother figure to her agents, protecting them besides their shortcomings. Naomie Harris should be catapulted to fame with her portrayal of the latest Bond Girl, and though she is brilliant in all sequences, the scene to watch out for is when she gives Bond a shave with a cut-throat razor.

Javier Bardem as the villain Silva is an intelligent and sinister strategist (being an ex MI6 agent himself) and his first face to face meeting with 'M' is simple but hair-raising. Bardem's character though owns an island has not been portrayed larger than life and believes he and Bond are the last "2 Rats" (agents) standing. I did quite notice Bardem modeling himself on the character of Joker played by late Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. Ben Whishaw (hadn't heard of him before this) as Q changes all moulds of his precedents and is a geeky, computer genius Quarter Master (Q). His statement to Bond that he can do more damage sitting in front of his computer in his pajamas gets us ready for the future Q to come. Albert Finney as the castle caretaker, and Ralph Fiennes, the one taking over as the boss of MI6 play small but pivotal roles. Director Sam Mendes has done brilliantly to bring out the chemistry amongst Bond, 'M' and Silva.

Now, James Bond is not given a car in this movie, but that is the good part. It's good as he borrows the old Aston Martin D5 (used in Goldfinger) from a garage and puts it to good use. The Aston Martin is the surprise package of the movie and completes the belief advocated that "old ways are the best". At one point of time you can see Bond jokingly toying with the ejection seat button when 'M' is in the passenger seat. Seeing the D5 being used after ages did lend a feeling of nostalgia to me and a fitting tribute to 50 years as James Bond and his Cars have always been inseparable.

For me Bond has changed over the past 50 years, he has become more mature, emotional, less dependent on gadgets and more importantly "human". There has been a lot of Bond bashing by some critics after the release of Skyfall but for me this was one of the greatest Bond movies. This movie has set a precedent for a new James Bond we would be witnessing in the future.

The Expendables 2 (2012)

Expendables 2 ... for all men nearing or already in their 40's

[8/10 · 2 September 2012]

Expendables 2 lives up to its expectation of great action and only that with action sequences done by actors who were in their prime during the 70s and 80s and are still fighting their way to box office success (Considering the box office collection).

Expendables are a group of mercenaries (an army which fights for money or private gain) comprising of veteran action heroes lead by Sylvester Stallone, high on testosterone, low on IQ and the only thing they can do well is fight. The movie delivers everything what is expected of it in terms of action with mind boggling fight sequences and the climax seems like a one big party of action heroes from the 70's and the 80's. You sometimes feel that the action is there not for a reason but because the heroes just love to fight and can't do anything else. Delivering corny one-liners these Macho men are not afraid of anything, even making fun of themselves, when in one scene Stallone says to Schwarzenegger that the airplane belongs to the museum, Schwarzenegger in his usual monotone responds "So do we". The locales for the missions are exotic with the opening scene shot in Nepal after which they travel to Albania, Bulgaria, China. Expendables 2, with a simple plot and hard hitting action, is much more fun than the first part (at least I thought so).

Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross and the leader of the pack looks pretty fit for a 65 year old and I still secretly wish I can be like him, he exhibits his usual brute force and gets the job done. Jason Statham as Lee Christmas and the second in command of this team of musclemen is slick as ever and has some great action sequences all to him, in which he does not disappoint. Bruce Willis as Church (the guy who chose the Character names is one hell of a creative guy), is OK and hardly has much to do, still I guess it was obligatory to include him in this party. Dolph Lundgren as Gunner (who we all know as the Russian boxer from Rocky 4) is large and unkempt and surprisingly a feather has been added to his cap in this one by claiming he has a degree from MIT. Jet Li has a small role and is forgotten soon. Chuck Norris (the man who fought Bruce Lee at the Colosseum in The way of the Dragon)as Booker leads a lone battle against the bad guys finally decided to join the party way in the end. Jean Claude Van Damme one of the favorite martial artist hero of Hollywood plays the bad guy, looks threatening but is no match for these hungry mercenaries. Nan Yu is the lone woman and tries to match the guys but somehow she generated no interest. Terry Crews and Randy Couture complete the party and are just supportive. The surprise package in this one is Liam Hemsworth who surprisingly the youngest of the lot at 23, makes an impact as a sniper in this army.

Lastly, Arnold Scwarzenegger as Trench, well I don't wanna say much because I still like him and his movies, I just felt sorry for him. He has just been given sarcastic one-liners in the name of dialogue though some of them still made me laugh, like, when Bruce Willis offers him a lift in the compact smart car he remarks, "My Shoe is bigger than this car". But, I hope he gets better roles and I would love to watch him again.

I loved the movie and probably the main reason for me and all men in their midlife to like it is that after watching these old men do action, we feel there is still hope for us. It fuels the macho man inside you and makes you believe that you are young.

Do watch it if you are an action fan.

Ek Tha Tiger (2012)

Ek Tha Tiger ... aur uski Tigress

[7/10 · 15 August 2012]

An out 'n' out Salman Khan Movie, Ek Tha Tiger or ETT (sounds like a sci-fi movie) is a heavy-duty masala entertainer, which is high on machismo & romance. The production team has heavily banked upon the Katrina-Salman real life (past) chemistry, which is also the USP of the film. Even though ETT has been publicized as a Spy Thriller, for me that was not the underlying concept & romance is the central feature of the movie.

Though most of the reviews I have read advocate that the film has a weak plot, the story is interesting as it deals with the pros & cons of a secret agent falling in love and the constant struggle between the heart and mind. Having said that, director Kabir Khan (Kabul Express & New York) left a brilliant concept upon the dependable shoulders of Salman Khan and his huge fan following. The treatment of the story is hurried and patchy (making me wonder what's with Indian spy movies … Don 2, Agent Vinod, and now this), it is extremely low in detailing and more stress has been given to hunting of exotic locales rather than research. Action is slick and a lot of mixed martial arts have been used. Music is average and he videos are colourful. Besides the already famous Mashallah and Tiger Theme, Banjara did catch my attention.

The characterization of the secret agent Tiger has been tailor-made to suit Salman Khan's personality and sense of humour. Spooks or spies are hardly pompous and over the top like Salman and it is quite visible throughout the movie that he has tried hard to fit into the character. But, Salman is Salman and you either like him or you don't. My issue is that I am a huge fan of Salman Khan and please forgive me if I sound biased in this review at places. Salman single handily like his previous movies carry ETT on his strong & dependable shoulders (I already said that). His good looks, signature facial expressions and idiotic sense of humour (which has earned him the largest fan following amongst the masses and movie lover like me) keep idiots like me entertained throughout an otherwise weak movie. Even when he is trying to hide behind the facade of a boring writer to shadow a professor and impress the heroine, he overwhelms you with his regular antics. No matter what the intelligent critics say, Salman's fan following is not going to diminish with this but steadily grow even though he has looked a tad older in this outing.

Katrina Kaif looks WOW and surprisingly contributes much more than other Salman heroines in the past. She has a great screen presence and fits well into the character. She looks amazing in all her scenes and you can't help being smitten by the beautiful lass. Out of the rest of the cast, Ranvir Shorey is usual and shines in between scenes. The disappointing fact was great actors like Girish Karnad and Roshan Seth are completely wasted with no scope for them in the script, to portray their brilliance. The surprise package in this one is the costumes and the sunglasses (now I would like to own a wardrobe like that).

If it was not for Salman and Katrina this movie would have hardly recovered its costs. So, full marks to the production team for casting them and thinking of a brilliant plot, but below average score for a weak script & lack of research.

I think you might say that I am insane, but I loved the movie and would not mind watching it again.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

The Dark Knight finally Rises hope not for the last time

[8/10 · 30 July 2012]

Bruce Wayne is locked up in an obscure prison which is at the foot of a deep well, in the bad lands on the eastern side of the globe (in this case Jodhpur in Rajasthan, India). After a failed encounter with Bane and a broken back, he is finally nursed back to health to regain enough strength to scale the walls of the well and jump out of the prison (after a couple of unsuccessful attempts) to head back to the city of Gotham and win it back from the evil forces. Good always triumphs over evil … no matter how strong or cunning the dark-side is. The Dark Knight rises for one last time and crushes all evil to eventually hang his cape & return to a normal man's life (as fantasized by his age old butler Alfred).

Slick effects & even slicker gadgets, with the Bat Bike taking over from the Bat mobile in this part of the series, define the movie and keeps you on the edge of the seat.

Christian Bale predictably good is one of the best Batman till date and loves to show his darker & vulnerable side making him more believable. Tom Hardy as Bane is menacing and stronger than the hero … but frankly, I missed the Late Heath Ledger as the Joker. Anne Hathaway is hot and looks amazing in the cat suit dressed as the Catwoman. Shuffling between her good and bad side she ultimately chooses the Dark Knight and gets to ride his bike, (Like Val Kilmer in an earlier version of Batman said … it's the car right, chicks dig the car … this holds true in this case too.) Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate impresses in bits. The surprise package in this one is Joseph Gordon Levitt as Officer Blake and in some scenes comes across as more dependable than the Dark Knight. We better watch out for him in the future.

My favourite scene is the initial sequence when Bane kidnaps a scientist Dr. Pavel from an aeroplane in mid-air. The entry scene of the Dark Knight during a car chase had the audience whistling and clapping (I always enjoy that).

Christopher Nolan never ceases to amaze and this is definitely another one to treasure from his portfolio. What excites me more is, that he is directing the next Superman movie – Man of Steel, I can't wait for it to be released.

For me The Dark Knight rises had its interesting and melodramatic elements, but for movie lovers like me, we can never get enough of it.

Bol Bachchan (2012)

Bol Bachchan .... will remind you milk no. 6

[20 July 2012]

Bol Bachchan made me laugh … period.

The "English" speaking Ajay Devgn (whose interpretation of famous Hindi proverbs, though forced, did extract quite a bit of laughter from the audience), the awkward Abhishek Bachchan playing 2 personalities (one of a hard-working man & the other a effeminate dancer) is hilarious and the surprise package Krishna Abhishek (better known from the comedy circus on TV) who has a meaty role and keeps you in tears (by making you laugh, of course), all have delivered a rollicking & high spirited comedy with signature Rohit Shetty action. Veteran Asrani and a regular character actor Neeraj Vora do a commendable job of supporting the main protagonists. The loud Archana Puran Singh is as usual loud, Asin could have been pivotal but is forgettable & Prachi Desai looks very fair (though the director was unfair to have given her a blink and miss role). Amit jee (Bachchan) graces us with his presence in the opening sequence song and very aptly clarifies, "I am not in the main movie … only my name is there".

I read somewhere that the movie is the official remake of yesteryear's hit comedy Golmaal (No, I am not talking about the Rohit Shetty series with the same name) and though neither Abhishek Bachchan can ever match the subtlety of Amol Palekar or Ajay Devgn remotely take on Utpal Dutt's style … this one still had me in splits from the start.

The team of Ajay Devgan & Rohit Shetty are back again doing what they do best … over the top action sequences (you do see a Singham hangover) & slapstick, in your face comedy which in this one was surprisingly funny. I hated myself for laughing at the Comedy Central styled jokes and loved every bit of it. Even though I went with a preconceived notion of watching a mindless, slapstick comedy, this one was completely worth it.

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

An amazingly intelligent Spiderman

[7/10 · 6 July 2012]

Amazing Spiderman is well ... definitely amazing in its special effects, art direction and Andrew Garfield's characterization. My generation has grown up on the Spiderman cartoon which used to be aired on the only Doordarshan channel every Sunday evening. In anticipation for the movie to start I was humming the song, "Spiderman Spiderman, does whatever a spider can, spins a web any size, catches thieves just like flies ..." when my confused son told me stop. I say he was confused because first, I was singing this ancient song and second, he was expecting to see Tobey Maguire and was not sure if Andrew Garfield was the real one. Coming back to the movie, the amazing Spiderman is different from the "original" Spiderman. The amazing Spiderman takes the same path as the original story where Peter Parker is the school geek bullied by jocks and has a huge crush on one of the prettiest girls on campus. The more visible changes are, introduction of Peter's parents (which actually explains his inclination to science), the absence of Mary Jane and her being replaced by Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), the loudmouthed editor of Daily Bugle J. Jonah Jameson is missing & even though Uncle Ben is murdered by a fleeing burglar, the background is slightly different. The biggest metamorphosis from the original however happens due to Peter Parker's (Andrew Garfield) characterization. Andrew Garfield is way cooler than Tobey Maguire; he definitely has more attitude, even when he is being bullied or speaking to his girlfriend's dad. He is intelligent and not just a product of destiny (actually works on a machine to enhance his web's strength and slinging mechanism). And, he is much more human, the black eyes & wounds on his face are proof enough that he gets hurt while fighting a much stronger enemy. Peter Parker as a character is strong in his hooded jersey and does not beg for sympathy from the viewer, but at times I felt he was too detached and lacked emotional content. At time it seemed he hardly cared about secrecy and was more like a show off which definitely increased his appeal. Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy is a welcome change with her pretty face and subtle sarcasm; looks very promising and complements Andrew Garfield with great chemistry. Denis Leary as Captain Stacy gives an impactful performance as police captain and father of an intelligent girl dating Spiderman. We have our very own Irrfan Khan as Rajit Ratha running Oscorp in a no nonsense role, but fails to make an impact and seem a little stiff in his dialogue delivery. The one handed Dr. Curt Connors played by Rhys Ifan is believable and cunning but as a villain The Lizard is just plain repulsive & huge (Green Goblin from the original can kick his ass anytime). Marc Webb's (known for 500 Days of summer) direction is commendable, though I can't help but feel that he was chosen to direct a web-slinging adventure more so because of his last name. Another strong character which made a statement for me (more so because I am an architect) was the Oscorp Headquarter building with its ultra modern systems (like a really cool touch screen access control lock). Standing right in the heart of Manhattan (New York) the imposing building form signifies the power of a company like Oscorp. In the climax sequence it definitely seems to be the jewel on the crown of Manhattan's skyline especially in the 3-D version when the camera moves over the needle of the building. That was one of the best city shots I have ever seen in a movie. Though I still miss the original Spiderman, the current day superhero is more believable, intelligent, stronger at the same time human. At the end of it my son asked me question which made me think. He said, "Papa why did the good doctor uncle become a bad lizard", making me wonder that we all have good and bad sides to our personality. After all there are no bad people, just bad situations.

Gangs of Wasseypur (2012)

Gangs of Wasseypur ... we are all hunters

[8/10 · 5 July 2012]

Animosity is a great equalizer; the feeling doesn't discriminate between caste, religion or economic background. Two enemies are men on a mission and anything or anyone else in their way is collateral damage.

"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer", Sardar Khan (played by Manoj Bajpai) lives by this philosophy seeking revenge from his closest enemy Ramadhir Singh (played by Tigmanshu Dhulia), a vicious politician and chief of a large coal mafia based in the coal capital of India, Dhanbad. The movie starts with the elimination of Faisal Khan and his family in 2004 and backtracks to 1941 Wasseypur. The animosity between Sardar Khan and Ramadhir Singh dates back to the 1950's when Shahid Khan, Sardar Khan's father, who works for the coal mafia leader Ramadhir Singh is killed by him. Sardar Khan then vows not give his arch enemy an easy death but finish his strength and then his life gradually. "Teri Keh ke Loonga" is how he proclaims he will seek his revenge – To screw his life like man from the front and not stab him in the back like a coward.

The rest of the movie revolves around both minor and major encounters between the two protagonists. The confrontations are both sinister and hilarious between these equally dangerous men. Anurag Kashyap has brilliantly delivered these difficult scenes with utmost simplicity that sometimes you can miss the subtle hints. Songs are well placed and in the background, Hunter & Womaniya are my personal favourites. The swearing and cuss words are never out of place and go with the local lingo.

This is out & out a Manoj Bajpai movie; he is brilliant in simple scenes, from fighting and killing a muscleman in the middle of a market, to where he seduces his second wife Reema Sen while she is washing clothes. He is playful and sinister at the same time. Tigmanshu Dhulia (well known as director of the recent hit Paan Singh Tomar) as the coal mafia leader delivers an impactful performance with minimum dialogues and maximum expressions. The surprise package in this one is Richa Chadda, (Dolly from Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye), playing the character of Manoj Bajpai's first wife is as naughty and as mysterious as her husband's character, at times swearing more than him. The supporting cast is brilliant and every character is a natural from the train driver in 1941 to the silent assassin, Yadavjee, who keeps making his appearance at important junctures in the movie. The man to look out for in Gangs of Wasseypur 2 is Nawazuddin Siddiqui (the no nonsense intelligence officer Khan in Kahaani), playing the role of Sardar Khan's younger son Faisal khan leaves a mark albeit a brief role in this part. Yashpal Sharma does an unforgettable cameo as an item boy on the yesteryears song Salam-e-Isq from Muqaddar ka Sikander.

I had been waiting to watch this movie after such rave reviews and finally got a chance to see it last night. Watching a movie with such high expectations a lot of times backfires like the country-made revolvers which are used by the gangsters and as they say in the movie "Katte ka pipe fat ke flower ho jaata hai". But this one was like a slow poison, gradually making its impact as it starts and so subtle that by the time you realize you are totally hooked on and attached to the characters. The climax leaves you hungry for more and I am desperate for the second part to be released.

A secret: Don't walk out of the cinema hall when the credits are rolling. If you are patient and stay till the end, you will be treated to the trailer of Gangs of Wasseypur 2.

Ferrari Ki Sawaari (2012)

Ferrari ki "bumpy" Sawaari

[6/10 · 5 July 2012]

My son wanted to buy me an Audi for Father's Day. His exact words to my wife when she asked him what he wanted to gift me for father's day were, "Papa ki car bahut purani ho gayi, unko Audi le dete hai". Although this has nothing to do with the movie "Ferrari ki Sawaari", I mention this incident because father-son bonding (on which the movie is based) is always an exciting and emotional topic, a topic close to the heart & filled with anecdotes like the one above.

"Ferrari ki Sawaari" starts of exactly like a Ferrari with great momentum, promising to be an interesting ride with the father-son duo as the main characters. But, somewhere down the line, the movie fails to keep up the initial momentum and though a great topic it lacks the quick wit and punch-lines which is a signature of Vidhu Vinod Chopra production (Munnabhai series & 3 Idiots).

There are some great moments in the movie, like the one where Sharman Joshi's character goes to a traffic constable to pay a fine for jumping a signal which no one saw, just to show the value of honesty to his son. Or, when he breaks a piggy bank to buy a cricket bat for his son and deliver it in the middle of a match. The movie revolves around this father son (& grandfather) relationship, with central theme of cricket. In India cricket and movies always generate a larger than life response and their combination is sure to win hearts of millions of Indians. "Ferrari ki Sawaari" also exploits this formula well, added to it the emotional connect between father and son, which deliver some tear jerking moments too.

Sharman Joshi is brilliant as a middle class hardworking, sometimes helpless, father and most fathers will connect with him at some level. Ritwik as Kayo and his son delivers an impactful and subtle performance. Boman Irani as usual is in his element as a grandfather (and an ex- Ranji cricketer) who feels he has been short-changed in life.

But for me something was amiss in this whole movie which failed to make an impact and leave me with an after-taste. The plot moves a little slowly, seems dull & going around in circles at some point. Besides the 3 main characters, other characters fail to support them effectively and appear patchy at places. The much talked about Vidya Balan's item number lacks the thrust and fails to deliver.

I enjoyed the movie at places but was not able to take it back home with me.

Jannat 2 (2012)

Jannat - I thought it meant heaven

[5/10 · 5 July 2012]

For all my friends who have seen "Jannat 2" (Heaven part 2) - why didn't you K.K.C's warn me that I should stay away from it - for those who have not, you can watch it for the following 5 reasons,

1. You want to know what the acronym K.K.C. stand for 2. You are in love with Emran Hashmi 3. You want to see a third rate adaptation of "The Departed" 4. You want to experience the new female actor called Esha Gupta who thinks every walk is a cat-walk & every word spoken should seem as if you are answering the Ms. India International pageant's final question (she actually won it) 5. If you wanna do Dilli Darshan through the eyes of Sonu Dilli - KKC

I still enjoyed it ;-)

Shanghai (2012)

Shanghai – Progress has a price and every Indian should pay it

[5 July 2012]

Another masterpiece delivered by Dibakar Banerjee (director of "Khosla ka Ghosla" & "Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!") … Based on a novel "Z" the plot is set in a small town on the verge of so called "PROGRESS" at the expense of the cattle class. The story moves in the backdrop of Bharat Nagar soon to be converted to Shanghai. Without revealing the plot much, the movie delves into the murky and dangerous political games played by ministers and bureaucrats without conveniently removing obstacles or people in the way (either by bribing or murder).

Abhay Deol once again, as a South Indian (Madrasi ) IAS officer, delivers a hard hitting performance …. Emran Hashmi (my favourite) in a very believable porn film maker's character is amazing … Farooq Sheikh has still not lost his touch and is subtle but effective … Pitobash as Bhaggu (from the very first scene of the movie) is the surprise package as one of the small-time goonda … Kalki and rest of the characters fit perfectly in the plot.

Music by Vishal Shekhar & the song "Bharat Mata ki" stands out.

The movie is a wake up call for the masses and shows the other side of "PROGRESS" which we all choose to turn a blind eye.