All The Best : Fun Begins : by Rohit Shetty

Rohit Shetty's 'Golmaal' series started with a bang and then fizzled out in between , here he is now with a fresh quintet....

All the Best is yet another wacky comic ride which promises super fun-filled moments.

The story revolves around two friends played by Ajay and Fardeen and their respective love interests. Fardeen plays a spendthrift younger sibling to Sanjay Dutt.

In need of some quick money , the two friends decide to participate in a car race and in return have huge bets placed on themselves by the Leader of the Goons: 'Topu' played by Johhny Lever.

Vir (Fardeen) and Prem (Ajay) fall flat in their plans , the point where Sanjay Dutt enters , the plot becomes a gamut of mistaken identities and comedy of errors.

The plots & the sub-plots had me in splits after a long long time , the chemistry between Sanjay Dutt & Ajay Devgun is exemplary.

Few Stomach Aching , Guffaw moments :

1. Topu's unique style of communication ,

Johnny Lever is back with a bang!!

2. Prem's hilarious altercations with Dharam ( Sanjay)

3. Pre-Interval entry of Mughda Godse

to take the confusion to heights!!

4. The bullet driven climax takes the cherry on top :)

The noteworthy performances are from the veterans Sanjay Dutt and Johhny Lever.

The leading ladies have supporting roles only. The supporting cast does a tremendous favor in keeping the audience in splits special mention : Yesteryear Pran's caricature and the South Indian maid.

Music is passe' , punches are outstanding ...

Rohit has caught the pulse this Diwali .... Mad Mad Comedy :)

Rating : 4.0 / 5.0

Wake Up Sid - by Ayan Mukerji

Wake up Sid is a coming of age cinema to the core & coming from Kjo's den is huge surprise...

Its a sweet simple story of a boy growing up as he experiences....

Ranbir plays Sid who is a pampered kid whose world revolves around all masti n fun which includes , bunking classes , video games , eating pizza and what not.

The film primarily has milieu revolving around Sid finding his feet in today's times , his relationships with his parents , friends , pals and supposedly girlfriend too.

Konkana plays an alter ego to Sid , an independent self -motivating girl seeking her dreams in the city of Mumbai.

Wake up Sid has no item songs , no gigantic ensemble of actors , no humongous sets , and it strikes a cord instantly.

The chemistry between the lead pair is fresh and Konkana is a tad ahead of Ranbir as it should be because of her experience.

The film's music is also path-breaking in ways of new sound by S-E-L trio.....

But one track that makes feel romantic again n again is :

'Iktara' by Amit Trivedi
( Dev D & Aamir fame)

On the whole the screenplay makes the film worth in gold and with young turks like Ayan ,

Bollywood is in safe hands...

Rating : 4.0 / 5.0

Do Knot Disturb : by David Dhawan

Do Knot Disturb ....

Some disturbing facts :

1. 'Taken for Granted Cinema'

2. Govinda in a female voice ... Ughhh

3. Sohail Khan as a hyper boyfriend ... Ughhhhh

4. Urgent need of VLCC sessions for Miss Sushmita

5. Skin Show by Lara - Hamming all the way.

6. Ritesh - saving grace of a sinking ship.

7. Ranvir Shorey - Bheja Fry is what he needs.

8. David Dhawan's Midas touch is fading.

9. Stay away even if your life is on mortgage ....

Rating : 1.0/5.0

What's Your Raashee? : by Ashutosh Gowariker

To me , Whats your Raashee? was a novel concept and an acid test for Mr. Gowariker ...

The film is based on a novel which talks about the journey of a Gujarati MBA guy in search of a perfect match .. which forms the bottom-line of the movie.

The initial credits rolling has Priyanka gyrating in 12 different avatars depicting each zodiac.

The screen lights up and the expectations soar high.

Mystique characterization and play-acting by Priyanka in the below embodiment is exemplary.

1. Aries - (Anjali) - Girl's , snort had me in splits.

2. Virgo - (Pooja) - This doctor was as fastidious as ever.

3. Scorpio - (Nandini) - True Blue Sexy Scorpio (just like me ;)

4. Libra - (Rajni) - Stone-Hearted Practical Charmer.

5. Cancer - (Hansa) - Emotional Lady to the 'T'

The eligible bachelor played by Harman Baweja brings forth his sincerity and honesty to the role and we should give him his due this time around after duds like LS2050 & Victory.

Music of the film by debutant 'Sohail Sen' has a nice easy feel particularly tracks like 'Bikhri Bikhri' and 'Jao Na' , though the Rahman stamp was sorely missed.

All in all , the film's length would be a impediment but for a breezy performance by Priyanka , its definitely a one time watch.

With such a script , one could have done wonders ....

but it ain't no Swades or Lagaan .... !

Rating : 2.5 / 5.0

Dil Bole Hadippa! - by Anurag Singh

Cricket's predictability rehashed with Veer-Zaara & Bunty Aur Bubli

Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar - 5/ 5

Lagaan - 5/ 5

Chak De India - 4.5 /5

Hadipppa - 2 /5

District 9 : by Neill Blomkamp

District 9 talks about a story of extra-terrestial species living on the face of earth past 20 years.

Story starts in a faux-documentary fashion , giving snippets on the backdrop of the film. It introduces the protagonist Wikus played brilliantly by novice Sharlto Copley.

MNU , a private contractor is hired with the objective of re-locating the 'Prawns' (derogatory name for 'Aliens') from the infamous slum District 9 to a better facility in Johannesburg , South Africa.

The realism of the movie struck me big time making it a surreal experience.

The film's backbone is the performance by Sharlto , giving an impression that he is a virtuoso.

Key Moments:

• Wikus tet-e-tet with Prawns (in particular Christopher) in District 9 slums
• The MNU undercurrents and the volatile images on Television Networks
• Transformation of Wikus
• Heart Wrenching Climax

The flick draws parallel with the historical events that took place in Cape Town area named District 6 on the grounds of apartheid.

Recommended for Sci-Fi fans , strict no-no for people aversive to bloodshed.

Rating : 4.0 /5.0

Kaminey : by Vishal Bhardwaj

Non linear dark story lines makes me lap up all the nitty gritties of cinema since it explores the unexplored . How I wished , bollywood would have the fortitude to take the plunge ... Kaminey is an awesome experiment with this genre.

The film is a story of two brothers Charlie and Guddu , where in one stammers and the lif(s)p(f).

Shahid plays the astute race-course gambler while Guddu is a man with a purpose in life.

Screenplay moves back and forth with parallel tracks of the two brothers , Charlie and his sidekick provide wholesome parade with edge of the seat chase sequences.

It gives a typical Gangster flick feel ,with goons and cops all around.

Priyanka Chopra plays Sweety , an impressive portrayal of a Maharashtrian girl , her life revolves around one person , Guddu.

The tet-e-tet between Guddu and Sweety will definitely bring smiles on people's faces. The supporting cast is the real backbone of the flick apart from Shahid.

Amol Gupte (story-writer for Taare Zameen Par!?!?!) plays Sweety's brother , a caricature on Bal Thackrey. Half way mark pushes the envelope and the anticipation reaches sky-high.

'Faahid rockf big time , fuperlative growth of an actor fince Jab we met , will take him placef '

The biggest draw for me was the treatment similar on the lines of Tarintino , Scorsese & Ritchie , stalwarts in the said genre.

The climax constantly reminds me of The Departed / Reservoir Dogs / Pulp Fiction / Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels ....

Vishal Bhardwaj , is developing into a master class storytelling visionary , be it his Maqbool to Makdee to Blue Umbrella to Omkara with creative music pieces 'Dhan Tan Nan' & ' Pehli Baar'

Watch it for the 'Fharp' and 'Fmooth' ride ... to die for 'Kaminaapan'

Rating : 4.5/5.0

The Hangover : by Todd Phillips

Hangover came into my city and I was curious ever since the hoopla ..

Voila!!! ... It was delirium ...

I went mad laughing literally...

Todd Phillips had a few average endeavours in his movie making career with only Road Trip coming to my mind.. This time around he brings in a hilarity circus.

The story is about a group of friends who wish to celebrate Doug's soon leaving bachelor status in Las Vegas ... the league is a relatively new bunch of actors and super comic timing is on display.

Vegas brings on a roller coaster ride for the 3 friends on the morning after the night bash , where they find themselves in a complete disarray......... opened up a 'Can of Worms' :

1. DOUG's missing!!

2. Tiger is in their washroom

3. A Baby is in the closet

4. One of them has lost his tooth

5. One of them has got married to a whore

6. Condom lying in their Merc

7. A Chinese gagged at the back of the Merc

... and many more surprises in store ...

The characters of the bunch is well-crafted from a Dentist to a Schoolteacher and a socially awkward Zach takes the cherry on top !

The chintzy dialogues and the x-Rated punches made me to crack-up and howl as if N2O had its extreme effects.

Shower all praise to the cheesiest comedy in a long long time !

Rating : 4.5/5.0

Special Mention : First Ever - A Chinese Gay :)

Love Aaj Kal : by Imtiaz Ali

Imtiaz Ali has been offering quite enterprising love stories since his debut with Socha Na Tha .

His latest flick 'Love Aaj Kal' fells way too short .. Saif turns producer , plays a safe bet , and generates an old wine in a new bottle.

The film revolves around two parallel tracks , one in the past (vintage Kolkatta) and one in the present (London)

The present day corny reels has Deepika and Saif in a non-committal relationship , hanging around , partying and boozing streets of London.

The gags just fall flat from Saif and I just felt bored in the first hour , with the film meandering to no definite denouement.

Deepika is simply expressionless , she might need to give some competition to Sania Nahiwal in the near future :).

The second hour of the film has quite a few moments worth noting , where the saving grace is Saif's potrayal of a quintessential sardar and his innocent love for a Kaur girl.

The songs of the movie have a Pritam stamp written all over , and Mohit Chauhan has definitely arrived post-silk-route , Ye Dooriyan being my pick.

In a nutshell ,

I felt a sense of inadequacy and yearned for Shahid-Kareena enchantment...

Rating : 3.0 /5.0

Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince : by David Yates

Pottermania is back after a hiatus of 2 years when the Order of Phoenix released back in 2007.

JK Rowling's sixth installment offered a maze of dark secrets , and this film captures the essence of it.

Half Blood Prince starts where the Order of the Phoenix finishes , Dumbledore brings Harry back to Hogwarts. In the process , he convinces , Slughorn , the Potions Professor to re-join Hogwarts.

There starts the journey of unraveling the Dark Lords secrets at Hogwarts , where in Harry indulges in eavesdropping , secret meetings , uncanny rendezvous' and what not.

Quidditch returns to Hogwarts ,with Ron making a great goalie impressing one and all!

There are a few romantic endeavours involving Hermione & Ron which are sweet reiterating the growing up of the characters in the book as well as the film.

The milieu was eerie as it should be for a dark movie. Last half hour made me sit up for once :)

A sense of more is felt once I left the theater though , there was lot of undercurrent and clandestineness and less action.

Waiting for the Voldemort and Harry showdown in 2011 !!

Rating : 3.5 /5.0

Kambakkht Ishq : by Sabbir Khan

One of the cheapest films to come out in decade with the
1. Humour so crass
2. Over hamming from the pair
3. Insipid storyline.

Akki's going down low in an obsession to churn hits , is falling flat on his bum ....

Rating : Bring some sanity , Puhleeeeeez.

New York : by Kabir Khan

New York is a sensitive portrayal of the lives of Asian community post 9/11 in the big apple and director Kabir Khan gets the due credit for it.

Story begins with the interrogation scenes between Neil and Irffan Khan (reprising his role as a cop a la' Slumdog , please don't typecast you self .. it would be a waste of talent ! )

The tet-e-tet between the two leads the audience into a flash back when Neil joins the NYSU as a graduate student.

The first half has its moments like the Chess Match between John and Neil , the Junoon song and Neil breaking down upon heartbreak.

The last half an hour before the break , brings the real drama into the flick with Irffan's motives come to fore , and Neil's predicament.

The post-interval gives you the insight into the plight of the Muslims post 9/11 and John just takes the cake with big big cherry on top... he has come of age ...

Neil playing Omar has done a remarkable job and I have been a fan since Johhny Gaddar.

Climax , gives you a feel of a Hollywood production , with superlative edge-of-the-seat execution.

All in all , Kabir Khan brings out a great storyline , churning incredible performances and perfect message.

Rating : 3.0 /5.0

Special Mention : Awesome Cinematography blew me away , New York never seen before.

Training Day : by Antoine Fuqua

Training Day is a story of a novice cop who is given a day to learn the tricks of busting up Narcotics Racket in LA.

Ethan Hawke plays Jake , the amateur LAPD cop and Denzel Washington plays Alonzo Harris , the weirdo Narcotics Detective.

Alonzo is entrusted with the job to impart training to Jake for a day and this forms the boundaries of the film.

The director has shot pretty authentic stuff ranging from the street brawls of LA to niggers & pimps dirtying the streets with drugs and booze.

The movie itself tends to linger along with no particular direction. Ethan Hawke does his best to play the confused nascent cop who has just given parking tickets past 9 months of his duty.

Denzel has put in a sterling performance and the oscar was truly deserved.

Apart from the performances , the film didn't impress me much in terms of the screenplay and the objective behind the storyline.

Strictly for Denzel fans ....

Rating : 2.5 / 5.0

Monsters , Inc. : by Peter Docter

Pixar has always amazed me with their animation histrinoics , and I was surprised to miss Monsters, Inc earlier in 2001.

Luckily got hold of the rip and was instantly spellbound....

Monsters, Inc. is about this big enterprise , having monsters as its employees , with the vision of sapping as much energy as they can for the town of Monstrapolis.

The mechanism to do so is the USP of the movie. The Monsters scare children and collect their screams to the generate the power.

The concept simply blew me away , Pixar has proven it time and again.

The characterization is as always is unique and spot on. The milieu and the animation lends the backbone of the flick.

Mike Wazowski & James P. Sullivan (the top scarer of Monsters, Inc.) make an adorable pair and bring the house down on many instances in the movie.

"We scare because We care" .... Go for it .....

P.S : But for me the best pixar animation movie still is "Wall-E" till I get to see the

Peter Docter's next " UP " and I am eager to catch it soon.

Rating : 4.5 / 5.0

Delhi 6 : by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

Delhi 6 , I eagerly wanted to see what Rakesh Mehra has up his sleeves this time around post Rang De.

The film starts with the audience getting the flavour of desi apna pan when Waheeda Rahman along with her grandson Roshan embark to the walled city of Delhi -110006.

The first hour looks at the rat-a-tat of Purani Delhi with jalebi's paratha's , kabootar's , Jama Masjid and rickshaw pullers taking the limelight.

The supporting cast here is splendid with at one side we have stalwarts like Om Puri , Supriya Pathak to the nascent actors like Sonam Kapoor and Cyrus.

The film's premises is the parallelism shown with the Ramayana and "today's environ we live in" depicted well by the frequent Ram Lila sequences.

The love track between Abhishek and Sonam never takes off and the Kala Bandar episode creams through the second half of the film , culminating marvelously , bringing forth the soul of the movie.

High Points :

1. Divya Dutta's performance (Jalebi , the kudewali)
2. Vijay Raaz's performance (Daroga)
3. The Mandir Sequence in last hour
4. AR Rahman's Music

Rakesh Mehra gave a fitting morality opera in today's times and the subtlety just blew me away.

Rating : 4.0 /5.0

Dev D : by Anurag Kashyap

Devdas aka Dev D in this flick is a contemporary guy who is lascivious all the way!

Anurag Kashyap has always gone into the uncharted territory in terms of film making be it Black Friday or unreleased Paanch.

.. and who better than Abhay Deol to execute the same....

London  bred Dev returns to Punjab to meet here childhood sweetheart Paro played by Mahi , in awe of her lust fullness.

Thereafter starts the sweet , sexy , horny guftagoo between the two characters in midst of traditional Punjabi family milieu.

The turning point of the movie , when Dev D leaves Paro seeing her getting married to another , is absolutely mind blowing , with "Emotional Atyachar" track alliviating the same.

The film in the latter half loses track , with alcoholism taking over Abhy's character.

He meets a call girl , Chanda , whose character is etched on the famous Delhi school girl MMS scandal.

The soundtrack of the film is splendid and keeps the story moving. Abhay has lived Dev D , Mahi is a potential Smita Patil!

Anurag , looking forward to some more atypical , bizarre , flaky stuff.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Billu : by Priyadarshan

Billu , brings together Irffan Khan , a contemporary theater actor in frame 2 frame footage with a superstar SRK ..... and we expect fireworks ....

Priyardarshan , the captain , has been always been associated with feel-good comedy flicks with an ensemble of stalwarts , permanent fixtures like Om Puri , Paresh Rawal and Rajpal Yadav to name a few ..

Billu is a little different from the Hungama and Maalamal Weekly installments as it boasts of big wigs ( Deepika , Priyanka and Kareena in cameos)

Its feel good cinema all the way , Billu with his wife (played convincingly by Lara) and kids try to cope the penury in a small village named Budbuda.

Billu has scarcity of customers , kids keep mocking their father and has a doting wife.

One fine day , Sahir Khan , superstar from the tinsel town zooms into the village for shooting of his film , and an off-cuff remark by Billu , triggers a cascade in the village....

The supporting cast is just ok , with Irffan Khan giving a heart warming performance.

I personally found 3 moments worth mentioning :

1. Post Interval Shooting Drama , is one of the hilarious scenes I have ever witnessed.
   
2. Last 30 minutes of the film , brings a flood of emotions...
3. Songs are supremely catchy.

Go and watch it with the entire family...

Rating : 3.0/5.0

Slumdog Millionaire : by Danny Boyle

Slumdog Millionaire has created a furore worldwide and I was keen to analyze it frame by frame.

The film starts with a young kid being interrogated by a local indian cop played by Irffan Khan with the charges of cheating in the desi version of the show 'Who wants to be a Millionaire' .

Dev Patel is the notorious contestant aka Jamal , and there starts a peek into his childhood meandring through to  where he stands today on the brink of winning millions!!

Danny Boyle the director has made a fitting tribute to Bollywoodesque style of filmmaking ranging from Gangsters to Rags to Riches screenplay often seen in films like Satya , Salaam Bombay and yesteryears Deewar.

It truly binds the audience in a tizzy to see the journey of the two slum kids , Jamal and Salim , joined by Latika , the third musketeer.

To go Ga-Ga over AR Rahman  , which we have been doing for years since his debut Roja , is a cliche' , he was destined to be at the big stage , and I am not surprised at all!!

Scene Stealers : 

• Jamal and Salim's constant effort for the moolah
• Q and A  - 1 to 10
• Rivetting opening song ' O Saya ' 

Food for thought : Cut to 2001 ..

Lagaan , directed by Danny Boyle bags 10 oscars at the Academy Awards Nite in Kodak theater.

The fictitious newspaper headline makes me feel sad , but we can swallow the pill ...

... In celebration of a fairy tale quality ,and a magical gritty experience.

Rating : 4.0/5.0

Chandni Chowk to China : by Nikhil Advani

Chandni Chowk to China ...

Crappiest Movie of the Decade ...

Akshay Kumar ... For God's Sake ..

Show some versatility

Stay Away even if you get free tickets

Rating : I'm at loss of numbers 

Ghajini : by A. R. Murugadoss

Aamir Khan is one heck of an exceptional actor ..

This is an understatement  ... and Ghajini proves it!

This film is a re-hash of my favourite Hollywood flick Memento , the director AR Murugadoss remaking it in Hindi after his Tamil version.

It is a story of an entrepreneur who is besotted by an innocent , kind-hearted and a bubbly girl played by Asin. 

The turn of events lead to Kalpana ( Asin ) being brutally murdered , and Aamir Khan losing his memory , ailed by the predicament of short-term memory loss.

The protagonist memorizes stuff using a Polaroid camera and sticky notes and tattoos all over his body. 

Enter , Jiah Khan , a medical student who leads Aamir to vengeance.

Aamir Khan's dedication to his art is mind-boggling , creating a body structure which accentuates the climatic action sequences to the hilt.

Asin plays Kaplana with self-confidence , Jiah Khan is ordinary . Ghajini played by Pradeep Rawat ( Famous for his role in Lagaan as the Sikh Bowler)  is simply oustanding.

In a nutshell , Ghajini is a power-packed film , Aamir makes it happen.

Rating : 4.5/5.0

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi : by Aditya Chopra

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi .. brings back Aditya Chopra after a long hiatus .. SRK and Adi combo has done wonders yet again...

It is sweet simple story of a middle class Punjab Electricity Board employee , Surinder . He leads as a simpleton , till love blossoms with a bubbly girl played by Anoushka.

Circumstances forces Anoushka to marry Surinder who is way off from prince charming.

Chemistry which crackles incidentally between opposites , makes the screenplay buoyant.

The songs make you really dance , SRK and Anoushka play their roles to the Tee.

Special Mention :     I just loved the climax !!!

Splendid Watch  :)   ... Go for it ...

Rating : 4.0/5.0

Dostana : by Tarun Mansukhani

Trend started by Kal Ho Na Ho , 

has come a full circle with Dostana ,

         in a big "out of the closet"  ... way

     The movie is a story of two hot-shot guys in Miami ,

  one working as a photographer and the other as a  nurse ;) 

     both blurt their  reasons  in unison

   Gals !!!!!

John and Abhishek meet Priyanka , in search of an apartment

     on the condition

  they need to be girls 

  but boys will be boys , they have an idea alternative  to sex change

change your sexual preferences ... VOILA AA!!!

The crux of the film is the hilarity with which the hunks swing gay.

First half has some bright entertaining moments ... 

  second half disappoints...

Tracks are foot-tapping  .. Desi Girl  is my pick .. Maa da Laadla is hip!

Support by Boman Irani and Kirron Kher is worth mentioning

Priyanka tickles , Abhishek giggles , John sizzles ..

 Rating : 3.5/5.0

Fashion : by Madhur Bhandarkar

Madhur Bhandarkar completes his trilogy with this film post Page-3 and Corporate...

Fashion excels big time  ... 

.. and   its the trademark Bhandarkar reality check!

A simple middle class girl heads to Mumbai to make it big into the world of Fashion , "Meghna Mathur" played by Priyanka Chopra

The whims and fancies of  glamour milieu has been depicted with panache by Madhur. 

The supporting role by Kangna Ranaut is par excellence , as she plays the disturbed queen of the fashion world with aplomb.

Certain portions of the film unmask the hidden truths behind the razzle-dazzle veil. 

The music of the film packs a punch , I was really impressed by the songs composed by Salim Sulaiman , for instance ,  "Khuch Khaas Hai".

On the whole , the movie a little bit lengthy , keeps you hooked , giving insight into the show stopper business!!

Way to Go , Mr. Bhandarkar

Rating : 4.0/5.0

Taxi Driver : by Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese , became a cult director in the 80's just becoz of sheer mastery be it in , Raging Bull , GoodFellas , or the recent The Departed

Taxi Driver is no exception , he brings forth the sublime actor in Robert -De- Niro in the title role , just as a potter moulds a pot!

Scorsese has used De-Niro in challenging masks,playing a Vietnam War Victim , who seeks a job as a Taxi Driver in New York City.

The film captures the essence of United States , Post Vietnam , where the scum of the streets is evident in terms of debauchery , booze , mafia , drugs ......

De-Niro as Travis Bickle , enacts the character to the T , showing his growing frustrations , rejected and depressed..

.. to redemption ..

and misanthrope turning a saviour of a prostitute , played by Jodie Foster.

Travis Bickle has put an indelible mark on the field of cinema as one of the finest performances by an actor ... and will continue to do so in years to come..

Rating : 4.5/5.0

WALL-E : by Andrew Stanton

Wall-E is yet another attempt by Pixar Studios to break the boundaries in the field of animation , they have just flabbergasted me with the uninhibited artistry at display.

Wall-E is not just a run-of-the-mill CGX film , it takes you on a sci-fi ride which was last seen in E.T. 

Wall-E , an acronym, Waste Allocation Load Lifter-Earth , is the last robot on the face of earth with the daily chore of compacting the trash. 

The mankind was airlifted 700 years ago into space , in view of unbearable contamination on Earth . 

Wall-E , all these years , collected human artifacts , and connected emotionally to humans just by experiencing vicariously.

One fine day , an EVE robot lands on the planet , with the directive to find plant-life on earth.

Henceforth , begins an emotional journey of discovery and companionship , with a tinge of Sci-Fi hoopla.

Seeing the film , I can reiterate without hesitation ...... 

Wall-E is amongst the best characters on celluloid animation or otherwise!!!

Sigh!! ....  I fell in love with Wall-E  ....  Sigh!!  ... 

...  ironically any human would!

Rating :  5.0/5.0

Kung Fu Panda : Osborne & Stevenson

Dreamworks has always been at the helm of animation , churning out full-on extravaganza like the Shrek Series.

Kung-Fu Panda , takes me back as an audience to the vintage Jackie Chan flicks with a vengeance streak attached to it.

The difference here is that the characters are full-of-life making them all body n flesh.

An Ensemble ... An Ovation

1. Panda aka 'Po' (Jack Black is exhilarating)
2. Tigress ( Angelina Jolie is first-rate )
3. Monkey (Jackie Chan is lost in the crowd)
4. Mantis
5. Crane
6. Viper (Lucy Liu is just ok)
7. Master Shifu ( Dustin Hoffman is brilliant )

The Panda is a kung-fu fanatic ,works as a noodle waiter & is a helping hand to his father.

One fine day , the Tortoise Master decides to choose a dragon warrior to fight an evil protégé of Master Shifu , the snow leopard Tai Lung , on the premonition of it escaping from prison.

Panda , comically , is the chosen one , and the story captures the essence of 'Po's journey through the Kung-Fu triumph.

Kung Fu Panda is one of the finest entertaining animation movie in a long time , Pixar has serious competition!!

I just loved it , an evergreen repeat for sure ....

Rating : 4.5/5.0

Rear Window : by Alfred Joseph Hitchcock

Today's generation marvel at mysteries be it from M.Night.Shyamlan supernatural repertoire to Christopher Nolan's mysterious non-linear films.

but Sir Alfred Joesph Hitchcock .. is where it all started , Father of murder/suspense.

Rear Window is one such flick from his portfolio, which in a subtle way , creates a milieu of suspense with a tinge of humour splattered too.

It is a story of a wheelchair bound photographer , who is recuperating from a fractured leg , passing time looking into the neighbourhood from his apartment window.

The director has created a setup where the audience sees the lives of people in the adjacent building through the protagonists' eyes.

One fine day , the photographer with all his gadgets , catches a glimpse of mysterious circumstances at the rear window, convincing him of a crime!!

With support from his girlfriend , nurse and his cop friend , he embarks on the path of finding the truth!!!

Notable Sequences

1. The Glowing Cigarette light in the opposite dark window.
2. The Flash bulb scene.
3. The Gory Anecdotes of the Nurse.

Year 1954 , makes this movie a 54 year old drama , present day ,

... but for me it is a Classic!!!

Rating : 4.5/5.0

A Wednesday : by Neeraj Pandey

A Wednesday is a film which creates a furor jolting the audiences .

The film starts off with an anonymous caller played by Naseer tipping the Mumbai Police Commissioner played by Anupam Kher.

The Mumbai police is in panic-mode in search of the potential bombs waiting to be triggered all over the city. The hunt is on to nab the caller at all costs .

It is a race against time , where in the time-window is small and the impact is huge . Naseer demands for the release of 4 terrorists in lieu of information of the RDX whereabouts.

A Wednesday is a tip of the iceberg film with a thought provoking epistle in the end credits .

The milieu of the movie is intact from start to culmination , Neeraj , the director deserves to be applauded.

In context of  the  " present-day"  , A Wednesday will go a long way in making our own place a better place to  live in ---   'WITHOUT FEAR'   ---

Rating :  4.5/5.0

 P.S.  -   Naseer's soliloquy  ,  blew me  , than the impact of the shells!!

Following : by Christopher Nolan

Breaking a Story into Pieces and Restructuring ..

Nolan is God ...

a true grandmaster .. outwitting the audiences.

This is the 5th installment I have witnessed , and I am simply blown away time and again starting right from Memento , Batman Begins , The Prestige to The Dark Knight.



Following( is Nolan's Debut - 1998) ....... is about this lonely , struggling writer , who takes up a weird hobby of following people on the streets with the motive of inspiring his next novel using the commonalities .

In the process , he finds himself into a sequential ( so to say non- linear for us ) parody of events , teaming with a professional thief by accident.

The length of the film at 70 minutes makes it sharp , crisp , and into a what-happens-next mould , with mouth-gaping end reeels.

WYS - I - N (Not) - WYG .... Christopher Nolan's Mantra ...

Take a bow !

Rating : 4.5/5.0

Rock On!! : by Abhishek Kapoor

Aditya ( Farhan) ,
Joe (Arjun) ,
Rob(Luke) .
KD(Purab) ... have created Magik(the band name) .

Rock on!! is simply an exhilarating experience for any cine goer who has been aspiring to be a Rock Star sometime in his/her life .

Its about chasing your dreams and pursuing what you are passionate about !!!

The story starts with a band of 4 friends , in glory of making it big , staging concerts in front of huge crowds , getting contract deals and all the moolah ..

In all this the friendship fades into oblivion , as rifts widens distances

Years later fate conspires to bring them together again and set them on a journey back to where they left off... a soul-searching journey into their past...

Prachi Desai plays Farhan's Wife in the film , has done exceptionally well in portraying a woman in search of her husband who is running away from his past! ..

Key Moments which I felt were too many too list :) :) ..

• Band Magik jamming sessions , the money raising gig ( is just hilarious)
• The Band signing the music contract.
• Prachi's non-tiring effort in bringing happiness in their lives.
• Purab and Luke's one-liners put a smile on your face , stages a reunion for the band.
• The End-Credits where in the band re-unites and bury the hatchet.

Special Mention : The supporting ensemble is terrific in terms of the Arjun's wife played by Shahana Goswami and Koel Puri playing Prachi's friend!!

Music .. more than words , it is melodic Rock to the core , not for hardcore Metal guys , but it works , BIGGG TIME!!

Credit goes to Farhan for bringing a new flavour to alternative rock with his husky unique voice and Shankar Ehasaan Loy in tapping it in full force ....
My Fav Tracks :

1. Sinbad the Sailor
2. Rock On!!
3. Phir Dekhiye
4. Ye Tumahari Meri Baatein.
5. Pichle Saat Dino Mein

.... Farhan excels as an actor and so does his bandwagon!!

Rock On!!!! ..... KICKSS ASS

Rating : 4.5/5.0

Bachna Ae Haseeno : by Siddharth Anand

Cas·a·no·va : A man who is amorously and gallantly attentive to women....
Bachna Ae Haseeno is an upmarket romantic oomphatic experience ..

Ranbir Kapoor , Bipasha Basu ,Deepika Padukone & Minisha Lamba .. is the ensemble roped in by the director Siddharth Anand with movies like Ta Ra Rum Pum & Salaam Namaste already in the kitty..
Ranbir Kapoor plays Raj ( not again , a SRK clone in the making ) ... film kicks off in the midst of Swiss Alps , initial reels reminiscent of DDLJ..

The film is divided into 3 stories in the life of ... Raj.

Stages of love,betrayal,infatuation , hatred,unrequited heart-2-heart connection.

Finest Moments :

• Ranbir dropping a bombshell at the Airport in front of Minisha.
• Bipasha Basu and Ranbir's oooozing chemistry.
• Ranbir's umpteen attempts to buzz off the idea of marriage and commitment.
• Ranbir's Shopping blunders in presence of Deepika brings the house down.

Cuteness Galore : Ranbir , playing the character to the hilt.
Ooooomph : Bipasha Basu is rollicking.
Duds : Minisha Lamba and Deepika Padukone.
Grooovy : Music is stupendous , My Fav Track is "Khuda Jaane".
Surprise Package: Surdy Kunal Kapoor.

Sidharth Anand has made a nice light-hearted romantic movie ,
with guffaw n tears plenteous..

One-time watch for sure... ... Ranbir rocks!!

Rating : 3.0/5.0

Singh Is Kinng : by Anees Bazmee

Akshay Kumar having a stupendous box-office ruling run (Tashhn being an exception ) ...

... Anees Bazmee on the heels of two back-to back hits (Welcome/NoEntry)

Mouth-watering prospect for sure .. ain't it!!

Singh is Kiing is all about Happy Singh , a surd who is a brat in his Pind ( so called village ) , notorious in his actions..

Villagers plan out to drive him out of the village , in tandem with a The King Underworld Pin in Australia played by Sonu Sood having a gala time there unaware what will struck him soon!!!

Happy Singh's histrionics along with buddy played by Om Puri embark on this journey which has all the makings of a laugh riot ....

ALAS! ..... the laughs just don't sizzle,giggle,tickle : ( :( :( :( :( :(

Katrina does what she does best , song n dance routine ... the SURD Brigade including Khayali , Jaaved Jafferi , Sudhanshu Pandey...to name a few... are just ok.

Ranvir Shorey is completely wasted , Dhupia is a prop ... Om Puri provides able support.

Singh is Kinng belongs to Akshay .. had he not been there in the foreground , I would have sleep-walked thru the movie...Only he has the firepower to pull off a full-on punjabi masquerade..

Pritam's music does it again .. ( this is umpteenth time i am mentioning this in my blog posts) .. he just amazes me with his ability to shell out tracks after tracks..... Teri Ore is my Pick!!

Singh is Kinng is all hype .. little substance ..

Akshay Kumar Fans .. Please stand up...

Rating : 2.0/5.0

Ugly aur Pagli : by Sachin Khot

Close on the heels of Pyar ke Side Effects ,
here comes another film based on the syndrome of 'Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus' ... Ugly aur Pagli


Ugly is played by Ranvir Shorey who is a dumb dimwit , still in engineering college past many years , failing to advance..

Pagli is played by Mallika Sherawat who is a hard taskmaster and a bully.. living life on her own terms .

Ranvir meets her on a railway station and gets hooked up with this drunk girl. He faces her tantrums,her demands,her overbearing self , Ugly is an absolute doormat.

As far as performances go , Ranvir , is the most under-rated actor we have in our country ... he is simply superlative .. Malika is passe'.

The storyline of the 2 hr histrionics , is wafer-thin .... the giggles fizzle !!!!!!!!

Rating : 2.5/5.0

Kismat Konnection : by Aziz Mirza

Aziz Mirza has always been associated with a feel-good kinda cinema , Kismat Konnection is no exception.

Its a story of budding Architech played by Shahid , who inspite of being a top-notch student in his degree dayz , fails to make it big every time an opportunity knocks on his doors.

The Luck evades him time n again until a Fortune Teller procrastinates his lucky charm popping up soon in his life.

Enter , Vidya Balan , who is associated with an old-age home , the senior citizens being her family.

Vidya brings luck to Shahid whenever she is around , n things start going his way but at the cost of blatant betrayal.......

The performances are stereotypical , only Shahid in top -form post Jab We Met.... Vidya is just not getting it right from her clothes to her dancing to her acting prowess...

Pritam proves yet again with his music ,as being the most-sought after music composer....

Overall, Aziz Mirza's work has always put a smile on your face and moisten one's eyes , from Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman to Chalte Chalte , this does not hit the bulls-eye!!

Rating : 3.0/5.0

The Dark Knight : by Christopher Nolan

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
........... We're tonight's entertainment : The Joker

Christopher Nolan in association with Warner Bros. has undoubtedly re-defined SUPER-HEROISM with The Dark Knight


Christian Bale plays Bruce Wayne , the multi-millionaire , who turns into the Dark Crusader saving the Gotham City from doom.
The film starts with a bank robbery , an act of deceit plotted by yours truly THE JOKER played by the late Heath Ledger.

The film belongs to the set of actors playing legendary Batman Caricatures in never seen before sequences. To name a few ....

1. Michael Caine : The Butler
2. Morgan Freeman : Lucius Fox
3. Gary Oldman : Lieutenant James Gordon
4. Late Heath Ledger : The Joker
5. Aaron Eckhart : Harvey Dent
6. Christian Bale : Bruce Wayne / Batman

The Joker steals the show in all this masquerade. Ledger has got into the skin of the psychopath as if he has lived this role all his life!!

Jack Nicholson played the Joker in the 1989 flick , but Heath has surpassed all on - screen comic caper villains big time!!!!

“Do I look like a guy with a plan?” the Joker asks ..
Tribute Mr . Ledger!

The Film's Action , is astounding from a Hospital Blow-Up , Truck - BatPod Street Chase to Batman Sling from a Copter!

Special Mention : Performance by Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent is a revelation , and his alter-ego in the second half of the flick is brilliant.

I am a big fan of Nolan Films , film noir at its best ... fantabulous follow-up to Batman Begins..

The Dark Knight is the best comic caper super hero celluloid movie ever witnessed ..

Rating : 5.0/5.0

Jaane Tu .. Ya Jaane Na : by Abbas Tyrewala

Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na ... simply a breath of fresh air :) :) ...

Abbas Tyrewala in collaboration with Numero Uno Actor Aamir Khan brings forth a frothy , romantic , bubblegum , Archies meets Veronica storyline !!

The film is all about Meow and Rats! ... the on-screen friends who are inseparable to the hilt.

Imraan Khan has got acting in legacy and he proves it by playing a non-violent , cute-faced,innocent,sweetie pie kid on the block .

Genelia-DeSouza gives super chemical reactions playing Meow! .. clawing people who even give a thought of insulting Rats!

The gang of friends just out of college know that Rats and Meow are in love , their parents know they are in love , but for the protagonists.

Jaane Tu .. may remind you of a lot of bubblegum fables (a la' Ishq Vishq) ... this is quite extra-ordinarily different!!

Heart-Warming Moments in the film :

• College Brawl where in Imraan intends to save Genelia
• Imraan's mother(Ratna Shah) , passing the legacy of Rathore's to her son.
• Ratna Shah and her tet-e-tet with her husband on the wall picture(Raja of Rathore).
• Post-Interval portions where Rats n Meow go fetch companions for each other.
• Cameos by Khan brother's and the Disco-Techque histrionics are hilarious.
• Chemistry between Meow and her brother!

The list is endless , supporting crew is fantabulous , from parents to chums to cops !!

Finally the music , AR Rahman , what can I say , super-duper melodies ... within the realm of the film...

The Next Generation is surely knocking the doors and ringing the bells......

Rating : 4.5/5.0

Jaws : by Steven Spielberg

Jaws ... considered to one of defining movies of the 70's seeing the rise of edge-of-seat-thriller-scary genre ....

Steven Spielberg , now an accomplished director in Hollywood , came up with a masterpiece adaption of a thriller novel...

Amity Island , attracts millions of tourists every year on July 4th , this year is no exception at all but for......

SHARKS at BAY!!!

Sequences of events pertaining to shark attack on beach tourists creates a furor on the island with the Police Chief at the helm of things.

High-points of the Film :

• First attack by the Shark , Police Chiefs hunch on the same.
• Heated Altercation between the Mayor and the Chief along with the Nat Geo expert.
• Hiring of the sailor to kill the deadly beast.
• The Journey to the heart of the ocean in the boat ORCA.
• Climax is spine-chilling and horrific-in-your-face stuff.

Spielberg proves it yet again ...

JAWS ... ranks amongst the best thriller/horror flicks...

Rating : 4.5/5.0

Aamir : by Rajkumar Gupta

There are certain films which have made a significant impact on celluloid in past few years ....

AAMIR ..

is simply extra-ordinaire ... !!!

The film is about a simple man by the name of Aamir , a professional who has just returned from UK and landed in Mumbai City.

As soon as he steps into the city of dreams , his nightmare begins!!!

The film delves into the living environ of the Muslims in a country of diversity such as India , not giving enough to this minority post-independence.

The protagonist Aamir played by Rajeev Khandelwaal ( a la ' Telly Actor 'Kahin To Hoga') is caught in this maze of events where he is helpless to come out of it.

Rajeev will give a lot of film-fraternity-young- kids -on- the- block-run-for-their-money-many-many-years-to-come ... EXCEPTIONAL TALENT!!

Eye-Openers :

• Sequences post-landing of Aamir at the Mumbai Airport.
• Shabby , Dismal , Dingy Locales of Muslim Inhabited Areas.
• Turn - of - Events in the second half.
• Climax is simply mouth- gaping - what - happens- next - mode.

Thumps Up to the first-timer Rajkumar for this superlative effort ..

RATING : 4.0/5.0

Sarkar Raj : by Ram Gopal Varma

Sarkar ... was a film made with a lot of conviction , one of the few gems by Ramu , actually in a director's hat.

Sarkar Raj was high on expectations , set 2 years where the prequel is left off.


------- Bottom Line ------
------NO NOVELTY--------


The Bacchhan Trio , excel for sure , in particular Big B n Aby Baby are out of the ordinary..... These two actors say a thousand words through their eyes.

Aishwarya playing an entrepreneur is not very convincing for my liking ... anybody could have done what she has portrayed.

+VES :

1. Bacchhans are top-notch
2. Background Score is riveting
3. Technically Ramu is slick as ever

-VES:

• Old Wine in the same bottle
• Predictable ( for me at least , people may find it intriguing!!!!)
• Supporting Cast is intolerable!!

Sarkar Raj is all about deceit , dirty politics , self - propangadization , and gang-war ... seen it umpteen times ...
Rating : 2.5/5.0

Apocalypse Now : by Francis Ford Coppola

Francis Ford Coppola , the renowned director of the acclaimed classic , 'The Godfather' , gives us an insight into the human psyche in a world at war in VIETNAM!!!

Apocalypse Now ... is about a US Army Captain sent on a mission to terminate a fellow Colonel in the Cambodian Jungles , where he is supposed to have lost his mind and has gone insane.

Colonel Kurtz played by the great Marlon Brando , is a spine-chilling , whacko portrayal of a god-saviour for the people of Cambodia , where he goes on a rampage of killing Vietcongs at will.

This film is a journey of a man in pursuit of answers to the Human Mind Working at the time of distressing war . Captain Willard , who is on this voyage is played by Martin Sheen.

Narration of Martin Sheen , makes the movie engrossing in some parts , though it meanders along , causing the audience to lose their patience at some point!!!

Verdict :

I expected a lot from Coppola as per his prior imprints... this one is below below par ...

Rating : 3.0/5.0

Cloverfield : by Matt Reeves

Cloverfield ... in my view is a path-breaking film in terms of the way it has been conceived and shot!

It's a film presented as a video-cam footage shot by a group of young people prior to the crisis ---- A Gigantic Monster in down-town Manhattan!

The movie starts with footage of a young couple having a gala time dating at an island , with the focus in the CAM shooting various events in the lives of these young group of people.

Captured Moments in the Video Cam:

1. Farewell Party for Rob accepting a job in Japan.
2. Coney Island Date
3. Initiation of the Catastrophic Earthquake
4. Subsequent Devastation by the Monster
5. Escapism of the main protagonists all around the city of New York.

Caution : People may feel nauseating and a temporary loss of balance. Audience members prone to migraines , the film may act as a trigger.....


The Shaky Camera Filming is unique yet an edge-of-the-seat experience to say the least! ----

Dunt Miss This One...

Rating : 4.0/5.0

U Me aur Hum : by Ajay Devgan

Ajay Devgan has been a prolific actor over the years and he teams with his wife Kajol to bring forth a canvas full of love , emotions and deep bonding!

It is a story about Ajay and Pia who meet over a cruise where Pia is a bar-waitress and Ajay , a charmer to the core....

He tries to woo Pia , and the movie has a lot of romantic moments you can identify with in the first half .

The latter half of the film is a revelation , not seen before performances and the actors prove their prowess .

"The turn of events when Kajol is diagnosed with Alzheimer makes you CRY for more... the bonding between the couple is brought to the fore!!! .... It is very high on EQ and the handkerchiefs will come out in numbers for sure!!!"

Best Scene of the Movie : When Ajay rushes back to the asylum to bring back Kajol

U ME AUR HUM ... is an extra-ordinary effort by a sensitive actor and has proven himself yet again this time in the director's hat.

Rating : 3.5/5.0

Goodfellas : by Martin Scorsese

Good Fellas is a typical gangster flick reminiscent of The Godfather Trilogy...

Martin Scorsese has always been an interesting director with his films showing his craft in rainbow colors ranging from high-voltage dramas to pure action adrenalin flicks.....

Its a story about Henry Hill , small village boy who always wanted to be in the big league, with the freedom to walk in fresh air , not giving a damn about the world around him...

The journey of Henry Hill takes off from his childhood days where he meets with the gang linchpin in the form of Rober De-Niro and Joe Pesci. It spans decades and how they build an empire ranging from killings to smuggling drugs.

The culmination of the film takes you by surprise , the performances pack a punch in particular Joe Pesci's award winning portrayal of Tommy De-Vito , the hale n hearty gruesome gangster!!!

Martin has done a good job , but The Godfather still remains the ultimate Gangster flick....

Rating : 4.0 /5.0

Krazzy 4 : by Jaideep Sen

PEOPLE , 

This is a warning to all movie lovers Krazzy as you maybe .....

Attempt to even enter a
theater playing this flick is hazardous to your health,wealth and general well-being.


Rating : GIVE ME A BREAK !!!!!!

Fargo : by Coen Brothers

Coen Brothers are known for their dark tales suitably tagged as neo-noir ... Fargo is one such black comedy!

It is about a car sales executive who is in severe debt and in urgent need of cash.

One fine day , in a snowy Minnesota winters , he hires 2 goons to plot kidnapping of his own wife , to rig a huge sum of ransom from his wealthy father-in-law.

The story takes a turn of events when the kidnapping goes gory and police gets involved giving the sales executive a pretty hard time .

The case is in the hands of a pregnant woman police officer played by Frances McDormand (wife of Joel Coen , the director of the film) who has done a commendable job , with funny anecdotes and small nuances , making it fun crime drama!!!

The end is predictable which makes the movie an anti-climax... nevertheless good Oscar winning film!!

Rating : 3.0/5.0

V for Vendetta : by James McTeigue

V for Vendetta is a classy film bringing forth the governments' fictitious under-hand dealings leading to mass-killings due to human-experimentation's in a country plagued with problems ...

Wachowski brothers (Matrix Trilogy Fame) have adapted the screenplay for this film based on a comic-caper written by Alan Moore and David Lloyd and it is Superlative!!!!

V played by Hugo Weaving threatens the government of the country to blow up the parliament on November 5th. The Chancellor takes immediate action and two officers are hot on his trail.

In the meantime , Eve played by Natalie Portman , is taken a hostage by V in an attempt to protect her.

The story moves along with jack-out-of-the-box approach , V unveiling his mask in every scene , uncovering his plans in every reel.

The second portion of the film surprises the audience when suddenly Eve finds herself captured n tortured in a prison cell , the events thereafter are intriguing.

Hugh Weaving(Agent Smith , Matrix Fame) done a good job with his voice doing all the work and Portman excels in some portions.

Worth Noting Dialogue :

"Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant and vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition! The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V " -------- (V's introduction)


Nice Watch....

Rating : 4.0/5.0

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest : by Miloš Forman

Can an actor carry a film entirely on his shoulders to make us revere him????


Jack Nicholson is the man to do this no mean feat!!!!!

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is deemed as a masterpiece in many ways and I am in full agreement.

Randle McMurphy (Jack) plays a deranged criminal who is charged of crimes which are unpardonable.He is transferred to a mental institution for his apparent mad-behaviour. Mc-Murphy wishes to spend his rest of the sentence in comfort and he takes this sacrifice along.

The inmates there in the hospital are a bunch of frenetics and the set of actors so chosen have performed magnificently. The story moves along with the McMurphy forming deep camaraderie with the patients.

The tyrant Nurse Ratchet played by Louise Fletcher was the doppelganger of Jack Nicholson's character and the friction between them made the film tangy and zippy!!!!

Key Moments :

• McMurphy breaking the ward glass window to fetch the cigarette packs.
• Argument on watching the World Series on Television.
• The End Reels makes me sentient.

First Film to win all 5 Major Oscars .....

Best Fim , Director , Actor , Actress , Screenplay.

Do I need to say more??!?!?

Rating : 5.0/5.0