Talaash

Genre: Crime/Thriller/Drama

Director: Reema Kagti

Cast: Aamir Khan (Srujan Singh Shekhawat), Kareena Kapoor (Rosy), Rani Mukherji (Shreya Bondre), Nawazuddin Siddiuqi, Raj Kumar Yadav (Devrath Kulkarni)

This movie grips you firmly, keeps you hooked through the first half but loses you totally flat face near the end and that is where it fails.

I must admit that direction is good, acting by all lead actors is fantastic but what makes or breaks a thriller is the script and trust me guys when I say SCRIPT is WEAK for the film. Just to draw up something unexpected, it kind of ends up betraying its own genre and becomes extremely predictable by the end. One ends up saying, “Ye to Kuchh bhi tha..!!”.

This story is about an inspector Surjan Singh Shekhawat, who is facing difficult times on a new high profile case of an actor meeting an accident which clearly seems like a murder. Troubles not only surround him professionally but personally as well. He is facing lack of emotional comfort at home and the thought of losing his son due to his negligence is eroding him from inside. In this complex scenario, he meets a prostitute while solving the case, who helps him to solve the case as an informer and comforts him emotionally as well. Then slowly, the pages turn to reveal the connections and how the case helps Shekhawat with his personal turmoil also.

No doubt that the direction is just too good with great use of Bombay Locals to intensify the thrill. Narration has been fantastic as well which doesn’t allow one to take eyes away from the screen for even a single second. Great performance by Aamir as the frustrated police officer. Rani Mukherjee does justice to her role as a supporting house-wife. Kareena Kapoor is unbelievably genuine in her act and easily keeps the mystery quotient high on-screen. Background scores and songs add to all the drama and are well placed.

The only point (being the most important point…) where it fails is the finale of the script. Not only can u predict it easily but it goes way beyond the unexpected limits and ends up somewhere totally out of the scope for such kind of a formula thriller movie. Can’t give you any spoiler though, so experiencing it yourselves would be better…  he he he.

My Rating :- 3/5, could have easily given it above 4 for the great over-all performance of actors and crew, but the finale keeps me from doing so.

Jab Tak Hai Jaan

Genre: Romance/Drama
Director: Yash Chopra
Cast: Shahrukh Khan (Samar Anand), Katrina Kaif (Meera Thapar), Anushka Sharma (Akira Rai), Anupam Kher (Meera's Father), Rishi Kapoor (Imran)

More than a film its a Vintage Yash Chopra Romance…

Amazing cinematography, breath-taking shooting locations and emotionally-loaded sequences take the viewers to the days of romantic cinema when films like DDLJ, Dil To Pagal Hai and Veer-Zaara ruled. Completely owned by YashJi, this movie is a tribute to the legendary romance that Bollywood was ever known for, before being over-taken by circus-style action genre.

It is a story about Samar Anand, an Indian army bomb diffusion specialist whose life has been a rough road. In his initial struggling days as a singer in London he meets Meera Thapar and they fall in love with each other. But, just to keep a promise made to God she backs out from this relationship. The high-tempered and unforgiving Samar couldn’t accept this fact and ends up carrying the hatred against Meera in his heart. He leaves his career in mid-way and goes back to Kashmir to become a bomb diffuser for Indian Army. There he meets another high spirited Discovery Channel reporter, Akira Rai who after accidentally reading Samar’s diary falls deeply in love with him. She requests him to come back to London and Samar agrees. There due to some circumstances he ends up facing Meera again and seeing no space in Samar’s heart, Akira leaves the two together. Meera ends up quitting her promise and comes back to Samar.

Script is weak but the magic is in the screenplay and the way the scenes are made heavy with emotions. Acting performances have been great. Katrina Kaif seemed to have finally learnt to act and it’s the first movie she has proved true to her profession. SRK has seriously worked on his over-acting and has redefined his emotions as a stubborn soldier incredibly. No amount of praise can do justice to Anushka’s acting in this film. She has won the show on all squares. Her lively presence on screen helps one to glide through the second half effortlessly and still she carries out the emotional scenes very naturally. (Kudos to all who believe she deserved the best debutant instead of Asin, the over actress… :D).

Finally, the star of the film is Yash Chopra himself who has managed to deliver a typical romance with wonderful cinematography and exquisite locations. His direction wasn’t upto the mark, I must say but he managed to keep the emotional quotient high.

My rating :- 3/5, a faster narration and increased sensibility could have made the film a much better experience. A fine end to a great film-maker. He will always be missed.

Skyfall

Genre: Action/Adventure/Crime
Director: Sam Mendes
Cast: Daniel Craig (James Bond), Judi Dench (M), Javier Bardem (Silva), Ben Whishaw (Q), Ralph Fiennes (Gareth Mallory), Naomie Harris (Eve), Berenice Marlohe (Severine), Albert Finley (Kincade), Rory Kinnear (Tanner)

So Bond goes 50 with style… and by style I mean a lots of it…  ;)

This bond movie is very unique in its own way and still it easily maintains the traits of classic Bond franchise (and should I say one of the longest running successful franchise). Not much of action and adrenaline in this installment but it’s well supported by very good performances by the actors. Plot is kinda average too and has a slow buildup but gives a great base for the movies to come. All in all Bond is Back.

So the story goes forth as M manages to misplace a very crucial piece of information (a hard drive…) having the details of all undercover agents of MI6. Bond trying to retrieve it accidentally gets killed (or so everyone thinks… he he he). It turns out to be an agent gone rogue, Silva, who wants to punish M for abandoning him. Bond sets a trap with M as bait and ends the villain’s sorrow by killing him. Although, M doesn’t survive the assault herself.

As can be observed, the plot doesn’t have much to offer. But, Judie Dench has shown great acting skills in her last Bond movie and keeps one interested to look up what’s next by her good dialogue deliveries (specially the one in which she convinces the panel of ministers to continue the existence of MI6). Daniel Craig is still unbeaten when it comes to portraying the intensity of Bond’s character. Some past shades of the character are exposed in the movie explaining why Bond is such a stubborn and motivated person which is topped up with good acting skills of Daniel (trust me he is the first Bond who knows to express more emotions with focus than any other in the past). Javier Bardem as Silva is one of the most different Bond villains. Some might like him for he beats Bond when it comes to making an entrance and others won’t as he fails to bring the seriousness on-screen. Ralph Fiennes makes a very cold and calculated new M and serves as fitting replacement to Dench. Also, can’t end this section without the mention of the new Quartermaster ‘Q’. He is young, funny and reliable. Chemistry between Bond and Q is very interesting and something to look up for.

So all in all this movie isn’t for new Bond viewers but for seasoned viewers only and gives a lot to look up for the coming installments (did I mention Naomie Harris as the new Eve Money-penny ..?)

My rating :- 2.5/5, movie is simple but this Bond is closer to Ian Fleming’s portrayal and cunningly avoids the use of gadgets. Hey, not to forget the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 with headlight guns was a homely touch to the proceedings. Also, a few inspiring lines from ‘Ulysses’ by Alfred, Lord Tennyson mentioned in the film keep the tone of the movie high:

”Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

 

Student Of The Year

GENRE: Romance/Comedy
Director: Karan Johar
Cast: Siddhart Malhotra (Abhi), Varun Dhawan (Rohan), Aliya Bhatt (Shanaya), Rishi Kapoor (Dean Yoginder Vasisht), Ronit Roy, Boman Irani, Sana Saeed (Tanya)

With this movie, film industry has achieved a new low of quality film making. Not only is this movie immature, but also loaded with, what our generation calls “CRAP”. I felt like throwing up in the first ten minutes and almost went unconscious after fifteen.

Story revolves around a STUPID student who forgets his so called ‘mission of life’ (:DDD) and flirts around with his best friend’s girl and beats him for the same.

Then there is this STUPID Friend who flirts around with every girl in the college and still fights the hero for his ‘one and only’.

And, finally there is this STUPID girl who is confused about what she wants and goes against both the friends.

All competing for the precious STUPID OF THE YEAR trophy by their very STUPID dean, who does this all for his personal soap entertainment.

C’MOOOOOOOONNNNN, seriously WTF….   :O

In terms of script, this movie tries to relive the spirit of JO JEETA WAHI SIKANDER, but fails miserably due to wrong timing. Director, Mr. Karan Johar, has been sleeping through the entire movie production else he might have not even taken up this project. The only thing he ended up contributing to this film were Gay Jokes and ICU death bed scenes (remember Kal Ho Naa Ho…??), Karan we are dead bored of the same screenplay and scenes, please grow up and offer something better.

Talking about acting in this film is like spilling Shit over Shit… :DDD. All that actors had to do in this film was to act over-smart ‘velle’, nothing else. All their performances have been below average. Even the biggies like Rishi Kapoor couldn’t offer much on their part.

My rating - 1/5, the only reason to enjoy this movie will be songs as tunes are catchy and girls will love the display of ABS and muscular Body Tones…  and please spare my language, I was just in the flavor of the movie…  :P

OMG... Oh My God !!

GENRE: Drama/Comedy
Director: Umesh Shukla
Cast: Paresh Rawal (Kanji Bhai), Akshay Kumar (Lord Krishna), Mithun Chakraborty, Om Puri, Mahesh Manjrekar, Govind Namdeo (Siddheshwar Maharaj)

SUPERB MOVIE…..  Incomparable concept and impeccable script. Excels in every department
of movie making.

Inspired by a very famous Gujarati play “Kanji Virudh Kanji” this movie not only should open eyes, but the lessons of this movie should be learnt by heart. God is not about practicing religious faiths, not about idols or giving money for such things. He is all about having strong belief, spreading optimism and working towards welfare for all. EACH LINE and by saying so I mean LITERALLY each line has something to teach, especially to those who are blind with worshipping idols and following religious practices.

The story is about Kanji bhai, a Guajrati businessman who is challenged by a natural disaster considered as act of God for which he is denied an insurance claim. He sues God and his worshippers for the same and the democratic judicial system keeping God equal to humans accepts the case. Story keeps on getting interesting thereafter.

Hats off to the script and screenplay, that the viewers wont even feel like moving an inch from their seats through the movie. Direction was very good (not excellent though) and was well supported by precise editing.

The best part of this movie is the performance by lead actors. Paresh Rawal delivers his best as a frustrated businessman and Akshay Kumar is witty and smart as our very own God. They both manage to transfer the message of this movie by their expert delivery of dialogues and expressions. Also, Mithun Da was enjoyable as a religious leader trying to save his side.

My Rating – 4/5, superb concept and an eye opener. People, God doesn’t teach you to spend crores of money on worshiping him but to spend small goodwill for happiness to all.