Change Your Image
csingh-2
Lists
An error has ocurred. Please try againReviews
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
Too soon?
It doesn't seem long ago that Tobey Maguire created history as Spiderman and here we are witnessing it happen all over again as Andrew Garfield tries to defend New York against Dr. Curt Connors, also referred to in some circles as 'The Lizard'.
The story is familiar. At a very young age Peter Parker's parents leave him with his uncle Ben and his aunt May for his own benefit. Years later he starts to uncover the reason for their mysterious disappearance when he finds an old briefcase that belonged to his father. A little research brings Peter to Oscorp, face to face with his father's old partner Dr. Curt Connors who, given his handicap, has spent his life trying to perfect cross-species mutation. Of course in the process an eight legged friend manages to give our snooping protagonist a little peck and his life changes forever.
Marc Webb, (appropriately named for this venture) manages to provide the audience with an enjoyable experience overall, despite a few flimsy sequences but it is Andrew Garfield who stands out as the movie rests completely on his shoulders. Inevitably there will be comparisons but he holds his own, giving Spiderman that 17 year old boyish charm and bewilderment. Emma Stone fits in perfectly as Gwen Stacy but doesn't really have much to do. Overall, the film doesn't have the impact that it intends to deliver and comparisons with Sam Raimi's version may not go in its favor but for Spiderman fans it is definitely worth a watch as it gives us the opportunity to see our friendly neighborhood Spiderman battle a new nemesis, this time in the form of 'The Lizard'.
Prometheus (2012)
Falls below expectations
There have been many films that have played with the idea of human origins. The speculation continues as more interesting ideas come to surface regarding the issue. Ridley Scott's much anticipated Prometheus provides an interestingly fresh outlook into the beginnings of mankind and human civilization as it tries to deal with the questions as old as time itself - Where have we come from and what is our purpose? Set about 80 years into the future, the film follows a group of scientists millions of miles away from Earth in search of our 'roots'. Deducing from cave drawings of ancient civilizations, they discover an Earth-like planet that was worshiped by the cavemen and curiosity leads them to the alien land where they find they are not as welcome as they had hoped.
The movie explores a new concept and is fairly successful in keeping your interest throughout the 124 minutes. There is no doubt that Ridley Scott and his team have gone into immense detail to create an extrinsic atmosphere but there are times when the elaboration gets a little taxing. There are also a few over-the-top sequences and clichéd moments that take away from the impact that the film intends to achieve.
Visually, the film is a delight. The actors are adequate in their respective roles but the scope of performance remains limited as visuals and special effects become the primary focus of the film. Overall, the film manages to keep the audience intrigued and guessing even though it has its ups and downs. Ridley Scott fans will probably be able to better appreciate the film, especially the ending.
Ra.One (2011)
Ra.one - A bad one
It's been a while since this movie has been out, but I haven't taken out my frustration yet. So here goes... There is nothing more painful as a film lover, to watch a film with potential go to complete waste. Hence, I was in extreme pain after watching Ra.one. Being a huge Shah Rukh Khan fan, it was more than disappointing to see all his efforts go down the drain.
Agreed, the graphics and special effects were the best we've seen so far in Indian cinema, but as is apparent from the film's response, that is not enough. The plot is unable to hold you and the dialogues (which I feel is probably the most important aspect of a film) have no spark in them. The story lacks the flow and a lot of weak scenes in between hamper the impact the movie intends to have. Most disappointing of all though, was the final action sequence between Ra.one and G.one which could have potentially saved the movie.
It's true that the people involved will probably recover their money, but at what cost...
The superhero genre has eluded the Indian film industry ('Krrish' doesn't count). Although this does take us one step closer to hopefully seeing a well written, well directed, well executed action film in the future.
Rockstar (2011)
Rockstar - Something different
This is an interesting film to start off with. The opinions are as contrast as they are extreme. Here's my two cents' worth ( if I had a nickel for every time I offered my two cents' worth...well, I should ideally have seven hypothetical cents).
The movie is clearly an experiment. And as we all know, experiments can go either way. I would give Imtiaz Ali (the director) full marks for his courageous attempt to narrate a complex story in the chosen fashion. I'll admit it was a rather refreshing change to see a romantic/musical tale be told so differently.
I won't go into the details of the story since the movie has been out for more than a week.
The film, as the name suggests, is almost like a musical. There's no doubt about it. A.R Rahman (and Mohit Chauhan) plays a vital role in making the film what it is. It is surprising how unsurprising it has become that he outdoes himself every time. Yes, I am a huge A.R Rahman fan... but then again, who isn't? 'Sada Haq', 'Jo bhi main' and 'Tum ho' in my opinion are the 'creme de la creme' of the soundtracks of the film.
This brings me to the next best thing about the movie - Ranbir Kapoor. After already having established his acting prowess in films like 'Rajneeti', 'Wake up Sid' and 'Ajab Prem ki Gazab Kahani' he steps it up to the next level. He is almost as good as Nargis Fakhri is bad. I want to say more good things about his acting but you get the point...
Surprisingly for an Imtiaz Ali movie, the quality of the film does drop in the second half. The narration becomes a little sloppy and the films tends to stretch just a tad. The ending is a little obscure but overall, I don't believe is a deal breaker. Despite its drawbacks and unconventional style, Rockstar works. Definitely a one time watch.
Rating - 7.5/10
Inception (2010)
What an idea!
The concept is intriguing, the direction is slick and the plot is gripping. This would adequately describe any Christopher Nolan film, be it Memento, Prestige or The Dark Knight. Inception is no exception. Nolan once again manages to stun and intrigue his audience with a roller coaster ride that dares to challenge your perceptive capabilities.
It is definitely not one of the simplest plots to understand – Technology exists to infiltrate your mind and allow other people to be a part of your dream, of course unwillingly. Simple enough? Not really. In a world where such technology does exist, there forms a thin line between a dream and reality. It is easy to get lost in this 'multi layer' film where the limits of the familiar concept of 'dreams' are tested. But the film promises to glue you to your seats and your eyes to the screen all throughout the 148 minutes.
Cobb (DiCaprio) is an expert at dream invasion and gets paid to find out peoples' secrets by accessing their dreams and conning the secret out of them. Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Ariadne (Ellen Page), Eams (Tom Hardy) and Yusuf (Dileep Rao) are his accomplices in the 'not strictly speaking, "legal"', task. They are hired by one of their own victims, Saito (Ken Watanabe), to perform the impossible – Inception, that is, deliberately planting an idea in someone's head during the dream invasion so as to make the person think that it is their own. It will make more sense during the movie.
Like any other Christopher Nolan movie, this one too has brilliant dialogues and flawless performances. DiCaprio once again proves his merit as one of the best actors in the business and Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon-Levitt don't disappoint either. German composer Hans Zimmer continues to provide some thrilling music as he did previously in The Dark Knight.
It would be foolish not to expect any twists and turns in this highly entertaining yet complex tale which explores the limits of the human subconscious. The beauty of the film is that despite the intricacy of the set up, the audience finds itself identifying with many of the concepts intimately linked with the plot. The notion of dreams within dreams and retardation of time while dreaming is something all of us may have experienced. Even the feeling of free falling during sleep or the 'kick' that wakes us up is cleverly used and deftly executed. All in all, the movie is technically brilliant, mentally stimulating, visually mesmerizing and conceptually fascinating. Watch it because a movie like this comes once in a decade.
Avatar (2009)
Fall in love with Pandora
Avatar goes beyond a movie. It transports you to a world which seems very familiar, yet it is a world apart. Visually, the movie is brilliant. The years of hard work put into the graphics is apparent and not in vain. Avatar is not a must watch, it's a must experience.
A crippled marine, Jake Sully ( Sam Worthington ), gets the chance to replace his dead brother in a mission to Pandora, the world of the Na'vi tribe, to learn their ways and means. The objective of doing this, is to obtain the Unobtanium ( no really ), a priceless element found only in Pandora. Of course to do this, one cannot wander into Pandora as a human. Here comes into play, the title of the movie - Avatar. Once transformed into one of the Na'vis, Jake begins exploring Pandora. This is where he meets Neytiri ( Zoe Saldana ), the princess of the Na'vi tribe who trusts him, considers him harmless and shows him the way of life in Pandora. The movie takes a turn as Jake gradually and inadvertently falls in love with Neytiri and Pandora itself.
The high point of the movie by far is Pandora. James Cameron has presented a whole new world right out of his imagination, much along the lines of 'Lord of the Rings'. The forests are breathtaking and its wildlife is mesmerizing. So many aspects of the movie will leave you spellbound. The concept of Pandora in its entirety is beautiful. The thought behind the movie is simple but the message is compelling. Even though it might be a little too long for some peoples' taste, to watch Avatar is a no-brainer.
Shutter Island (2010)
A thrilling ride!
The plot is captivating, the acting is impeccable and the direction is slick. I went for this movie with high expectations and it did not disappoint. It was not the usual Scorsese movie. It was different and it was well done.
The story is basically about Teddy Daniels ( Leonardo DiCaprio ) and Chuck Aule ( Mark Ruffalo ) coming to Shutter Island, an institute for mentally disturbed criminals, to investigate the disappearance of one of their patients. From there on they get caught in a deadly game when they begin to realize that Shutter island may be a much darker place than its owner Dr. Crawley ( Ben Kingsley ) makes it out to be.
The twists and turns are the key to this movie and those are what will keep the viewer hooked right till the end. Even though DiCaprio carries the movie through, Ben Kingsley manages to make his mark with an outstanding performance. Although not completely unpredictable, Shutter Island remains to be a great watch.
Kaminey (2009)
Difcover your mean fide
The much awaited Vishal Bharadwaj's 'Kaminey' finally hit cinema screens and it does not disappoint! The primary thing that you will notice and appreciate in the movie is the acting. From the main characters Charlie and Guddu ( identical twins played by Shahid Kapoor ) till the supporting actors, everyone manages to impress you. Special mention would go to Priyanka Chopra, who plays Guddu's love interest Sweety, who nails the role to perfection.
The movie shows the parallel lives of identical twins Guddu and Charlie who detest each other and haven't seen each other in years but how circumstances lead them to face each other. The plot is gripping, the acting is flawless, the setting is dark and the direction is slick. Probably the only thing that could have been better is the ending. Though the ending wasn't bad, I guess I had a little more expectations hoping for something darker or unexpected. But all in all a fun movie not to be missed!
Love Aaj Kal (2009)
Ordinarily extraordinary
Once again Imtiaz Ali manages to transform an ordinary love story into an extraordinary experience. Quite like his previous film 'Jab we met', the actual story of this movie isn't exceptional, but he manages to portray it in such an interesting way that you are left in awe.
The story begins with a very happy couple Jai ( Saif Ali Khan ) and Meera ( Deepika Padukone ) who get along unusually well with each other. But once Meera has to leave the country for good because of her work, they mutually and gladly decide to break up for the fear of not being able to handle a long distance relationship. This happens in a coffee shop owned by an old man Veer ( Rishi Kapoor ) who takes a keen interest in their affair and decides to find out more. Once Jai opens up to him, Veer confesses that he was quite like Jai in his own time. This is when, bit by bit, Veer starts revealing to Jai his own love story. Initially Jai finds Veer's thinking and approach very amusing. But as his life continues, he sees an uncanny reflection of his own love life in Veer's decades old love story. The whole plot of the movie revolves around the events and happenings in Jai and Meera's life thereon with a delicate backdrop of Veer's love life and its relevance to their life.
The beauty of this film lies in the portrayal and comparison of these two parallel love stories. The basic idea of the film is to show how, even though approaches and ideologies have changed over the years, 'love' as a concept still remains the same no matter what era. The striking resemblances yet the subtle differences between Jai and Veer's love stories are shown brilliantly.
All the actors have done a commendable job in the movie. Saif Ali Khan, specially did a fantastic job playing both 'young Veer' and Jai. Deepika Padukone was upto the mark and Rishi Kapoor was impeccable as usual. The music of the movie deserves a special mention. Pritam has done an outstanding job once again with "Aahun Aahun" and "Yeh Dooriyan" probably being the pick of the lot.
All in all a great fun film to watch! Highly recommended.
Don (2006)
A class apart
Probably one of the classiest film even made in Bollywood, Don is a must-see. With spot-on performances, thrilling action sequences and a jaw dropping finale, this movie takes the Indian film industry to another level. Being a remake of the original Amitabh Bachchan starer Don back in the 1970s, the story is pretty much the same. What sets this film apart though are its twists. If you've seen the original Don, the interval will keep you hooked but it's the ending that will knock you out! ... courtesy Farhan Akhtar. All the actors deliver credible performances with a special mention to Boman Irani and of course Shah Rukh Khan. Unlike the other recent action movies, the action sequences in this film are very believable and very real. All in all, one of the smartest, slickest Hindi movies you'll see... Don't miss this one!
New York (2009)
A disappointing second half
After almost a 2 month long hiatus when movies came back to the cinema halls, New York was probably the most looked forward to. As it turns out, the movie on the whole is not bad. In fact, the first half of the film keeps you very entertained and very interested. Some very good performances by John Abraham as well as Neil Nitin Mukesh but probably the performance that will take you by surprise is by Katrina Kaif! Of course, it need not even be said that Irrfan Khan is impeccable. Despite the decent efforts of the three main protagonists of the movie, Irrfan Khan somehow manages to steal the limelight. He is the one to watch out for in this movie. It is unfortunate that the second half of the movie goes completely downhill. It almost seems as if the director didn't know what to do in the end. The ending was certainly disappointing, but even then, movie is certainly a one time watch.