Captain Phillips

Captain Phillips is a movie inspired from the memoirs of Captain Richard Phillip (merchant mariner) – “A Captain’s Duty” which is based on Captain Phillip’s personal experience and ordeal as a hostage during the Maersk Alabama hijacking of 2009. It is an impressively directed movie and superbly enacted. This movie belongs as much to the villain as to the hero. Barkhad Abdi who plays a Somalian pirate deserves as much praise as Tom Hanks. It is not easy to make a real life story come alive, but this one has hit the bull’s eye… Sit tight as this ship is about to set sail......

Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks) takes command of MV Maersk Alabama, a cargo ship, at a port in Oman, and orders to sail through the Gulf of Aden to Mombasa. Right at the onset of the journey, he senses a pirate intrusion off the Somalian coast and orders all security precautions on the vessel. Soon they realise that the ship is being chased by two Somalian boats. Phillips quick thinking and courage manages to foil the first attempt made by the pirates. However, the very next day they are chased again by one of the boats, led by Abduwali Muse (Barkhad Abdi), a Somali fisherman. Muse is frail and lean but comes across as a ferocious leader who can not be misread for a naïve fisherman. He looks mean and vicious, but has his reasons which are shown over the course of the movie. He is acting under the direct orders from a warlord. This only compels us to think about the desperate situation of the Somalian life. He must take control of the ship as ordered! Despite the crew’s efforts, the pirates are able to board the ship and take control. Muse hopes to use the ship and its crew for ransom but Phillips sound thinking manages to foil their plans. This sudden turn of events and resistance from the captain and the crew, foils the pirates plan. They take off with the Captain in a life boat and this time ask for millions of dollars for his safety. As the lifeboat heads for the shore, situation gets worse for the pirates as they lose communication with their warlord and startfighting amongst themselves. They are soon followed by the US Navy. What will be the fate of Phillips? Will they actually negotiate? Well surely not to be given away like this…you know how to find out....

The movie is little slow in the second half but the story keeps you engaged. It is always spell binding to see Tom Hanks perform. Tom Hanks is hands down the best choice for this role and this time he takes his performance a notch higher. He is brilliant as Captain Phillips and his portrayal of the character is as real as it can get. I loved watching him in each frame and especially in the last sequence where he is being taken for a check- up. The fear and the shock he portrays in the same minute is palpable. When he cried, I cried with him too… Barkhad Abdi also deserves a special mention for his performance. He is brilliant as the pirate. He is focused and knows what he wants. I like the scene when Phillips tries to convince Muse but he refuses stating that “he has come too far and will not surrender”. It makes one think that the meaning of survival is not same for everyone….There are different definitions for different people. This is a MUST watch for all the movie buffs who like some good entertainment and an equally good story. Definitely worth a watch!!!
In terms of story, performances, direction, entertainment and characterisation, I rate this movie as 5/5.

Nidhi

The Lunchbox

“Sometimes a wrong train can take you to the right place” – this is the essence captured in this brilliant movie, The Lunchbox. It is a story of a beautiful relationship between two strangers and how love can evolve in an unusual situation. An excellent execution of a simple love story between a young housewife and a middle-aged man. This story is one of its kind and breaks new boundaries in Indian Cinema.

Sajan Fernandez (Irrfan Khan) is a lonely widower and is close to his retirement. He has a mundane routine which for him is his world. He is punctual and immaculate. On the other hand there is an unhappy housewife Ila (Nimrat Kaur) who is trying to spice up her boring marriage with her exquisite culinary skills. One day there is a mistake in the delivery made by the dabbawala. They deliver the dabba to Sajan mistaking him to be Ila's husband, who she is trying to win back. It seems her husband has not missed her sumptuous food while Sajan is surprised by the food prepared by the local eatery. Soon Ila realises something’s amiss and it also does not take long for Sajan to discover the same. It is from here the story takes a new course and gets interesting. Ila and Sajan start exchanging letters and forge a friendship. They regularly exchange letters, their dreams and the emptiness in their respective lives. Just when Sajan is soaking in a new bond, he is given the responsibility to train his replacement Shaikh (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) who is young, vibrant and talkative. He often tells small lies but is harmless and has his own story to share. All in all, he is a very likeable character. Soon Shaikh & Sajan develop a camaraderie between them. But do Ila & Sajan eventually meet? Do they stay in touch or are they separated by circumstances? It does not have an ending which one may have thought of while watching the movie, but it is still likable.

The movie is well directed and it holds the audience's attention throughout the movie. The characters are well sketched and the actors have been aptly chosen. Rarely do we get to see two powerhouse performers like Irrfan Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the same shot........ and with what brilliance!!! They seemed so natural and look every bit their respective character. Irrfan Khan’s expressions, mannerism, his body language speaks volumes of him being a great actor. As for the debutant Nimrat Kaur, she is a delight to watch. She makes the character Ila look real. It shows sheer dedication and the hardwork put in by all. There are some real dabbawalas that we get to see in the movie in minor roles. There are some great moments in the movie. I specially like the blind man gag followed by a momentary silence by Irrfan. The story makes you think about the little things in life which are worth living for. This genre of movie may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I still strongly recommend this movie to all who appreciate the nuances of simple film making. I am a believer of such simple cinema and subtle love stories. This one is certainly not to be missed. A great love story is the one which is treated well and is minimalistic in its approach and is yet be able to deliver a heart-warming experience. It is not every day we see a movie that is worth the time and money spent.

In terms of story, performance, direction, importance to details given to characterisation, their appearances, mannerisms and entertainment, I rate this movie as 5/5.

Nidhi

Madras Cafe

Madras Cafe is an Indian political thriller set in the backdrop of the Sri Lankan civil war and assassination of the former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The subject matter of the film is one which has not been dealt with in the past and thus gives us an insight into the sensitive political ties that we share with our "other" neighbour (besides Pakistan). It depicts the story of Sri Lankan war and the tension that arose from this conflict, which many young viewers would not have known. The story is well directed and superbly narrated. The movie does not take much time to get on with the story and starts to unfold right from the word ‘go’. This is race against time. This is a smart movie and leaves you engaged throughout.

The movie is set in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Vikram Singh (John Abraham) is an Indian Army Officer who is selected for a covert mission in Jaffna. He is sent to Sri Lanka to fight LTF militants who call themselves revolutionaries. The situation gets intense and every strategy of the Indian Peace force, that has been sent to resolve the pressing matters, seems to backfire. As things proceed Vikram finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy. He realises that there is something wrong within the team and all details are being leaked to LTF. During his mission he meets a British war journalist Jaya Sahni (Nargis Fakri) who wants to cover the war and uncover the truth behind the on-going war. She helps Vikram with some information that changes the course of his mission. But before he can act on it, he is kidnapped. Why has Vikram been kidnapped and who is behind the information leaks?

Performances are impressive. John Abraham justifies his role and is commendable. The fear, tension and the situations faced by the protagonist look real. This time I feel Nargis Fakri has been given a role that suits her best. She is best suited as British journalist. It was also a welcome change to see the veteran quiz master Siddharth Basu and ad man Piyush Pandey in important roles. They played their part well and looked real while dealing with the crisis as RAW Chief and Cabinet Secretary respectively. Overall performances are good. There is not a dull moment in the movie. There is only one aspect that is unclear…. It does not explain clearly why John Abraham is secluded and lives in oblivion. Or the reason behind his apathy and his confession in the church. I would certainly recommend this movie as a must watch and as money well spent. Surely to be watched in theatres.

From now on I will be rating movies basis the factors such as story/plot, performances, entertainment quotient and length of the movie. Keeping these factors in mind, I would rate the movie 4.5/5

Nidhi

Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobaara

The most famous and stylish gangsta is back in Mumbai…Once Upon a Time in Mumbai Dobaara (OUTIMD) is a sequel to the 2010 hit Once Upon A Time in Mumbai. It is always interesting to watch underworld and mafia movies. They have an aura of their own and keep the audience involved. But this time, OUTIMD fails to create the same magic as its prequel. The story is dull and the characters are seen dealing with their own emotions and personal dilemmas. There is lots of drama and a lot of unimpressive dialogues. Some characters are undefined and leave us wondering about the purpose of their role. The movie will be disappointing for the fans of the original movie who may be looking forward to some more gangster action.

The movie takes a leap from the prequel and brings us to a time where Shoaib (Akshay Kumar) is the undisputed king of Mumbai underworld and has also expanded his territory beyond Mumbai. He handpicks his men. One such apprentice is Aslam (Imraan Khan), picked from the slums of Mumbai. Aslam believes in everything that Shoaib does and will die for him. Shoaib has his set of enemies who challenge his rule over Mumbai. They are willing to go to any extend to overthrow his reign. Amongst the nasty fights and the messy dealings with the police, there is something that catches Shoaib’s attention. He begins to fancy an upcoming actress Jasmine (Sonakshi Sinha). The story takes a turn from here and shifts gears to become a love story. While the Don is set to win over his damsel, there is someone else he has to fight with to win her. It is Aslam. Jasmine finds a fan in Aslam too. Aslam is equally smitten by her. But what does Jasmine want? Is she really in love and who is her choice? There are no prizes for guessing here…but the wait is a test of patience.

This is the first time when I am not sure of the positives in a movie (if any). The movie is lengthy and slow. The plot stretches unneccesarily for 160 min and has some lousy direction. I kept wondering as to why the essence of the series had been taken away in the sequel? The story has no connection to its prequel. There are some meaningless dialogues and stereotyped performances. There is no match for Ajay Devgan when it comes to such genres. Ajay Devgan was phenomenal in the prequel and could carry off the heavy dialogues with panache. Imran Khan is too suave to be a gangster. It does not suit his persona. As for Sonakshi Sinha, she did a decent job. Personally for me Akshay Kumar was the only saving grace in the movie. He is a fine actor and is only getting better with age. But I would like to see him in a more thrilling action movie or a comedy. Unfortunately the movie did not work for me and would not recommend it to anyone. However... I leave it to your discretion and judgement.

Nidhi

Chennai Express

The much awaited journey has begun with Chennai Express being finally released.... and with much fanfare. This has been one of the most awaited movies especially for Shah Rukh Khan fans...I have been personally awaiting its arrival for sometime now as I am a self confessed SRK fan. Chennai Express is an action comedy movie with it's fair share of drama, humour, love and action. The movie showcases the journey of the protaganist Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) from Mumbai to Rameshwaram. What makes it interesting are the incidents that occur on this journey.

The story begins with Rahul who is still a bachelor at 40 and is still staying with his grandparents. His life revolves around them and vice-versa. His grandfather however passes away on his 100th birthday and to fulfill his last wish of immersing his ashes in Rameshwaram, Rahul sets off on a journey in Chennai Express. But his plans are soon ruined by a Tamilian damsel Meenama (Deepika Padukone) who has been kidnapped and is being held captive by her cousins. Her father, it turns out, is a very well-known don in Komban village. While trying to escape Rahul witnesses a murder and is forcefully taken to the village. As for Meenama, Rahul is all that she has to help her escape from her village and her impending wedding to Tangaballi (Nikitin Dheer). What follows next is not hard to guess... but fun to watch.

Chennai Express is a likable movie. It starts off well with good humour and is engaging but gradually loose it's plot and gets slow in its approach. Deepika delivers a great performance while Shah Rukh Khan is charming as ever. Deepika looks lovely and her accent only adds to her overall performance. SRK is surely the undisputed King when it comes to romantic movies. He has proved that he can still play romantic roles at 40 without faltering. The movie has some beautiful locales and great cinematography. A disclaimer - the movie is PURELY for SRK loyalists and for those who like masala action movies. It is a one-time watch with low expectations. And if you watch it without being cynical, it is fun. It may sound biased but I would still say…GET ON THE TRAIN BABY!!!

Nidhi

The Wolverine

It may be a little late for the review but I think it is still worth sharing the story. For the uninitiated, Wolverine is a superhero (from the Marvel comics) and is the most iconic character of the X-Men series. This time around, the movie has been shot extensively in Japan and has some thrilling action sequences. The most loved clawed mutant is back… so here it goes....

The movie starts in the World War 2 era, where Logan, the Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is a POW in Japan near Nagasaki. A bomb attack by America leaves everything destroyed. He manages to rescue a Japanese soldier, Yashida (Haruhiko Yamanouchi) and exposes his abilities to the young soldier. The story then shifts to present day. Logan is living somewhere in the forests in isolation, struggling with his past. He has taken a vow to be non-violent and is secluded from the world. He is followed and tracked by a young girl Yukio ( Rila Fukushima) who convinces him to come to Japan, where, her master Yashida is on his death bed and wishes to meet Logan to say Goodbye. Yashida tries to convince Logan to transfer his mutant powers and immortality to him. Logan declines this request and is all set to leave the next day. His plans however change when Yashida dies and he stays back to attend his funeral. He soon realises that he is caught in the middle of a family feud. Logan ends up becoming the bodyguard of Mariko (Tao Okamoto), Yashida’s grand daughter, whose life is threatened. Why does Yashida want Logan’s power? Why is Mariko in danger? All these questions get answered....eventually...

The movie is well executed and engaging. Hugh Jackman is AMAZINGLY awesome as the Wolverine and is almost synonym with the character. He seems to have worked really hard on physique and appearance. He knows the character well and has a flair for these kind of action movies. There are some breath taking action sequences like the fight on a bullet train or fight between Logan and a mechanical Samurai. He is well equipped to handle all the troubles by himself…well he does have claws for a good reason;) Even the two heroines have performed some great action stunts.This one is to be surely watched by all the X-men series fans and the action movie buffs. A word of caution - This time the movie depicts more of Wolverine’s own feelings and his past rather than the out-and-out action that one has come to expect from the X-Men series. Overall it is a good movie and is sure to entertain all.

PS: Please sit through till the end of the credits as there is a surprise element which should not be missed.

Nidhi

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

AWE-INSPIRING is the story of our “Flying Sikh” - Milkha Singh, an Indian athlete who was a world champion runner and Olympian. His hard work and dedication is unbeatable and moving. His life has been one of endless struggles, a fact which was unknown to most of us. And with equal zeal and hard work his story has been interpreted on the big screen. The movie covers all the aspects of his life beautifully. It is a flawless film with a simple narration and just the perfect amount of emotions, drama, humour and sorrow. There is no comparison here - Farhan Akhtar is hands down the best Milkha Singh anyone could have portrayed. His depiction of Milkha Singh is inspirational and authentic.

The film starts with the 1960 Rome Olympic Games where, while leading in the race he is suddenly haunted by some painful memories of his childhood, because of which he eventually falls to the fourth place. The movie goes into a flashback to the time of partition of India which had caused a lot of chaos in Punjab. This leaves a huge impact on Milkha Singh. The events of the partition make Milkha numb and disjointed from the world for a brief period. He grows up and joins the Indian army in his youth, where he gets noticed by Havaldar Gurudev Singh (Pawan Malhotra). He taps Milkha’s strenghth and perseverance. Gurudev Singh mentors him for his first race for service commission where he gets selected. He trains hard with grit and determination with the aim of winning the Olympics. There is no looking back for Milkha Singh from here. For Melbourne Olympics he is trained by the Indian Coach Ranveer Singh (Yograj Singh). He loses the race in the qualifiers itself, beats himself for it and starts to train hard once again. In the turn of events a friendly match is organised between India & Pakistan which is to be led by Milkha Singh on India’s behalf. He refuses at the very mention of it. What is it that is holding him back? Well what happens is not hard to guess…. but is worth a watch.

Then movie is well crafted and superbly performed. It is kept simple and not unnecessarily glorified. Every actor has an important role and has done full justice to his character. Farhan Akhtar deserves an applause for his performance. He is stupendous and is believable as Milkha Singh. The rigorous training that he has undergone to play this part is quite obvious. Personally for me, he is the epitome of perfection. There are some great moments in the movie which are over-whelming. I particularly liked the scene in which Farhan Akhtar returns with his medals to his base and dedicates his victory and medals to his Guruji (Pawan Malhotra). The transition from sepia tone to current time is effectively done.The movie may seem a little slow to some, but the story and the performances keep you involved. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is clearly one of the best movies this summer. This one is mandatorily to be watched in theatres. I have not rated any movie in my blog till now. But for this great effort I rate it as 5/5 from my side.

Nidhi

World War Z

World War Z is inspired from the 2006 (apocalyptic horror) novel (also by the same name) by Max Brooks. While it is not the first movie on zombies, the movie is definitely well executed and makes a great impact on the viewers. It is after a long time we have seen a well-made Zombie movie that has everything that one would expect from a thriller like this. The fear, tension and the situations faced by the protagonist look real (even when the chances of Zombies occurring in real life are bleak :). The movie does not take much time to get on with the story and starts to unfold right from the word “go”. The Human race is once again in danger and this time it is the man–eating Zombies who are the threat. This is a race against time.

Former UN employee Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) is seen leading a routine life with his family. One morning he and his family are stuck in the heavy traffic in Philadelphia and are oblivious to the outbreak of the deadly virus in the city, which, is apparently spread internationally. They are soon attacked by Zombies and people bitten by Zombies. The Lane family daintily manages to escape and find refuge in an apartment complex from where they are later rescued by the helicopter sent by his ex-colleague Thierry (Fana Mokoena). Gerry is called to return to his previous job (of an investigator) to help investigate the virus and its origin which has spread across the globe. For further research Gerry is required to go to a US military base in South Korea, as it seems to be the first place to witness the massive outbreak. While on his journey Gerry smartly observes the clues which finally help him to understand what attracts the zombies and, more importantly, what repulses them... He hops from one city to another in search of the cure. On his journey he befriends a soldier and together they fight the zombies. What is this place that he is looking for? Where is the cure and will they find it in time? Is this the end of their worries or just the beginning…there is just one way to find out!!!

Performances are impressive. Brad Pitt justifies his role and entirely carries the movie on his shoulders. He is still admirable and proves his credibility. He is no doubt the most dependable star in his league. He is both charming and vulnerable at the same time. The 3D effects greatly work for this flick. The movie has some well picturised scenes, like the one in Israel where Zombies climb a wall like ants or like the one where they chase a helicopter. There is not a dull moment in the movie and it keeps you at the edge of your seat. If you are a fan of this genre, then I would surely recommend that you plunge yourself into this zombie land. This flick is one that should be watched in theatres and is definitely money well spent. A warning - strictly not for kids.

Nidhi

Man Of Steel

Man of Steel is a super hero movie based on the famous DC comic character Superman. After a forgettable reboot of the Superman franchise in 2006, producer Christopher Nolan manages to recreate the popular character successfully on celluloid.

The movie starts with planet Krypton’s imminent destruction and the ruling council being under the threat of a coup by a rebel General called Zod (Michael Shannon). Zod wants to rule the planet with the help of a "Codex". While on the other side Krypton's famous scientist Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and his wife Lara (Ayelet Zurere) launch their newborn son (Kal-El) on a spacecraft to planet Earth to save him from the destruction. Zod is finally captured by Kryptonian soldiers and is banished for few hundred years to the "Phantom Zone". However Krypton explodes and the city is destroyed. Meanwhile the infant Kal-El manages to reach Earth safely where he is raised as the adopted son of Jonathan and Martha Kent (Kevin Costner & Diane Lane) who name him Clark (Henry Cavill). Clark's Kryptonian physiology renders him with superhuman abilities on Earth. As a young boy he is confused and does not have too many friends among his peer group. As a young man he travels the world to discover where he has come from and what is his purpose in life. It is with time that he learns of his origin, the abilities that he possess and finally learns to live with these powers. Just when he thinks he can start leading a normal life.... all hell breaks loose. With so many years passing away Zod is also free and lands on Earth looking for revenge from Jor- El & his son. What does Zod want? What is the codex?

Man of Steel is a well executed Hollywood masala movie. Henry Cavill does a great job and is convincing as Superman. It was also a welcome change to see Russell Crowe and Kevin Costner after a long time. Michael Shannon also does not disappoint as General Zod and projects both the intelligence and the malice of the character with finesse. The movie has some high octane action sequences and is gripping throughout. Personally I feel after Christopher Reeve, it is Henry Cavill who can leave a mark and stay etched in our memories as Superman. Would recommend this movie to all the fans of this comic character and also to those who love action. It has some great 3D effects. Fan or no fan this is surely to be watched in theatres.

Nidhi

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Yeh Jawaani Hai Dewaani is a fresh take on friendship and romance. The movie has it's fair share of elements like drama, adventure, love, humour. It showcases the bond between friends and their aspirations. It focuses on today’s youth and their attitude towards life - their unconventional way of living and their dislike for the staple diet of Dal Chawal (read marriage). The concept is not new and is familiar to us in many ways. It is largely predictable but is narrated well.

Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor) is a carefree boy and dreams of roaming the world. He seeks adventure in day-to-day life and is spontaneous. He does not want to live the conventional way and get tied by marital bond. He is charming, lovable and flirtatious. Avi (Aditya Roy Kapoor) and Aditi (Kalki Keklan) are his best friends. They have a deep bond among themselves and share a great camaraderie. Those three friends plan a visit to Manali. Naina (Deepika Padukone), a medical student was a classmate of Bunny. She decides to take a break and join the trip with these three friends. During the journey they fall in love with each other, even if there is no similarity between them. But are they able to express it to each other? From here the movie takes an eight year leap and brings us to the present day. It is to be seen how these 4 meet again and under what circumstances! How their lives have changed and its impact on their friendship…

The movie is well executed and every actor deserves a special mention for their respective performances. The most refined and splendid for me is Farooque Sheikh (Bunny’s Father). He is wise, gentle and a buddy to his son. He effortlessly steals the few scenes he has. The movie gets slow and lengthy in the second half but, with a glittering star cast and beautiful locales, this minor flaw can be ignored. Madhuri Dixit is graceful as ever and looks resplendent in her rocking Ghagra..It is always a treat to see her perform…The movie has some breath taking visuals of snow-capped mountains and crystal clear lakes thrown in for some good measure. It is worth a watch especially for those who like romcoms and are huge Ranbir-Deepika fans. Surely to be watched in theatres.

Nidhi

Star Trek Into Darkness

Science fiction seems to be the flavour of the summer season. Here comes yet another Sci-fi action thriller - Star Trek Into Darkness, which is a sequel to 2009’s Star Trek. The loyal fans of the franchise have enough to be excited about!! The movie has lot of action, drama , comedy and a glimpse of an emotional Spock. Visually the film is great and has cleverly shown an enhanced, futuristic version of the original series while keeping the nostalgia intact.

Captain’s Log, star Date 14052013 ;)

The USS Enterprise is sent to Planet Nibiru to observe a civilisation. James Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock ( Zachary Quinto) attempt to save the inhabitants from an imminent volcano eruption which would wipe out the civilisation. When Spock’s life is in danger, Captain James Kirk breaks the Prime Directive (of not interfering or revealing themselves to the native population) by exposing the Enterprise to the planet's civilization during Spock's rescue. A number of indigenous people begin to worship the ship as it leaves. Post this event, back on Earth, Kirk is demoted to First Officer for breaking the rules and Admiral Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood) re-assumes command of the Enterprise. Meanwhile in London, a secret Starfleet section is bombed. Pike and his first officer attend an emergency meeting of high ranking officers at Starfleet headquarters. The meeting is attacked by a gunship piloted by John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch).
Fleet Admiral David Marcus (Peter Weller) authorizes Kirk to hunt down Harrison, who has fled to the Klingon homeworld of Kronos. The journey that starts from here leads Star fleet into Darkness. It is from here on that the mystery of John Harrison's identity is unraveled and his purpose of attacking Starfleet. Who is actually helping Harrison? The movie has some interesting twists to watch out for.

The movie lives up to it's expectations. Every character is well etched and has a prominent role in the movie. Their emotions, friendships and adventures are well presented. I personally like the bond between Captin Kirk and his first officer Spock and their witty one liners. Also the action sequence where Kirk and his nemesis John Harris fly through space to reach another ship is a delight. It is a good entertainer and should surely be watched in 3D. A word of caution – though fans of the Star Trek franchise may enjoy the movie, the new viewers may feel at a loss in some places in the film. But all said and done, fan or no fan, it is definitely worth a watch.

Nidhi

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Iron Man 3

AWESOME is how I would like to start the review. The much awaited sequel of the Iron Man series has released ......and with a Bang!!! Iron Man 3 has some high octane action sequences which are worth a watch. This time Tony Stark has more to him than his usual self. He is emotionally evolved, worried and shares his fears with Pepper Pots. Robert Downey Jr is hands down the Iron Man. No one other than him could have essayed the role of Iron Man with such ease and finesse. He is witty, charming and an undisputed superhero.

The movie starts with a flashback of New Year's Eve in 1999, where Tony Stark is with his scientist girlfriend Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall) and arrogantly avoids scientist Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce), who wants Stark's backing for his research - Advanced Idea Mechanics (AIM). The story moves to present day America where Stark is settled in his Malibu Mansion and has created many Iron Man suits - which causes many debates between Stark and Pepper. A series of attacks on America by the terrorist Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), who is the head of a terrorist organisation called The Ten Rings, leaves the intelligence agencies worried and bewildered. When Stark Industries security chief Happy Hogan (Stark's former bodyguard and loyalist) is caught in one such attack, Stark revives himself from his trance and issues a threat to the Mandarin....... who promptly responds by destroying Stark's home with helicopter gunships. Stark survives and finds himself in rural Tennessee. Due to lack of sufficient power in his suit he is unable to return and the world believes him to be dead. Meanwhile, Aldrich has not forgotten Stark's arrogance and rejection and is set to make him repay. Then comes a twist in the tale which only makes the movie more interesting. Who exactly is Mandarin? Who is helping him in these attacks? All the questions eventually get answered......and how!!!

Iron Man 3 is a well executed and a fast paced movie with some great performances. Every character has a well etched role. Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Kingsley, Guy Pearce have enacted their role well and are great to watch. It is interesting to watch how Tony Stark is able to control his different Iron Man suits with the help of Jarvis, his computer. I enjoyed the movie and would certainly recommend it. A word of caution - one can't help but feel that the story is more about Stark's own dilemmas rather than the Iron Man. Purists may be a little dissappointed. But, overall a good entertainer with lots of action, drama and some witty one liners. This one is surely to be watched in the theatres.


Nidhi

Oblivion

It may be a little late for the review but I think it would still be worth sharing the story. Oblivion is an innovative movie which is likely to appeal to science fiction fans. The movie rides on Tom Cruise’s performance and he does not disappoint…. and also looks appealing. The concept of the movie is interesting and one that I have not seen before. It depicts an Earth which was ravaged by an alien attack more than 60yrs ago.
It is 2077: Earth was attacked by aliens known to humans as the Scavengers, or "scavs" for short. In the war, the Moon was destroyed and the resulting upheaval and the use of nuclear weapons had ruined the Earth's ability to support life. Fortunately the surviving human beings managed to move to Titan, Saturn’s Moon. Tom Cruise plays Jack Harper, a drone repair man who also helps harvesting natural resources from Earth for people living in Titan . He lives in a work tower thousands of feet above the surface along with his communications officer Victoria (Andrea Riseborough). Jack and Victoria had undergone a security wipe five years prior, which erased their memories. They maintain contact with their boss Sally (Melissa Leo), via a video link and have two weeks left of their duty after which they will be joining the rest of humanity on Titan. While on operation, Jack suffers from recurring dreams and flashbacks of New York before the invasion and of an unknown woman. John and Victoria are nearly at the end of their mission and are ready to leave but things start to change with the arrival of Julia (Olga Kurylenko). It also appears a few people stayed behind to harvest the remaining resources and watch out for leftover “Scavs” which is unkown to John and Victoria. It leaves us with the question who are these people and what is their mission? And most importantly who is John Harper?

The movie has an interesting plot but is slow and lengthy in its approach. The story mainly revolves around Tom Cruise ( not that we are complaining) and Morgan Freeman and Olga Kurylenko make appearances only post the halfway mark. Morgan Freeman has a small role and Olga Kurylenko brings with her the necessary mystery to the plot. The movie also has its share of breath-taking visuals of snow-capped mountains, crystal clear lakes and pristine deserts thrown in for a good measure. I would say this one is purely for Sci-fi fans. Make sure to watch this movie, if not in theatres, then may be on a DVD.

Nidhi

Ek Thi Daayan

Ek Thi Daayan is an impressive supernatural thriller potraying the dark world of witchcraft and black magic. The narrative feels believable and is executed with slick audio visual effects. There are some really spooky scenes which will leave an impact on the audience.
The story goes like this....

Bobo (Emraan Hashmi) is a successful magician, who performs illusions on stage. But one day, while performing, something strange happens that reminds him of his tragic past which was unknown even to his girlfriend Tamara (Huma Qureshi). A terrifying childhood story resurfaces in which a supernatural power, in the form of a daayan destroys Bobo's family - his father and younger sister, leaving him orphaned and alone. This is not all, the daayan promises to return to haunt him forever. Just when Bobo feels he has moved out of the shadow of his past, things take a turn for the worse.

He feels the presence of a Daayan in his surroundings and thus begin the hallucinations. These hallucinations become a subject of many an altercations between him and Tamara. Things reach a stage where he starts questioning his own beliefs and visions. He then seeks psychiatric help from his childhood psychiatrist Dr. Palit who puts him under regression hypnosis and makes him relive his distant past. This begins his quest to unravel the mystery that has haunted him since childhood. The unexpected entry of a Lisa Dutt (Kalki Koechlin) only makes his belief stronger in the presence of some supernatural powers around him.

The entire movie is well crafted, however, the first half is more well defined and gripping. Wish the climax of the movie had more spooky scenes, like in the first half. Overall the movie is enjoyable and all the actors have done a great job. Emraan Hashmi and Konkana Sen look really convincing and deserve a special mention. The child actors who have portrayed young Bobo and his sister Misha look convincing and are successful in making the audience feel the fear that they go through. Would recommend this movie as it a good weekend entertainer, though not necessarily for the faint hearted.


Nidhi

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

G.I. Joe: Retaliation is a sci - fi action movie, sequel to 2009's G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra. It includes new star cast and some new characters. All those who have been waiting for the sequel the wait is over...so, here goes...

The G.I. Joes are framed for stealing nuclear warheads from Pakistan by Zartan (Arnold Vosloo), a cobra operative. The team is assaulted by their own people and are turned away by their own government. A military strike is planed against the Joes and many are killed in this unseen military strike with Duke (Channing Tatum) as one of the casualties. Roadblock (Dwayne Johnson), Flint (D.J. Cotrona) and Lady Jaye (Adrianne Palicki) are the only survivors.On the other hand, Storm Shadow (Byung-hun Lee) and ex-Joe Firefly (Ray Stevenson) rescue Cobra Commander (Luke Bracey) from Germany. To avenge the assault on their team Roadblock, Flint, and Lady Jaye return to the United States and set up a base of operations in a rundown gym.
Roadblock leads them to retired General Joe Colton (Bruce Willis) who provides them with weapons and helps them to infiltrate a fundraising event that the President will be attending. The Joes begin their investigations here, taking them on a roller-coaster ride and twists in the plot.

The movie has some weak points in the storyline but earns a big score in terms of execution and high end action sequences, especially with the mountain fight between Ninjas and the Snake Eye. It's a treat to watch Bruce Willis fighting the bad guys (again) but one only wishes there were more scenes for him. Dwayne Johnson gives a brilliant performance and justifies his role. Jonathan Pryce has a pivotal role in the movie. The 3D effect is great and the movie is visually appealing. Would recommend this movie to action lovers and to those who have been fans of the G.I Joe series or action figures.


Nidhi

Olympus Has Fallen

This is an out -and- out action thriller with an impressive star cast. Attack on the White House or the kidnapping of the President is something we have seen in the past but this one does justice in its own way. It takes the audience through a roller coaster ride of the invasion of the White House and the events that follow. The nation is once again united in it's fight to regain it's hurt pride and, like each time, America comes out on top. Even the most trained and ruthless terrorists are mistaken to underestimate them. Don't we all know how grand America is........

Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is a Secret Service agent assigned to head the Presidential Detail. He maintains a personal, friendly relationship with President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart), First Lady Margaret Asher (Ashley Judd), and their son Connor Asher (Finley Jacobsen). On a drive from Camp David on the snowy night of Christmas Eve, the car transporting the President and First Lady crashes resulting in the death of the First Lady.

Eighteen months after this tragic incident, Banning is working at the Treasury Department, within eyesight of the White House. He wants to return to being a Secret Service agent on the Presidential detail however, President Asher does not allow this as Banning brings up memories of the night Margaret died. During a meeting at the White House on July 5, 2012 between Asher and the South Korean Prime Minister, a Korean group leads an attack against the White House. Some of the members of the terrorist group, disguised as tourists, detonate a car bomb and start gunning down every person on the street. The assault ends with the Koreans capturing the White House and holding the President and several top officials hostage in the White House bunker. The group is lead by Kang Yeonsak (Rick Yune), an ex-North Korean terrorist, who has two goals. The first is to use the President as a hostage to force the United States to withdraw from Korea, allowing the decades old civil war to finish. His second goal is a lot more sinister and is revealed only in the second half of the film, adding the necessary intrigue to the plot.


Olympus has fallen is a fast paced Hollywood masala movie with lots of action and some witty dialogues. Gerard Butler is good as an action hero and should do more such movies while he still can. Though Morgan Freeman has given a power packed performance (as always) one only wishes his role was meatier. Aaron Eckhart looked convincing as the President. The movie depicts patriotism for The United States Of America and for its President, who's life is more important than anything else.The drama element in the movie is constant and a deep anxiety is built up in the Pentagon as well as in the audience. There are a few aspects which are not convincing - like the air attacks made by the terrorists at the White House and how they were not traced by the air force in time. These few flaws aside, it is a good weekend watch and is worth the money spent.


Nidhi

Jolly LLB

Jolly LLB is a satire on our legal system and the bizarre situations witnessed in the court rooms. It showcases how the rich manages to get away with his crimes while the poor waits for his rights and justice. It takes a dig on an essential issue of the society, which is delayed judgement and the corrupt judicial system. The movie starts with a hit-and-run accident case involving a drunk rich kid in a Land Cruiser and poor men sleeping on Delhi pavement. The pavement dwellers die and a case is filed against the rich guy. But his family hires a powerful and manipulative (and arrogant) lawyer for this case and gets the boy released.

While on the other side we meet Jagdish Tyagi, nicknamed Jolly (Arshad Warsi), a simple yet ambitious lawyer from a small town, Meerut. His simplicity and small cases are not something he is happy with. He moves from Meerut to Delhi hoping to make it big and establish himself as a lawyer. He idolises Tejinder Rajpal (Boman Irani), who has made it big for himself. He is the devil's advocate, manipulative and has a towering presence among his fellow colleagues and judges.

Jolly in a bid to get instant fame and recognition files a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) to reopen the hit-and-run case and takes on Tejinder Rajpal. What follows is the quest for justice and morality in a field filled with corruption and manipulation. The story that unfolds in the court room is gripping. The movie is likeable with well etched characters. There is power packed performances by Boman Irani as an arrogant and know-it-all lawyer and Arshad Warsi a simple and inexperienced lawyer. Saurabh Shukla, as the seasoned judge delivers an applaud worthy performance. The only time the movie gets slow is with its unnecessary songs and the simultaneous love story of Jolly.

Would recommend to watch this movie to get a glimpse of the sad state of affairs of our country's judicial system. The stacks are set against the poor right from the word go while the rich have it easy with all their money power. Though the movie is entertaining and presented as a comedy, the message is dead serious.


Nidhi

Oz The Great and Powerful

Here's yet another 21st centuary take on a fantasy tale of "The Wizard of Oz". This is an adventure movie about Oscar Diggs (Nicknamed Oz), a small-time Kansas magician and a con artist in a travelling circus. With his assistant, Frank, Oscar runs a magic show which mesmerises the audience but is soon revealed to be a fraud when he is unable to heal a young girl. He uses his charm and bag of tricks to woo women but, is finally chased down by a strongman for wooing his girlfriend. And as luck would have it, a cyclone approaches the town and Oscar is whisked away in his hot air balloon to the mystical land of Oz (the city shares his name).

The land of Oz looks completely magical and strange. It has crystal mountains, spiked tooth fairies, flying monkeys, water falls, and everything that one would expect from a fairy land. Oscar meets a lovely young woman Theodora, who is convinced that he is the wizard foretold by the legends to be the redeemer of the kingdom of Oz from the clutches of the evil witch. Oz heads towards the city and meets Theodora's sister Evanor. Evanor tells him about her evil witch sister, Glinda and convinces him to destroy her by breaking her magic wand. On his journey he befriends a china doll and a flying monkey.

The movie is well presented and has great 3D effect. The magical world created is spell binding and is splashed with beautiful colours and imagery. It's funny in places and has some likeable characters. Similar to the 1939 movie, the film's opening sequence is presented in black and white (to great effect) and transitions into colour when the protagonist reaches Oz. It is not completely similar to the old movie "The Wizard of Oz" or the novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". All in all, it is a fantasy movie which is likely to be enjoyed more by kids than by adults.

Nidhi

Sahib, Biwi Aur Gangster Returns

 

Movies like Paan Singh Tomar and Gangs of Wasseypur (I & II) has put up Tigmanshu Dhulia on a must watch list of Bollywood film-makers. The expectations are high when you enter the theater for his sequel to his earlier installment of Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster, especially with Irfan Khan in the casting. Original Sahib (Jimmy Shergill) and Biwi (Mahie Gill) are joined by Inder Singh (Irfan Khan) and Ranjana Singh (Soha Ali Khan) in the sequel. The plot takes time to build the new characters and continues with wheel chair bound Aditya Singh (Jimmy) and alcoholic MLA Madhavi (Mahie Gill). While Aditya Singh is recovering to get on his feet and control the political scenario, Madhavi is constantly in a drunk state hardly able to stand. Aditya Singh wants to marry Ranjana who is in love with Inder Singh who is rival of Aditya Singh. This basic equation forms the entire basis of the 2:30 mins movie with some supporting small casts. 

Twisted storyline with love, sex aur dhokha and a fistful of revenge are the ingredients used to come up with this dark, dramatic and lustful story. What's in it to look for- Brilliant performances by Irfan and Jimmy as Inder and Aditya Singh respectively, while Mahie Gill  runs into a risk of being stereotyped with same kind of roles. The dialogues are well etched with humor and wit. Small characters like politician watching porn, Inders brother (Pravesh Rana) delivering his own justice are to look out for. 

However, on the down side, the pace is slow and unnecessary item song by Mugdha Godse slows it down even further. The editing is not upto the mark which could have easily taken away 30 mins. After initial entry of Madhavi her role looks repetitive and climax ends abruptly without satiating the revenge which was built up throughout the movie. Its definitely not Tigmanshu's finest works but watch with lower expectations and you might like it. I personally felt the first part was much better.

I, Me Aur Main

This is a rom-com which strives to explore the dynamics of various human relationships (something which you may have seen many times before). The story revolves around a music producer, Ishaan Sabarwal, who launches new talents for a music company. Since childhood he has been fed on a steady diet of "I'm the best" by his over indulgent mother who pampers him beyond means - sometimes at the expense of his sister's feelings. He grows up to be a selfish and self centred man, riding high on ego.

He lives with his girlfriend, Anushka, completely oblivious of her feelings and expectations. So much so that he is not even willing to participate in general functioning of the house with something even as small as a milkman's bill. He takes her for granted and takes every criticism with his signature style of air boxing and repeating to himself - "I'm the best". He parties while she is away and even forgets the all important "meet the parents" date in Pune. Drama unfolds when he is thrown out of the house by his girlfriend after he refuses to settle down.

Problems take another turn for the worse when he is fired from work and has to launch a new talent all by himself. On this journey he meets a happy-go-lucky girl called Gauri who, quite conveniently, is his new neighbour. Gauri makes him believe in himself and his dreams. And just when he thought things seem to be working out, his past catches up with him...

Even though most of the movie is predictable, the ending is not cliched - which is likeable. The movie overall is a little slow and performances are average. The lead actors, John Abraham, Chitrangda Singh and Prachi Desai, have given mediocre performances. On the contrary Zarina Wahab, the mother and Mini Mathur, the sister, have essayed their roles effortlessly. It's a one time watch only if you go with low expectations.

Nidhi

Jack The Giant Slayer

This is a modern spin on a fairy tale which we all may have heard. An adventure movie based on an ancient war between humans and the giants. The film tells the story about a farm boy named Jack who grows up hearing the legend of King Erik, who defeated giants of Gantua, a land between heaven and Earth.There is also a princess,Isabelle, who grows up hearing the same story from her mother and yearns for an adventure. In her quest to seek an adventure she runs from the royal fineries to see how the world really works. As for the giants, they are massive,ugly, villainous  and are waiting for another chance to take over the world below. With a perfectly timed storm (as seen only in movies) the war is reignited when Jack unintentionally reopens the gateway for these giants onto earth by exposing the beans to rain.

The giants have been waiting for their revenge and are ready to reclaim the land they once lost to humans. It is upto Jack now to save the world and the princess who is captured by the giants. And just when you feel the end is close and  predictable..wait for it..there is more to come!!! The movie, even though it is a fantasy, has its share of violence (though nothing very graphic). It is an entertaining adventure, well acted and a reasonably fun tale to watch with great sound and 3D effect. So movie buffs who want to see a fantasy adventure should give this one a shot.

It is a fast paced movie with the entire tale being rolled into 115 minutes.

I would say fee-fi-fo-fum..Watch the movie for some good fun.

Nidhi

The First Step...

Being an avid movie buffs that we are, we thought of investing some time in giving review to friends/family on the latest movies.  Firstly It would help us putting our perceptions/views in a more thoughtful and constructed way rather than 1 liners on Facebook. And secondly, it can help friends/family who haven't got time to catch the movie in the release weekend. Hopefully help them save couple of bucks :)

So, here we present a joint venture blog started by Nidhi and Pradip to give everyone an unbiased and unpaid review of the movies which we have seen. The reviews will be given keeping in mind the mango people and their sensibilities. The reviews you can expect are not going to be hi-fi like Rajeev Masand or lame like TOI for sure. We will try to review more on a general basis and without any bias towards an actor/actress/director/production company (PS: we are not getting paid guys).

We would try to rate the movie and it would be great of you can respond back with your rating which can act as a validation if we are able to meet the peoples mindsets. Hopefully this would continue with the same zeal with which it started with the support of friends.

So guys lets review.

Regards

Nidhi&Pradip