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