The much hyped and awaited AA hits the screens this week. While it looks fresh and exciting, it could be very misleading.
Few points to note before buying your tickets:
1. Are you in love with Ranbir/Priyanka - Yes
2. Do you think fancy locations across America = A movie - Yes
3. Do you think being able to predict every single scene of a film is exciting - Yes
4. Are you in the mood to walk out of a movie feeling like you've been robbed - Yes
If 3 answers match, run to the halls now !!!
When the promos went on air, AA looked like a fresh road trip film across the stunning landscapes of USA, alas...it's essentially the same old wine in the same old bottle.
Akash(Ranbir) and Kiara(Priyanka) want to commit suicide. Plagued by business and relationship issues respectively, they are both set to jump off a bridge when they bychance to meet each other. They decide to enjoy life to the fullest for 20 days and jointly leave this world on new years eve. What follows is how they push themselves to go crazy and live out their wishes.
On the outset, the premise is very interesting as one expects a fun filled adventure across the country but the narrative is rather old fashioned and goes down the emotional path.
The first half has some fun moments but after that the story only goes downhill. Cliched, boring and stretched Anjaana Anjaani offers nothing new.
DOP Ravi.K.Chandran doesn't make most of the scenic locations. Other than the song picturizations, the visuals are average. Songs by Vishal-Shekhar are fantastic. After a while, there is an album that is a complete winner.
Flavour of the season Ranbir Kapoor doesn't impress. Mumbling through many of his scenes he blunders on pronunciations though the whole film. (read: Zich for Zilch). His weakest film to date. Priyanka Chopra is fun to watch but try's to hard. For an ace actor like her, the role doesn't pack enough meat in. Zayed Khan is terrible and emotes like a brick.
Director Siddharth Anand entertained in Salaam Namaste & Bachna ae Hasseno but fails to deliver. Another mediocre script coupled with superb marketing to fool the audience. Excessive melodrama and a drag of a second half ensures you don't walk out with a smile on your face.
To sum it up AA is not worth the effort. A film that carried huge expectations but misses the mark by a long shot. Forget this one, catch Robot or Khichdi instead.
Rating: 2/5
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Khichdi - The Movie - Review:
India's first TV show to Movie is here. After developing a cult status few years back,t he hilarious Khichdi family is back to entertain us all. Does it work?
It has some great doses of laughter and is reminiscent of the show.
Few points to note before buying your tickets:
1. Are you a fan of the show Khichdi - Yes
2. Are you a proud Gujarati or one who loves the race - Yes
3. Do you love mindless, stupid, nonsensical humour - Yes
If all 3 match, go for this one. If you don't know the characters, I wouldn't suggest this comic caper.
The plot(if any) is simple. Himanshu(J.D) wants to get married and finds his love in his neighbour Parminder's sister Parminder. The twist is, he doesn't want the simple happy ending, he wants it filmi style. i.e. with song, dance, fights, separation and climax. His dysfunctional family decides to assist him in making this happen, setting the film up for some Hansa(Supriya Pathak), Praful(Rajeev Mehta) & Babuji(Anang Desai) mayhem.
While the story is hardly ever making sense, the film works in its punches. Time and again there are howlarious sequences that will have you in splits. The scene where a condolence meet becomes a song-affair with Paani puri being served is stupendous. The way the characters have been created is praise-worthy.
Though the film stands at only 2 hrs, it does feel a tad bit stretched. The gags do get monotonous sometimes and one feels it could have been much better. The absence of Vandana Pathak as Jayshree is a big downer as well.
Where the film shines is in its performance. Seasoned veterans of the game, each one of them deliver. Supriya Pathak delivers a knockout performance in her vintage style. Rajeev Mehta and Anand Desai are stellar as well. J.D is great while Aatish Kapadia sneaks in a rib-tickling cameo.
Writer-Director Aatish Kapadia deserves credit. His characterization is so strong that one remembers the cast by their screen names. Though the film is good fun, one feels he could have done way better. The plot could have been much stronger and imaginative.
All in all, Khichdi is for those who fancy the show. Visiting the same family is entertaining, albeit a bit disappointing if you expect too much. With lots more to watch this weekend (read: Robot, Anjaana A), this ones your mid-week family watch.
Rating: 3/5
It has some great doses of laughter and is reminiscent of the show.
Few points to note before buying your tickets:
1. Are you a fan of the show Khichdi - Yes
2. Are you a proud Gujarati or one who loves the race - Yes
3. Do you love mindless, stupid, nonsensical humour - Yes
If all 3 match, go for this one. If you don't know the characters, I wouldn't suggest this comic caper.
The plot(if any) is simple. Himanshu(J.D) wants to get married and finds his love in his neighbour Parminder's sister Parminder. The twist is, he doesn't want the simple happy ending, he wants it filmi style. i.e. with song, dance, fights, separation and climax. His dysfunctional family decides to assist him in making this happen, setting the film up for some Hansa(Supriya Pathak), Praful(Rajeev Mehta) & Babuji(Anang Desai) mayhem.
While the story is hardly ever making sense, the film works in its punches. Time and again there are howlarious sequences that will have you in splits. The scene where a condolence meet becomes a song-affair with Paani puri being served is stupendous. The way the characters have been created is praise-worthy.
Though the film stands at only 2 hrs, it does feel a tad bit stretched. The gags do get monotonous sometimes and one feels it could have been much better. The absence of Vandana Pathak as Jayshree is a big downer as well.
Where the film shines is in its performance. Seasoned veterans of the game, each one of them deliver. Supriya Pathak delivers a knockout performance in her vintage style. Rajeev Mehta and Anand Desai are stellar as well. J.D is great while Aatish Kapadia sneaks in a rib-tickling cameo.
Writer-Director Aatish Kapadia deserves credit. His characterization is so strong that one remembers the cast by their screen names. Though the film is good fun, one feels he could have done way better. The plot could have been much stronger and imaginative.
All in all, Khichdi is for those who fancy the show. Visiting the same family is entertaining, albeit a bit disappointing if you expect too much. With lots more to watch this weekend (read: Robot, Anjaana A), this ones your mid-week family watch.
Rating: 3/5
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Dabangg - Review
The most eagerly awaited film of the year is finally here - DABANGG
Few points to note before buying your tickets:
1. Will you look for logic - NO
2. Will you love seeing action that will put Rajnikanth to shame - YES
3. Will you whistle when Salman enthralls you with his performance - YES
4. Will you dance to "Munni Badnaam hui" - YES
5. Will you watch this at a multiplex - NO
-if 3 answers match, buy now !!
Salman returns this EID with what can arguably be called his most explosive performance to date. If Wanted was of your taste, Dabangg will be too. If not, do not read further.
Set in Uttar Pradesh, the film revolves around the life of Chulbul Pandey(Salman.K) a fearless cop with an attitude. He pummels people with ease, makes away with the loot and mouths one-liners with panache. He doesn't get along with his step father(Vinod Khanna) and wasted-unemployed brother Makhi(Arbaaz) but loves his mother(Dimple) dearly. Set almost in a Sholay-like village setup, the goons fear Chulbul and their leader Cheddi Singh(Sonu Sood), a young politico wants to have him dead. There's also his love interest, the reticent Rajo(Sonakshi).
Though there's no compelling plot here, its just the way all these characters play off each other that's a joy to watch. The film starts off with a bang, drawing you into the story in minutes. The only negative is that it dips sharply before the interval but makes up in the second half. At just 2hrs 5min, its crisp.
The action sequences by Vijayan are stupendous and are sure to send the crowd hollering. Most songs are average but Munni Badnaam Hui is definitely the highlight of the film.
But what is Dabangg? Its Salman Khan. He looks outstanding, into the character and plays Chulbul Pandey with flamboyance. His screen presence is towering and he tears apart this tailor made role. People might question his acting prowess, but none would argue that he roars through Dabangg, in every single frame.
Sonakshi Sinha has an earthy, old-school sex appeal and looks beautiful. Her acting mettle doesn't appear tested as you can count the number of dialogues she has.
The supporting cast has noteworthy performances from Mahesh Manjrekar, Dimple and Sonu Sood.
Debutant Abhinav Kashyap delivers. While the direction might not be the best, his dialogues are brilliant. He has an interesting style, reminiscent of the films from the 70's.
To sum it up, Dabangg doesn't pretend. Don't look for whys and hows, just take it all in. Soak in the unreal action, over-the-top dialogues and a Salman Khan experience that won't long be forgotten. At the box office, this one should be huge.
Raing: 4/5
P.S - If you don't like Salman, do not watch Dabangg.
Few points to note before buying your tickets:
1. Will you look for logic - NO
2. Will you love seeing action that will put Rajnikanth to shame - YES
3. Will you whistle when Salman enthralls you with his performance - YES
4. Will you dance to "Munni Badnaam hui" - YES
5. Will you watch this at a multiplex - NO
-if 3 answers match, buy now !!
Salman returns this EID with what can arguably be called his most explosive performance to date. If Wanted was of your taste, Dabangg will be too. If not, do not read further.
Set in Uttar Pradesh, the film revolves around the life of Chulbul Pandey(Salman.K) a fearless cop with an attitude. He pummels people with ease, makes away with the loot and mouths one-liners with panache. He doesn't get along with his step father(Vinod Khanna) and wasted-unemployed brother Makhi(Arbaaz) but loves his mother(Dimple) dearly. Set almost in a Sholay-like village setup, the goons fear Chulbul and their leader Cheddi Singh(Sonu Sood), a young politico wants to have him dead. There's also his love interest, the reticent Rajo(Sonakshi).
Though there's no compelling plot here, its just the way all these characters play off each other that's a joy to watch. The film starts off with a bang, drawing you into the story in minutes. The only negative is that it dips sharply before the interval but makes up in the second half. At just 2hrs 5min, its crisp.
The action sequences by Vijayan are stupendous and are sure to send the crowd hollering. Most songs are average but Munni Badnaam Hui is definitely the highlight of the film.
But what is Dabangg? Its Salman Khan. He looks outstanding, into the character and plays Chulbul Pandey with flamboyance. His screen presence is towering and he tears apart this tailor made role. People might question his acting prowess, but none would argue that he roars through Dabangg, in every single frame.
Sonakshi Sinha has an earthy, old-school sex appeal and looks beautiful. Her acting mettle doesn't appear tested as you can count the number of dialogues she has.
The supporting cast has noteworthy performances from Mahesh Manjrekar, Dimple and Sonu Sood.
Debutant Abhinav Kashyap delivers. While the direction might not be the best, his dialogues are brilliant. He has an interesting style, reminiscent of the films from the 70's.
To sum it up, Dabangg doesn't pretend. Don't look for whys and hows, just take it all in. Soak in the unreal action, over-the-top dialogues and a Salman Khan experience that won't long be forgotten. At the box office, this one should be huge.
Raing: 4/5
P.S - If you don't like Salman, do not watch Dabangg.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
We are Family - Review
"yeh mere maa ke kangan hai"
If after 2 hours this line works for you, this is your film.
When you walk into a Dharma Productions film, you know its all about the gloss, glamour and overdose of emotions; but when you walk out of We are Family, its only going to be about anger, frustration and bewilderment. Kajol, Kareena and Rampal come to you in this Stepmom remake, one which requires a lot of patience to sit through.
Story is simple. Maya-Aman(Kajol-Rampal) are divorced. They have 3 "o-so-cute kids" who live with their mom. Aman and Shreya(Kareena) are in love. An attempt to make Shreya interact with the kids doesn't quite work out. Aman tries hard but in vain only to one day learn that Maya is terminally ill and needs someone to take care of the children. Then on begins the transitioning of Shreya into a motherly position with all its hiccups and tomfoolery.
As this is a remake, most of the story holds true from the original; what gets added is the unnecessary masala, illogical lies and sappy dialogues. The first half is quite tolerable with some fun scenes here and there, but its the second half thats the true culprit. The narrative drags to a point of attempted murder.Sure, the film has some brilliant moments, but they are few and hard to come by.
There are a few things that truly stand out in this film. Kajols restrained performance as the broding mother is fantastic. It's pure joy watching her in a role which she nails perfectly. Kareena looks stunning in every frame and plays her role beautifully. It is great seeing her supporting Kajol rather than overpower her. Child actor Diya Sonecha too is fabulous.
Director Siddharth Malhotra disappoints. Just because you take a presumably successful formula with two leading ladies doesn't make it a good film. It lacks soul doesn't maintain the connect.
To end this, i'll just say that We are Family is not a good product. Yes, it will make most women above the age of 15 cry, but chances are it will make anyone who paid for the ticket cry as well. Let this one slip, all eyes on Dabangg for next Friday.
Rating: 2/5
If after 2 hours this line works for you, this is your film.
When you walk into a Dharma Productions film, you know its all about the gloss, glamour and overdose of emotions; but when you walk out of We are Family, its only going to be about anger, frustration and bewilderment. Kajol, Kareena and Rampal come to you in this Stepmom remake, one which requires a lot of patience to sit through.
Story is simple. Maya-Aman(Kajol-Rampal) are divorced. They have 3 "o-so-cute kids" who live with their mom. Aman and Shreya(Kareena) are in love. An attempt to make Shreya interact with the kids doesn't quite work out. Aman tries hard but in vain only to one day learn that Maya is terminally ill and needs someone to take care of the children. Then on begins the transitioning of Shreya into a motherly position with all its hiccups and tomfoolery.
As this is a remake, most of the story holds true from the original; what gets added is the unnecessary masala, illogical lies and sappy dialogues. The first half is quite tolerable with some fun scenes here and there, but its the second half thats the true culprit. The narrative drags to a point of attempted murder.Sure, the film has some brilliant moments, but they are few and hard to come by.
There are a few things that truly stand out in this film. Kajols restrained performance as the broding mother is fantastic. It's pure joy watching her in a role which she nails perfectly. Kareena looks stunning in every frame and plays her role beautifully. It is great seeing her supporting Kajol rather than overpower her. Child actor Diya Sonecha too is fabulous.
Director Siddharth Malhotra disappoints. Just because you take a presumably successful formula with two leading ladies doesn't make it a good film. It lacks soul doesn't maintain the connect.
To end this, i'll just say that We are Family is not a good product. Yes, it will make most women above the age of 15 cry, but chances are it will make anyone who paid for the ticket cry as well. Let this one slip, all eyes on Dabangg for next Friday.
Rating: 2/5
Friday, August 20, 2010
Lafangey Parindey - Review:
So the Yashraj camp hasn't quite impressed us in the last few years with some very questionable films leave aside the odd one. Their new outing, with a hit-miss director Pradeep Sarkar is a love story of a blind girl and a rouge fighter. Does he get it right the 3rd time?
Despite its drawbacks, Lafangey Parindey is an honest film with a lot of heart.
The story is simple. Rouge figther one-shot-Nandu(Neil Nitin.M) is the toast of his basti. He fights blindfolded and takes people down with a single blow. A tapori of sorts, he works for the wrong people with clean intentions.
Also in the same basti lives Pinky(Deepika P), a superb dancer with big aspirations. A freak accident renders her blind and from there begins the journey of this film. Nandu will teach her to see, Pinky will teach him to dance. A simple tale of romance with added elements of masala make this an extremely predictable yet likable watch.
What works for this film is that it is believable. Unlike the fodder Yashraj has always fed its audience, this one is far from exotic locales and sari clad beauties. A De-glam look for the actors coupled with some great dialogues does the trick.
Surprisingly, it is Deepika Padukone who takes the honours in the acting department. Her best performance to date, this is the first time she has shown that she can truly act. Affable and subtle, she strikes all the right chords.
Neil Nitin Mukesh too, delivers a brilliant performance, only to be pulled back by his non-tapori looks. The chemistry between them is outstanding and some scenes like the one in the movie-hall or when she is teaching him to dance just bring a smile to your face. Piyush Mishra is a natural.
Director Pradeep Sarkar, who tortured audiences with Laaga chunri mein Daag redeems himself. Clocking in at 2 hours, the film is perfectly timed. The music too is great with Man Lafanga being the pick. Where this film falters is its not so innovative storyline. There is nothing here you haven't seen before.
All in all, Lafangey Parindey is a film with soul, one which is definitely worth a weekend watch. Go in without expectations and come out pleasantly surprised.
Rating: 3/5
Despite its drawbacks, Lafangey Parindey is an honest film with a lot of heart.
The story is simple. Rouge figther one-shot-Nandu(Neil Nitin.M) is the toast of his basti. He fights blindfolded and takes people down with a single blow. A tapori of sorts, he works for the wrong people with clean intentions.
Also in the same basti lives Pinky(Deepika P), a superb dancer with big aspirations. A freak accident renders her blind and from there begins the journey of this film. Nandu will teach her to see, Pinky will teach him to dance. A simple tale of romance with added elements of masala make this an extremely predictable yet likable watch.
What works for this film is that it is believable. Unlike the fodder Yashraj has always fed its audience, this one is far from exotic locales and sari clad beauties. A De-glam look for the actors coupled with some great dialogues does the trick.
Surprisingly, it is Deepika Padukone who takes the honours in the acting department. Her best performance to date, this is the first time she has shown that she can truly act. Affable and subtle, she strikes all the right chords.
Neil Nitin Mukesh too, delivers a brilliant performance, only to be pulled back by his non-tapori looks. The chemistry between them is outstanding and some scenes like the one in the movie-hall or when she is teaching him to dance just bring a smile to your face. Piyush Mishra is a natural.
Director Pradeep Sarkar, who tortured audiences with Laaga chunri mein Daag redeems himself. Clocking in at 2 hours, the film is perfectly timed. The music too is great with Man Lafanga being the pick. Where this film falters is its not so innovative storyline. There is nothing here you haven't seen before.
All in all, Lafangey Parindey is a film with soul, one which is definitely worth a weekend watch. Go in without expectations and come out pleasantly surprised.
Rating: 3/5
Friday, August 13, 2010
Peepli Live - Review
When the promos of Peepli Live hit the screens, they failed to really impress, but with Aamir Khan's association, the project ends up burdening a lot of expectations. A motley crew of relatively unknown actors with a greenhorn director, does this one deserve a watch?
Definitely, this is one beautifully crafted satire.
Two poor farmer brothers, Natha(Omkar Das) and Budhia(Raghuvir Yadav) have a debt on their heads. They face loosing their land to the banks and go to the local leader for help. He suggests that one of them commit suicide so as to avail the governments Rs.1 Lac compensation for the family. Natha decides to bear the sacrifice and soon the media catches wind of the news. What then transpires is the classic overplay of the media coupled with political vendettas & games. Does Natha die? You have to watch the film to find out.
The splendor of Peepli Live lies in its light approach to such a heavy topic. While it touches all bases, it does not get preachy. Very well written and handled, it has doses of laughter and entertains. The film has an earthy flavour with its fair share of expletives and is well captured by lensman Shanker Raman.
The starcast, mostly unknown is stellar. There is not one name we can single out. Main protagonists Raghuvir Yadav and Omkar Das are great, Farrukh Jaffar as Amma is outstanding and has some hilarious scenes which leave a mark. Malaika Shenoy and Vishal Sharma as journalists are exceptional.
First timer writer-director Anusha Rizvi scores a winner on many fronts. Not only does this film entertain but it passes on a subtle message of farmer suicides without annoying you. Crisp and to the point, it works.
To sum it up, Aamir Khan shines as a producer yet again, picking an art-house apple and packaging it for the commercial market. He can do no wrong can he?
I strongly recommend this tragicomedy for an engaging weekend watch.
Rating: 3.5/5
Definitely, this is one beautifully crafted satire.
Two poor farmer brothers, Natha(Omkar Das) and Budhia(Raghuvir Yadav) have a debt on their heads. They face loosing their land to the banks and go to the local leader for help. He suggests that one of them commit suicide so as to avail the governments Rs.1 Lac compensation for the family. Natha decides to bear the sacrifice and soon the media catches wind of the news. What then transpires is the classic overplay of the media coupled with political vendettas & games. Does Natha die? You have to watch the film to find out.
The splendor of Peepli Live lies in its light approach to such a heavy topic. While it touches all bases, it does not get preachy. Very well written and handled, it has doses of laughter and entertains. The film has an earthy flavour with its fair share of expletives and is well captured by lensman Shanker Raman.
The starcast, mostly unknown is stellar. There is not one name we can single out. Main protagonists Raghuvir Yadav and Omkar Das are great, Farrukh Jaffar as Amma is outstanding and has some hilarious scenes which leave a mark. Malaika Shenoy and Vishal Sharma as journalists are exceptional.
First timer writer-director Anusha Rizvi scores a winner on many fronts. Not only does this film entertain but it passes on a subtle message of farmer suicides without annoying you. Crisp and to the point, it works.
To sum it up, Aamir Khan shines as a producer yet again, picking an art-house apple and packaging it for the commercial market. He can do no wrong can he?
I strongly recommend this tragicomedy for an engaging weekend watch.
Rating: 3.5/5
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Dinner for Schmucks - Review
A remake of the french film "The Dinner Game" and our very own version "Bheja Fry", classic comedians Steve Carell and Paul Rudd come together in this mad comic caper.
Does director Jay Roach of spin the same madness as the Austin Powers/Meet the parents series?
Sadly, the film starts off on the right note but eventually looses steam.
For those who haven't seen the classic Bheja fry, this is the story.
Tim(Paul Rudd) has some brilliant ideas at work and needs to impress his boss. He gets invited to a private monthly dinner at the boss's house which has a theme, "dinner for idiots". The person who is accompanied by the biggest schmuck is the toast of the dinner. A driving accident helps Tim finds Barry(Carell), a lonesome IRS official who has a weird hobby of taxiderming mice, making them wear tiny costumes and creating a rodent world in shoeboxes. After inviting Barry for the dinner, Tim realizes that he is probably going to end up regretting this decision. What follows is a night of mayhem which involves crazy characters such as Darla the stalker, Kieran the self-obsessed painter & Therman the mind-control freak amongst others.
The first half of the film is a scene-by-scene take from Bheja Fry, which in turn was a straight lift of the French original. It is hilarious and keeps you engrossed. The addition is the second half, where the film takes on its own path. Had it been trimmed by 25 min, it would be a riot.
The performances are superb. Steve Carell is simply a joy to watch, emoting beautifully, The Office star is in full form. Paul Rudd is restrained and does justice. The smaller characters are well etched, especially Zach Galifianakis of Hangover fame and Jemaine Clement as Kieran.
Jay Roach doesn't quite create the magic of his earlier films. While Austin Powers was completely over-the-top and mindless, it was thoroughly enjoyable. Meet the Parents/Fockers too had its own flavour which Schmucks doesn't quite capture.
For a weekend which carries the much-awaited action film "The Expendables" and Aamir Khan's "Peepli Live", this one might be forgotten. While its a light hearted entertainer, one can safely relegate this to a DVD watch.
Rating: 3/5
Does director Jay Roach of spin the same madness as the Austin Powers/Meet the parents series?
Sadly, the film starts off on the right note but eventually looses steam.
For those who haven't seen the classic Bheja fry, this is the story.
Tim(Paul Rudd) has some brilliant ideas at work and needs to impress his boss. He gets invited to a private monthly dinner at the boss's house which has a theme, "dinner for idiots". The person who is accompanied by the biggest schmuck is the toast of the dinner. A driving accident helps Tim finds Barry(Carell), a lonesome IRS official who has a weird hobby of taxiderming mice, making them wear tiny costumes and creating a rodent world in shoeboxes. After inviting Barry for the dinner, Tim realizes that he is probably going to end up regretting this decision. What follows is a night of mayhem which involves crazy characters such as Darla the stalker, Kieran the self-obsessed painter & Therman the mind-control freak amongst others.
The first half of the film is a scene-by-scene take from Bheja Fry, which in turn was a straight lift of the French original. It is hilarious and keeps you engrossed. The addition is the second half, where the film takes on its own path. Had it been trimmed by 25 min, it would be a riot.
The performances are superb. Steve Carell is simply a joy to watch, emoting beautifully, The Office star is in full form. Paul Rudd is restrained and does justice. The smaller characters are well etched, especially Zach Galifianakis of Hangover fame and Jemaine Clement as Kieran.
Jay Roach doesn't quite create the magic of his earlier films. While Austin Powers was completely over-the-top and mindless, it was thoroughly enjoyable. Meet the Parents/Fockers too had its own flavour which Schmucks doesn't quite capture.
For a weekend which carries the much-awaited action film "The Expendables" and Aamir Khan's "Peepli Live", this one might be forgotten. While its a light hearted entertainer, one can safely relegate this to a DVD watch.
Rating: 3/5
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