Saturday, December 31, 2016

Assassin’s Creed - Movie Review



Star Cast: Michael Fassbender, Marion Lorillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Charlotte Rampling, Michael K. Williams

Director: Justin Kurzel

Written By: Bill Collage, Adam Cooper, Michael Lesslie

Runtime: 116 minutes

Movies based on video games have had an awful track record. They’re difficult to make primarily because they’re based on games that are based on movies in the first place, so the quality of a third generation product is by default diluted. The other reason why these films suck is that they are generally written, directed and performed by third-rate artists – if you check out the filmography of a man named Uwe Boll you’ll quickly be up to speed with what I mean.

With Assassin’s Creed I really thought the trend of awful video game movies would finally change considering the terrific star cast of Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard and the most excellent director Justin Kurzel. These three also made last year’s fascinating Macbeth adaptation, and I was sure this film would offer at least some classy entertainment. Unfortunately Assassin’s Creed is a film that is good looking for sure, but it takes itself too seriously and leaves you severely underwhelmed and kind of bored.

Fassbender plays Callum, a man on death row who is given a lethal injection but wakes up an unknown amount of time later in a strange medical research facility in Madrid. A man named Alan (Jeremy Irons) and his daughter Sophia (Cotillard) run this facility with a secret agenda of chasing an artifact called the Apple of Eden. Callum is supposedly a descendant of a 15th century Assassin who possessed the artifact and Alan is determined to tap into Callum’s memories to find it. It is at this point that the film turns into the game, shifting to the Spanish Inquisition where Aguilar (Fassbender again) does all the video gamey stunts.

To be fair the film does an incredible job of recreating the look and feel of the games – if sheer dedication to the source material could earn Oscars this film would get all of them. Aguilar’s parkour like running and jumping over rooftops is pretty cool and Adam Arkapaw’s cinematography makes this movie really look like a gigantic blockbuster.

The problem arises when the film constantly flips between the past and the present as the chase for the Apple becomes quite ambiguous and exasperating. There’s some unintentional hilarity to be found when Fassbender in the present mimics the actions of the medieval Fassbender – it feels like watching someone at a mall’s gaming store hooked to a virtual reality set. Moreover the character development is reduced to zero as the film mostly focuses on the big thrills, and you end up caring about none of the people in the story.

The other annoyance is that the fight sequences are executed with 10,000 cuts and shaky camera – rendering the intricately choreographed stunts completely useless. This is not a Bourne movie and you want to see how Aguilar kicks ass, so every random close up and jittery cut makes your teeth grind. It does feel as if this is a movie made by people who are adept at drama but aren’t very well versed with how to shoot action movies.

In a nutshell it doesn’t matter if you are a gamer, a history (or movie) buff, a fan of Fassbender’s, or even an enthusiast of everything that is good in this world. Assassin’s Creed finds a way to disappoint just about everyone.

My Rating:
2 / 5

In Pure “Looney Tunes” Style – Let me say “That’s All Folks” for 2016 … See You’ll At The Movies In 2017! 😊😊

Friday, December 30, 2016

Ti Saddhya Kay Karte - Trailer Review




Schooling years are the best years of life which everyone out of school today will agree. Friends made here remain friends for life and memories of school always linger in everybody's mind. Everybody in this schooling period of life falls in love with that special one which he or she wants to eventually get married to if the feelings are mutual and serious. But how many of us do end up with that first love...? Not many... All of us today who have been out of school and college and are married and have children are doing well and life is good, but that one question keeps doing the rounds of in our mind quite frequently...if not all the time and especially when friends meet and party. The golden question comes Ti Saddhya Kay Karte?

With the above thought in mind Satish Rajwade the director who gave us mesmerising romantic films like the ‘Mumbai Pune Mumbai’ series & ‘Premachi Goshta’ is back with his brand new romantic beauty ‘Ti Saddhya Kay Karte‘.

The first teaser of the film is out & it stars Ankush Chaudhari, Tejashri Pradhan, Abhinay Berde & Arya Ambekar. Abhinay, son of the great superstar ‘Lakshya’ AKA Laxmikant Berde is making his silver screen debut alongside Maharashtra’s favourite little champ Arya.

Abhinay has won many accolades for his acting at inter-collegiate one act play competitions.

Ankush & Tejashri seems to be playing the older versions of Abhinay & Arya.

‘Ti Saddhya Kay Karte’ has the backing of none other than Zee Studios.

The movie releases on 6th January, 2017.

So let’s hope for another entertaining Marathi blockbuster!

Monday, December 26, 2016

Alien : Covenant - Trailer Review



What a great way to start off post-Christmas!

At the stroke of midnight, 20th Century Fox delivered the first trailer for Alien: Covenant — a film that serves as both a sequel to Prometheus (2012) and a prequel to Alien (1979).

The red band trailer for the upcoming science-fiction horror film begins with footage of a bloody trail of footprints stretching along a ship's corridor. We then see a woman (played by Amy Seimetz) hustling down the corridor, gasping for air. She peers into a room that has been quarantined with two crew members: one male, one female (played by Carmen Ejogo).

The male is infected with an alien creature (known as a neomorph) that is in the process of bursting through his back. As you would suspect, the female crew member trapped with him is freaking out and demanding to be let out. Reluctantly, Seimetz holds her ground, knowing that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Both women completely lose their minds once they look back and see the creature break skin (and bones). We then get quick shots of a frightened Seimetz running away and Ejogo preparing to defend herself by holding a knife and pointing it nervously at the creature. Good luck!

That was just the first thirty-seconds of a two-minute trailer. I'm sold! But is everyone else?

Director Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created, with ALIEN: COVENANT, a new chapter in his ground-breaking ALIEN franchise. The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world — whose sole inhabitant is the "synthetic" David (Michael Fassbender), survivor of the doomed Prometheus expedition. When they uncover a threat beyond their imagination, they must attempt a harrowing escape.

The cast features Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir, Carmen Ejogo, Amy Seimetz, Jussie Smollett, Callie Hernandez, Nathaniel Dean, Alexander England, and Benjamin Rigby.

Alien: Covenant opens in cinemas on May 19, 2017.

Friday, December 23, 2016

Dangal - Movie Review




Cast:
Aamir Khan, Fatima Sana Sheikh, Zaira Wasim, Sanya Malhotra, Suhani Bhatnagar, Sakshi Tanwar, Aparshakti Khurana, Girish Kulkarni, Vivan Bhathena.

Director: Nitesh Tiwari

Dangal is the story of a Haryana man who dared to do the unthinkable. It is just as much the tale of a pugnacious girl who went where nobody from her tradition-bound village had ever gone.

Sweaty bodies gripping each other in places strangers should not touch, violence as a form of entertainment, our baser human instincts getting official and mass encouragement – if you ask me why I cannot stand contact sports, these would top my answer.

Young Geeta and Babita Phogat have far more mundane reasons for hating wrestling: no girl they know does it, so why should they? Dangal is the story of their father’s bulldog-like determination to make them gold medal winners for India, and the girls’ own passage from aversion to passion for the sport.

Nitesh Tiwari’s third film as director is based on the real-life story of Haryana’s Mahavir Singh Phogat, patriarch and coach of one of the country’s most unusual sporting families: his daughters are all wrestling champions, the eldest two — Geeta and Babita — are Commonwealth Games gold medallists, and Geeta is the first Indian woman wrestler to have ever qualified for the Olympics.

This achievement is particularly striking considering that Haryana has one India’s worst child sex ratios and a horrifying track record in the matter of female foeticide and infanticide.

Dangal is about Mahavir’s single-mindedness which brings him into conflict with his wife, his community, the country’s sporting establishment and ultimately, even Geeta.

Now For the Performances:

There comes a time when a star gives in to the demands of a role which he knows will make him not-pretty: as a wannabe wrestler past his prime, Aamir Khan is squat, with a heavy belly, a deliberate gait, and a grizzled beard. Only his jutting ears are familiar: the rest of him is pure character. I would not be wrong to say that this is his BEST performance TILL DATE … Even better than LAGAAN …. Yes “YOU” read it right “EVEN BETTER THAN LAGAAN!”.

A man making his daughters chase his dream. He cries, frowns, gets angry, looks old and tired, but is definitely one of us. When he shakes his head helplessly, you see a father in him. When he gets into a brawl, he is the brother you always depended on. When he wants to see you win, you know you have to perform. It’s not just his pride, it’s yours as well.

Geeta and Babita as children are played by two brilliant debutants, Zaira Wasim and Suhani Bhatnagar, who knock it out of the park in every scene (if I may borrow a phrase from another game). And the storytelling matches up.

Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra who play the older versions of Geeta and Babita are gifted performers. They both come in the second half of the film and show us how the two little wrestlers become their own persons / personalities.

Sakshi Tanwar – who plays the apologetic wife shows how you start liking your oppressor because there is nowhere else to go. Not so directly, though. Tanwar’s comic timing tries to deflect the focus from her life to the little girls who are forced to fight the local chauvinists because their father has decided to transform them into world-class wrestlers.

A scintillating Aparshakti Khurana (who we recently saw in Saat Uchakkey) plays their sweet, supportive cousin is superb too.

But HANDS DOWN Winner Apart From AK is Girish Kulkarni who plays older Geeta’s coach at the academy – he is BRILLIANT in his role.

Full marks to the Casting Director Mukesh Chhabra he has really outdone himself in this film.

Music:

Music director Pritam and lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya manage an earthy soundtrack with Daler Mehndi’s title track pumping up the adrenaline. Also, the soft track ‘Gilheriyaan’, the Haryanvi rap and hip-hop ‘Haanikarak Bapu’ and the ‘Dhakaad’ number, are in perfect tandem with the narrative.

Final Verdict:


Dangal could have easily turned into a vanity project, which is a clear and present danger. But it stays real. A personal salaam to Nitesh Tiwari for that.

In one line – I’d say “DO NOT MISS DANGAL … EVEN IF THE WORLD HAS TO BE DAMNED FOR IT!! “


My Rating: 5/5

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Secret Superstar-Trailer Review




Aamir Khan released the trailer of his next production ‘Secret Superstar’ a week before his next Nitesh Tiwari's Dangal is to hit the theatres.

Directed by debutante Advait Chandan, Secret Superstar traces the journey of Insia played by Zaira Wasim (does the name ring a bell? Yes she plays the younger version of one of the DANGAL sisters), an aspiring singer — a 14-year old Muslim girl from Vadodara, Gujarat. She takes to a burqa to hide her identity from her family while recording online videos of her singing.

The first scene of the trailer draws a beautiful vicious circle of sleep and dreams — how one's dreams don't let one sleep but at the same time, sleeping is important to dream in the first place. This philosophy goes on to be Insia's life mantra as she learns to compromise in order to chase her dream of having her voice heard all across the world. Thus, she swears by the 'meri aawaz hi pehchan hai' mantra.

Towards the end of the trailer, one gets to enjoy a part of what sounds like a liberating song. Given that the music has been composed by Amit Trevidi and the lyrics penned down by Kausar Munir, we are in for an auditory treat, as evident from their commendable collaboration in Gauri Shinde's Dear Zindagi this year.

The last glimpse of the trailer sees the producer Aamir Khan himself, in an outlandish avatar. He plays an extended cameo in the film. He sports a 'rockstar' look with a pink ganji that reads 'Sexy...something' and a spiked and coloured hairdo. He is surrounded by two sidekicks in shiny silver gear and blonde wigs. They remind you of a certain Ramesh and Suresh from the 5 Star commercial. Khan seems to be a music producer, given his look and his firm belief of there being an objective definition of good music.

Secret Superstar is directed by Chandan, who has served as an assistant director on acclaimed films like Reema Kagti's romantic ensemble Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd, Khan's emotional drama Taare Zameen Par and his wife Kiran Rao's directorial debut Dhobi Ghat.

Secret Superstar is slated to release on 4 August, 2017.



Tuesday, December 20, 2016

John Wick Chapter 2 - Trailer Review



John Wick came out of virtually nowhere and claimed action movie glory with some stunning fight choreography, as well as one of the best character performances of Keanu Reeves' career.

John Wick: Chapter 2 now has the added challenge of being a sequel to an established brand, with all the weight of fan expectations on its back. However, as you can now see in the John Wick 2 trailer, meeting expectations isn't going to be a problem.

The trailer not only lays out a bit more of the story that propels Reeves’ hard-luck hitman back into the killing business, but it also offers a pretty impressive taste of how the sequel plans to up the ante on action the second time around.

“Whoever comes, I’ll kill them,” Reeves promises. “I’ll kill them all.” I have no doubt about it Sir!

It is directed by Chad Stahelski, who co-directed the first film, and finds Reeves’ character heading off to Rome to deal with a former associate, an international assassins’ guild, and a ruthless crime lord. The film also brings back screenwriter Derek Kolstad, who scripted the 2014 film.

Along with Reeves as the titular killer with an affinity for black suits, the cast also includes Wanted actor Common, as well as Riccardo Scamarcio, Laurence Fishburne, Ruby Rose, and Franco Nero. Several cast members from the original film also reprise their roles, including Bridget Moynahan, Lance Reddick, John Leguizamo, and Ian McShane.

Little though people know that Chad Stahelski, who co-directed the 1st part with David Leitch, played stunt doubles for Reeves in “The Matrix” trilogy.

John Wick: Chapter 2 opens in cinemas on February 10, 2017.

Jagga Jasoos - Trailer Review




The most awaited trailer of Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif starrer Jagga Jasoos is finally out. An abandoned yet dutiful son embarks on a journey to bring home his missing father but the journey turns out to be a life-altering adventurous experience in itself.

From running wild in fields to riding ostriches, the lead pair (real life estranged couple Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif) indulges in a series of bizarre events. It is only towards the end that we hear Ranbir talking, otherwise the entire trailer is a montage of the duo embarking on and disembarking from one fun ride to another.

Even before you get a hang of what is happening, both the actors have already moved to a completely different frame with a different backdrop altogether.

The trailer, which was surprisingly released just hours after the first look had been revealed, has stark similarities to Kapoor’s last outing with Anurag Basu ‘Barfi!’

And, it will not be wrong to say that Anurag Basu has tried to pull off a Tin Tin in Wes Anderson style. Looks like a successful attempt to me for now.

A refreshing break from conventional trailers, the importance of the plot presumably lies in the chaos that these two central characters are dragged into.

The chaotic trailer is brilliant because it’s offbeat!

Jagga Jasoos was originally due for release on 27 November 2015 but Ranbir and Katrina’s split affected the film and hence the film got delayed. Moreover, Anurag was not happy with certain shots and reshot them again.

Nevertheless ‘Jagga Jasoos' is finally slated for an April 7, 2017 release.



Kaabil Trailer 2 - Review




You have heard of terms like blind vengeance, Hrithik Roshan wrecks it. Kaabil’s second trailer landed on Tuesday morning and it proves that the upcoming Sanjay Gupta film is an edge-of-seat thriller where the action will be served alongside a love story that is star-crossed.

In this trailer, you’ll get to know more about Yami Gautam’s character Sue which we didn’t get to see much in the first trailer. Sue is a pianist and on her music the students learn to dance. It is an organic progression of the first trailer where Hrithik Roshan’s Rohan and Yami Gautam’s Sue were seen as a couple so much in love. Here, they woo each other once again before getting married. Their life, despite the fact that they are both visually impaired, is idyllic. They have their love and number of dreams. Everything comes crashing down when Yami is taken away cruelly away from Hrithik. It is not God’s doing, it is a man’s. When the law fails him, Hrithik decides to use his own devices.

The dark tone of the trailer gives you Goosebumps and gives a glimpse into the transformation that his character goes through and turns into a vindictive lover. And given how committed he is looking in the film, vengeance will be his. Bothers Rohit and Ronit Roy are playing the baddies and there is enough stylised action in the trailer to give us a taste of what to expect.

Hrithik is in desperate need of a hit and Kaabil is looking like the kind of film that will bring him success. A story which is fascinating, offers interesting performances and action to spare, Kaabil has the works.

Rajesh Roshan has also rehashed the music of the title track and turned it into a sad haunting version which plays in the background throughout the second trailer. It complements the trailer perfectly and leaves a powerful impression after the trailer ends.

Kaabil is produced by Rakesh Roshan under FilmKraft Entertainment and is directed by Sanjay Gupta. It is slated to release on 25 January, 2017.

Monday, December 19, 2016

Trailer Review : Jolly LLB 2




The trailer of Jolly LLB 2 starring Akshay Kumar as a lawyer from Lucknow is here. To be honest I had my inhibitions when I learned about Arshad Warsi not returning for the sequel but this Jolly is different from that one and kudos to director Subhash Kapoor for that. There is nothing in the trailer I didn’t like. Going just by the trailer, this one’s going to be another milestone in Akshay Kumar’s career.

The trailer kick starts with a courtroom scene that establishes humor as one of the highlights of the film. Akshay as Advocate Jolly in the course of his argument raises a question pertaining to one of Bollywood’s biggest superstars that has the entire courtroom in chuckles while Judge Saurabh Shukla grins in irritation.

The trailer moves forward to give viewers a sense of what’s in store and also introduces other prime characters including Annu Kapoor, Kumud Mishra and leading Lady Huma Qureshi.

On the performance front, Akshay is clearly leading the charge in the second installment. Right from sporting a thick moustache to the well-oiled side parted hair, Akshay has got his looks spot on for the role.

His face off with the brilliant Annu Kapoor is another highlight to watch out for. Saurabh Shukla who won the National Award for his role in the part one reprises his role as the judge. Annu Kapoor and Kumud Mishra are welcome additions to the cast. And then there is the beauteous Huma Qureshi to contend with.

Overall, the trailer has everything going in its favor. The film is going to be one hell of courtroom drama. Akshay Kumar has nailed it once again.

Written and directed by Subhash Kapoor, Jolly LLB 2 is mostly shot in Lucknow. The film is set to release on 10th, Feb, 2017.

Friday, December 16, 2016

Trailer Review : Despicable Me 3




Gru, Lucy, and the Minions are back, and up against a new villain — the shoulder-pad sporting, moon-walking Balthazar Bratt.

The “Despicable Me 3” trailer features Bratt (voiced by “South Park” creator Trey Parker) moon-walking on the ocean and up the side of a ship on a pair of skis, while clad in a purple jumpsuit and mullet, as Michael Jackson’s “Bad” pays in the background. Meanwhile back at the Anti-Villain League headquarters, they suspect they are witnessing a monster on the loose, until one member recognizes the villain for who he really is: “That’s no monster — that’s a man wearing shoulder pads!”

Bratt is a former ’80s child star whose show got canceled after he hit puberty. Now he plans on executing a full-fledged world domination.

Gru (Steve Carell) and his wife Lucy (Kristen Wiig) embark on a mission to defeat their newest nemesis, and it appears that Bratt’s battle of choice against Gru is a dance-off.

The film is the fourth in the multi-billion-dollar franchise from Illumination Entertainment. Illumination released the “Despicable Me” spin-off, “Minions,” in 2015. It grossed $1.2 billion worldwide. “Despicable Me” and “Despicable Me 2” debuted in 2010 and 2013, respectively.

“Despicable Me 3” is directed by Kyle Balda and Pierre Coffin.

Fans still have to wait a while for the theatrical arrival of Despicable Me 3, as the film isn’t set to be released until June 30, 2017, but be sure to stay tuned in the coming months for more details.



Thursday, December 15, 2016

Trailer Review : Dunkirk


The first trailer for Christopher Nolan‘s Dunkirk is here!! This is a trailer of explosions, death, and sadness. The message is that war isn’t fun, and there’s not much more on display. There’s no indication of what makes this project stand out, which is surprising considering that it’s directed by the man who made The Prestige.

The one thing this trailer does have, though, is an appealing sound effect.

Although I’ll occasionally poke the (always so angry for some reason) Cult of Christopher Nolan with a stick just to see what will happen, there’s no denying that he’s one of our very best mainstream filmmakers, a man willing to tell bold stories on a huge canvas. Dunkirk represents a big left turn for him, with the man behind The Dark Knight, Inception, and Interstellar leaving the genre world behind to make a historical drama based on one of World War II’s most harrowing military engagements. He’s never made anything remotely like this, especially since his “realistic” movies like Memento and Insomnia were created on a significantly smaller scale. I’m not sure what a Nolan-directed period war movie will feel like and that’s pretty exciting.

The Battle of Dunkirk lasted from late May through early June in 1940 and ended with Allied forces (mostly British, French, Polish, and Belgian troops) defeated and cornered by the German army. With no other options, one of the largest retreats in modern military history was organized, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers escaping from Dunkirk’s beaches on board military vessels. In retrospect, it’s one of the war’s most important decisions – by choosing to live and fight another day, the Allies managed to stave off total defeat. It may not be a triumphant story, but it’s an important one.

The lead characters of Dunkirk (specifically the men on the ground) will be played by less familiar and often unknown faces, with an ensemble of recognizable actors taking on the supporting roles. Nolan regulars like Cillian Murphy and Tom Hardy join brilliant actors like Mark Rylance and Kenneth Branagh, a cast that, if nothing else, will ensure all kinds of amazing accents flying back and forth.

Dunkirk is set to open on July 21, 2017.

Monday, December 12, 2016

Trailer Review : OK Jaanu




The trailer of much awaited romantic drama OK Jaanu is out and it looks like any couple's dream.

Featuring Aditya Roy Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, the film is Hindi remake of Mani Ratnam's acclaimed Tamil film O Kadhal Kanmani.

Unconventional relationships, like the one we have recently seen in ‘Befikre’, seem to be a hot topic in Bollywood, specifically appealing to the millennials who hold a more sophisticated view of the world. Which aren’t restricted in their definition of what a ‘happily-ever-after’ should look like.

The trailer of ‘OK Jaanu’ is uploaded by Dharma Productions. The film, also starring Naseeruddin Shah in a key role.

The film has been directed by Shaad Ali and the film rides high on its music given by AR Rahman plus the chemistry between the lead pair will remind you of Aashiqui 2 days in a more fun way.


OK Jaanu is all set to release on January 13, 2017.


Ready to start your year on a romantic note?

Trailer Review : The Fate of the Furious



The first trailer for The Fate of the Furious, the next installment in the Fast and Furious franchise and the second without Paul Walker, has arrived.

The Fate of the Furious stars Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Dwayne Johnson, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Lucas Black, Scott Eastwood, Kurt Russell, Jason Statham, Charlize Theron, Scott Eastwood, and Helen Mirren. The film is directed by F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton).

Here’s the plot synopsis:

Now that Dom (Diesel) and Letty (Rodriguez) are on their honeymoon and Brian (Paul Walker) and Mia (Jordan Brewster) have retired from the game—and the rest of the crew has been exonerated—the globetrotting team has found a semblance of a normal life. But when a mysterious woman (Theron) seduces Dom into the world of crime he can’t seem to escape and a betrayal of those closest to him, they will face trials that will test them as never before.

From the shores of Cuba and the streets of New York City to the icy plains off the arctic Barents Sea, the elite force will crisscross the globe to stop an anarchist from unleashing chaos on the world’s stage…and to bring home the man who made them a family.

The Fate of the Furious hits theater’s April 14, 2017.


Saturday, December 10, 2016

Movie Review : Befikre

Befikre is the first film Aditya Chopra has written and directed since the passing of his father, Yash Chopra, in 2012. This is also the first film he’s made since marrying the woman he’d been in love with for years. Being the maker of an iconic film like DDLJ must come with its own singular ache. How do you carry the burden of a movie that continues to run after 21 years? How do you live up to your own legacy? I’m thrilled to report that with Befikre, Aditya Chopra reinvents himself. And in doing so, he gives Bollywood romance a buoyancy and exhilaration.

Much of this adrenaline comes from leading man Ranveer Singh. He plays Dharam, a Karol Bagh ka launda. Think of him as a spruced-up Bittoo from Band Baaja Baaraat.

Dharam goes to Paris to work as a stand-up comic in a club catering to Indians. When we first meet him, Dharam is like a testosterone-fuelled teenager. All he’s looking for is a good time. He meets Shyra (Vaani Kapoor), a second-gen Indian immigrant who takes him on.

They keep daring each other to do crazy things. This portion seems directly inspired by the 2003 French film, Love Me If You Dare. But Befikre never gets into the dark, unsettling spaces of that film. Instead Aditya, who has also written the story, creates a delightful take on modern love.

Dharam and Shyra slowly discover that the essential ingredient in a relationship isn’t love at all. It’s friendship. In an open letter, Aditya wrote that he would not have made Befikre if Ranveer Singh did not exist. I believe him. Because Ranveer brings this smartly written script to life. He has an industrial-strength charm and vitality that make Dharam as endearing to us as he is to Shyra. This man is impulsive, immature and stubborn. But we love him anyway and are rooting for him until the last frame.

Ranveer also captures the nuances of Dharam’s growth. His expressions of hurt, rejection and anger feel authentic — Dharam’s evolution gives this rom-com emotional heft.

This is Vaani Kapoor’s second Hindi film, but she’s remarkably at ease in front of the camera and holds her own admirably against Ranveer.

Befikre is also enhanced by Vishal-Shekhar’s lilting soundtrack and Jaideep Sahni’s lyrics.The writing overall is first-rate. Adi creates some lovely moments, including a mother-daughter ‘aloo partha’ scene that is a throwback to the classic moment in DDLJ when Simran’s mother asks her to give up her love.

Now of course no such societal constraints are in place in Paris. Shyra only has to battle herself as she tries to figure out what her heart desires. The new-millennial romance has no space for archaic Indian values like chastity, but Adi can’t resist bunging in the importance of Indian-ness. Shyra might be a Parisian hipster, but when she’s low, she seeks comfort in a paratha.

With this film, Adi does for Paris what Yash Chopra did for Switzerland. The beautiful city seems like a magical playground of cobbled streets, cafés and gorgeous men and women swooning and smooching at every corner. When I walked out of the movie hall, my own life felt a little grubby.

Befikre is much too long, though. There is also a noticeable dip in the second half, and the farcical ending isn’t entirely satisfying. But there’s enough magic here to leave you with a smile.

My Rating: 3/5

Trailer Review : War for the Planet of the Apes


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_PBCy3p3CM

The first trailer for War for the Planet of the Apes has been revealed.

War for the Planet of the Apes is the third installment to the rebooted Apes franchise. Following Rise and Dawn, War will see a planet very much ruled by the Apes.

The synopsis for War for the Planet of the Apes reads, "Caesar (Andy Serkis) and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless colonel (Woody Harrelson). After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both of their species and the future of the planet."

The franchise has had a history of using its cast members for one movie at a time and Warwill prove this once again. Several new faces will be on screen for the first time while Dawn's cast are largely replaced. Joining this time around are Woddy Harrelson, Judy Greer, and Steve Zahn. Until the trailer's release, very little was known about their characters.

War for the Planet of the Apes is directed Matt Reeves, from a screenplay Reeves, co-wrote with Matt Bomback. War for the Planet of the Apes stars Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn, Gabriel Chavarria, and Judy Greer.

Principal photography on War for the Planet of the Apes began Oct. 15, 2015, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

War for the Planet of the Apes opens in cinemas on July 14, 2017.



Friday, December 9, 2016

Tralier Review : Sipder-Man : Homecoming


How times change. Just two years ago, everyone was so bummed out by The Amazing Spider-Man 2 that the thought of another movie starring Marvel’s wall-crawling superhero felt like a chore. And then Marvel Studios and Sony reached a deal, Tom Holland become the new Peter Parker, and the brand new Spider-Man swung into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a supporting player in Captain America: Civil War and somehow managed to make us forget about the previous reboot of this character. We superhero movie fans be sheep, but at least we’re sheep who know what we want.

After being teased the other day, the first Spider-Man: Homecoming trailer has officially arrived, giving us our first look at the first solo adventure of the new Spidey.

In addition to Holland, Spider-Man: Homecoming will also feature the great Michael Keaton as the winged villain known as Adrian Toomes (better known as the classic Spider-Man villain, the Vulture), Jon Favreau as “Happy” Hogan (finally breaking out of the Iron Man movies), and Robert Downey Jr. himself as Tony Stark, who seems to be making a habit out of arming his young superhero protégé with expensive technology. Donald Glover plays an unspecified role while Bokeem Woodbine plays an unspecified villain.

While Marvel Studios has developed a fine-tuned engine that has turned making solid comic book adaptations into a science, Spider-Man: Homecoming is a massive step upwards for director Jon Watts, who won the gig on the strength of his (very good) 2015 thriller, Cop Car.

The best Marvel Studios films are those that hit the usual beats while also carrying a piece of the filmmakers’ souls (see: Guardians of the Galaxy, The Avengers, Iron Man 3, and Doctor Strange), so hopefully Homecoming will be as much a Watts movie as it is a Marvel movie.


The film is set to open on July 7, 2017.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Trailer Review : Raees



The long wait is over for SRK fans. The trailer of Raees has finally been released. The wait was certainly worth it. Raees trailer is, hands down, one of the best trailers that Bollywood has seen in the longest time. Just one shot of SRK and his kohled eyes, and you will be hooked to this awesome trailer. It has all the masala of a commercial film. Action, drama, romance.

SRK is on a break from his romantic image, and doing different kinds of roles. This one is next in line with SRK in a full blown action avatar. Yep! There is kicking and punching and full on villain dismemberment in Raees. The “Baniye ka dimaag aur Miyanbhai ki daring” dialogue has already left us impressed. It was a glimpse that Raees film will be dazzling with witty and quotable dialogues and the trailer proves the notion more strongly. The actor can be seen firing bullets in a manner that would put an ace shooter to shame. But that's not it, the actor kicks and punches his way thrown the hordes of baddies who come his way.

Raees is a very well written film and the dialogues are going to be sure shot memorable. Giving him company this time is ever dependable Nawazuddin Siddiqui. His and Shah Rukh Khan’s chemistry is one just another level. They complement each other. Nawaz telling him off for his criminal activity. “Dhandha band kar le varna saas lena bhi mushkil kar doonga,” he threatens Khan. SRK gives him a fitting reply saying, “Gujarat ki hawa mein vyaapar hai Saheb. Meri saas toh rok loge, lekin iss hawa ko kaise rokoge?” You get a glimpse of this cat-and-mouse game between the two.

What’s a SRK film without even a little bit of romance? So there is this super cute romantic scene with Mahira that will give you butterflies in the stomach. Yes! Mahira Khan is there in the trailer. She looks stunning and guess has a meatier role then it was initially though off.

At the end of the trailer as promised by the makers you get a glimpse Sunny Leone’s item number (Laila Ho Laila)!

Coming to the fact that Raees is clashing with Kaabil starring Hrithik Roshan, one may now feel looking at both the trailers that this one is a big clash.
It will be a tough choice for the audience to choose between a revenge drama where Hrithik plays a disabled person compared to Shah Rukh playing a don.

All in all Raees looks a wholesome entertainer.


Sunday, December 4, 2016

Movie Review : Kahaani 2

Kahaani 2 is a suspense thriller, which is the second installment in the Kahaani franchise. The movie revolves around the story of a mysterious woman, who is charged with kidnapping and murder. Sujoy Ghosh has written the story and screenplay in collaboration with Suresh Nair, while Ritesh Shah has penned the dialogues for the movie.

Vidya Sinha (Vidya Balan) wants to see her paralyzed teenage daughter Mini (Naisha Singh) walk again. When she tries getting close to silent Mini, she lands in problem with the latter's uncle (Jugal Hansraj) and grandmother (Amba Sanyal). Things take an interesting twist, when cop Inderjit Singh (Arjun Rampal), who is in search of kidnapper and murderer Durga Rani Singh (Vidya Balan), enters the scene. What happens next forms the crux off the story of Kahaani 2.

Kahaani 2 has an amazing story with a message that has never been explored on Indian celluloid (child abuse). Its screenplay is thrilling and intriguing right from the first frame to the very last. Sujoy Ghosh has once again managed to thrill his audience, who are likely to sit on the edge of their seats while watching the film.

Vidya Balan plays a dual role and she has done justice to both of them One of a sufferer of child abuse herself and second of a woman who will do anything to protect a victim of the same. Her stellar performance is the highlight of Kahaani 2. Balan’s strength is her ability to drown out her own personality for a role. Arjun Rampal has also performed well , he for a change manages to emote and dish out natural expression throughout the film. Jugal Hansraj — the little boy from "Masoom" who grew up to a lackluster acting career — is surprisingly "effective" as a creep / villain.

The incredibly cute Naisha Khanna and the interesting youngster Tunisha Sharma – both playing Mini at different stages of her life — get limited space to showcase their talent, but are clearly worth watching out for.

Kahaani 2, which has been bankrolled by Sujoy Ghosh and Jayantilal Gada, has good production values. 

Clinton Cerejo's background score and Tapan Basu's picturization are the attractions in the technical front.

The Film Is A Must Watch for Thrill Lovers !


My Rating : 3/5

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