Destined to Doom Movies of 2017, Which were Surprisingly Great or Decent or Maybe Just About Average

An A-class Hrithik Roshan in an A-grade film, both aspects that come together after a considerable period, which makes Kaabil indeed a treat to savor. That it achieves this feat while keeping you hooked, tensed, excited, thoroughly entertained, and perpetually on your toes to the very end, without ever resorting to cheap gimmicks or hasty plot contrivances, speaks volumes of the film's quality and its commitment to serve as a brilliant throwback to Bollywood's bygone era of revenge thrillers.

4.5/5 stars

An endearing thriller, and I say endearing thriller even though it has loads of suspense, mystery, twists, and tense moments, because the movie just fills you with amazement, a sense of adventure, and leaves you on a high after watching it. Faster Fene is a perfect example of how creativity can be juiced to its last drop when you don't have a big budget to play around with, highlighting just about everything that's right about Marathi cinema at the moment. The screenplay, direction, performances, cinematography, and editing are all spot on and combine to draw you further into the narrative as the plot unfolds. Also, a special mention for the dialogues, some of which stay with you long after the credits roll. In short, a simple suspense thriller that gets full marks for never having a dull or unnecessary moment and keeping you engaged right through.

4.5/5 stars

Not just one-of-the-best psychological horror films produced in Indian cinema (there are as is very few of them), but a brilliantly concealed commentary on misogyny and our deeply rooted societal patriarchy, which doesn't raise its head till the very end, and when it does, it hits you as brutally as all the scary parts. The seamlessness with which debutante Vishal Furia weaves a complex, topical narrative, without once losing grip on his primary job of creeping us out, deserves the highest praise, and he's backed by some wonderful performances, particularly by Pooja Samant and Usha Naik. Lapachhapi preys on your innermost fears as much as it reminds you that there's an entire world just beyond our privileged demarcations, where life is as hellish as the ghosts on screen.

4.4/5 stars

Right up there with such twisted Christmas-movie gems like Gremlins, Black Christmas, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, yet what sets it apart is how writer/Director Chris Peckover and cowriter Zack Kahn showcase an absorbing character study of how psychosis can take route despite the best of upbringings and environments, proving once again that some evil beings are such because they're just born evil. Nevertheless, it's the subtlety with which this commentary is made, where Peckover and Kahn never once lose sight of their first and foremost objective – to entertain and draw us to the edge of our seats with a thrilling slasher film, filled with tantalizing twists and turns – that makes Better Watch Out a dark, twisted, unpredictable, but, ultimately, fun-filled Christmas classic.

4.2/5 stars

You'd be hard pressed to find action comedies in the modern age that are cooler, funnier, more action-packed or, simply, as goddamn, balls-out entertaining as The Hitman's Bodyguard. 'MoFo' Samuel L. Jackson and 'Deadpool' Ryan Reynolds were born to do this together, with their charismatic charm and witty banter overflowing in gleeful abandon. Plus, extra points to the film for boasting three of the best one-liners you'll ever hear in an action movie.

4/5 stars

How does a sequel manage to not only be an upgrade to a crappy first instalment, but also stand out as a kickass sci-fi movie on its own? Well, for starters it just takes the premise of that crappy first part and leaves everything else behind; reinvents the entire plot and turns the narrative on its head; hires a badass, extremely dependable leading man in Frank Grillo; stacks up the supporting cast with martial-arts stars like Iko Uwaisi; gives us menacing-looking aliens, with an even more-menacing alien spaceship; and infuses the proceedings with never-before-seen action like martial artists and tough guys laying roundhouse kicks and deadly hooks on giant alien robots. When you have a movie this cool, it doesn't matter if it's believable sci-fi or not, and that's exactly where Beyond Skyline manages to carve a niche for itself not just as a rare sequel that's infinitely better than the original, but also as a totally awesome standalone sci-fi movie.

4/5 stars

JaiLavaKusa is easily one-of-the-best family entertainers ever; a complete package of action, emotions, family bonding, drama, music, heroism, villainy, and full-blown, no-holds-barred entertainment. It's ManmohanDesai masala entertainment meets #Ramayana for modern times, and reminds us what's being missing from big-budget #Bollywood entertainers. And Jr NTR's reminds us how a star should please all his fans; both the classes and masses – if his swag and larger-than-life persona is infectious, then his layered performance where he impeccably distinguishes all three of his characters is absorbing to the core. Bollywood filmmakers and its stars need to wake up. This is the kind of universally appealing entertainment package that the Hindi film audience has been missing for some time now, and which the South audience is being spoilt with.

If one were to nitpick and find faults with the film, then they would be the slightly weak romantic tracks, the slightly underwhelming climax, and the fact that it’ll certainly not go down as a highly artistic movie or one that highlights a topical subject. But, should we really care that it doesn’t? After all, movies like Jai Lava Kusa, which celebrate big stars and remind us what massy Indian family entertainer are all about, are also needed. And this is a celebration that needs to be experienced on the big screen. So, regardless if you're a movie-buff or not, irrespective if you’re into regional cinema or not, do yourselves a favor and watch Jai Lava Kusa at a theater near you ASAP.

4/5 stars

A great movie with absorbing dialogues, memorable scenes, and captivating performances (especially a career-defining act by James Franco as the eponymous Disaster Artist) about a really shitty movie, with lousy dialogues, cringe-worthy scenes, and some of the worst acting ever witnessed on screen. But will this film achieve the same cult status as the celluloid trainwreck it's based on? Well, that's a topic for another day.

4/5 stars

Irish horror film, Nails, swaps a haunted house for a haunted hospital (more specifically, a haunted hospital room), but the atmosphere, scares, and overall execution are just as chilling as any of the better entries in the supernatural horror genre, primarily because of how effectively Dennis Bartok plays with the ghost and our protagonist's backstory while extracting some clever, if not always unique, spooky moments along the way.

3.9/5 stars

If there ever was a candidate that lives up to the adage, 'fun for the entire family', then Captain Underpants surely has to figure somewhere in the upper echelons of the list. The fact that it fits the bill in the most unassuming manner, with jokes that fly fast and funny, and a touch of zaniness to boot; make it an unbridled joyride that could easily find a place on your shelf in years to come for repeated viewings.

3.9/5 stars

Playing out like a hardcore Home Alone movie for adults, Security embodies all the tension, thrill, toughness, and adrenaline-pumping moments, which action buffs used to love in the '80s and '90s, when brawny men did the dirty work before costumed heroes took over. It's also a welcome reminder than Antonio Banderas has still got it and that Ben Kingsley can unleash his deliciously evil side at the drop of a hat.

3.9/5 stars

Slick, gritty, and raw – in a world of CGI-driven, superhero action movie, American Assassin stands out for its realism and a kind of hands-on approach, where otherworldly perils solved by superpowers are skipped for real-life threats tackled by real men with no powers, but equipped with loads of training, skill, and ingenuity. Plus, it's headlined by ab A-list cast, including Michael Keaton, Sanaa Lathan, and Taylor Kitsch, who're at the top of their game, and surrender wholeheartedly to the script and Director Michael Cuesta's vision. But, the real revelation is the star of the show, Dylan O'Brien, who's the most-unassuming of action heroes, thrust suddenly into a situation not by design, but one he willingly accepts with all the vigor, zeal, and cognition needed to substitute his lack of brawn and machismo. If the film does well at the box-office, then Mitch Rapp certainly has a future as the new-age thinking action hero now that Jason Bourne is all but on his last legs. However, regardless of its box-office collection, American Assassin demands your attention (its handful of flaws notwithstanding) if you're on the lookout for a realistic and raw action film in a milieu that seldom deals them any more.

3.8/5 stars

Tiger Zinda Hai has some flaws and a few factual fallacies, but, on the whole, it's damn exciting. Poora paisa-vasool entertainment in the league of the bygone era of Stallone, Schwarzenegger, and Bruce Willis action movies albeit, peppered with full-on desi masala that'll appeal to anyone who isn't possessed with a compulsive need to boast how intellectual they are. Salman Khan does a desi Rambo and how while Katrina Kaif steals the entire show in some of her action scenes. There are smart action movies, and then they're balls-out, bat-shit crazy action movie like TZH, which are meant to pump your adrenaline and take you on a fun-filled romp, the loopholes in the screenplay notwithstanding.

3.75/5 stars

A Thalapathy Vijay show from start to finish, and boy, does he pull it off with aplomb and joie de vivre, ably backed by a vile Jagapati babu, a perfectly serviceable masala plot by Bharathan, and some whistle-worthy action scenes and dialogues, which combine to make Bairavaa a wholesome family entertainer. Vijay fans will love it like anything; neutral moviegoers, too, will lap it up for its sheer entertainment value.

3.75/5 stars

The best edition to the Saw franchise since Saw 2, embodying all the vile traits that made the film eponymous serial killer worthy of his pedestal among the pantheon of deranged cinematic psychopaths. And as bloodcurdlingly grotesque as Jigsaw is, it's also a tantalizingly twisted, deliciously devious, and stupefyingly shocking ride that's certain to keep fans of gory thrillers on edge while keeping other viewers engrossed to the very end.

3.75/5 stars

3.6/5 stars

3.6/5 stars

With its heart in the right place and a reformist vision as its center of focus, Anaarkali of Aarah delves deep into the hinterlands of India to come up with a telling yet entertaining statement on feminism, patriarchy, and the importance to defend one's respect regardless the odds. It may not fall in the league of a Pink, but you never get the feeling that debutant Director Avinash Das was aiming for such high peaks. What he does do well though is ease you into the film’s rustic narrative, replete with vivid colors and plenty of oomph, and then, when you least expect it, he take a sudden U-turn, and hits you, with what can only be described, as a strong, inspirational, and rooted portrayal of feminism.

Admittedly, in its quest to deliver its message, the screenplay loses out on a bit of realism, and though you go along with it because of its hopeful nature, the nagging question still remains at the back of your mind that it would be virtually impossible for a street dancer to go to such lengths in a place like Bihar before being hacked to pieces and being strewn across a river. Technically, too, the film is quite an underachiever, and the lack of budget sticks out like a sore thumb in certain shots and sets. Even, the editing could have been crisper; case in point being the Delhi track, which was far too stretched out. Nevertheless, this is a film that needs to be watched for a budding Director’s obvious talent, the pertinent message delivered with heart, and, above all, a virtuoso Swara Bhasker at her vivacious best.

3.6/5 stars

Malayalam horror has arrived and how. Ezra is proof that regional Indian filmmakers can rub shoulders with the best in the world when it comes to dishing out commercially viable fare that doesn't skim on proper research, a sound foundation, and well-executed plans. There's plenty of chills and a frighteningly good time to be had with Ezra.

3.6/5 stars

3.5/5 stars

3.5/5 stars

3.4/5 stars

3.35/5 stars

Madcap elements coupled with constant punchlines and slapstick humor, set against good-looking locations and carrying a pulsating energy – that’s the template Director Anees Bazmee follows for Mubarakan; a template he has followed to good effect in most of his previous outings, and which he gets right once again in his latest effort.

Bazmee is a past-master at threading slapstick comedies from goof-ups and misconceptions, and he’s once again in his elements with Mubarakan. It may not be a laugh riot like No Entry or Welcome, but it has enough of fun moments to keep you oscillating between chuckles, broad smiles, and bellyful of laughs for its entire runtime. Most of the punchlines hit the mark, and more than half of the slapstick moments set you in a humorous mood. Yes, there are a few regressive moments and dialogues involving Binkle’s (Athiya Shetty) character, and a few scenes may make you roll your eyes and say, ‘what the fu*k?’, but, on the whole, Mubarakan gets the job done of being a clean, clear-cut, genuinely funny masala entertainer that can be enjoyed by the entire family.

Admittedly, the film could have been trimmed by 15-20 minutes, and the music should have been way better as that’s one of the hallmarks of family entertainers. But all said and done, Mubarakan is very clear in what it sets out to do, and, more or less, accomplishes its task with hysterical results. There’s absolutely nothing to take away from the film, and if you try to analyze it too much, you’ll never enjoy it. But if you’re one of those who has missed laughing in the theaters at silly moments and simplistic fun, then the film is right up your alley. Mind you, the script if far from nonsensical, and just as with most of Bazmee’s film, there’s a method to the madness. (You’re not required to leave your brains behind with this one.) So, do yourself a favor by packing your troubles for two and a half hours, and surrender yourself to the quintessential Bollywood masala family entertainer done right after a long time.

3.3/5 stars

3.3/5 stars

3.25/5 stars

3.2/5 stars

3.2/5 stars

Indu Sarkar is not without its deficiencies, and, certainly, more could have been done with its burning topic. But, whatever it serves up is more than palatable, and, most importantly, it makes you sit up and be thankful for not having been made to survive those horrifying nineteen months of Indian history. Though not quite up there with a Chandni Bar or Page 3, or even a Fashion or Corporate, it’s still a welcome return to form for Bhandarkar, and makes for a perfectly hard-hitting watch at the movies.

3.2/5 stars

3.1/5 stars

An extended and intermittently exciting, but ultimately formulaic, chase movie, albeit on foot, told through a familiar dystopian milieu, with a surprisingly subdued Dave Bautista displaying his improved acting chops.

3.1/5 stars

An uber-cool Dolph Lundgren in a campy horror film that offers dollops of smart one-liners, gore, machismo, and. above all, trashy fun. What more could one ask for to spend a breezy 90 minutes?

3/5 stars