alwaysplanb Reviews

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

A bit disappointed

[1/10 · 24 April 2015]

First Things first. The movie is OK. Good Character Development, good story and good action. The hulkbuster fight scene is breathtaking, though I'm a bit disappointed that they almost released the entire scene before the release of the movie.

Now, things that were... let's say, a little bit less spectacular. The love story between Black Widow and Hulk seemed a bit forced. Not that the pair looked bad, but shall we say they don't get much on screen time to develop their chemistry; given in their last movie they were just team mates.

The final battlefield was less spectacular than the previous avenger or the winter soldier movie. And the humor element seemed missing.

The real gem in the movie is Ultron. A good villain who seeks peace. Just his meaning of peace is a bit twisted. In the last scene he asks Scarlet Witch to leave the castle or else she'll die. This shows his caring aspect a bit.

QUicksilver and Scarlet Witch were awesome in the final battle. Thor lacked any significant battle, and frankly I expected a little more from the team.

But it's just me. After setting the standards with the first Avengers Movie, maybe I expected a lot more than what the director could offer.

Instead of setting premise for the future movies, I would liked it to focus more on the present movie.

Oh.. well. I guess the future movie might be the real deal. Waiting for it.

Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist (2014)

Movie that truly honors the spirit of Street Fighter

[10/10 · 23 April 2015]

I never heard of this mini series before. I was browsing through the channels one day and suddenly came on to this on Star Movies. Initially I thought it to be yet another Street Fighter Wannabe. 10 minutes into the movie and I was glued. I couldn't stop the movie. The movie ended at 2 in the night and I had an important interview at 10 next day. I knew I had to sleep early but just couldn't stop the movie. It was so damn interesting. In fact, the only Street Fighters movie that's so interesting.

The hope the sequel is just as tight; and focus more on story and live action. Not some unwanted CGI. The reason I'm worried is because the producers might raise the budget, ask for unwanted CGI, and interfere with the story. This is the case with most sequels. Hope they read this and let the director work his way.

Highly recommended for all Street Fighters Fans.

Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! (2015)

A Welcoming Change in Story Telling

[10/10 · 7 April 2015]

Ever since I saw the trailer I've been dying to see the movie. Fortunately, I got the heads up on the pace of the movie from the critics. Whereas the trailer is energetic, fast and random, the movie is the complete opposite. But watching the movie knowing what I am going to see completely changed my expectations. And for the best.

Dibakar Banerjee's story telling is something that's unique in it's own sense. So much energy and effort is spent on the details of this period film, that even a newbie can tell the difference. Every inch of the movie is masterfully crafted, not that I'm an expert of the subject, but I've seen so many Bollywood movies, I can instantly tell when something awesome is happening on screen in a Bollywood movie.

And a complete delight it is to see such great craftsman in Bollywood. However, I do feel that some of the detailing could be compromised to speed up the pace of the movie. However, I ALSO think that this pace is exactly what Dibakar wanted. Byomkesh Bakshi is no Sherlock Holmes. In his own words, he is a Satyanveshi. Pursuer of the Truth. This slow pace also characterized the TV adaptation of the character.

But to keep a slow paced movie delectable, it's necessary to engage the audience with trivial things which in this case is the Calcutta of the 40s and a looming national danger. Don't expect a game changing twist. Rather relish the slow and sincere story of the first case of an amateur satyanveshi.

Honestly, everyone in the movie performed their best. Dialogues like "Ek kaam kar. Khoon mat saaf kar. Chai bana de!" will crack you up real good. A definite watch for anyone who wants something different than usual Khans and Prabhudeva movies.

Dibakar, if you're reading this, bring in the sequel as soon as possible. I hate waiting :)

Badlapur (2015)

Rise of the Indian Noir!

[10/10 · 22 February 2015]

From the first moment you set your eyes on the movie, you know that it's going to be highly stylish one. And it is! Not your Once Upon a Time in Mumbai sort of stylish. Rather stylish in truer and grittier sense.

The characters were just fabulous. You don't know whom to call the victim and whom the culprit. Just an unfortunate event that sets off a chain reaction transforming every one in the process for the good or worse.

The charms of the movie: Varun and Nawazuddin. The one I liked more was Varun for a very simple reason. Nawazuddin is an acclaimed actor though underrated. It's Varun who broke the stereotype chocolate boy image and got onto a new avatar. One that's disturbing and at the same time interesting. The only thing is, Varun's voice seemed childish in some scenes that demanded more impact. Other than that, Varun has my respect. Nawazuddin is Nawazuddin. I watch his every movie just to see him in action. Enough Said!

The twists and turns in this movie seemed natural. Never forced. Unlike other bollywood movies, where the twists are introduced out of nowhere, this one had twists that baffled me with it's sheer brilliance. The gore is limited to just few minutes but enough to make a huge impact.

The comedy is unintentional yet brilliant. The dialogues are not intended to make you laugh. But you laugh anyway. Even after the movie has ended. WOW! 2015 has been so good this far. Hope this continues for the rest of the year. Ugly, Baby, and now this.

I'll not urge you to watch this movie if you like masala movies Or, if you intend to watch a family movie. But, if you want a taste of the nastier grittier stuff bollywood has to offer, I can't think of a better movie right now than this one.

You'll either love this movie. Or, hate it. But this movie will definitely make an impact on you. That fer sure.

Baby (I) (2015)

One of the Best!! Well... at least the Second Half is!

[10/10 · 24 January 2015]

I'm a movie buff and watch almost every movie. Last time, I was so excited about a movie was when I saw Ugly! Talking about Neeraj Pandey, I'm among those very people who didn't find the climax of Special Chabbees exciting. In fact, I was able to guess the finale long before it started. And so for me, the finale was the weakest link in Special Chhabees. For A Wednesday, it was a great thriller from start till end.

Now coming to the Baby! The first half started with bang and I was really looking forward to the movie. However, right about the interval, I was thinking that it wasn't all that great! And that's where I was wrong. With the entry of Taapsee Pannu, started a race against time. And here's where Neeraj Pandey really really blew my mind. That's how a thriller is made. Stupid movies like Race 2 ought to learn from this movie. The second half kept me at the edge of my seat that seldom any Hindi movie does.

Kudos to the Baby team for contributing such a gem to Indian Cinema. Thrillers like A Wednesday, Ugly, and Baby are a rare treat to movie goers like me, who just can't leave their brains at home. The critics can find all the fault they want in this movie, but for me it's one of Neeraj's best.

Akshay did a very good job. He is a versatile actor who should do more sensible movies instead of movies like Once Upon A Time In Mumbai - 2. But I'm all praise for Tapsee Pannu. Unlike every Telugu movie, where the heroine is a Bimbo, Tapsee showed her acting prowess with this movie. Anupam Kher was excellent as always. Not much can be said about Rana Daggubati as his role wasn't meaty enough!

All in all, I really enjoyed this movie. Will definitely see again on Silver Screen, too! Urge you all to watch this movie if you really want a fast paced Indian thriller.

PK (2014)

OMG was a lot powerful than this one!

[1/10 · 26 December 2014]

"Secularism doesn't mean abuse the majority!" Someone aptly tweeted this few days back! The movie is good but it's few scenes that really stand out as offensive. Vidhu Vinod Chopra, you went too far this time. What you find comic, may not strike cord with everyone! You made a person playing Shiva (stage play), to run like a coward. Do you have guts to do the same to someone playing Prophet Mohammad or Jesus Christ made to run in same way and show cowardice! No! Because you'll be called nonsecular!

The comparison between OMG and PK was inevitable as both movies tread the same path.However, OMG was a lot better than this one. I have watched OMG multiple times, and each time it got better. With PK, I can only say that it's one good time watch.

Some people are saying that PK is Aamir's best performance! I seriously doubt that. Lagaan and 3 Idiots are miles ahead in terms of his performance.

The movie boasts of some really good scenes. And yes, I enjoyed it in parts. But it failed to make the same impact that OMG did with me.

Just because Hindus are tolerant and accept criticism, not every other movie should bash it. I mean, cmon. Had it been any other religion, you wouldn't have lived to see the light of another day. Please be gentle to all religions equally!

Bang Bang (I) (2014)

Gr8 movie despite all it's flaws

[8/10 · 26 October 2014]

First let me explain why I gave 8 rating to this movie. This movie is not better than Knight and Day. May may disagree but knight and day was on a totally different level. Then why such high rating?

I want Bollywood to evolve. Movies like Haider are really evolving Indian Cinema. And while we are doing good in terms of drama. We seriously lack in terms of quality action. More so with the South-Indian like action now prevalent in Bollywood. Bang Bang broke the stereotype action and brought some seriously noteworthy action. The underwater fight scene and F1 racing at the end were some of the beautiful action scenes I saw in a Bollywood movie. I hope future movies tread a similar path and bring some evolution to a now-stagnant Bollywood.

Katrina couldn't act. We all know that. Script was weak. Sure. The whole idea with the Kohinoor was dumb. Couldn't agree more. Yet, somehow Hrithik more than made up for the lack of substance. Songs were really good but they broke the flow of the movie. But overall, all I can say is this movie was a really good attempt to improve the quality of Bollywood.

And that's the sole reason I'm ranking it 8. This movie couldn't be compared to Haider, even though both are adapted/inspired. Haider did justice to serious/drama genre. And Bang Bang did justice to a potboiler genre.

Hope a sequel do come out! But this time with more substance.

Happy New Year (I) (2014)

As expected! Totally Worthless!

[1/10 · 25 October 2014]

I'm not really sure why every time a Shahrukh Khan/Salman Khan movie comes, it's like everyone goes berserk.

I'm really sick and tired of slapstick comedy. And action that clearly looks like it's done with a cable. Please spare us some brain.

Farah Khan! You lived up-to my expectations. I was expecting nothing short of total garbage. Shahrukh! Please forget 8 packs. Have a decent meal. At 48, you look more than 60.

And for god's sake, avoid slang/adult innuendos in a family movie. If you really want to do it, then go all out like Gangs of Wasseypur. Then it would be really awesome!

Take Bang Bang for example. Despite all it's flaws, it went all out in action. And some of the action sequences were simply breathtaking. All HNY wants is great box office collections. No need to pour any substance.

However, the movie was fun in parts. And I really liked those parts. Hate to admit but Abhishek and Deepika were actually quite good!

But to put in a good review for the whole movie means giving a good review to an entire hotel just because the salad was good! Anyways, Shahrukh fans would stop at nothing. All I can say to you is if you really enjoy such movies, then do enjoy it. Just Don't drag your friends (like I got dragged!) into watching such pathetic movies! 'Nff said!

Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

One of the Best Manga-Adapted Movies!

[10/10 · 10 June 2014]

More than often, Manga/Anime adaptations turn out to be some real disappointments. Classic example is Dragon Ball Evolution. However, with Edge of Tomorrow, director hits all the right notes.

This is the blockbuster I was expecting all summer. An action packed extravaganza. I read some reviews calling it Groundhog Day meets Battlefield Earth. To tell the truth, I haven't seen Battlefield Earth. But GroundHog Day is one of my all time favorites. Edge of Tomorrow treads on the same premise, yet manages to present a whole new story. Best part is it wasn't dull or boring for a single second. With the whole time-loop concept, it's very easy to create a mess of a movie. Fortunately, Edge of Tomorrow isn't one of those.

Action is pretty much awesome and some scenes remind you of Saving Private Ryan minus gore. This is the kind of action I was expecting from Elysium but was disappointed. All I can say is Edge of Tomorrow perfectly defines how a movie involving exo-skeletons should be!

In Retrospect, there are two things I didn't like.

1. Tom Cruise never wielded an Axe (similar to the one Emily carried) like in the original Manga. I'm pretty sure, action would have been on a whole new level with Tom wielding an Axe.

2. There was NO Tom VS Emily in the ending. In the Manga, Cage fights and kills Rita because they find out that Rita became an ANTENNA the moment Cage gained her powers. However, I also liked the new definitive Ending in the movie. What I would have liked more was, Tom fights Emily. Kills her. Then Blow Omega Up. And Everything is back to Normal. Somewhat of a crossover between original ending and the one in the movie.

Apart from that, there's nothing that I didn't like.

One of the better Tom Cruise movies in recent times, this movie was one hell of a ride.

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

No Action!

[1/10 · 26 May 2014]

Being an X-Men fan, I was expecting superb action in the movie. Whereas the storyline is decent, the movie seriously lacks noteworthy action. This is an ongoing trend that movie goers in US are giving more weightage to story than action. And that's what probably drives the directors to focus more on script.

However, last thing we expect from an X-Men movie is inferior action. Even a single comics of X-Men, a single episode of X-men animation, has more action than this movie. Lack of action means all the fun has been dragged away this time. The only fight I really enjoyed was the slo-mo action sequence with QuickSilver. Now that was IMPRESSIVE!

Coming to plot.

Q1. Wasn't Quicksilver the son of Magneto? Then what's with the new story?

Q2. Why can't Kitty send Wolverine back in time to kill Trask before he creates Sentinel program? Or stop him from even being born?

Q3. What's with Magneto's mood. First he tries to kill Mystique. Failing which he tries to kill Nixon! Wouldn't killing Nixon only ascertain the inevitable?

Q4. The ending was most questionable. If the past is changed, wouldn't the future be changed in a PARALLEL universe instead of the one from which Wolverine's sent? OR, if there is NO PARALLEL universe, the future should have changed the moment Wolverine's consciousness was sent back.

Instead, the future remains unchanged for the same time for which the past is unchanged. So, basically you are applying the concept (timeline) of Parallel Universe WITHOUT ANY PARALLEL universe. Wow!

I know that Mindless action is appreciated by none. But please don't forget that it's a superhero movie for god's sake. See Avengers for example. Decent story, lots of comic moments and great action. Yet even with Sentinels in this movie, action is far from explosive.

If story is what you want from an X-Men movie, by all means do enjoy this one. But if you want decent action, you are better off watching X2 for the nth time than Days of Future Past.

Hasee Toh Phasee (2014)

Found an answer to Jab We Met!

[10/10 · 10 February 2014]

Before I get on with the review, let me tell you I'm not a hardcore Parineeti fan. Just like I'm not Kareena's fan even though Jab We Met is in my top 5 list. I went in to watch Hasee to Phasee casually without any expectations, and I was pleasantly surprised. I found the movie to be superb!

From a critics point of view, this movie has nothing new to offer. In fact, you can complain about many things. But this is one movie, where I beg to differ with the critics. Even though I have seen such movies plenty of times, I couldn't help myself from loving Parineeti's character. And needless to say, nobody but Parineeti could have brought the character to life.

Aggressive, Submissive and Whacky! Parineeti's character Meeta has so many shades, you couldn't tell what she'd do next. The only thing I didn't like was : hero falling head over heals for a girl he met just a week back. Maybe they could have given more time for their relation to mature. But that doesn't stop me from LOVING each and every bit of the movie. Like the sequence where the heroine casually asks her sister's fiancé to marry her. Or, the "locked in the room" sequence where Parineeti gives an excellent performance.

I couldn't give much credit to Adah Sharma for acting. Having said that, she is also extremely gorgeous. I'd definitely like to see her in more movies. Chemistry between the lead actors is quite sparkling, and I was quite satisfied with how the things turned out.

I'll be heading to the theater soon to watch this movie again. This movie is definitely going to be in my Top 10 list.

Madras Cafe (2013)

One Word: Ultimate!

[10/10 · 26 August 2013]

This is frankly one of the best movies made this year. Very fast paced and realistic thriller.

One of the problems I see in Bollywood is EVERY movie involves escapist cinema. While such over the top action/comedy movies are nice to be savored once in a while, every other movie being made in the same fashion makes it stale.

Now Shoojit Sircar (director of Vicky Donor) gives us another mind blowing movie with Madras Cafe. Its down to earth approach and realistic blend of fact + fiction (regarding Rajiv Gandhi assassination) leaves cinema goers like me extremely satisfied. I have seen such carefully nuanced film making in 'Body of Lies', 'Green Zone' and 'Bourne' movies. But never have I seen such a fine political thriller in Bollywood (Shanghai was close though!). I was really anxious as to whether the movie would live up-to the expectations. Or if the director would Bollywood-ize the movie for the sake of box office. Thankfully, the movie steered clear of such typical Bollywood clichés; and delivered a thriller that's gracefully raw and appealing.

John Abraham gives the best performance till date. Nargis Fakhri also gives a nice performance as a foreign-based Indian reporter. I must commend the director for giving 100% English dialogs (with Hindi Subtitles) to Nargis who carried it out perfectly. However, it's Prakash Belawadi who leaves an impression as John's superior Bala.

All in all, the movie is very swift and well made, and also throws some light on the ambiguous relation Indian maintained with Sri-Lanka. If you are looking for a masala movie, this movie is not for you. Devoid of even a single comic moment, this movie is strictly for viewers who like taut political thrillers. If you liked Green Zone, Body of Lies and Blood Diamond, this is must go for you as you'll see Bollywood like never before.

Kick-Ass 2 (2013)

They toned it down -- a little too much

[5/10 · 19 August 2013]

Two reasons why I am neutral to this otherwise good movie: 1. They toned it down a little too much. I've read the comics and when I heard that a movie was in making, I wondered how they are going to remake this brutal story. I'm glad they removed the whole Katie's assault angle and instead decided to take a comic turn with Night Bitch. However, they ALSO removed a lot of grittier stuff that would have made this movie a cult classic. 2. The whole Mean Girls angle with Hit Girl was a dud. I didn't enjoy it in the least. If they wanted to show the troubles Hit Girl is facing while living the life of a normal teenager, they should have avoided the clichés.

Now I really liked the action. They upped it a notch, and showed some cool scenes with the Hit Girl. However, the Times Square Brawl finale was missing, and that is a bone of contention for me. I'm still wondering why they chose not to include the Times Square Brawl(or any Square for that matter) like the original story. This movie had budget less than the original. They could have thrown in some extra bucks and shot a grander finale.

Anyways, the comic fans will definitely be disappointed. As they have twisted the whole story. However, as an individual movie, this will definitely appeal to some people. This is purely a one time watch and that too because of Chloe's superb performance as Hit Girl.

Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai Dobara (2013)

Mediocre Sequel

[5/10 · 15 August 2013]

Milan Luthria's sequel to the classic movie is a big let down. While the 2010 original was awesome, this one is mediocre at best.

Ajay Devgn was perfect in his larger than life role. However, it was Emraan Hashmi who immortalized the movie. He broke his stereotype serial kisser image and emerged a winner as the deadly don.

Coming back to this movie. The key problem in this movie is everyone's trying so hard to be cool, that it doesn't work. Akshay Kumar lacks the charisma of Emraan Hashmi. He delivers some really cool dialogs, but you can't help but wonder if he's actually Rowdy Rathore and not Shoaib! Yup, his dialog delivery is exactly the same as it was in Rowdy Rathore.

Imran Khan as Aslam is a dud. I really couldn't understand why the director took him in first place. Sonakshi couldn't reprise the charm she displayed in Lootera.

Now for the good parts of the movie. Dialogues are really cool. More than half of them doesn't make sense, but are nevertheless very cool. And the beginning & climax of the movie are awesome. They more than make up for the lack of substance in between. I particularly liked the the scene where Imran and Akshay are jumping from roof to roof. Another bonus is Sonali Bendre. She gives a better performance than the rest of the crew combined.

All in all, it's a total time-pass movie. Cool dialogs will make it bearable for you to watch the movie. If only the director had poured in more substance, and actors displayed a more subtle coolness, the movie would have worked wonders. Better to wait 2 months and watch on Sony or Star TV

Elysium (I) (2013)

Great ring to it

[7/10 · 15 August 2013]

Synopsis: An ex-con working in a droid factory is accidentally exposed to radiation and is given only 5 days to live. His only hope is to make it to Elysium (space station for elites). However, things gets complicated when some extremely confidential data is downloaded in his brain.

Most of the attempts to infiltrate Elysium are shown in need of Health pod -- a device that can cure anything. Reserved only for the citizens of Elysium, health pods are not available to the residents of Earth. And this forms the basis of the movie.

The director has tried to weave in moral fibers within an out and out action movie and is largely successful in it. I also liked that he kept pace of the movie fast. While blending in elements of emotion, he made sure that it doesn't drag. Soundtrack is also nice and matches the overall mood of the story.

Matt Damon gives a good performance as an ex-con who is driven by his selfish motives. He doesn't care for the data stored in his brain and what good it could do to the Earth. All he wants is to save his own life by any means necessary. Another thing that I liked was that the director refrained from making protagonist a superhero. The exo-skeleton that was fixed on to him gave him subtle advantages. If this was any other movie, the exo-skeleton would probably have allowed him to become Hulk.

Jodie Foster as the iron lady leaves an impression. Though there is hardly any character development, it is shown that all her actions (particularly Immigration handling) are a result of her strong conviction and responsibility to save Elysium from the dystopic Earth.

Sharlto Copley as the sociopath Kruger deserves a special mention. His character gives this movie what it exactly needed. A strong and maniacal antagonist.

Though set in a dystopian future, this movie raises superb questions. Should special medical care be allowed only to the rich? Don't the life of poor mean anything? Can the Class divide be abolished in some way? It's great to see a movie with a real message behind it. Hope other directors take a hint and make movies with similar themes.

The Conjuring (2013)

Classic Horror Redefined

[8/10 · 14 August 2013]

One of the best horror movies I've seen in recent times, this one has all the elements to make it a cult classic.

Synopsis: A family terrorized by a supernatural entity asks a famous demonologist couple for help. On further inspection, the couple finds that the trouble is bigger than they initially imagined.

What sets this movie apart from similar movies in the recent past is its direction and execution. While most horror movies today focus on CGIs, and gore that tests one's limits, this one focused on building the mood and keeping the tension. Never have I seen a simple thing such a clap, scare the hell out of me. With Perfect timing, even the simplest of things can instill fear and tension.

I've seen few of James Wan's works in the past. Leaving Death Sentence (not bad, but not good either), almost all the movies were exceptionally good. After Dead Silence, Wan struck all the right notes with Insidious. And he takes it up a notch with The Conjuring. You can think of Conjuring as Insidious minus all the CGI.

I've heard several negative reviews that the plot and setting were very clichéd. Well, I'd like these persons to make a movie about a haunted house that is NOT clichéd. These things are bound to be repetitive. The real magic lies in the execution. From the director to child actors, everyone have done an awesome job. The child actors in particular were awesome.

If you are planning to watch the movie, understand that the movie is not meant for cheap thrills or creep show. Instead, it creates a dark mood against a vintage setting with plenty to relish.

The Hangover Part III (2013)

Chow's the only saving grace

[6/10 · 13 August 2013]

I heard both positive and negative reviews for this movie, and decided to give it a watch. Here's what I think -

Is the movie funny? Yes

Is the movie funny as Hell? No

This time around the directors wanted to reap the popularity of Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong)and decided to give him a larger than life role. To tell you the truth, Chow doesn't fail you. Ken Jeong gives the best performance till date in a Hangover movie. However, the key problem is this movie seems a lot focused on Chow and not on Wolf pack. If you have seen the movie, think of it in this way -- How many scenes can you remember from the movie that weren't funny solely because of Chow. Okay so you found few. Now remove all the scenes that were funny for Alan's solo act. Yup, now you can count them on fingers.

I was okay with the plot and all the dark humor. In fact, I liked this new plot. However, what I wanted was -- Wolf Pack takes a lead and Chow be in backseat. Somehow, many (not all)would be feel that this movie is more of a spin off of Hangover movies with Chow taking the lead. I'm not saying that this is solely a Chow movie. What I'm saying is whenever Chow appears, he seems to take the lead and he appears a lot!

On a bright side, the movie manages to string together events of all the three movies (again via Chow)! But the title doesn't seem appropriate as there was hardly any hangover (save for the awesome end credits scene!)

The movie was quite funny, but the wolf pack was hardly funny anymore. If you remove Chow, the movie wouldn't be half as amusing. And thats a disgrace to the Wolf-pack. May be if this was an individual movie (not from Hangover franchise), I'd have liked it a little more.

Man of Tai Chi (2013)

Timepass movie

[6/10 · 12 August 2013]

Man of Tai chi explores the changes in a man's life as he enters an underground fight club for money. This is one of those movies you can't complain about much, but can't praise it either.

The movie is meant to focus on the personal changes of the protagonist. In other words, the premise required huge character development of the hero. However, we are rushed through his transformation. In just 5 minutes, he transform into a guy who is obsessed with fight. In another 10 minutes, he becomes a ruthless fighter. IMHO these things needed a bit more development. May be Reeves wanted to keep the pace fast and refrained from any character development.

The fights are extremely good and all the fighters were convincing. In fact, the movie relies heavily on its fight sequences. However, the climactic fight with Reeves looked a bit unconvincing given the prior fights, but was nevertheless very entertaining.

Performance-wise, Reeves was perfect. His expressions were outstanding. As for Tiger Chan, he can fight extremely well. For a martial arts flick, that is exactly what counts. But there is room for improvement in his acting skills.

I understand that this is Reeves' debut venture and being a Reeves fan I'm willing to overlook the shortcomings of this movie. Hope he makes lots of improvement in his next venture. Wishing him all the best for the future.

Now You See Me (I) (2013)

Predictable Yet Entertaining

[7/10 · 12 August 2013]

This Magic meets Danny Ocean movie certainly keeps you on the edge of your seat. And though some may find the plot convoluted or characters underdeveloped, I found the movie to be fast paced and entertaining.

Synopsis: A team of Magicians who calls themselves The Four Horseman pulls off a series of flashy heists, thereby being chased by the FBI and Interpol. As FBI agent Dylan (Ruffalo) and Interpol officer Dray (Melanie) begin tracking them, they start to suspect that something bigger might be at play behind these flashy heists.

Plotwise, I could predict almost all of the twists (movie is full of it), and was even able to circle out the mysterious Fifth Horseman. But I admit the final twist was really cool and unpredictable.

Almost all the characters were quite good, but my favorite character from the movie was Jack Wilder (Dave Franco). The one scene where Wilder fights FBI agent Dylan was nothing short of exceptional. My other favorite would be McKinney (Woody Harrelson). His wise-cracking mentalist persona was quite entertaining. The only actor whose talent was under tapped was Michael Caine. His role was too short and could have been easily done by any other actor.

The soundtrack of the movie was good and matched seamlessly with the heists. The pace of the movie does get a bit slow towards the end of the movie, but the surprise ending more than makes up for it.

This movie is no 'Prestige' or 'Illusionist', but it holds its own. If you are expecting some sort of character development or serious drama, be warned its not that kind of movie. In fact, lack of character development is what keeps the pace of this movie fast. Possibly one of the better heist movies in recent times, it's meant to be enjoyed and not pondered upon.

The Heat (I) (2013)

More Fun than I Imagined

[8/10 · 11 August 2013]

It's a Love or Hate movie. Well, I loved it.

I'm an avid movie goer. I watch so many movies that its hard for me to like a movie of this genre. A recent example would be RIPD. I wasn't half amused after watching it. But I really liked The Heat.

The movie can be summarized as Miss Congeniality meets Dirty Harry. Or, as another reviewer pointed out -- Dirty Harriet. There's literally nothing you haven't seen before. A mole in the police, a drug king-pin, good cop bad cop, mutual understanding between lead actors after initial hiccups, etc. But even then, the movie is worth seeing for the witty banter between Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock.

Melisaa McCarthy was really comfortable in her Dirty Harriet caricature. Sandra Bullock just had to reprise her congeniality role. Somehow, I felt the chemistry to be just fine. However, other reviewers pointed out that the dynamics looked forced. I guess it depends from person to person. I also found some genuine comic moments within the movie. But I won't spoil it for you. Go see for yourself. On some other occasions, the comic scenes were just clichéd. A classic example would be when the lead actors go to a bar, drink a lot, and create ruckus. Or, the club scene when they want to bug the cell phone of a person. We have seen these scenes a thousand times in a thousand different movies. But still, you can forgive such clichés for the sheer comic-timing of Sandra and Melissa. Apart from the lead actors, there's pretty much nothing to write about.

If you like light-hearted comedies, then you may give it a shot. For me, it was more fun than I initially imagined!

Chennai Express (2013)

Strictly for Shahrukh fans

[1/10 · 10 August 2013]

This movie relies heavily on Shahrukh's star power. If you are not a Shahrukh's fan, you'll not like this movie. And since I'm not a die-hard Shahrukh fan, my review is very objective and will not go well with Shahrukh fans.

After watching the trailer, I had some expectations for the movie but I was disappointed. I found Golmaal movies to be extremely entertaining. Let the critics yell all they want. I enjoyed all the three movies. But Chennai express does not live up-to the hype.

The plot certainly had great potential for a masala movie. At a time when every other Bollywood movie is a remake of South hits, you'll like this new cross-over premise between North and South. However, Rohit Shetty continues his puerile comedy acts and fails this time. And you may/maynot find Shahrukh's OTT antics funny. What worked extremely well in movies like Yes Boss, DDLJ, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, etc. didn't work in this movie (at least for me). There were a few scenes when I laughed out loud, but I could count them on fingers.

The action is sub-par for 2013 movie. After watching Rowdy Rathore's physics defying stunts, everyone expects a similar standard from a Bollywood movie, but somehow Rohit Shetty refrains from it.

Deepika's performance is quite something. After a bombastic performance in Cocktail, she does well in this harebrained movie. Priyamani in her sexy item song (one, two, three, four) seems to enjoy herself. And Honey Singh's foot tapping number Lungi Dance is extremely catchy.

All in all, if you want to go see Shahrukh, then this is the movie for you. If not, you can skip this one and no harm's done.

R.I.P.D. (2013)

You May As Well Skip It

[5/10 · 1 August 2013]

RIPD fails on so many levels that I can't even begin to describe. What could have been a spectacle, falls flat due to unimaginative story telling. The idea of undead police was a neat cross over between Ghostbusters and MIB. However, what worked extremely well for MIB, was totally wasted in RIPD.

The movie falls straight into "don't take itself too seriously" genre. You can't expect a decent story line from a movie of this genre. However, what you do expect is a fun ride. And thats exactly what it fails to deliver. The Chinese cover ID, Indian foods making undead reveal their true self, VCR repair-shop portal, and whatnot. These were meant to be funny but doesn't deliver in the least. Any person who has watched some sci-fi comedies, won't be half impressed. The whole RIPD world fails to keep the audience invested. It's not boring, but not engaging either.

Jeff bridges and Ryan Reynolds are your run-of-the-mill characters. Jeff Bridges, who has proved his mettle in movies like Big lebowski, True Grit, Iron Man, etc., is totally wasted here. Ryan Reynolds plays yet another pretty boy role. Don't get me wrong. The movie is not that unbearable. In fact, it has some funny moments but few and far between. It's a time-pass movie you'd rather watch on Star Movies or HBO than in a theater.

RED 2 (2013)

A Worthy Sequel

[8/10 · 1 August 2013]

When I think about Red(I), I can't remember what I liked the most. A bunch of oldies taking down an army of assassins. Or their cool persona where everyone fit comfortably. If you liked Red (I), it's highly unlikely that you won't like Red(II). Red 2 takes on exactly from where Red 1 left.

Synopsis: Retired C.I.A. agent Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) along with his girlfriend Sarah (Mary-Louis) and friend Marvin (Malkovich) goes on quest to track down a missing portable nuclear device. They are chased by Han (Byung-hun Lee) and Victoria (Helen Mirren) on the orders of their respective intelligence agencies.

Red had a sleekness that Red 2 seems to be missing in some places. However, it has the same panache (may be even more) that Red 1 had. Roping in Byung-hun Lee and Anthony Hopkins was a very smart decision. It looked like the roles were tailor made for them. Byung-hun Lee was a welcomed addition to the Red team. I hope they rope him in the next sequel too. Not only did he have tremendous screen presence, he can also make you laugh with his straight-face humor. Anthony Hopkins as the talkative mad scientist leaves a mark. Bet everyone saw that coming ;)

Red 2 also delves into the relationship of Willis and Mary-Louis. It's revealed that after the action packed start, their relationship seems to be getting stale with Mary-Louis craving for something adventurous. Their relationship also suffers a setback with Catherine Zeta Jones walking in as Willis's ex-flame. I'm not sure about Catherine but Malkovish's character seemed a bit out of place than what we remembered him from the last movie. Instead of being a hopeless paranoid, he became a Love-guru for Willis in this movie. Not a deal breaker, coz whatever he does you can't stop cheering for him. Helen Mirren is as elegant as ever with her charming personality. Rest of the cast seemed good. The story is decent and fast paced as expected.

Overall, Red 2 is a worthy sequel to Red, and is just as bold and confident. Hope the movie makes a good profit so that we can get the third installment!

The Wolverine (2013)

Fun Movie

[7/10 · 28 July 2013]

Wolverine is the 6th installment of X-men series with Hugh Jackman reviving his role as the title character. Loosely adapted from the famous Japanese arc by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, characters are more or less different from the original comics particularly Silver Samurai and Viper.

Synopsis: Wolverine is shown living a secluded life, somewhere in northern America, over the guilt of killing Jean Grey (in The Last Stand). He is approached by a mysterious Japanese girl, Yukio, who wants to take him with her to Japan. As the plot unfolds, it's Yukio's boss Yashida who wants to meet Wolverine. Half a century back, Wolverine saved Yashida's life during Nagasaki nuclear tragedy. As a token of appreciation, Yashida wants to give Wolverine back his "Mortality" - a thing Wolverine craves most. However, Yashida dies unexpectedly and this sets into motion a chain of unexpected events involving her Grand-daughter Mariko (also his company's heir).

Overall, the movie is darker than previous X-Men movies and appears more mature. GIven the original story-line was too big to be scaled down in a single movie, the script is quite decent. But it lacks the action we want from a X-men movie. Hugh Jackman as the central character gives an excellent performance. However,some parts of the movie needed more character development.

Gorgeous Svetlana, as Viper, is shown as the main antagonist for most part of the movie. However, her lack of screen time leaves us unsatisfied. Changing the original comic story by making Viper a mutant is useless, if you don't want her to fight like one. Wolverine and Viper are not seen dueling much on screen and that's a bone of contention for me. Also, if Wolverine and Mariko were given more time together, their bond could have been explained better. Finally, I didn't like the finale as it wasn't as exciting as the Bullet Train fight sequence, or the funeral massacre.

The Wolverine is a good installment for the X-men series raising the bar of X-men standard/theme. But it doesn't quite make it to the top of my list. X2 still remains my favorite, followed by First Class.

White House Down (2013)

Just your average flick

[6/10 · 22 July 2013]

This movie has nothing new to offer. I'd suggest you rather watch Air Force 1 again!

President trying to save the day, Dad trying to save his daughter, corrupt official trying to become President by creating chaos, etc. Think of any cliché related to President in a movie (or even a TV show), and its present here.

The only reason I give it 6.5 and not 5 is because I enjoyed the crackling chemistry between Jamie Foxx and Channing Tatum. There were some good laughs in the movie. I liked the way the duo got together to survive and save. Apart from that, everything is so clichéd. The movie can't boast of its action either.

If you watched and liked Olympus has fallen, its highly unlikely that you'll like this one. Olympus is far more intense than this one. Same goes for the action. After watching the destruction of white house in Olympus, you'll not like the same in this one as it ain't even close.

All in all, this is totally a time pass movie. Watch only if you have nothing else to do. If you go with any expectations, you'll be disappointed.