2012 Second Quarter Reviews (April - June)

Much delayed and incomplete Q2 Movie Reviews are out. But anyway my real customers are the ones who don't watch hindi movies till they see my reviews. My reviews are now in direct competition with my blog so if you hate my blog 'like' my reviews to prove your point :)

1. Bittoo Boss – 4.0 Star. 

• A perfectly typical bollywood movie. Nice innocent guy, pure love. Bedard zamana needs him to be rich. Rich is corrupt… shud he shud he not… uff… good one.

 2. Mr Bhatti on chhutti – 2.0 Star. 

• If you guys love Anupam Kher’s cheap comedy watch it for it. He is a loser on vacation who gets embroiled in under world.

3. Fatso – 4.0 Star. 

• Most reliable name today in movies Rajat Kapoor. There is no movie which is not good from his stable. This is no exception. The movie starts with a bang but kind of whimpers in the end. But still a must watch just for the scenes of ‘limbo’ and each and every dialogue is a masterpiece in the scenes between 'heaven and earth'. 

4. Staying Alive – 2.0 Star. 

• Seemed like some philosophical treat with 2 people dying in a hospital but was not entertaining.

 5. Hate story – 3.5 Star. 

• Revenge drama with a twist. The difference is the person madly in revenge mode is the girl. Cool.

 6. Jodi Breakers – 2.5 Star. 

• Don’t remember much of it. They form a team to open a business to expedite divorce and predictable happens. Pretty much on the lines of Band Baja Baraat.

 7. Blood money – 3.0 Star. 

• A typical Bhatt movie with a guy getting stuck in underworld falls in love but can’t get out of bad company.

8. Agent Vinod – 3.0 Star. 

• Desi Bond does everything what a Agent is needed to do but the soul is missing. There is no point of the movie, like SRKs RaOne too much hype and trying to fit in was the drawback.

 9. Challis chaurasi – 4.0 Star. 

• Good comedy great cast. A bit corny at times, but with 4 accomplished actors including KK Menon and Naseer, the stupid scenes look good too. Great ride …. don’t over think it.

10. Gali gali chor hai – 4.5 Star. 

• Easily the best movie of this Quarter, Akshaye Khanna has been a stamp of quality for some time now. He has perfected this role of common man stuck in a corrupt system. The movie is a black comedy with shades of jaane bhi do yaaron.

11. Paan singh tomar – 4.0 Star. 

• To make a movie about a real life dacoit and then entertain is difficult. It does that. A renowned Indian athlete becomes a dacoit. Well told story.

12. London paris newyork – 2.5 Star. 

• The lead actor has heavy accent which annoys. The girl is cute. When harry met sally has now been done 100 times. Pretentions kill the movie. Maybe am being harsh but it was just a ok movie.

13. Ekk diwana tha – 3.5 Star. 

• Different treatment to the movie makes it better than it is. Arya babbar annoys with his voice and expressions which don’t change. But otherwise movie is pretty different and a onetime watch.

 14. Tere naal love ho gaya – 3.5 Star. 

• Jenelia is cute. The movie is pretty cute love story. Don’t judge it too much you will enjoy it.

15. Ek mein aur ek tu – 3 star. 

• I don’t watch movies which come to theater and Sapna goes to see them. So Sapna said she liked it. She was ok with it.

 16. Cocktail - 4.0 Star. 

• Again as above watched by Sapna in theater, not my kinda movie but Sapna liked it. Its a gen X movie which was even liked by Revati so must be good.

2012 - First Quarter Movie reviews are out!! NJOY.

1. Kahaani – 5 Star. 

• After a long time a 5 starrer. Edge of the seat drama / thriller and suspense. I don’t think we moved from our seats. Director’s style of capturing the life of Kolkatta in every scene was beautiful. The slick editing the pace the plot… perfect. The CBI guy Khan is just GREAT. Vidya Balan along with Piggy chops is a league apart from all other actors of hindi films. But this movie is not about one person.

 2. My Friend Pinto – 1 star. 

• Didn’t finish it, I think we didn’t even start it. It has kalki and prateik babbar.

 3. Mausam – 3.0 Star. 

• Throw back love story. More like slow and old style…. When poetic love was…

 4. Rivaaz – 1.5 Star. 

• More of a documentary. Didn’t want to watch a depressing tale about some societies ‘culture’ being of girls going into their duty of prostitution.

5. I am Kalam – 4.0 Star. 

• Loved the movie. The kid is great. Nice story well executed. Story of a kid who names himself after the president ‘abdul kalam’ and lives life with style with odds stacked against him. Again people who are looking for an item movie please don’t see it. It doesn’t have big starcast.

 6. Desi Boyz – 3.5 Star. 

• Not as bad as people made it out to be. Akshay is type casted in these but always is good. John is as usual horrible. But then some girls like to look at him though he seems to have bloated outta control. The girls are equally bad but somehow movie has a story and goes through a emotional track time to time. Its kinda main stream so if you don’t like Dirty picture and Rockstar … chances are you will like this one (not love).

7. The Dirty Picture – 3.5 Star. 

• Slower than expected. Practically nothing happens till the end. But it was not about the story but about life of ‘Silk’ there is moments which are worth capturing though. Especially when ‘silk’ goes on the offense on an award function, you can feel the tension. The dialogues are good. Also in general the showing the finger to the world is captured pretty good. But people believing in living the ‘prper’ way may not get excited with silk. Again people who like mainstream crap stay away.

 8. Jo Hum Chahein – 1.0 Star. 

• Even Sapna doesn’t remember what happened.

9. Miley Na Miley Hum – 1.5 Star. 

• Any movie with Kangana is guaranteed psycho, though I don’t even remember what happened in this, and sapna is not answering me because she watching her ‘pretty little liars’ season finale.

 10. Lanka – 2.5 Star. 

• It keeps promising to get better but never does. A Manoj Bajpayee movie. A little over the top. He keeps torturing this girl forever and the guy who is supposed to save her never does come into his element. Can be a good fast forward and watch in an hour kinda movie.

11. Pappu Cant Dance Saala – 4.0 Star. 

• Another cute one from the stable of Neha Dhupia / Rajat Kapoor / Vinay pathak. They never go wrong. Most bankable people in the industry. Vinay Pathak is a little ‘slotted’ as the same dumb guy from UP. But Neha Dhupia is a Rockstar. She is one of the favs along with Jimmy shergill. It is a ‘unlike’ attract love story. Nothing special happens, very predictable, but still keeps you engaged. Not for people whose definition of movie means – 5-10 stars churning out item song movies, I call them ‘Item movies’.

12. Players – 3.0 Star. 

• Not bad thriller, in parts copy (officially) of Italian Job. But again nothing great if you are used to Hollywood thrillers. The production is very shoddy, has a old look to it. Abbas mastan are stuck in 90s.

13. Rockstar – 4.0 Star. 

• I and savi still dance to sadda haq aithe rakh. Great music. Also I realize people don’t get the undercurrent of a movie and keep thinking as if they are watching a dumb salman or shahrukh movie. This has a undercurrent of yearning to be free. Watch it with that in mind and you see why each scene is the way it is. The contract, the nadaan parindey, the sickness …. It’s all related to that.

14. Fired – 2.0 star – 

• Rahul Bose film. But it’s kind of a whacky film. Artsy kind. I didn’t have the patience, could be a good one if you want to think about it. He fires his entire staff and then he is alone in the building.

 15. Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya – 3.0 star –

• A regular cute love story nothing bad in it. If you like this genre you will not get bored. Genelia is good at acting cute, and riteish is never bad. 3.5 star for Gitu / harshleen.

16. Ladies Vs Ricky Behl – 4.0 Star. 

• Pretty good in ‘stupid movie’ category. I don’t like this genre but I still liked it. I don’t like the lead pair but I still liked the movie. I hate how everything just falls in place for a conman and there is no way he could con people unless all random things fit in place at the last moment…ridiculous…. But I still like it. It’s a fresh plot, all the Ladies are good and different in their own way.

17. Damadamm – 2.0 Star. 

• We in Portland meet and watch movie together only when a ‘Himesh’ movie comes. This time himesh disappoints. The movie has everything… ridiculous and embarrassing acting by himesh. Really hilarious songs … cute female lead… more than one girl after himesh…. Just this time we didn’t laugh as hard. His magic is getting old.

18. Azaan – 3.0 Star. 

• Terrorist type movie, if you like those. New guy is the hero but arya babbar is a side actor in this. I like him. You can fast forward and watch it.

19. Speedy Singhs – 2.5 star. 

• If you like a typical masala movie, you know everything about it but you still root for the good people. Sapna likes these kinds, which have feel good element, desi values, under dog wins.

 20. RaOne – 2.5 star. 

• SRKs bad days are here. The same stuff doesn’t look cute anymore, now it looks annoying. He cant play loverboy anymore and super hero doesn’t fit him. For some years he has been selling himself by his south act which doesn’t work. Again as a kid movie its not that bad, its pretty good. If you got kids watch it.

21. Dus Tola – 4.0 star. 

• Good manoj bajpayee movie. Small budget movie, good script, you would have not seen this kind. It’s a great drama. Once upon a time in a small village.

 22. Hair is falling – 3.5 Star. 

• This is a no name movie and I was laughing and loved it. But I guarantee none of you can watch it more than 10 minutes. I challenge you guys. Anyway its story of a guy who has started losing his hair… and the concept is hilarious as everyone goes through it and I am going through it too. It is hilarious how loss of hair changes everything for a man.

23. Be Careful – 0 star. 

• Don’t know why we were watching it.

 24. Loot – 0 Star. 

• Yes govinda is still somewhere in Mumbai.

 25. Mummy Punjabi – 1 Star. 

• Only Sapna dared to watch and couldn’t finish. Samir should watch it, it has Kiran Kher in it

26. Phhir – 1.5 Star. 

• Some suspense drama no one of you are gonna watch! Why am I even reviewing it.

Movie Review - May to August 2011

1.     Utt Patang - 1.5 Star

2.     Thank You - 2.5 Star

3.     Naughty @ 40 - 0 Star

4.     Game - 3.5 Star. 

•      Good twists, old style whodunnit. I like the simple mysteries. If you like complicated ones, then dont watch it.

5.     Impatient Vivek - 0.5 Star. 

•      this is the kind where you sometimes laugh and drop just cuz it is so bad.

6.     Nakshatra - 1 star.

7.     Mini Punjab - 2 Star. 

•       Gurdaas Man punjabi film, yea we do watch em too. It was like a TV serial. If you like predictable cliched emotions like TV serial ones, it is ok.

8.     Chalo Dilli - 2.5 Star. 

•      Was overhyped, it was not that good. If you have no expectations it is ok. Good for a few laughs.

9.     3 Thay Bhai - 1 Star. 

•       Great starcast and pretty bad, more was expected. If you can somehow forward first half you may like it a little.

10.  Shagird - 4.0 Star. 

•       If you like Nana Patekar, it s a must see. Pretty good twists and atleast something different, its a cop movie with suspense.

11.  FALTU - 2.0 Star. 

•      It was ok, but lets say it was a poor man's 3 idiots. Same concept.

12.  Virsa - 2.5 Star. 

•       Another punjabi film with arya babbar. I like that dude. He is cool. Another TV serial type drama, if you like them it was ok.

13.  Luv ka the end - 3.0 Star. 

•       First teen hindi movie I saw. It was like watching a disney teen movie on abc family. It was pretty good.

14. Pyaar ka Punchnama - 4.0 Star. 

•       This one has some hilarious scenes. Good depiction of single life of guys. If for nothing else you have to watch it for the work of the guy with glasses, he is hilarious as a loser techy guy! Luv it.

15.  Monica - 1 star. 

•      We didnt finish this one. It seemed based on true story which was depressing.

16.  Ragini MMS - 2 star. 

•      It was scary movie, very weird. If you like horror, it has some creativity I guess.

17.  Shor in the city - 1.5 Star. 

•     Promised a little before nose diving to nothing.

18.  Love u Mr Kalakaar - 2.5 Star. 

•     Sapna like it, another TV series type movie, old school kind, with predicatable everything.

19.  Bhaja Fry 2 - 1.0 Star. 

•     Just made the movie with the 'idiot' concept from first one. Just didnt click.

20.  Stanley Ka Dabba - 1.5 Star. 

•      Poor man's taare zameen par. Promised and then nose dived.

21.  Ready - 1.5 Star. 

•       All so called big movies in hindi are inspired by South movies which are heavy on style and 0 on substance and you cant beat South movies at there own game. Salman has started looking like a inflated balloon.

22.  Shaitan - 2.0 Star. 

•       Very depressing to see such a bad movie from anurag kashyap stable, very few people who are creative.

23.  Double Dhamaal - 2.0 Star. 

•       Maybe I am getting old, but this main stream hindi films get on my nerves, I think they are made for kids, because all 8-15 yr olds love them. And I understand.

24.  Always Kabhi Kabhi - 

•     Dont even remember why we saw this one.

25.  Bhindi Bazaar - 2.0 Star. 

•      Couldn't concentrate, was supposed to be cool rustic mumbai chawl kind of action movie.

26.  Bbudhah Hoga Tera Baap - 3.5 Star. 

•      It was wrongly marketed, it had nothing to do with classic movies of Bachhan, only had couple of dialogues of earlier movies. Was dissapointed, low production quality. But last 40 minutes redeem the film a little. 

Movie Reviews September to December 2011

1.Murder-2 – 1.5 Star. 

• Don’t remember what the point was. Misconception that sex can sell without a gripping plot is flawed (except for porn I guess).

2.Chillar Party  – 4.0 Star.  

• It is a great kid movie… which big people can watch too. Very few Indian kid movies are good. Kids don’t over act nor do they mouth huge philosophies but do take up social issues and change the world. I caught it on TV and it was worth a mention.

3.Allah Ke Bandey – 2.5 Star. 

• I think it had a decent grip but somehow loses it in between. Whenever there is Naseer you can watch the movie no problem.

 4.Singham – 1.5 Star. 

• As you know I have a problem with these re-hashed south movies which are anyway multiple times rehashed in 80s and 70s. I don’t think I completed this.

5.ZNMD – 3.5 Star. 

• I didn’t see it but sapna said it was pretty good if you don’t go with too many expectations, though she confirmed it wasn’t for me.

6.Gandhi to Hitler – 2.0 star. 

• Concept itself looked very preachy. Talks hypothetically about last days of Hitler and his psyche. Raghuvir yadav as hindi speaking hitler! There was something wrong in that. Anyway I didn’t complete it because it was supposed to be watched in a philosophical mood I guess… but Sapna and Sapna’s Mom won’t stop laughing at the hindi speaking hitler and his associates.

7.Khap – 2.0 star. 

• Too depressing a subject. Something to do with killing your own kids if they marry outside your community which probably is still prevelant somewhere. Watch it if you wanna know more about it.

 8.Delhi Belly – 3.0 star. 

• There are a few hilarious scenes. But except for bhaag DK Bose … not much. One time see. You will come out feeling like you just came out of a stinking toilet, was a little too gross.

9.Chatur Singh 2 Star – 4.0 Star. 

• Beware! Don’t get your expectations high. But I liked the way Sanju baba played this dumb detective. Shades of ‘do jasoos’ in it. Very kiddish but cute comedy.

 10.Not a Love Story – 4.0 Star. 

• This gross RGV movie actually was quite thought provoking. If you can somehow sit through first half it has a pretty good ending (if you think about it).

11.Aarakshan – 3.0 Star. 

• The ‘Gandhian’ Vs ‘corrupt’. Anna Vs Government? Straight forward movie with good Vs evil as backdrop, no surprises. Bachchan sleeps through this role which he has done 100s of times.

12.Mere Brother ki Dulhan – 3.5 Star. 

• Another cute movie, you won’t have a head ache and will forget it as soon as it is over. Just good romantic time pass. Good to see with your GF / BF.

 13.Bodyguard – 1.0 Star. 

• 80s melodrama. Slavish mentality glorified. Loves you but can’t say it for no reason, mis-understanding which make you cringe, loving someone over the phone but in real you live with her but don’t love her, do you really deserve her? Ughh… Another south movie lifted as it is. Even Hindi serials have moved on from these storylines, umm.. well some of them.

 14.Hum tum Shabana – 3.0 Star. 

• Just a comedy which has a few laughs. 2 guys after a girl… remember coolie song? Lambu ji lambu ji…. The story is kind of that song’s story… yeh ladki hai nahi koi khajana is kanya ko haath na lagana.

15.Shabri – 4.5 Star. 

• I loved this one. Remember Isha Kopikar? She pulls a ‘piggy chops’ kinda bomb. What a performance. Out and out underworld movie but nice treatment. I love any movie which shows real locations and this was REAL. Zakir Hussain is another actor who always impresses. Its shot with that lens which looks black and white but is not (my movie making and camera friendly friends must know), dark but still lively.

16.Sahi Dhande Galat Bande – 4.0 Star. 

• Another rustic kinda movie and I am biased towards them. Though the name should have been switched.. probably Sahi Bande …. Either way. Good one. 4 kids who are small time hired goons and how they want to do something worthwhile. Nice one.

 17.That Girl in Yellow Boots – 2.5 star. 

• When Kalki is in a movie I want to hit the screen with my chappal. Once she is in the movie is psycho… right? Yes you are right. Girl’s journey to find her father as a concept looks good. But it is weird and don’t know why everything weird is needed. I want better from Anurag Kashyap, the weirdness need to be tied with some kind of philosophical cloud.

 18.Cycle Kick – 2.5 star. 

• DVD was bad so didn’t complete. Looked decent, about a handicapped poor person wanting to play football.

19.Soundtrack – 2.0 Star. 

• Seemed like the movie would never end. Sapna forwarded half of it and it still felt it is long. First half is really weird with drugs and stuff. Second half is the story of the guy getting back to normal and.. you too do the same.

 20.Mod – 3.5 Star. 

• Nagesh Kukunoor film, so the concept is completely different. High school lover turns up at Ayesha Takia’s place and the love story blooms, but wait! There’s a twist.

21.Mujhse Fraandship karoge – 3.0 Star. 

• Have you seen Disney teen movies? Yup, this one is similar. You know from beginning to end whats the story. Just young kids ‘act’ young and try to be ‘cool’. Its about Facebook.

 22.Rascals – 1.5 Star. 

• Rubbish. Sanju and Ajay devgan trying to do comedy but it was a torcher. Just bakwaas.