Q3 2014 - Finally some averagely good ones

1. Ramleela - Vik Rating - 4.5 Star. (Too late a review but who cares)

Sanjay leela bhansali like Vishal Bhardwaj and Anurag Kashyap have a distinct style and you can see he is not looking for masala to make his movie a hit. Instead people need to come to his movie on his terms. Ramleela has that distinct flavor of colors (red and white) and indian gujarati grandness but with a twist, this time bhansali puts loads of crassness in the mix. there is a scene in the movie, showing beauty of the vast desert nearing sunset with silhouettes of Ranveer Singh and Deepika walking… and suddenly Ranveer starts peeing… that explains the movie. Anyway .. the movie is an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet in a voilent Gujarati setting not the tried and tested cultural gujarati setting. The entire treatment is whacky with stunning results. I love it how Ranveer’s character is loving but still rude and crass as compared to other serious but violent characters. If you can digest the weirdness … it is awesome movie.

2. Bhootnath Returns - 3.5 stars

Original Bhoothnath was awesome, if you did not see that you should. This one is not as good but still enjoyable in parts. Bachchan is the Bhoot who comes back to earth to take care of a few things and get involved with a kid and his life and in the end tried to change India. Too many things taken in this recipe.

3. Ragini MMS 2 - 1 star.

Sunny Leone is the star attraction and baby doll is the song in this crappy presentation. I don’t remember if it was a horror-sex movie or a thriller… but whatever it was I remember we were really annoyed by the entire experience. I may have left it in between.

4. Purani Jeans - 2.0 Star

This had newcomers and everything that a new comers movie whould have. Love angles, heart break, flash backs, re-visit of old love, 3 die hard college friends etc etc… but nothing jels everything looks forced and fake. It was like the movie was made thinking about all other such movies and not like they were making a good story.

5. Kaanchi - 0 Star.

This was a first in long history of watching movies in our household when both of us said we cannot see this after we were into the movie for 20-30 minutes. It seemed like we were watching a 80s Subhash Ghai movie with little bit over acting and over scripting…. everything a little over than 80s… that is something. maybe something changed afterwards… but sorry we did not complete it.

6. 2 States - 3.5 stars

I did not watch it. Sapna went to theater for this one. She said it was ok movie not my kind. If you liked grand chocolate love stories of the past probably you will like this one.

7. Revolver Rani - 4.0 Stars.

Another one which we started with no hopes and even at the half time we did not know if this was a good movie. But the treatment of the movie (again the genre I call - whacky) was awesome. It grows on you and then you start living it. It is not your regular girl dacoit movie. It is completely different self spoofing at times and at times completely crazy. Kangana is perfect for anything crazy.

8. Kya Dilli Kya Lahore - 2.5 stars.

This is from Gulzar, I think a little philosophical about India Vs Pak. Only 2 actors are in the entire movie, one pakistani soldier is outside a indian empty camp with exception of an indian chef left inside. Both want to kill each other but end up talking and becoming friends.

9. Dekh Tamasha Dekh - 3.5 Stars.

This is a dark comedy, statement on the society in a small town where they all fight over a dead body. Muslims and Hindus fight over who should get the body. It was a statement on the dumb ways society acts a little too simplistic and with no new twist but still who makes these movies now a days? It kind of reminds you of Jaane bhi do yaaron. Watch it.

10. LunchBox - 4.0 Stars.

Thus time’s oscar entry and when that happens generally my hope dips. But this one was very enjoyable, it has an element of surprise so you are always tied to your seat. Very well acted and well presented. Beautifully done. It is a drama with a bit of thriller and love story in it. It is not about the Lunch box system of india.. as it may sound like.

11. Holiday - 4.0 Stars.

This is out and out action thriller. I am not sure if it was copied but it looked pretty desi in treatment with nice masala action and desh bhakti. Just ski the entire Sonakshi part, because it was not needed and in fact is the only let down of the movie. Why do they still have to get the 5 songs and a romantic angle in a thriller? All in all a nice action thriller about a army superman Akshay Kumar doing his thing.

12. Bobby Jasoos - 4.0 Stars.

This Vidya Balan starrer starts a little slow and Vidya does not really look like a Hyderabadi girl. The hyderabadi culture and dialect is a little difficult to adapt and the entire movie is set there, but they could not get authenticity in acting. But that is just one small drawback, otherwise it is a perfect city for a jasoos to find 3 people in the city with almost no clue. Bobby is an aspiring jasoos when she gets a huge case …. and a lot of drama. A good nice clean hindi movie.

13. Heropanti - 3.0 stars.

I give it 3 because sapna liked it, but i did not finish it. 20-25 years back Jackie made his debut with hero, why can’t you make a new script for the son? It is basically the same movie with some new elements very 80s-90s kind of movie trying to showcase Tiger Shroff. If you like throwback 80s style … watch it.

14. Ek Villian - 4.0 Stars

Awesome songs, and a very different treatment to the movie. first scene shocks you as they tell you that the lead female is dead. then the story goes in flashback and comes in the present. Very different movie at least…. not the run of the mill. Only problem I had was there is nothing called subtle… in the movie. Every character was loud… the girl a little too happy (obviously against all odds)... doctor coming to your face and barking .. why are you here? she is dead… every one is loud and over the top… Remo (the singing fame) is as bad as others. The boy Sidharth Malhotra.. shows a few glimpses of improving (only career where you get 10 year to get good at your job (hindi films) so.. he is going to be fine). Ritesh Deshmukh steals the show though. He is good, the only underplayed character. You can tell how he is loving the character where doesn’t have to be a clown like most movies.

15. Hate Story -2 - 3.5 Stars

We had no expectations of this film but turned out to be a good one. No surprises here, just a typical revenge drama but with enough twists. It is again a female led movie with surveen chawla from first to last scene. She is pretty good actor and carries the movie on her shoulder pretty effectively.

16. The Xpose - 1.5 Stars Unless you are a fan like me then it is 5 Stars (it is so bad it is awesome)

This Himesh bhai masterpiece is the first time I watched a Himesh movie without my friends and have a viewing party. This film is awesome, Himesh wants to be the stylish hero mouthing hero style lines with complete ineptitude. Himesh is awesomely bad in this one. It is worth a watch just to see him mouth ‘Jaani’ style lines. the film is about a murder of an actress in 60s and all the crew is suspect. It seems to be lifted from some gossip of 60s. A must watch if you like himesh.

17. Humpty Sharma ki Dulhania - 3.0 stars

I don’t think I will watch this one, but sapna saw it and it is another from the factory of chocolate romance like 2 states. I think if you see alia bhatt you know what to expect. I don’t know if she can tell the difference between her own films.

Q2 2014 Movie Review - 2 Actors rising above the script - Parineeti and Kangana

1. Hasee to Phasee - Vik Rating - 4 star. 

There are movies you can see that it is full of flaws but you still can't deny you like it. This is one of it. It is only because of Parineeti, she is the cutest girl in Bollywood and she plays this crazy but cute girl so well, that you just like her. How can an innocent girl scam people, universities, family, hop around countries and still act innocent and cute? Good question. But she does and yes it doesn't make sense. The songs are awesome and skip the regulars you have heard the regular punjabi wedding song stuff, and go to the last 3 they are nice and melodious (Zehanaseeb, manchala and Ishq Bulawa). The boy (Sidharth Malhotra) (another wannabe Varun Sanon, obviously he is just not that. If you have no idea what am talking about check him out in my friend list), is just ok, he had to just look at Parineeti in amazement and he does that. This is a good one; watch it with no expectations except for having a good time.

 Hasee to Phasee Songs

2. Total Siyapa - Vik Rating - 1 star. 

There are movies which narrate the entire story and all the good scenes in the trailer. Yes this is one of them. Just watch the trailer, which is pretty entertaining and that's the movie. To sit through it is a pain. It is one night movie where everything goes wrong for the couple pakistani boy and Indian girl trying to convince girl's family that they are a good couple.  I like anupam kher's stupid kind of comedy but in this one he is the biggest pain and an embarrassment. In fact it is sad to make fun of his 'memory loss'. Ali Zafar finally fits a role because he is playing himself so his heavy Pakistani accent is ok here. Bad movie, why am I writing so long for a 1 starter?

3. Shaadi ke Side Effect - popular rating – 2 Stars

I gave it a skip. Keeping with the tradition of not watching something that wife already watched in a theater. Turns out it was pretty bad with predictable married problem jokes and only showing one side of the story (how men have problems with marriage and kids). 

4. Dishkiyaon - Vik Rating - 0 star.

There is Herman Baweja and there is Sunny deol and there is nonsense. Trying to make it a thriller with flashback and flash forward all mixed with no grip. Sunny Papaji was roped in for a day and Herman is telling him his story on how he is in a mess, trying to make it a cool movie but have no idea what they are making. I am sorry if it was a Masterpiece I did not get it.

5. Queen - Vik Rating - 3 Stars.

Too much hype but did not live up to it. Kangana gives the character so much authenticity that it feels real. Like parineeti, kangana makes it happen. She is the movie. A middle class conservative girl finds more to life than getting married to the one and only. When you make a movie with a statement, in this it was Indian women lib. I couldn't help think that the entire movie there was nothing that she had right as a conservative small town girl. The movie showed everything cool and great with western ways however messed up her friends she made in west were, they were somehow better than her. Anyway a good watch. 

6. Gulaab Gang - Vik Rating - 1 Star.

Juhi Vs Madhuri, 2 yesteryear female leads face to face and that’s it. There is nothing more to say about this one. The plot is a women uprising somewhere in rural area which was apparently a true story and this movie lifted the same story with cinematic liberties. When the basic premise is to show off Madhuri's talent and how she is still good, it always becomes a belabored effort. It seems she is trying too hard to tell you she is the same Madhuri she was, she does not stay in the flow. She wants to look gorgeous and is conscious to not look her age and it all shows that something is amiss. Juhi as the villian is ok, but nothing what the cute juhi used to be... ahh..

7. Highway - Vik Rating - 2.5 star.

Much talked about Alia Bhatt is again doing the same thing what Madhuri is doing in Gulaab Gang. The movie is not made with intention of narrating a story, it is made to display Alia as a perfect product and whenever that happens it shows. One thing wrong with this movie was they were confused wether to make completely authentic movie or not. When you are a ‘karan johar’ then stay that. Don’t try to dabble in reality. This movie goes too real when you show Randeep Hooda as a truck driver with real truck and real homes, and on the other hand you want to show Alia just prancing around with these 'very real looking criminals' with no fear at all and reforming them because she had a few demons to kill of her own. The 2 don't gel. I think the driver should have been a Ranbir Kapoor style cute driver (who no way will look or act like a driver - a la besharam goon or a rangeela aamir). Then this may have made some sense. Anyway this movie for some reason just rubbed me the wrong way. Sapna liked it, so 2.5 stars.

8. Bewakoofiyan - Vik Rating - 2.5 stars.

I do have a soft corner for Ayushmaan Khurana's movies but this one is not up to the mark. It is a simple love story of a couple fighting and making up along the way. How losing job affect everything was a good premise but was a little dull in presentation. Rishi Kapoor who has quickly become the 'comic dad in every other movie', is boring and is a drag with his character completely devoid of any depth. This girl Sonam Kapoor takes her tag of 'stylish' a little too seriously, please stop putting weird makeup on you.

9. Goonday - Vik Rating - 2.5 Stars.

This is a 80s style multi-starrer bonanza of a movie. Dostana, Shaan, Suhaag, Kaala Pathhar – movie zenre. There is one problem - there is no Bachchan in this one. Though I wanted it to be good but it just couldn't recreate the magic, it had everything in it, the friends who turn enemies, a villian who is not completely a villain and a common lady love, but the 2 men who need to carry the movie fall flat. The problem with new age heroes is, they are just not that rugged and tough, though they are all buffed up like a cartoon, but no one can brood and be the man of yore.... uff...

10. Dedh Ishkiya – Vik Rating – 3.5 Stars

I will like to warn you, this maybe a better movie than I suggest because I am a huge fan of Ishqiya so obvious disappointment on the sequel. It has the old jokes and characters. This time it looked everything was a little stretched maybe to cash in on what worked last time including the ending with a twist. It was too heavy on mausaki and shayari and may have a language barrier to most people. There are some good funny scenes in the movie and the girl ‘Huma Qureshi’ is good. Songs disappoint after great ones in the first one. Overall a good movie to watch.

 

11. Mein Tera Heero - Vik Rating - 2.5 stars.

There is someone called David Dhawan and he has a plot or 2 and he made like 30 movies on the same plot with Govinda and Salman and now he decided why not start it again with his son. That is Mein tera hero. The stupidity continues, and it is everything same.... can we get a little fresh air somewhere.. How can you repeat everything? oh yea you can every 20 years audience change and the new audience don't care if you give the same stuff, just package it new.

 

Q1 Review 2014 - Shahid vs Nothing.

1. Sooper se Oopar - 1.5 Star

Old formula - new guy who stays in city goes to look for his grand parent for his own selfish needs and obviously falls in love with his roots. Nothing special.

2. Satya 2 - 2.5 Star.

It was very bad, but not because it was a bad movie, but because it is dated. Same underworld formula of all other under world movies. I have been bored of these, so I switched it off in between. New guy in the gang rises to great heights because of his new ways. But then he gets in trouble.

3. Gori Tere Pyaar Mein - 1.0 Star.

There are some movies that tell you the entire story in the trailer. This is one of them. Whatever sorry story it had was already known from the commercials. Kareena can sleep walk through any role, because she has to do the same thing and make the same faces. And Mr Imran Khan is King of non actors. Great cast and a great insipid script. But .. if you are looking for no surprises love story then probably it is not so bad.

4. Krishh 3 - 4.0 Stars.

Did not see this one. Sapna went to see this one in theater and surprisingly liked it. Even Savi liked it. It was the best big budget movie last year - when compared to Jai Ho, Dhoom 3 and Chennai Express.

5. Shahid - 5 Star.

Easily the best movie of the quarter. Everything is good about this one. Superb depiction on minority mentality and problems. Supposedly a true story of a person who helped lot of people to fight terrorism charges on them. this is a must watch for anyone who does not get it, what minorities go through. Also the family relations are pure joy to watch. i felt a lump and the movie kept me awake for long. Don't get me wrong this is not out and out depressing movie just life as it is.

6. R..Rajkumar - 5 Stars for songs and 0 stars as a movie

Easily the best songs in a decade, purely for personal reasons. I will never forget these songs, we bonded with Ashvik listening to them. The music is throwback Laxmikant Pyarelal kinds. Saree ke fall sa .... gandi baat... chor hu mein lucha hu mein, had se bada tucha hun mein... beautiful lyrics. Movie?? dont even go there. I don't know what was going on. just lot of fight which does not appeal. Bad Vs Good guy and let’s fight.

7. Bullet Raja - 3.0 Stars.

The movie has 'Jimmy Shergill' so it cant be bad. (Bansore rule) Till Jimmy is in the movie it is a sholay. he is awesome... oh yea.. main lead is someone called Saif. He looks like a joker with his over the top getup. Easily one of his worst jobs. the dialogues are fun in parts. jahan na jaaye rail gadi wahan jaye bail gadi.. jahan na jay bail gadi wahan pahunche marwadi. Typical north indian gundagardi movie.

8. Singh Saab the Great - 2.5 Stars.

Sunny papa ji disappoints with this one. He has lot of dialogues but all in all the movie just does not gel. I generally get a lot of laugh out of his movies in this one there were not many outrageous scenes I guess. But one thing is clear he knows how to pack a punch, I saw this movie after R...Rajkumar and shahid is half his size and just will never look like Sunny papaji no matter how many cars you blow up in an action scene.

9. Ram-Leela - 4.0 Stars.

I have not yet finished watching this one. but the start of this movie was so different and awesome, that I am pretty sure this is a good movie. If you want to watch a different movie go for it.

10. Yaariyan - 0 Stars

Forget it. Just forget it.

11. Jackpot - 0 Stars.

This was one big stupidity going on and on and on. It makes no sense. Some jackpot money has to be won and people are fighting about it. Just.. forget it. I don't want to spoil my mood.

12. Jai Ho - 2.5 stars

Another Salman movie another south indian remake... it was just whatever. Don't say thank you just help people was the message. But Salman only knows one way to help - break bones. He has started looking old and his action has gotten out of control like garam dharam at one point of time when he started coming in movies like - paap ko jala ke raakh kar dunga. everytime sallu comes on screen he does something physics defying like kicks a truck and truck starts running.. and stuff like this happens all through the movie.

13. One by Two - 0 stars

Normally a safe bet - abhay deol lays an egg. That is why I give this one a 0. At least an abhay movie should be good and decent. it is a typical abhay movie with him being a regular guy working in a normal job with his family trying to get him married. maybe it was a decent movie, but Ashvik makes us so tired that we sometimes just can’t concentrate.

Top 10 Movies of 2013

1. Ranjhana – Genre - Drama / Love Story.
2. Luv Shuv te chicken khurana – Genre - Comedy.
3. Talaash - Genre - Drama
4. Fukrey - Genre - Comedy
5. Nautanki Saala - Genre - Drama
6. Jolly LLB - Genre - Drama / Comedy 
7. Shorts – Genre - Short Stories 
8. Bombay Talkies - Genre - Short Stories
9. Aurangzeb – Genre - Thriller
10. D-Day - Genre - Thriller

Honorable Mention - Go Goa Gone, Ek Thi Daayan, BA Pass, Madras Cafe, Commando, Aashique2, Matru ki Bijli ka Mandola.