Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)

This film is a prequel to the first part where Micah Sloat, Katie's boyfriend is killed. The prequel involves Katie's sister Kristi and her family comprising husband Daniel, baby boy Hunter, step daughter Ali and dog Abby.

Their house is haunted and Abby, Hunter are exposed to it in the beginning itself. Soon, other family members start experiencing the spirit. Cameras are installed around the house. After many eerie nights, Kristi is possessed. Daniel decides to transfer the spirit to Katie to save Kristi

Micah is killed soon enough after Katie is possessed by the spirit. She comes over to her sister's place and takes away Hunter, after killing Kristi and Daniel in typically weird fashion.

Review

• As the timeline is forwarded, the heart races and we yearn for some weird stuff to happen. The actors do the needful and manage to scare us a bit. 
• A point of view (POV) movie where we feel as if we are seeing the movie through the eyes of the camera. 
• Provides the scares and gives goose bumps at certain points. 

VERDICT

Some scares, thrills and spills. Not extreme though.

Léon: The Professional (1994)

Leon is a professional hitman. He is a loner and doesn't have much of a life. Mathilda is a young 12 yr old girl who is his neighbor. She has a troubled family life and her younger brother is her only solace. Her entire family is killed by corrupt DEA agents in relation to a drug problem that her father had gotten into. Mathilda escapes with her life and seeks solace at Leon's.

She wants revenge for her younger brother's sake. She urges Leon to teach her the tricks of the trade and Leon reluctantly agrees. Slowly, she falls in love with Leon while Leon hesitates till the end to reciprocate her love. He helps her take revenge by cleaning out the entire DEA gang led by Stansfield. Whether he keeps his promise of living with Mathilda forever is the finale of the movie.

Hits

• Gary Oldman shows tremendous villainy and eccentricity as the corrupt DEA agent. Natalie Portman is very spontaneous and shows myriad emotions as the 12 yr old. Prodigal talent. Her clothes are too itsy-bitsy though. Jean Reno lacks the charisma required for the role of the Italian hitman. This role is made for someone like Stallone. 
• The relationship between Leon and Mathilda is new and unique. 
• The movie has terrific background score by Eric Serra

VERDICT

The movie is worth a watch though a better male lead would have lifted the movie even more. 

Changeling (2008)

This movie is based on real life incidents that happened in 1928 in Los Angeles. Single mom Christine Collins doesn't find her son Walter Collins one fine day after she returns home from office. She lodges a complaint with the LAPD and after few months they deliver another boy to her saying that he is Walter. Christine is baffled and tries convincing the police that this is not her son. She proves it through Walter's dentist and teacher but, the LAPD doesn't accept it. They brand her as a psychopath and send her to the asylum. She is ill-treated.

On the other hand, there is a police investigation led by Detective Ybarra that boils into a major serial killer mystery about missing children.

The 2 tracks coincide and Walter is also believed to have been massacred by the killer Gordon Northcott and his accomplice, a small boy Sanford Clark.

Christine doesn't give up hope and she fights the LAPD in court against the atrocities committed on similar such women in the asylum, with the help of Reverend Gustav and a high profile lawyer. The police force is shaken up and high profile officers are suspended from the force as a result. The killer is also sentenced to death. Christine continues to hope to find her boy while slowly moving on in her personal life.

Hits

• Once in a lifetime performance by Angelina Jolie as the relentless yet emotionally fragile mother who looks for her son. Classic looks combined with great acting credentials. 
• Clint Eastwood, the master has directed the movie and composed the music. He excels in both the departments. Comment on the master's skills is beyond me. He is a legend, plain and simple. 
• Lot of good character roles for the Reverend, the police force in the LAPD, the lawyer, other women in the asylum, the small boys, the serial killer, his young accomplice etc. Great casting and well enacted. 

VERDICT

Another classic from the master, Clint Eastwood. The power of hope, resilience and the human spirit are emphasized. 

Moneyball (2011)

Billy Beane is the general manager of the struggling Oakland Athletics baseball team. Their team gets mauled and he is looking for some inspiration to turn things around. He hires an economics graduate from Yale who is good at statistics. His methods shock the setup and they upset the so-called experts. Billy slowly turns things around and leads the team to 20 successive wins - an all time league record. . But, the last win of the season continues to elude him. In the end, he gets a record offer for 12.5 million USD from the Boston Red Sox but he rejects that and stays at Oakland.

Hits

• The characterization of the coach is inspiring. Always proactive, thinking about baseball, spending some time with his daughter, being forthright, bold and always ambitious. Brad Pitt, with lines of wisdom on his handsome face, pulls it off with ease. His bouncy body language and the charm are intact. 
• Jonah Hill is a guy who entertains with his mere fat presence. His serious dialogs don't matter 

Comments

• For an Indian, a movie about baseball doesn't exactly hit the bulls-eye. The terms used, the strategies, stats etc. are quite alien. 
• A bald Philip Seymour Hoffman is grim and serious throughout the movie with his makeover attracting more attention. 

VERDICT

One of the most unwavering sporting movies with Brad Pitt shouldering the burden gamely. 

Fashion (2008)

A movie that looks at the fashion industry like never before - gay designers, shrewd model co-ordinators, big shot managers and finally alcoholic & drug addicted models.

Meghna Mathur is a small town girl from Chandigarh who moves to Mumbai to become a super model. She is a go-getter, makes contacts and becomes big in no time. But, her arrogant and over-confident nature brings her down quickly too. She loses a good boyfriend, hurts people who care about her, undergoes an abortion and becomes an alcoholic. She finally overcomes depression and takes a long time to come back and the very people whom she insulted, stand by her and help her make a great comeback.

Shonali Gujral is another show-stopper model who loses her way due to her drug addiction and subsequent erratic ways. She is replaced by Meghna as the show stopper and at one stage their lives coincide as they lose their bearings in the glamour world.

Hits

• Gritty, detailed but cinematic take on the glamour world. Things are predicable yet gripping. 
• Priyanka Chopra impresses when she repents for her over-confident ways and while she walks on the ramp. Kangana Ranaut dazzles as the show stopper and later when she goes down due to her addiction. She over reacts while emoting. Mugdha Godse is cute and cheerful. Once in a lifetime roles for these heroines. They look and play the part as models. Bold and daring. 
• Salim-Sulaiman make their presence felt throughout the movie with their montage songs and BGM which is repetitive. 
• The rest of the huge cast is impressive. So many people be it - the gay designers (Rohit, Rahul, Vinay), the boyfriend (Manav) , the agency co-ordinators (Sarin, Anisha), the photographers etc etc. Solid casting. 

Misses

• The phone call before Meghna's comeback as the show stopper is utterly cinematic and makes us restless. 

VERDICT

Gutsy and gripping tale about the fashion industry, with very few hitches. Kudos to Madhur Bhandarkar 

Desi Boyz (2011)

It is recession time in London in the year 2009 and 2 'cheddi' buddies Jerry and Nick lose their jobs. Nick has a demanding girlfriend Radhika to maintain while Jerry needs to take care of his sister's orphaned son Veer. They are desperate to find a job but don't find any. Then they come to know of 'desi boyz', a service where hunky handsome men escort and satisfy women with varying needs.

They make money, satisfy many desperate women but soon they lose Radhika (breakup) and Veer to a foster home, respectively. Nick convinces Radhika after persisting for long. Jerry goes back to college, graduates, finds his lady love, convinces the social services department and wins back Jerry. The movie ends with the premise for a sequel in Mumbai.

Hits

• Both the handsome hunks play to their strengths. John Abraham flaunts his body and his looks while Akshay flaunts his energy, charm and comic sense. The lead ladies are hot as well, Deepika Padukone and Chitrangada Singh. They match their Hollywood counterparts in style. The movie has gloss written all over. 
• Nice peppy songs by Pritam. 
• Light hearted movie. Good for killing some time. 

Comments

• The movie has 2 cameos by Sanjay Dutt and Omi Vaidya. While Sanjay is macho, Omi irritates with his gayish style. Anupam Kher plays another of his innumerable so-called funny roles. 
• The college romance scenes between Akshay and Chitrangada are similar to Main Hoon Na

VERDICT

Light hearted time pass movie with the 'male escorts' theme being particularly entertaining. 

Bheema (2008)

Sekhar idolizes Chinna since childhood and suddenly joins his gang in Chennai. His gang is known for standing by the poor. Sekhar rises up the ranks and soon he carries the entire gang's load on his shoulders and he is Chinna's 'man-friday'. There is an opposing gang as well led by 'Periyavar'. There are frequent attempts by that gang to get rid of Chinna's.

The police finally decides to put a stop to this and Operation Bheema is born, one where all the gangsters will be shot at sight i.e. encounter. There is also a beautiful college girl who falls in love with Sekhar and his macho ways, an exclusive cinematic occurrence. She elopes from home and also gets married to him.

There is a tragic climax where all the gangsters are killed for one reason or the other. An abrupt climax that was shot when the director didn't have any other clue and just wanted a message to be shown out of these deaths after the climax.

Hits

• Harris Jeyaraj's songs and his BGM are the single biggest highlight of the movie
• Vikram's body hugging T shirts and cargo pants accentuate his solid physique. He looks very handsome in the movie. His pairing with the beautiful Trisha is cool. Their love scenes are decent though utterly cinematic. 
• Prakash Raj is majestic as always. But in the flashback, showing him as someone about 25 yrs elder to Vikram is a big joke. Prakash Raj looks so young. Thalaivasal Vijay and Raghuvaran have substantial roles and they pull it off with ease, Vijay in particular. 

Misses

• The tragic climax is out of the blue and looks hurried. Clueless Lingusamy. 

VERDICT

Just about average. Lingusamy just can't handle gangsters and stuff. He is better off doing light hearted films. 

Ip Man 2 (2010)

Ip Man moves with his family to Hong Kong and aspires to set up a martial arts school to teach Wing Chun. He isn't accepted that easily by the other masters, headed by Master Hong. He accepts their challenges and slowly wins their acceptance. He gets a dedicated set of disciples.

Meanwhile, the Westerners have a deal with Hong to conduct western boxing in Hong Kong. But the Chinese aren't happy with the treatment and soon enough it boils down to a Chinese vs. Western boxing showdown. Master Hong fights for Chinese pride and loses his life while fighting western boxing champion 'Twister'.

Ip Man throws a challenge to 'Twister' for one last showdown and he wins the intense bout. Later, Ip Man goes on to train Bruce Lee and spread Wing Chun all over the world.

Hits

• Again the action sequences score big time. Master Hong surprises with his agility despite his burly frame. Donnie Yen is at ease as expected. His manners, discipline and respect for other masters is worth emulating. The scene when Ip Man faces all the challenges thrown by the other masters is terrific. The final fight between Ip Man and the westerner is pulsating too. 
• The northern master who had a negative part in the first movie has a surprisingly funny cameo in this part. 
• When a young Bruce Lee is shown in the end and his training is explained in slides, it literally gives goose bumps 

Comments

• The western boxing champ and the other western men over-act. 

VERDICT

Another knockout martial arts movie. A worthy sequel to Ip Man. 

Ip Man (2008)

Set in Foshan, a famous hub of Chinese martial arts, Ip Man is the most celebrated master in town. He doesn't entertain disciples because he doesn't find the need to. No one has the skill to challenge him. His wife feels frustrated that he never spends time with her and the kid and that he is always into kungfu (Wing Chun).

Soon, the Japanese invade the country and lot of Chinese are either killed or captured to work as slaves, in the war. People known to Ip Man are killed as they are called to spar with the Japanese fighters.

Ip Man then gets into the ring, vanquishes many Japanese fighters and also starts teaching the art to his near and dear ones for their personal safety in this time of need.

In the end, Ip Man volunteers to fight the Japanese general and defeats him as expected. He refuses to teach the Japanese and survives an attempt on his life. He moves with family to Hong Kong where he establishes a Wing Chun school and trains even a certain Bruce Lee.

Hits

• The martial arts scenes are authentic and really gripping. Donnie Yen shows his expertise in no uncertain terms. 
• The title theme music is haunting whenever it comes in the movie. 
• The cop who plays the translator between the Japanese and the Chinese, Ip Man's friends, Ip Man's family etc. have nice small parts to play in the movie.  

VERDICT

Uplifting martial arts movie about the master of Bruce Lee. 

Seven Samurai (1954)

A village ravaged by bandits finally decides to stand up for its right. They agree to fight rather than run away. So, they decide to look for samurais who can lead the attack while they can feed the samurais in return. 5 such samurais are found and 2 more from the village volunteer to form the team of 7 samurais. Each of the samurais has his own distinct character

The leader of the pack forms good battle strategies and the bandits are slowly eliminated one by one. But, there is loss of lives as well. 4 samurais leave their lives on the battlefield. In the end, the villagers reclaim their land.

Hits

• Toshiro Mifune's histrionics and antics are immensely funny though irritating at times. Extremely talented and flexible actor.
• The battle strategy is detailed and nicely executed.
• The BG score has some poignant and touching themes
• The emotion and involvement with the movie gradually builds up and when the samurais die, we feel bad. 

Misses

• Why the hell are all the men in the village bald in such an ugly manner? This make-over is pathetic.

Comments

• Quite a long movie and it takes a while for the action to start. The process of forming the team of samurais is quite painstaking. 
• The way the main samurai runs around like spring chicken is quite funny

VERDICT

A slow epic that requires patient viewing. 

Van Wilder: Freshman Year (2009)

A guy from the the 5^th generation of the Wilder family comes to Coolidge College. There are a lot of rules against drinking, drugs, kissing and sex. Our man Van of course comes and changes it all. He wins over Kaitlin, the hottest girl in college, who is initially with Dirk. She wants to get into the military.

The Dean, Charles Reardon wants to get rid of Van at any cost because he hates the Wilder family. In the end, Van stays in college after he crosses all the hurdles thrown at him by the Dean and Dirk. There are some funny military games in the end between Van's team and the Dean's team. Van wins them using his typical methods involving girls and parties. 

Hits

• Some funny moments involving the dog with huge balls, girls masturbating with their bananas and dildos of varying sizes and forms
• The girls in the movie are as usual hot with the lead lady Kristin Cavallari being the perfect combo of a hot shape, big boobs and pretty face.

Comments

• Jonathan Bennett as Van is boyish, naughty and a bit charming. The guys who play his friends and room mates are funny. 

VERDICT

The worst of the 3 Van Wilder movies. They are going to extend it. Oh God! 

Vettai movie review

The plot is set in Tuticorin and we have 2 brothers who are diametrically opposite to each other. While the elder one Thirumurthy is a timid man who fears everything, the younger one, Gurumurthy is a fearless bloke who doesn't mind getting into a hustle now and then.

Thiru incidentally gets into the police force after his father's death and he is helped by his brother while dealing with the rogues and rowdy elements in town, in the form of Mari and Annachi. The brothers get hitched to a pair of sisters. The elder pair's is an arranged marriage while the younger pair fall in love and get married later.

Thiru gains the respect of his colleagues and family due to his brother's timely 'action' interventions. The villains are baying for his blood and they eventually find out that Thiru is actually a timid guy and they bash him to pulp. Then with his younger brother's encouragement, Thiru turns a new leaf. It is like a rebirth and he goes around town wrecking havoc on the villains in his new 'action' avatar.

After a cliched climax where the brothers' wives are also dragged in, the villains are hunted and the 'vettai' is complete.

Hits

• The movie moves lightheartedly for the majority of the first half and it is enjoyable till then. Maddy and Arya bond well with their comic timing and their contrasts in character. In the second half when Arya and Amala play around with the NRI groom, it is entertaining too, thanks to the NRI guy's artificial accent and antics. 
• Amala Paul is really fresh and has a long career ahead. She carries off any costume gracefully and emotes well too. 
• Sameera goes overboard at times but is decent as the talkative and bold elder sister.
• The camera work by Nirav Shah makes the film look glossy. 
• The scene where Ajith's Mankatha intro scene comes on screen, sends the crowd into frenzy. The mini cameo by Jiiva on screen in the movie Ko is another mini-highlight. 

Misses

• The villains are cliched and are a caricature with their loud voices, stale punch dialogs, long hair, unkempt beard etc etc. For how long will this continue? 
• Whenever the movie becomes serious and action oriented, the audience mocks. Such is the formulaic treatment. The climax in particular is a major drag and is totally stale. The scene where Maddy gets up from the wheel chair seeing his brother getting hit, is hilarious and silly. Unintentionally funny scenes galore. 
• Arya and Maddy hardly look convincing in action and Maddy sucks during his dance in the opening number. 
• The BGM by Yuvan is a major letdown. 

Comments

• Average songs which have been placed just for sake to fill time. Kattipudi is the pick of the lot. 

VERDICT

The light hearted scenes make the movie watchable while there are lot of unintentionally funny scenes as well. Half baked hunt. 

Nanban movie review

Nanban is a faithful remake of '3 Idiots'. The essence of the original is totally preserved. The only feeling of redundancy is due to the fact that the original was such a widely accepted classic. Nanban has been beautifully enacted by the likes of Sathyaraj, Sathyan, Jiiva and last but not the least the ever youthful, handsome 'king of the masses' Ilayathalapathy Vijay.

The message of the movie is to see education as a holistic concept and not as just mere marks and ranks. Panchavan Parivendan is one such brilliant student for whom science and machines are a passion. He despises the system and enrages the college dean Virumandi aka 'Virus' with his brilliant antics. His 2 friends Senthil and Venkat struggle at engineering due to fear and misplaced passion, respectively.

Pari helps his friends at all times and shows them a direction in their life and career. There is a nerdy idiot 'Silencer' who is always on the lookout to pull Pari down. Then we have Ria, the dean's daughter who falls for Pari and Ria's pregnant sister who delivers her baby with the help of Pari

There is a suspense behind Pari's identity which is a shock to everyone concerned, a pleasant one at that. As the movie ends, there is an overwhelmingly positive feeling and everyone is happy. "Aal iiz well" as they say ...

Hits

• Vijay's youthful screen presence. He looks a million bucks and his 'spiked' makeover in the climax is a 'sixer'. He is capable of understated emotions and he shows that again. His comic timing is also perfect. Not much scope for dance and zero scope for fights. The king of the masses has bowled over the entire audience spectrum with Nanban. His costumes are casual and envious. 
• Sathyaraj and Sathyan are brilliant and they are supposed to irritate yet, make us smile. These talented actors have delivered spotlessly. Lot of awards up for grabs for Sathyaraj in particular. Jiiva comes into his own in the 2nd half while Srikanth is a limited actor not capable of anything special.  
• The casting is perfect. Actors who play the various parts have matched the original actors in every aspect. Vasanth Vijay scores very well in his brief cameo that makes the heart heavy. 
• Among the songs, 'En Frienda Pola', 'Heartiley Battery', 'Endhan Kan Munne' hit the bulls eye. 

Misses

• The majority of the movie happens between 1997-2001. No care has been taken in this aspect. People use the term Chennai freely when it was only Madras back then. The cars, the brands shown in the movie didn't even exist back then. We expect perfection from Shankar
• Harris Jeyaraj's BGM is a major letdown for most of the movie.

Comments

• The feeling of seeing a Shankar movie comes only during the cheekily shot Asku Laska song. The original movie is such. 
• Ileana and Anuya play their parts in a male dominated movie. Ileana is cute, anorexic and her much hyped waist isn't special. 
• The longest Thamizh movie in recent history. Though not boring. At least the long drawn out delivery scene in the climax could have been trimmed. 

VERDICT

A faithful remake and a blockbuster treat for the entire family after a long time. 

Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj (2006)

Van Wilder's former assistant Taj Badalandabad goes to Camford University in England, with his dog Balzac, to complete his doctorate. He leads a house of losers who don't have self confidence. He renames the house as 'Cock and Bulls' and they compete with the other houses in the college. 'Fox and Hounds' led by Pip, is one particular house that despises Taj and his group.

In the end, Taj inspires his house to victory in the Hasting's Cup comprising contests like quiz, fencing, dog show, guzzling, badminton etc. He also wins over Charlotte, Pip's girlfriend and his parents are proud of him.

Hits

• Some genuinely funny moments during the quiz and the dog show.
• The heroine Lauren Cohan is seriously hot and enticing. Intoxicating beauty.

Comments

• There is a whole lot of skin, fun and parties in the movie
• Kal Penn is passable as the lead hero. He worked better as the assistant of Van in the first part.

VERDICT

Worth a watch once, for some harmless time-pass. 

Traffic (2000)

The movie is about the war on drugs between the United States and Mexico. Mexico is the major supplier and the drug cartel is controlled by 2 major gangs in the city of Tijuana – the Obregon brothers and the Juarez cartel.

Javier and Manolo are 2 cops in Mexico who are involved in nabbing the drug traffickers. General Salazar secretly works for the Juarez cartel and he uses these 2 cops for his purposes. The DEA is later informed by Javier about Salazar’s involvement in the drug cartel and the general is packed off to prison. Manolo is unfortunately killed by the General’s men after Manolo thinks of informing the DEA. 

Meanwhile, Judge Robert Wakefield is appointed the Drug Czar in the US and he takes a lot of proactive steps to control the situation. But, his daughter Caroline herself is a drug addict. The judge has to keep track of her as well as handle the situation on a country level.  

Ray and Montel are 2 cops who work in the US and they keep a watch on drug dealer Eduardo Ruiz to get hold of the big shots who are involved. One such Carlos Ayala is arrested and Ruiz agrees to testify against him. Helena is the pregnant wife of Carl and she takes all possible steps to free her husband and she succeeds in the end. Ruiz is killed just before he goes to testify.

The judge understands that this war is too tough to tackle on a macro level when his own near and dear ones are involved.

Hits

• Multilayered, many characters and seamlessly integrated. Very complex yet gripping stuff
• The issue that is being addressed is very critical and the movie is highly detailed.
• The camera is very jerky and symbolizes the chaos on the streets of Mexico.
• The ensemble cast is terrific be it Michael Douglas as the high profile judge who has many problems to tackle, Don Cheadle as the strong bald cop who handles Ruiz, Benicio Del Toro as the honest Mexican cop, the hugely voluptuous Catherine Zeta Jones as the pregnant wife who goes to any lengths to save her husband etc. All the other characters like cop Manolo, drug addicts Seth and Caroline, cop Ray and Eduardo Ruiz are very realistically performed.

Comments

• Salma Hayek has the most minuscule role possible.

VERDICT

A critical issue beautifully addressed by Steven Soderbergh. One of the landmark movies on the war against drugs. 

21 (2008)

Ben Campbell is a brilliant student from MIT who does part time jobs to fulfill his dream of getting into Harvard Medical School. His brilliance is the talk of the school and soon, Micky Rosa his professor offers him a chance to earn big money by counting cards in the casinos of Las Vegas.

There are a team of 4 other students who are already in, including Jill. Jill and Ben are in love with each other. Initially it is all rosy but slowly betrayal, greed and lust for money set in. Ben loses his friends and rubs Micky the wrong way.

Finally, Ben manages to resurrect his life even though he loses all the money he earned. He impresses Harvard and gets in through the Robinson scholarship.

Hits

• The science behind counting cards, the strategies involved, the signs, the terms etc. are quite fascinating. Very engaging movie. 
• As usual, the scenes of celebration at Vegas are awe-inspiring. 
• All the performers have a role to play with Kevin Spacey being the only known face. 

VERDICT

Engaging movie about card counting and how youngsters are lured by big money. 

The Ides of March (2011)

Stephen Meyers works for the democratic presidential candidate Governor Mike Morris. Stephen is a very smart man and is loyal to his colleague, friend and mentor Paul. Stephen is lured to work for the Republican candidate but, he stays put on Paul's side. He also has a thing going with Molly, an intern at his campaign office.

As time passes, he comes to know of the true colors of the people around him. The people whom he respected aren't as true as what he believed them to be. He is drawn into a big conspiracy theory and is thrown out of his job by Paul. 

Stephen then compromises on the very values he stood by all along. In the end, he is also sucked into political games and is forced to manipulate to get the top job all to himself

Hits

• Very serious political drama with an ensemble cast. Ryan Gosling leads the way with Philip Seymour Hoffman and George Clooney chipping in. 
• The movie is unwavering and never loses focus. 

VERDICT

A political drama all the way. Unwavering and focused effort by George Clooney. 

I saw the Devil (2010)

The movie is about a serial killing psychopath and how a secret agent takes revenge on him. The serial killer generally targets young girls, rapes them and kills them brutally. He does the same to the secret agent's pregnant fiancee. The entire police force is in shock.

The secret agent takes leave from the force for 2 weeks, follows the killer around using GPS and a mike and uses the most brutal methods to extract revenge on the killer who doesn't mellow down till the very end.

Hits

• The 2 lead actors are menacing in their own way. While the serial killer is manic the hero is cold blooded. Both of them are relentless in their pursuits.
• The thriller is well made. Location wise, lighting wise and the other aesthetics. 

Comments

• Too gory and bloody. Quite sick
• There is one highly explicit rape scene
• The movie is quite slow moving. Could have been crisp. The revenge saga is long drawn out.

VERDICT

Decent serial killer movie which could have been crisper and less gory. 

Players (2012)

The first major release of 2012 is another heist movie involving players having different talents. Gold worth about 10000 crores is the target and a train moving from Russia to Romania is the carrier. All the cliches like prosthetic masks, technical gimmicks, explosions, chases, stunts, illusion etc etc are there in this too. The biggest take home is the uninhibited leg/thigh show by the girls in the movie.

Hits

• Top notch production values - exotic locales, helicopter shots, decent VFX, nice stunts, rich look etc etc
• Neil Nitin Mukesh is the only actor who impresses
• The girls in the movie - Bipasha and Sonam have forgotten their bottoms. Uninhibited leg/thigh show. Too hot and it's totally worth the 10rs ticket. Sonam Kapoor's legs are something else. There is another lady in the movie who almost bares it 'all'. The camera has feasted and the guys like us feasted on the 'leg' treat too. Lovers of cleavage won't be disappointed too. Sonam and Bipasha have revealed whatever they have on top too. 
• Good sight seeing for the meager ticket amount. Auckland, Wellington, Russia etc. You name it. They got it. 

Misses

• Painfully long
• Very weak star cast
• The twists are predictable and expected too. 
• The chase sequences in the climax incite good laughs
• Pathetic songs. 
• Abhishek Bachchan, Bobby Deol, Aftab etc. A bunch of losers. How can a movie featuring this trio run? 
• The heist genre has been beaten to death. Chuck it guys. 

VERDICT

Worth spending 10rs. The girls in the movie have put on a skin fest. Good sight seeing too. 

Old School (2003)

Mitch is devastated after he is cheated on, by his girlfriend. He decides to move alone and takes a house near his old college. His buddies Frank and Beanie think that it is the best way for him to get back to his wild side and get laid. Frank is newly married while Beanie is a family man. Mitch has a crush on his old college mate Nicole who also moves in to the same neighborhood.

They throw a huge party on the first day. This party becomes a rage and they start a fraternity as well consisting of men and boys of all ages and types. The dean of the college is dead against them and wants them out of the campus and even bribes the student leader to this effect. But, they stick on and clear all the hurdles and tests thrown at them. In the end, the corrupt Dean is thrown out and the fraternity is now housed in the Dean's house.

Hits

• Some irreverent, nonsensical fun involving nudity, sex as usual. 
• Will Ferrell is wild as Frank. He really lights up the entertainment quotient with his foolish antics. All the other men and boys in the movie are wild and extreme in varying degrees. 

VERDICT

Time to indulge in another irreverent movie that doesn't take itself seriously. Just some fun with the buddies. 

Van Wilder (2002)

Van Wilder hangs around in Coolidge College for 7 yrs and he is afraid to graduate despite being brilliant. He is a do-gooder and a big champion among the other students in college. He helps people in need and throws the best parties. He has an assistant and a truckload of friends.

Gwen Pearson is a journalism student. She is asked to cover Van's story and she falls for him as she gets to know more about his attitude. Van also is mad about her. Gwen's boyfriend is jealous about Van and wants to see him down. All his efforts go in vain and Van comes up trumps every time and in the end he graduates and also gets Gwen. The movie ends with the graduation party of Van.

Hits

• Genuinely funny moments all through the movie though they are sexually oriented and are quite crude. Countless such fun moments. Super fun
• Ryan Reynolds, the dude is perfect for this role with his attitude. Tara Reid is cutesy. Kal Penn as Taj is another genuinely funny guy with his Indian accent and desperation in getting laid. The bonding between Van, Taj and their other buddies is very good. 
• The movie is sort of a precursor to 'Munnabhai MBBS' in the way, the hero is a very popular do-gooder with a chilled out attitude at college. 

VERDICT

Van Wilder really makes you feel happy about life. Full throttled fun that makes you forget your worries

P.S. I Love You (2007)

Holly loses her husband Gerry to a brain tumor and she is devastated as expected. She is generally a very grumpy woman who is very immature, always keeps complaining and her husband was her only solace. She doesn't gel with her mother or her buddies. She expects to be the center of attraction always and is even selfish to a fault.

Following his death, Holly keeps getting some letters that Gerry had written for her before his death. These letters revive her spirit and bring her back to normal at a painfully slow pace. Finally, she decides after 2 hrs of the movie's running time that Gerry is indeed no more and that she needs to move on. She decides to make people close to her happy and moves on in life, thankfully for the audience.

Hits

• The chemistry between Gerald Butler and Hilary Swank is cracking and very energetic. Their scenes together are the major solace. 
• The other male characters in the movie like Daniel and William also help in keeping the movie light and enjoyable amid the total drag and bore. The female buddies Ciara, Denise and Sharon also keep the mood light with their antics, childish behavior and different attitude. 
• Hillary Swank pulls off a really irritating character with tremendous realism. Terrific portrayal. 
• The Irish locations are a treat. Dream like locales. 

Misses

• The movie drags. We wait for the finale.
• How long will the wife keep mourning and keep missing the husband. Repetitive scenes. 
• The characterization of the females in this movie is quite disturbing and immature. Hope to not get such females as life partners. 

VERDICT

Good theme drearily executed. Drags, huffs and puffs to the finish line. Great acting by Hilary Swank though. 

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)

Professor James Moriarty is taking control of the Western civilization by controlling all the major industries. He intends to create war between the nations by controlling all the supplies. Sherlock Holmes stops him with the aide of Dr. John Watson, as usual with his brains, eye for detail and daring attitude.

John is dragged unwillingly from his honeymoon by Sherlock. John’s wife is sent off with Sherlock’s brother. They trace the professor’s evil intentions to a peace summit in Switzerland and in the end they avert a major disaster

The movie ends with the premise for a sequel after Sherlock is believed to have been dead back in Switzerland. The detective is back for more action in the end.

Hits

• The movie’s period style production design, artistic sets, elegant costumes etc. it is consistent in look and feel, as in the 1^stfilm of this franchise.
• The film really picks up towards the climax. The chess scene between Holmes and Moriarty is splendid. The other parts of the movie are enjoyable only due to the presence of the super charming Robert Downey and Jude Law. Their friendly banter and ‘pulling the legs’ routine is enjoyable as always. Downey’s elegant, casual style and his various makeovers (particularly the lady makeover) are a total crowd pleaser.
• The sequences where the action is visualized in the mind before it actually happens have been used in this edition too, and they work like a charm.
• The visual effects during the chase through the forest are awesome. The use of slow motion to show the effect of the explosives is another high octane idea.
• The in-your-face editing, jerky camera angles reminiscent of Guy Ritchie are there in this movie too.
• The witty dialogs filled with intellect. The dialog delivery style of Robert Downey accentuates their effect. 

Comments

• Hans Zimmer's BG score isn’t extra-ordinary. The signature theme continues from the 1^st edition.
• The villain isn't imposingly portrayed.

VERDICT

The movie picks up considerably towards the end. Otherwise, it falls short of the expected Guy Ritchie brand of cinema. 

Eight Below (2006)

A movie dedicated to the explorers and guides in Antarctica, and their team of 8 working dogs. Their courage, spirit and never ending bond form the crux of the film.

Jerry leads scientist Davis to a point called Melbourne along with his dogs, for finding a meteorite piece from Mercury. They compete their trip successfully despite some mishaps, thanks to the dogs.

Soon, they are forced to leave their base due to the severe storm and the medical emergencies to Jerry and Davis, leaving behind the dogs for want of space in the flight.

Jerry isn't able to forget his dogs and untiringly makes efforts. Finally he incidentally goes along with his old team and retrieves his dogs. Few dogs lose their lives to the vagaries of nature but the majority are fine thanks to their spirit, team work and caring attitude towards each other.

Hits

• Breath taking locations and cinematography. 
• Nice movie emphasizing the bonding between man and his dogs. The bonding between dogs is another take home from this movie
• Paul Walker looks super cool and enjoys a lovely bond with his dogs. Jason Biggs as his friend Coop, provides some funny moments. Moon Bloodgood as Katie looks charming and her chemistry with Jerry is cute and likable. Bruce Greenwood is the other major character in the movie, as the scientist. He is adequate.
• The way the dogs have been trained is amazing. 

Comments

• The movie is quite slow moving. Most of the scenes show just the dogs wandering without support in the snow. 

VERDICT

Uplifting movie about bonding, endurance and spirit. Thankfully it ends positively. 

Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge (2011)

Set in a typical Mumbai 'filmy' college. It focuses on 4 youngsters Vishal, Rahul, Preity and Malvika and the love feelings that swirl around between them. Initially Vishal is attracted to Malvika and Preity is attracted to Rahul. Rahul is the rock-star in the college while Malvika is also a glamorous young lady.

Vishal uses Rahul's FB profile to get to know Malvika better, not knowing that Preity is the girl who is using Malvika's FB profile to chat with him.

Vishal and Preity initially can't stand each other and always are at loggerheads with each other. But, as they work together for their college project they become close and bond very well. Preity falls in love with him. She forgets her feelings for Rahul.

Meanwhile, Rahul and Malvika fall for each other. Finally in the college cultural event, Vishal realizes that Preity is the girl for him and he lets go of his feelings for Malvika.

Hits

• Nice complex and casual tale woven around the youth's addiction towards FB
• The young cast is super hot and sexy.
• Nice youthful songs by Raghu Dixit
• The actors, especially Vishal and Preity are very natural. Their quarrels and gradual bonding is very well shown.  
• It's like the Hollywood teen movies. Glossy, short and enjoyable. 

VERDICT

Nice watch. Targeted at the FB college crowd all the way