Contagion (2011)

A mystery illness is spreading all over the world and with each passing day, there are more affected people and more deaths. How the world deals with this mystery disease, is the plot. Starting from common people to journalists to doctors, a variety of people are affected and their only goal is to get hold of the vaccine that would get them immunity against the virus.

The process of fear and panic spreading, the way the virus spreads, the various conspiracy theories and the long wait for the curative vaccine are shown well.

Review

• There is a huge star cast giving tremendous face value for the film. Each of them has a small role that could have been done by anyone else. The stars are all impressive, nevertheless. 
• The scientific terms used in this unwavering medical movie are beyond the realms of understanding for a normal human brain. 
• The screenplay is gripping particularly the way the virus propagates across the various cities in the world with the passage of time. The origin of this virus shown in the very end is shocking. Such simple acts leading to catastrophic occurrences. 

VERDICT

An unwavering medical movie which is a warning at how normally inconsequential acts can cause major grief.

Classic: Se7en (1995)

The Plot
It is the travails that 2 investigative cops, David Mills and William Somerset experience while trying to uncover the mystery behind serial killings based on the deadly sins - gluttony, greed, wrath, sloth, pride, lust and envy.

John Doe is the killer and the 2 detectives nab him after he has completed 6 murders. Detective Mills is forced to complete Doe's masterpiece of the 7 deadly sins due to tragic circumstances in the climax.

Doe has reasons behind each of the murders and comes across as a real thinking psycho and Mills' condition in the climax is highly pitiable.

                                                                     
Hits

• A totally script driven movie. Terrific grip, thrill and intensity
• Kevin Spacey as the psychic killer is terrifying and cold blooded. Brilliant
• Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman as the 2 detectives support the script with their solid shows. Pitt is remarkable in the climax. 
• Gripping and haunting BG score by Howard Shore. 
• Gwyneth Paltrow as the wife of Brad Pitt is so cute, adorable and pretty. 
• Royal salute to director David Fincher for showing gory deaths and murders in such unflinching and painstaking details 

VERDICT

Master-stroke by David Fincher. The best investigative thriller.

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Whats it about:
The film starts off with Tony Stark reviving the Stark expo, to showcase the best inventions from around the world. He is also having trouble with the element palladium that is keeping him alive. His blood toxicity is too high. The Govt is also against the Iron Man suits saying that many duplicates can come up in other countries, which can post a grave danger. But Stark shrugs it off.
    Then comes Ivan Vanko with his dangerous technology based on drones and he poses a major threat to Stark. Vanko is on a personal vendetta mission. Hammer technologies' boss and Stark's business rival, Justin Hammer recruits Vanko to build something that can put Stark in the shade.
    In the meanwhile, Stark and his buddy Colonel Rhodes have a minor disagreement regarding the Iron Man suits and Rhodes escapes with one of the suits.
    Finally Colonel Fury and his SHIELD team help Stark counter the palladium problem. Stark sees one of his father's old videos and gets an idea for the future. He invents a new element to counter his troubles and succeeds big time.
   In the end Vanko's army of drones take on the Iron Man and his side kick, Colonel Rhodes in another Iron Man suit, and are wiped off totally. Hammer is also put in prison for putting the country in danger with his involvement with Vanko.
    The movie ends with Pepper Potts and Stark smooching and also a premise for another sequel is shown

                                                                         
Hits

• As usual Robert Downey Jr. is a style icon. This role is another cakewalk for the charming hero
• The technology, the visual effects and the production values are out of the world, as usual. The artificial intelligence at Stark's disposal is unbelievably advanced and awe inspiring. 
• Gwyneth Paltrow and Scarlett Johansson are the 2 leading ladies. Both have contrasting roles and are a pleasing sight to the eyes. Gwyneth is her cute self and Scarlett gets to show some action moves too. 
• Don Cheadle is a replacement in this version, as Colonel Rhodes. He has a couple of good lines
• Mickey Rourke as the brooding and macho Vanko is imposing as usual. 
• Sam Rockwell as Hammer excels in some scenes. But the scope of his role is limited. 

Misses

• Too much slam bang and not much finesse, particularly in the last 30 mins. Just a showcase of some mind blowing visual effects. 

VERDICT

Another movie that boasts of the best technical values, a huge star cast and great production standards. Watchable once. 

Iron Man (2008)

Whats it about:
   Tony Stark is the head honcho of Stark Industries, the leading weapons manufacturing company in the world. He is sort of a playboy and lives the high life. He is accused of making profits out of war and destruction. He is initially not bothered about such criticism and continues his pursuits of creative genius. He is one real visionary indeed.
     All this changes after a trip to Gulmira in Afghanistan where he goes to demonstrate the Jericho missile to the US army. He is kidnapped by the 'Ten Rings' group and is ordered to make another Jericho missile for them. Tony and a  doctor ally start working as captives. But Tony uses the arc reactor technology and develops an amazing, high powered sort of an Iron man to overpower the 'Ten Rings' men. He escapes from Gulmira and returns back home, a changed man.
      Tony realizes his responsibility towards the human race and vows to go out of business. But his greedy guardian and his dad's ally Obadiah Stane refuses to budge and asks Tony to keep a low profile. During this time Tony really gets into developing a new really advanced Iron Man that can fly, using the very same arc reactor technology. Tony also gets to know that Obadiah actually wants him dead and has been making double dealings with the Ten Rings.
       Obadiah steals the arc reactor technology from Tony and builds his own huge version of the Iron Man and incapacitates Tony. But Tony uses the spare arc reactor and does one final heroic act and demolishes Obadiah.
       Colonel Rhodes and Miss Pepper Potts stand by Tony at all times and in the end Tony reveals himself to the press as the Iron Man.
                                                                          

                                                                          
Hits

• Supreme technological innovations shown in the scenes where Tony makes the Iron Man suit. It literally gives you the goose bumps when Tony interacts with machines with A.I like Jarvis and Butterfingers. 
• Robert Downey Jr. alternates between being super cool and intense. A star to the core. 
• Gwyneth Paltrow as the naive Pepper Potts is so very cute and like-able. 
• The scenes when Iron Man first reveals himself in the cave fights are thrilling and tense.
• All the Iron Man suit preparation scenes involving Tony and his A.I. machines are superb
• When Iron Man flies almost till the moon like an airplane, it makes you feel in awe.
• Excellent visual effects. Great cinematography. 

Misses

• Jeff Bridges is wasted in a mundane villain role
• The climax fight between the 2 Iron Men gets too bombastic.

VERDICT

Original, different and an entertaining superhero movie.  Technically among the best ever films