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