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My Alltime Best Movies...........
The Best Indian Films of 2013
The Best Indian Films of 2014
The Best Indian Films of 2015
Reviews
World War Z (2013)
Brad Pitt's Zombie movie
Zombies !!!
Let me get that out of my system straightaway. In India we recently had our first zombie movie, Go Goa Gone, which was ummmm.., but this review is about World War Z.
I am a big zombie movie fan, have watched countless reruns of George Romero's zombie flicks on AXN. This is not just a zombie movie, its an action movie which straightaway cuts to the chase in the first five minutes. The zombie's here are a part of a much bigger canvas and that has been integrated well in the script.
This movie has some jaw dropping aerial scenes and there is hardly any part where you would get bored, even though Brad does not get enough convincing scenes.
All around its a good summer movie though its not comparable to the zombie classic.
So if you just want to enjoy and see a good action flick and zombies are your cup of tea, go ahead and indulge yourself.
Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
Touching....yet Simple. (May contain a spoiler)
There are two things which a man always keeps close to his heart, in every stage of his life which are his music and his favorite sports. Right from childhood to the old age, there is an integral link in our lives which is sacred to all of us. This documentary has such a simple premise that it dawns on us that that man whom we see everyday sitting on the pavement or selling newspapers could easily be the him, could be a talented guy but.....he isn't. Not because he does not deserve to but because of the strange ways of this world.
Dreams are precious, we all have them but everybody is not able to live them. Talent exists in so many ways in so many of us, it may or may not get appreciated. The greatness of Rodriguez lies in the fact that in spite of not getting his dues, not getting the much deserved appreciation there was no bitterness in him.
Loved this documentary, left me misty-eyed.
Werewolf: The Beast Among Us (2012)
Its okayyyyyyyyyyyyy..............
It is so difficult to list the names of ten half decent werewolf films. Its a genre which is grossly under explored. We, the fans of this genre are still waiting for that ONE defining werewolf movie, our STAR WARS !
Getting back to the movie, it is a pretty decent one compared to those multi million trash we seen being churned out regularly, and yes please don't mention the g*dawful Twilight dirt.
There are historical blunders in this movie but if you are able to overlook them, you get a decent tale of a werewolf hunting down people in a village, who in turn hire a group of hunters to hunt it down. It has a few decent twists. In total, a so - so movie but much much better than the usual Hollywood "blockbuster" trash.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
Summer Blockbuster though not without brains !!!
Once the summer season starts, I always start dreading the onslaught of sloppy flicks,big big budgeted thoroughly lackluster stuff on offer. This year barring, the X- Men prequel, Thor and Captain America has been no different. Even the must trumpeted final installment of Harry Potter is nothing great. I was quite skeptical about this movie too. James Franco, post the Oscar awards poor show and his statements that he was not sure of this movie, did not help.
But I was surprised, it is a well done movie, even though the ending does appear to be rushed. The plot is well written and the actors have performed a decent job. Even Tom "Draco Malfroy" Felton does a menacing part. Though the scene stealer here is Andy Serkis, he is so much involved that you end up sympathizing with the apes. I will not reveal anything more. See it for yourself and enjoy.
The writers of this movie have a trilogy in mind, well I am not complaining. Bring it on.
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Warm, heart-wrenching and reaffirms our faith in ourselves !!!
I was very much aware of this film consistently being listed as one of the best movies EVER made. James Stewart has been one of my favorites for a longtime. This DVD had been lying with me for quite some time so I decided to give it a try. By God, I was stupefied, I did not write a review immediately just to see if this was not a flash in the pan, just an overdone, emotional blackmailer of a movie but this movie is simply brilliant. As an after thought maybe, its so hard to describe what one feels after watching this gem, this masterpiece. I am told it was a resounding flop when it was released, aah thats so unfortunate.
Everyone goes through the vicissitudes of life, and many a times it is so tempting to end it all, to blame each and everyone around for one's misery that we miss out on the differences one's life makes to others. This is Hollywood at its very best, this is what everyone needs to realize...............
Its a WONDERFUL LIFE... indeed...... ! See it and praise the Lord !
Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap (2011)
C'mon People .....!!!
I am writing this review after reading some of the bad reviews in IMDb. I guess most of them have given it low points as they have failed to understand that this is not Deewar, Sholay, Agneepath or even Aks. It is a tribute to the greatest actor in The Indian film industry. It reflects what Mr. Bachchan is and the place he occupies in the acting department. I did not have the fortune to watch the above quoted classic movies when they were released as they came much before my time but re- runs on TV channels have ensured that we understand his greatness.
This film is a through entertainer, even reignites the chemistry which Mr. Bachchan shared with the "Dream Girl" Hema Malini.Charmee does well in her small role and so does Sonu Sood. Never a dull moment and King Bachchan again reaffirms that the Lion in winter is still the supreme compared to all the pulp princes together in their prime.
Watch it guys, you will love it.
Jaianto robo (1967)
Take A Bow !!!
Aah, childhood, those halcyon days, all those memories associated with them are indelible. I was five years old, and our neighbors had just got a new television. In India, we had only one TV channel then and the programs were more related to news based items or were culture oriented. Watching a Egyptian mummy faced robot fighting monsters was a dream for me as well as for every other kid I knew. I remember how hard I cried when the giant robot lost his eyes and also during the episode where he was beaten badly, I envied Johnny so much. Today I know the special effects are much much better and there are a plethora of new sci- fi based programs but they cant even hold a torch to good ol' Johnny and his robot.
For the people of my generation this is as good as gold. C'mon Johnny quit playing games, come back. I miss you.
Yamla Pagla Deewana (2011)
Deol Show all the way....
The contribution of the Deol family to Hindi Cinema is not to be underestimated. It gave the first Indian He-Man..Dharmendra who in his hey days used to consistently top polls listing him as the most handsome man in India. Even though he did not win popular Film awards, he is one of the kings of Hindi Cinema.
His son Sunny carried on this tradition and has done his family proud.Even Bobby, the youngest son along with their sister Esha has jumped into the movie business.
The film is a tribute to the three male Deols', without giving anything away..paying homage to the lost and found formula story our Hindi films. It captures emotion, good locales( Varanasi and good o'l Punjab) as well as tickling the funny bone.Specially, the second half, which brings the house down. The music is not bad and add to this a fresh female actor who does a competent job opposite Bobby. Anupam Kher is a scene- stealer.
A word of caution, I saw this movie in a multiplex in a city in Southern India, so a major part of the jokes were a bit difficult to comprehend for the regional audience If you are a bit less informed and are not too familiar with this, ask a friend who is well versed to accompany you. Trust me, you will not regret it.
Over all my rating is 6 / 10
Enjoy !
Inception (2010)
Reality vs Dream....????
Ten years back, in the year 2000, everyone was talking about a movie called Memento. Critics gave it five stars and in spite of being relatively unknown in the popular cinema world everyone who mattered looked up and noticed. Much more than the movie which was remade in several languages a new director cum writer came on the fore front. Christopher Nolan.A decade has passed and he has given us a number of critically acclaimed movies which also bloomed at the box office, breathed life into the Batman franchise which was dead and buried after Batman and Robin.
Now he has come one up with another masterpiece, Inception. Without giving much away, Leonardo plays a thief who is quite adept at stealing secrets from the human mind.He has to come up with one final job to be able to return back home.And so onwards the action unfolds.Its so refreshing to see that Leo after becoming famous via that, ooohh soo cute role in Titanic has not lost his way as an actor.The process started from The Gangs of New York and he continues to excel.Ellen Page does a competent job with Ken Watanbe coming up with some great one- liners.Micheal Caine also gets the obligatory role as he does in every Nolan movie.
With Nolan at the helm, a incredible but plausible story, some great acting and an intriguing climax which will not let you even blink, Inception is brilliant movie making at its best.All the elements in the movie suit it to a T. Everything falls into place in the end....well almost...It questions your intelligence, it makes you think, well woven into the heist is the personal life angle which keeps on haunting Leo....a memory...an incident which tends to almost mess up his careful well drafted plans.
Like it or don't looks like Nolan has come up with another winner which is well on its way on becoming a cult movie.Go Watch it............
My rating.........10.5/10 Christopher.......Take a bow !!!!!
Gandhi (1982)
At a loss of words....!!!!
Making a film on a personality who has not only shaped the destiny of India but also showed the world that War is always not the way....violence breeds violence...An eye for an eye would make the entire world blind. Being an Indian I was always skeptical of a foreigner making a movie about Gandhiji, about the treatment about the originality but all fears were banished when I saw this. I remember as a kid being dragged to the screening of this movie, which I saw very unwillingly, no songs, no fights I actually hated being there. Over the years I have grown up with this movie, periodic telecasts on the national network on his birthdays etc.
What can I say, the acting, the sets, the story , the directing...is par excellence. Ben Kingsley is Gandhi.It is a monumental effort which attempts to trace the evolution of a barrister in South Africa in creased shirt and trousers to the Mahatma in khadi who taught not only the British and the Indians but the entire world that we all are bound with one thread and that is humanity.
Thank you Richard Attenborough....!!!
Year One (2009)
Dazed and Confused !!!
My head is still spinning, is it the same Harold Ramis who has made Ghostbusters and Analyse This ? Inspite of the presence of a certain Jack Black the film fails to live up to its expectations.Jack even has a stellar supporting cast in Michael Cera( Juno,Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist), Oliver Platt etc. Even though the premise of the movie is exciting but it hardly takes off. Yes there are a few gags here and there but hardly what you would expect.
I sincerely hope that the new Ghostbusters movie which is in the making does not have any hangovers of this movie. Well if you are a Harold Ramis fan then do yourself a favor....rent Ghostbusters or Analyse That or Groundhog Day instead...!!!
Harishchandrachi Factory (2009)
Must watch, if you appreciate good cinema.
This movie was the official entry for the Oscars 2010 in the best foreign language film category from India. Though the movie is in Marathi,it actually transcends that minor barrier. It is a winner all the way , well written and directed by Paresh Mokashi.Even though Indian film industry is dominated by Bollywood (Personally I hate that word) such movies like Harishchandrachi Factory are entertaining as well as intelligent. Thanks to the multiplexes such movies no longer have a restricted regional release.Throughout the movie there is a feel good element and one does not feel like being taken for a fool.
It depicts the journey of the pioneer Dada Saheb Phalke as he faces hardships while making his magnum opus and how he overcomes them. Without giving away much, I will say watch out for the way the director has recreated that era.The performances by the actors are refreshing and believable.
Never give up on your dreams, work wholeheartedly and you will win.This message is underlined throughout with out playing up to the galleries.
I gave it 9/10.