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Thursday, 28 October 2021

Movie Review: Hum Do Hamare Do

HUM DO HAMARE DO is the story of a man who gets fake parents to impress the girl he loves. Dhruv Shikhar (Rajkummar Rao) is an orphan who used to work in the dhaba run by Purshottam Mishra (Paresh Rawal) as a child. One day, he runs away and studies hard. He then emerges as a successful entrepreneur and the creator of a VR app called Jaadugar. At the launch event of his app, he meets Anya Mehra (Kriti Sanon), a vlogger. He falls for her and she too starts liking him. However, she wants to marry a person who has a sweet family. She also has a reason for doing so. Her parents died when she was a kid. Her chacha Dr. Sanjeev Mehra (Manu Rishi Chadha) and wife Rupa Mehra (Prachee Shah Pandya) raised her like her own child. Dhruv fears that if he tells her the truth that he has no one in this world, she might leave him. So he lies that he stays with his parents. Anya agrees to marry him. Then he along with his best friend Shunty (Aparshakti Khurana) decides to find a man and woman who can pretend to be his parents. Shunty takes him to Shadiraam (Sanand Verma). He is an expert wedding planner and can also help in getting fake guests. He lines up hundreds of men and women for Dhruv’s requirements. Sadly, none of them fit the bill. At this point, Dhruv is reminded of Purshottam who has now retired and has settled in Shimla. He also realizes that he’s in love with Deepti Kashyap (Ratna Pathak Shah), who also resides in Shimla. Purshottam is aware that she’s living in the same city but is scared to approach her. When Dhruv learns that Deepti is Purshottam’s old flame, he convinces her to be her mother. She agrees and once she’s on board, Purshottam also follows suit and agrees to be his father. Anya’s family and Dhruv’s ‘family’ then meet at a restaurant. All is going well until Purshottam has too many drinks. He gets so emotional that he asks for Deepti’s hand in marriage. An aghast Deepti leaves. Someone in the restaurant shoots the video of the proposal and it goes viral. This embarrasses Dr. Mehra and he now has second thoughts on whether he should allow Anya to marry into such a family. What happens next forms the rest of the film. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1293281" src="https://ift.tt/3GwRodA" alt="" width="720" height="450" /> Deepak Venkateshan and Abhishek Jain's story is highly entertaining and has the potential to be a funny and emotional saga. Prashant Jha's screenplay fails to do justice to such a great plot. Some funny and emotional scenes do stand out but overall, a few developments are difficult to digest. Prashant Jha's dialogues are great at places but overall, could have been better. Some similar scenes in this space in recent times like BADHAAI HO [2018], BALA [2019], MIMI [2021] etc have set a benchmark and this film fails to go past these in terms of one-liners. Abhishek Jain's direction is decent although he had far better control of the writing in his previous regional films. He handles the romantic track well and also the portion in the second half when Dhruv bonds with his pretend parents. Also, the interval point does raise laughs. But the film is disjointed, for which even the editing is to blame. There was a potential of adding far more humour but Abhishek misses the opportunity. Dhruv’s outburst in the climax is unconvincing. The climax is hurried and one is left bewildered as to how an adamant Dr. Sanjeev Mehra had a change of heart. HUM DO HAMARE DO begins on a very sweet note. Dhruv and Anya’s first meeting is a bit awkward but works. The scenes of Dhruv and Anya’s romance are decent and set the base for the film. After a point, one does get restless as one has already seen the trailers and how the story is going to pan out next. It’s only when Purshottam and Deepti agree to be Dhruv’s parents that the film gets interesting once again. The scene where both the families meet is funny. Post-interval, the scenes of Anya staying with Dhruv’s ‘family’ make for a nice watch. The scene where Deepti speaks to Dhruv about her strained relations with her son is very touching. One expects the film to get even better from here on. However, the pre-climax and climax both fail to make the desired impact. <iframe id="jwiframe" class="playerFrame" src="https://ift.tt/3bkDqgu" width="800" height="340" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Rajkummar Rao does well but gets overshadowed by the towering presence of Paresh Rawal and Ratna Pathak Shah. Kriti Sanon is apt for the part and delivers a fine performance. Her screen time, however, is limited in the first half. Also, the love story suffers overall since there’s a lot more things happening in the film. Paresh Rawal is quite entertaining and enhances impact. Ratna Pathak Shah is graceful and one of the factors why this film works to some extent. Mazel Vyas (Kanika's Anya's sister) leaves a mark and is good in the scene where she questions Manu Rishi Chadha in the pre-climax. Aparshakti Khurana is okay and his character gets a raw deal. Manu Rishi Chadha is dependable while Prachee Shah Paandya is lovely. Sanand Verma is a bit over-the-top but it works. Sarthak Sharma (little Dhruv) is sweet while Khabir Mehta (Chintu) essays the part of the mischievous kid well. Avijit Dutt (Dhruv's boss) is wasted and the same goes for Shibani Bedi (Shunty's wife). Aditya Taranch (Sanket) is fine. Sachin-Jigar's music doesn’t have the potential to have a long shelf life. 'Bansuri', played in the end credits and has the chartbuster feel. 'Kamli' and 'Vedha Sajjeya' work well in the film. 'Raula Pae Gayaa' is played for hardly a minute. 'Dum Gutkoon' makes for a good sad song. Sachin-Jigar's background score is much better. Amalendu Chaudhary's cinematography is appropriate. Dayanidhi Patturajan and Amrish Patange's production design is neat. Rajkummar’s renovated house especially is appealing yet realistic. Anisha Jain, Sukriti Grover and Jia-Mallika's costumes are rich. Dev Rao Jadhav's editing is disjointed. On the whole, HUM DO HAMARE DO rests on a great plot and fine performances from the lead actors, particularly Paresh Rawal and Ratna Pathak Shah. But the average script and weak climax diminishes the impact to an extent.

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Friday, 22 October 2021

Movie Review: No Time To Die (English)

NO TIME TO DIE is the story is the story of the legendary secret agent who returns to service after his past catches up with him. The film starts off with Madeleine Swann's (Léa Seydoux) flashback. As a child, she had witnessed the murder of her mother at the hands of Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek) at her home. Lyutsifer tries to kill him. But she attacks him and later Lyutsifer even rescues him when she falls in a frozen lake. In the present day, Madeleine is with James Bond (Daniel Craig) in Matera, Italy. All is going well until Spectre assassins attack Bond. He and Madeleine survive the attack and they even overpower the assassins. However, Bond believes thay Madeleine has betrayed him. She pleads and assures she hasn't betrayed him. Yet, he leaves her. Five years later, MI6 scientist Valdo Obruchev (David Dencik) is kidnapped from an MI6 laboratory. Their bioweapon project also gets leaked. Bond, meanwhile, is now retired and residing in Jamaica. CIA agent Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright) and his colleague Logan Ash (Billy Magnussen) contact Bond and ask his help in finding Obruchev. Bond initially declines. But when he bumps into Nomi (Lashana Lynch), his successor as 007 at MI6 and when Nomi warns him not to get involved in this case, Bond accepts CIA's offer. Bond then goes to Cuba and with the help of a young agent Paloma (Ana de Armas), they infiltrate into a Spectre meeting. Soon, Bond realises that Spectre members are aware of his presence and are about to use the bioweapon to kill him. But in a sudden twist, the 'nanobot mist' kills all the Spectre members instead. What happens next forms the rest of the film. <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1290379 size-full" title="Movie Review No Time To Die (English)" src="https://ift.tt/2XEnUsS" alt="Movie Review No Time To Die (English)" width="720" height="450" /> Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Cary Joji Fukunaga's story is excellent and has all the ingredients of a mass entertainer. Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Cary Joji Fukunaga and Phoebe Waller-Bridge's screenplay is entertaining. The writers have peppered the narrative with some highly interesting action and dramatic scenes. The villain track, however, is weak. Dialogues are straightforward and sharp. Cary Joji Fukunaga's direction is splendid. There's a lot happening in the film throughout. Hence, despite the long length (160 minutes), one doesn't mind as the interest levels are high for most of the film. The 20 minute long introductory sequence is very well executed, especially Madeleine's flashback. However, the track of the antagonist is not as menacing as intended. The Bond series and many such big action entertainers have had far more evil villains. The climax at the island is impressive but this is where the film drags a bit. NO TIME TO DIE has a shocking and powerful introduction. The Matera action and chase sequence is thrilling and also the best part of the film. After the creative opening title sequence, the film continues to entertain. The Cuba sequence is unpredictable and also action packed. Post interval, the interrogation of Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) is intriguing. But the best part of the second half is the action scene set in the foggy jungle. The climax is a bit dragging but the emotional finale makes up for it. Daniel Craig, as expected, is splendid, in all respects. It’s really moving to know that this is the last time he's playing this iconic character and hence, this performance is even more special. Léa Seydoux is absent in the middle of the film but compensates for it with her fine performance in the beginning and in the second half. Rami Malek is strictly okay. Lashana Lynch is great and the constant tension between her character and that of Bond adds to the madness. Ana de Armas is there for just 15 minutes but rocks the show. She looks like a million bucks in her high slit backless dress. Jeffrey Wright is lovely in a small role. Christoph Waltz gets limited scope this time. Ralph Fiennes (Gareth Mallory) and Ben Whishaw (Q) are dependable. David Dencik and Billy Magnussen are decent. Child actor Lisa-Dorah Sonnet (Mathilde) is cute. Hans Zimmer's music is grand and exhilarating. Linus Sandgren's cinematography is appropriate and captures the various locales of varied landscape beautifully. Mark Tildesley's production design is rich. Suttirat Anne Larlab's costumes are appealing, especially the one worn by Daniel Craig and the ladies. Elliot Graham's editing is neat but could have been sharper towards the end. On the whole, NO TIME TO DIE is a fun-filled entertainer that will give you your money's worth. It released in India on September 30 and has released in Maharashtra today. Despite the delayed release, it'll find an audience as its not available on piracy, the word of mouth is very positive and also because it is the last Bond film for Daniel Craig.

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Movie Review: Dune (English)

DUNE is the story of the son of a noble family who could be The One. The year is 10191. It’s a time when a group of planets are part of the Empire and all of them have set sights on the planet of Arrakis. Arrakis is an arid, hot and inhospitable place and the only group of people who reside there are the Fremen. They are dangerous and expert fighters. Yet, all the planets are interested in Arrakis as that’s where the ‘spice’ grows. It’s a priceless substance that extends human youth, vitality and lifespan and hence, it has a lot of demand in the Empire. For around 80 years, the House Harkonnen of the Giedi Prime planet has been in charge of harvesting spice in Arrakis. But by an order of the Emperor, the fiefdom of Arrakis is transferred to the rule of the planet Caladan - Duke Leto Atreides of House Atreides (Oscar Isaac). Leto and his partner Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) are parents to Paul (Timothée Chalamet) and the trio are all set to go to Arrakis to take over the charge. Paul gets mysterious dreams wherein he sees the landscape of Arrakis. He also sees a girl (Zendaya) and is unable to decode what the dream conveys. It then comes to light that Jessica is a member of Bene Gesserit, an exclusively female group that pursues mysterious political aims and wields seemingly superhuman physical and mental abilities. Jessica invites Reverend Mother (Charlotte Rampling) of Bene Gesserit to find out about the dreams troubling Paul. Her revelations have a deep impact on Paul just before on his journey to Arrakis. Leto, Jessica and Paul arrive on Arrakis and while all seems well in control, they are not aware that behind their backs, a sinister plan is in motion. <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1290220 size-full" title="Movie Review: Dune (English)" src="https://ift.tt/2XAyQaN" alt="Movie Review: Dune (English)" width="720" height="450" /> DUNE is based on the novel of the same name by Frank Herbert. The story is complex and not all aspects are easy to comprehend. But overall, it’s a fascinating tale and worth adapting on celluloid. Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth's screenplay is captivating. The writers try their best to explain to the viewers the setting of the film and also the dynamics shared by various characters. More than the action and scale, DUNE is a human drama and the three writers deserve kudos for handling this bit well. However, the writing stagnates in the second half and a few aspects of the film are never properly explained. Dialogues are deep and a few of them might go over the viewers’ heads. Denis Villeneuve's direction is praiseworthy. It requires a lot of courage to make a film of this kind and full marks to Denis for passing out with flying colours on this front. The film is a visual spectacle and it’s one of its big USPs. Denis handles this bit with perfection. A few scenes are exceptionally executed. On the flipside, at 155 minutes, the film is too long. The first half moves in a jiffy but one can feel in the second half that the film is going on and on. Also, it is devoid of humour or light-hearted moments. This coupled with the complicated narrative makes DUNE ideal only for a niche audience. DUNE’S introduction sequence is a bit confusing. It’s only later when Paul has a conversation with his father that things become much clearer. The sequence of Paul’s training with Gurney (Josh Brolin) and Paul’s intense interaction with Reverend Mother are memorable. The tension levels finally go up in the scene where the Atreides group tries to rescue members of a trawler from the sandworm. In the second half, the film goes on another level as the Duke is attacked suddenly at night. Paul’s escape is dramatic. But the scenes of him running and finding the Fremen gets a bit longer. The climax fight is underwhelming. The film ends with the promise of a sequel. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1290221" src="https://ift.tt/3ngmHRg" alt="" width="720" height="450" /> Speaking of performances, Timothée Chalamet handles the lead part with panache. He looks dashing and gives an able and subtle performance. Oscar Isaac is endearing. Rebecca Ferguson is excellent and has significant screen time. Zendaya has an arresting presence but sadly she’s there for less than 10 minutes. She has a fan following and they’ll surely feel shortchanged to know that she is hardly there. Charlotte Rampling leaves a mark in a cameo. Josh Brolin is fine Jason Momoa (Duncan Idaho) is entertaining as always. Stellan Skarsgård (Baron Vladimir Harkonnen) is menacing and his entry scene is quite good. Dave Bautista (Rabban) doesn’t get much scope. Sharon Duncan-Brewster (Dr Liet-Kynes) is remarkable. Javier Bardem (Stilgar) is decent. Stephen McKinley Henderson (Thufir Hawat), Chang Chen (Dr Yueh), Babs Olusanmokun (Jamis) and Benjamin Clementine (Herald Of The Change) are fine. Hans Zimmer's music, as expected, enhances the impact. In a few scenes however, the music is too loud and too ‘cinematic’ and it doesn’t match with the visuals playing on the screen. Greig Fraser's cinematography is award-worthy. The desert landscape, especially, is captured beautifully. Patrice Vermette's production design is rich and one can actually feel that the film is based in a different world. Bob Morgan and Jacqueline West's costumes are unique and appealing. Action is great and thankfully, not gory. VFX is top-class. Some of the effects are never before seen. Joe Walker's editing could have been crisper. On the whole, DUNE is a cinematic spectacle and embellished with some fine performances. However due to the lack of buzz, long length, confusing narrative and lack of humour and light-hearted moments; it’ll appeal only to a niche section of audiences.

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Thursday, 21 October 2021

Movie Review: Dune (English)

Thursday, 14 October 2021

Movie Review: Sanak - Hope Under Siege

SANAK is the story of a man battling an army of guys in a hospital. Vivaan Ahuja (Vidyut Jammwal) is happily married to Anshika (Rukmini Maitra). On their 3rd marriage anniversary, they find out that Anshika is suffering from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart condition that can prove fatal if she doesn’t go for an immediate surgery. The cost of the treatment is Rs. 70 lakhs and Vivaan sells his flat as he is running short of money. Her treatment begins at Green Hills Multi Speciality Hospital, Mumbai. The surgery is successful and a few days later, Anshika is allowed to go home. However, hours before her discharge, a high-profile patient, Ajay Pal Singh (Kiran Karmarkar), is brought into the hospital. He is an arms dealer who is imprisoned in Arthur Road Jail and had to be rushed to the hospital after his pacemaker malfunctions. His operation begins immediately on the East Wing of the 9th floor, the same level where Anshika is kept. Vivaan goes to the billing counter on the ground floor to settle the bill. As he reaches the ground floor, he realizes that he has forgotten his wallet in the car which is parked in the basement. Meanwhile, Captain Saju (Chandan Roy Sanyal) and his team, comprising Raman (Sunil Palwal), Yuri (Daniele Balconi), Taira (Ivy Haralson), Maksym (Alois Knapps) and Chad (Du Tran Au) arrive at the hospital basement. Yuri is asked to stay put at the parking lot and to safeguard a black bag. The rest of them leave and attack the hospital. The hostages are kept on the ground floor and 9th floor. Anshika is one of the hostages. They capture the CCTV room so that they can access the happenings in the hospital and install jammers. They also boobytrap all entrances to the hospital with bombs. Hence, the police are unable to enter. While all this is happening, Vivaan is at the parking lot, completely oblivious to the fact that the hospital is under attack. He bumps into Yuri but leaves. Yuri realizes that he can alert others about his presence. Hence, he tries to kill Vivaan. But Yuri is unaware that Vivaan is an ex MMA fighter. Vivaan attacks and kills Yuri. It becomes clear to him that Yuri’s team members have taken over the hospital. He opens the black bag and finds arms and a mysterious device. He takes the bag and decides to fight the baddies. What happens next forms the rest of the film. <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1286817 size-full" title="Movie Review Sanak - Hope Under Siege" src="https://ift.tt/3j6hQAW" alt="Movie Review Sanak - Hope Under Siege" width="720" height="450" /> Ashish P Verma's story is interesting and makes for a great action entertainer. Ashish P Verma's screenplay is captivating but not consistent. The first half is well fleshed out and few sequences are penned very nicely. Also, the hero vs villain confrontations over the walkie talkie keeps viewers engrossed. However, the second half is needlessly dragging. A few questions are also left unanswered. Ashish P Verma's dialogues are dramatic but the ones in the romantic scenes are childish. Kanishk Verma's direction is neat. He keeps the narrative simple and massy. In fact, the slo-mo walk of Vidyut after he kills one baddie after another shows that these scenes were written keeping the single screen audiences in mind. The action scenes are also novel this time and hence, those feeling that Vidyut Jammwal’s stunts are getting repetitive will be in for a surprise. On the flipside, the 116-minute long film should have ideally been only 90 minutes long. The second half goes on and on and it hampers the impact created by the first half. One thrilling moment in the store room sequence is copied from SPIDER-MAN [2002] and this should have avoided. A few plot points leave viewers bewildered. For instance, who malfunctioned Ajay Pal Singh’s pacemaker purposely is never explained. The character of Zubin (Harminder Singh Alag), a kid, is shown to be an expert in guns and arms, to the extent that he even knows how to diffuse a bomb. The last bit is a bit too much. Another major problem with the film is that it has arrived without any buzz or awareness. Many are not even aware that a film called SANAK is releasing today. Hence, its viewership might get affected. SANAK’s first 10-15 minutes focus on the romantic track between Vivaan and Anshika. The film sets the mood once Captain Saju enters the hospital and begins his attack. To give credit where it's due, the action scenes are well choreographed and don’t give a déjà vu of the scenes of any past film of Vidyut Jammwal. The scenes which work big time are the action scenes in the parking lot, MRI room, Physiotherapy room and store room. A scene to watch out for is when Vivaan’s sugar levels drop dangerously and how he manages to sip milk. Sadly, from here on, the film drops as it drags and picks up only during the final fight. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1286819" src="https://ift.tt/3mZknOr" alt="" width="720" height="450" /> Vidyut Jammwal, as always, is in complete form. What adds to the fun is the novel stunts he attempts this time. Rukmini Maitra makes a confident debut in Bollywood. She has sufficient screen time despite the focus being on Vidyut. Chandan Roy Sanyal is excellent as the antagonist. He goes a bit over the top but it works for the character. Neha Dhupia (ACP Jayati Bhargav) effortlessly slips into the role. Chandan Roy (Riyaz Ahmed) is too good as the sidekick. His entry scene raises a lot of laughs. Kiran Karmarkar gets limited scope. Harminder Singh Alag is lovely though his character defies logic. From the baddies in Team Saju, Daniele Balconi and Sunil Palwal are memorable. Ivy Haralson, Alois Knapps and Du Tran Au are okay. Arjun Ramesh (Aditya; the kid patient), Adrija Sinha (Aanya; Jayati's daughter) and Neha Pednekar (Anuradha; the nurse on the 9th floor) are decent. SANAK, ideally, should have been a songless film. 'Suna Hai' is poor while 'O Yaara' is played in the end credits. 'Aankhein Mili' is missing in the film. Saurabh Bhalerao's background score has a cinematic feel. Pratik Deora's cinematography is excellent. Despite 95% of the film shot inside, the lensman has managed to up the scale and thrill with his camerawork. Andy Long Nguyen's action, as expected, is one of the USPs of the film. It’s commendable how the action theme managed to think out of the box this time. Saini S Johray's production design is a bit subdued, considering the hospital set up, but still fits well in this kind of film. Devraj Das and Arrtee Zutshi's costumes are rich. Pixel Digital Studios' VFX is appropriate. Sanjay Sharma's editing could have been slicker in the second half. On the whole, SANAK rests on Vidyut Jammwal’s presence and the novel and exciting action scenes. However, the needlessly long second half and the shocking lack of buzz might affect the film’s viewership.

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Movie Review: Rashmi Rocket

RASHMI ROCKET is the story of a girl who's accused of being a man. The year is 2014. Rashmi Vira (Taapsee Pannu) is from Bhuj, Gujarat and is a tour guide. She's a great runner but quit running after she lost her father, Ramnik (Manoj Joshi), in the 2001 earthquake. At that time, she was participating in a running tournament when the earthquake struck. She was so lost in the running that she didn't even realize the pandemonium around her. Her mother, Bhanuben (Supriya Pathak) then brought her up and also began to fight for the rights of the women in her village. Since she resides in an army area, she is good friends with an army doctor, Dr. Ejaz Qureshi (Akash Khurana). He introduces her to Captain Gagan Thakur (Priyanshu Painyuli). While touring with Gagan and his colleagues, she runs like a rocket and saves the life of a soldier who was about to step on a landmine. Gagan encourages her to get into running. This time, she agrees. She manages to win at the state level tournament. The Indian Athletics Association notices her and she’s asked to join them so that she can practice and hopefully, represent India at the Asia Games 2014. The initial days are difficult for Rashmi as even though she is a gifted runner, she is poor when it comes to certain basic rules and techniques of the sport. Under the head coach Tejas Mukherjee (Mantra), she manages to get better at the game. Some of the fellow runners despise her, especially Niharika (Miloni Jhonsa) and Priyanka (Namita Dubey). They call her a ‘man’ as they believe that she has masculine qualities. Rashmi ignores these barbs and focuses on her game. At the Asia Games, Rashmi manages to win three gold medals. The same day, when she returns, a female official (Lisha Bajaj) from the Association asks her to come along for some procedure. Rashmi is taken to a government hospital and is compelled to undergo multiple blood tests. Then for the ultrasound test, she’s asked to strip. All these procedures take nearly six hours and Rashmi is not allowed to have food. She returns to her hostel, feeling humiliated. She bumps into Niharika who once again taunts her and calls her a ‘launda’. An angry Rashmi punches her face. Sometime later, the police arrive at the hostel. Inspector Sathe (Umesh Prakash Jagtap) claims that he got a complaint that a man is hiding in the female hostel. They conclude that the man in the hostel is none other than Rashmi. She is arrested. Gagan barges into the police station and releases her. As soon as they both come out of the police station, they find that the media has already arrived. The reports of the tests also get leaked and it proves that Rashmi has an unusually high level of testosterone. Hence, the Association bans her. What happens next forms the rest of the film. <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1286481 size-full" title="Movie Review: Rashmi Rocket" src="https://ift.tt/3lFuLeN" alt="Movie Review: Rashmi Rocket" width="720" height="450" /> Nanda Periyasamy's story is novel and seems to be inspired by the life of Dutee Chand. Aniruddha Guha's screenplay (additional screenplay by Kanika Dhillon) is well-penned and is simplistic. The subject tackled in the film is new and a bit difficult to apprehend for the audiences. But the writers have tried their best to ensure that the proceedings are easily comprehensible. However, the second half oscillates between the court and non-court scenes. The latter, however, is not as engaging. Kanika Dhillon's dialogues (additional dialogues by Akarsh Khurana, Anirrudha Guha and Lisha Bajaj) are one of the best things of the enterprise. Several one-liners enhance the impact. Akarsh Khurana's direction is neat. One of his biggest victories is that he handles the crux of the film in a sensitive matter. There’s no titillation either visually or verbally. And the various tracks are deftly handled, be it Rashmi’s bond with Gagan or Rashmi’s training agony or the courtroom drama. On the flip side, however, while the track of Rashmi and Bhanuben is touching in the first half, in the second half, it is weak. Why did Rashmi and her mother stop communicating is not explained properly. While the court scenes take the film to a high, the intermediate sequences don’t create the desired impact, although a lot is happening here as well. An important plot point, revealed in the climax, is predictable although it’s treated like a suspense track. RASHMI ROCKET starts on a dramatic note. The childhood portions are sweet. The scene where Gagan befriends Rashmi and he realizes that she’s an expert runner is well executed. The training track of Rashmi is dramatic and keeps viewers engaged. However, the scene that rocks the most in the first half is how Rashmi is humiliated while undergoing the tests. Gagan’s outburst at the police station is applause-worthy. In the second half, Eeshit’s (Abhishek Banerjee) entry adds some light moments. All the courtroom scenes are engrossing but the ones in between are not that effective. The finale is great. Taapsee Pannu: “When I was NOT acknowledged for Pink, tabse my way of taking REVENGE is…” <iframe id="jwiframe" class="playerFrame" src="https://ift.tt/2X9L4XE" width="800" height="340" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Taapsee Pannu is fabulous as expected. After delivering some award-worthy performances, one expects nothing but the best from her. And she doesn’t disappoint. Also, she keeps the Gujarati accent and the masculine bit restrained and that works. Priyanshu Painyuli has a fine dialogue delivery and suits the part. Abhishek Banerjee plays to the gallery and is quite entertaining. He infuses life into the second half of the film. Supriya Pathak is lovely but her track could have been more convincing in the second half. Manoj Joshi and Akash Khurana are adorable in the guest appearances. Supriya Pilgaonkar (Judge Savita Deshpande) steals the show. Mantra lends able support. The same goes for Varun Badola (Dilip Chopra). Miloni Jhonsa and Namita Dubey are okay in the antagonist-type roles. Umesh Prakash Jagtap leaves a mark with just a couple of scenes. Zafar Karachiwala (Mangesh Desai) puts up a praiseworthy act. Aseem Jayadev Hattangady (Praveen Sood) and Kshiti Jog (Dr Mhatre) are decent in a small role. Lisha Bajaj has an arresting presence. Shweta Tripathi Sharma (Maya Bhasin) is terrific in a cameo. Amit Trivedi's music is nothing special. 'Ghani Cool Chori' fulfils the need for a chartbuster song in the album to some extent. 'Zidd' lacks the punch of the adrenaline-pumping tracks in other sports films. 'Rann Ma Kutchh' is a nice ode to the Kutchh setting of the film. 'Zindagi Tere Naam' is forgettable. Amit Trivedi's background score is far better. Neha Parti Matiyani's cinematography is appropriate for a film of this kind. Durgaprasad Mahapatra's production design is realistic. Rohit Chaturvedi's costumes are stylish, especially the ones worn by Taapsee. Late Ajay Sharma and Shweta Venkat Mathew's editing could have been slicker in the second half. On the whole, RASHMI ROCKET tackles an important issue and is laced with a powerful performance by Taapsee Pannu. The movie will need a strong word of mouth as the lack of buzz around the film might prove to be a dampener to an extent.

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Movie Review: Venom - Let There Be Carnage (English)

Back in 2018, we saw the release of VENOM starring Tom Hardy as journalist Eddie Brock who contracts a symbiot to become Venom. Now years on, we see the release of VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE, a sequel to the first film that introduces the race of symbiots. But will the new film in the franchise entice audience is the question. <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1286376 size-full" title="Movie Review Venom - Let There Be Carnage (English)" src="https://ift.tt/2YX4KyO" alt="Movie Review Venom - Let There Be Carnage (English)" width="720" height="450" /> VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE follows the story of Eddie Brock who tries to revive his failing career, while at the same time struggling with his symbiot to maintain sense of normalcy. In the midst of his chaotic life, Brock receives a peculiar invitation from serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson) on death row. The police request Brock to speak to Kasady and uncover where he hid his victims. An unexpected visual engraving on his visit to Kasady reveals the mystery location that Kasady used to hide his victims, which eventually moves up Kasady’s sentence. Angered by this, Kasady sends Brock a note inviting him to witness his end since it was him who organised it. In his second meeting with Kasady, Brock is bitten by the serial killer who unintentionally comes into contact with a symbiot, thus giving existence to Carnage. Now combined with Carnage, Kasady is out for revenge on those who have slighted him. Will Brock and Venom manage to subdue Kasady and Carnage, or will the latter two overpower the journalist is what forms the rest of the film. VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE begins with a montage from 1996 that introduces key characters of the film like Frances Barrison (Naomie Harris), Cleatus Kasady, Patrick Mulligan (Stephen Graham). After the introductions and a bit of back story, the film continues to the main character of Eddie Brock and his symbiot Venom detailing his struggle to regain his stature in the world of journalism. From there, the film quickly progresses to Kasady and Brock’s encounter, wherein Kasady comes in contact with a symbiot bringing into existence Carnage. From here the pace of the film picks up dramatically as a cat and mouse chase begins involving all the characters introduced so far. Director Andy Serkis has done a good job with the direction. Despite there being multiple story tracks running simultaneously, he manages to merge them seamlessly making for a pleasurable viewing experience. A note here needs to be made that even though the film continues to be rather dark, it has much more lighter moments than the first film. In fact, the constant banter between Brock and Venom adds some fun light moments to the film. Speaking of the performances, Tom Hardy has once again proved his excellence as a strong actor, perfectly portraying a man torn between what he wants to do, what he has to do, and what he is made to do. Woody Harrelson as Cleatus Kasady AKA Carnage has similarly done an exceptional job in his given role. Harrelson manages to portray an air of menace even behind bars in a guarded room. His play on expressions, voice modulation and of course his acting talent give substance and life to his role. Naomie Harris as Frances Barrison does well, but seems to be severely underutilised, especially since she could easily have crippled both Venom and Carnage if given the chance. However, on the other hand, Michelle Williams as Anne Weying seems to have a meatier role in this film as compared to the first. In fact, she plays a rather pivotal role in the film that helps take the story forward. Given that VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE is an actioner that features aliens there is bound to be use of CGI and there is loads of it. However, despite being high on CGI content, the film’s visuals appear seamless and clean. A commendable job done by the VFX department that have maintained a sense of realism while executing action sequences. A special note here needs to be made for the action team for maintaining the physics of the film, which stays true despite the gravity defying stunts. In terms of background score, Marco Beltrami as the composer has done well to lend the visuals with a captivating track that elevates the viewing experience. On the whole, VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE makes for a fun watch. Better than the first film in the franchise, VENOM 2 that takes the character’s story forward to interlink it with yet another major franchise is a definite must watch for Marvel fans. At the box office, the film is likely to see a good spate of collections.

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Thursday, 7 October 2021

Movie Review: A Quiet Place Part II (English)

A QUIET PLACE PART II is the story of a family trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. After Lee (John Krasinski) dies, his wife Evelyn (Emily Blunt) and her deaf daughter Regan (Millicent Simmonds) are able to eliminate the creatures that attack their residence. They both along with Evelyn’s son Marcus (Noah Jupe) and her new-born baby then leave as their house is destroyed. They attempt to search for other survivors and this takes them to a fenced-off area. Evelyn accidentally sets off a sound alarm while Marcus steps into a bear trap and the pain compels him to scream loudly. A creature runs to attack them but he gets killed as Regan disorients him using her cochlear implant while Evelyn fires at the creature. They run into an abandoned steel foundry where an old friend, Emmett (Cillian Murphy), takes them to his soundproof underground hideout. Emmett reveals that he has lost his family including his wife in the attack. At the hideout, Marcus discovers that the song ‘Beyond The Sea’ is playing on the radio. Emmett says that it’s been playing on the radio continuously since four months. Regan realizes based on Lee’s research that this song is giving a hint that the survivors are ‘beyond the sea’ in a nearby island. She shares her idea with Marcus that she wants to reach this island and meet the survivors and then plan a way to eliminate the creatures. A scared Marcus asks her to stay put. Regan, however, runs away. Evelyn begs Emmett to find Regan and get her back. What happens next forms the rest of the film. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1283168" src="https://ift.tt/3oUHjkD" alt="" width="720" height="450" /> Bryan Woods and Scott Beck's story is in sync with the first part. Some new characters and elements are introduced and it helps in maintaining the interest. Bryan Woods, Scott Beck and John Krasinski's screenplay also does justice to the setting and the mood of the franchise. A few plot points, however, are not easy to digest. Also, in terms of novelty, the sequel offers little and that might not upset a section of the fans. Dialogues are conversational. The first part hardly had any dialogues but the sequel has aplenty. John Krasinski's direction is superb and as good as in the first part. The first part proved that he knows his job well. With the sequel, it becomes evident that he also knows how to enhance the thrill and fear factor. Some scenes as expected are exceptionally handled. But watch out for his expert execution in the first 10-15 minutes; it’s one of the first beginnings for a horror film! The other thing to watch out for is how beautifully he uses silence. Horror films rely on sound but for some scenes of Regan, who is deaf, not a single sound or music piece has been used and yet it creates an impact. On the flipside, he’s let down by some of the developments in the script. Some of these plot points are questionable and not entirely convincing. Secondly, one would have expected the film to have far more action and thrill and possibly newer ways of destroying the creatures. In this regard, some might feel shortchanged as the sequel doesn’t go one level up. The ‘brahmastra’ that the Abbott family discovered in the first part to kill the creatures remains paramount throughout the film. However, this bit can also go in favour as the film remains true to the first part. Thirdly, the film has a very late release in India. It released in the USA on May 28, 2021 and was out on digital on July 13. The Hollywood films started releasing in India from July 30 and ideally, A QUIET PLACE PART II should have been out in Indian cinemas in August. It’ll face the same problem faced by FAST & FURIOUS 9, THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT, JUNGLE CRUISE etc – it has already been seen by many viewers on pirated copies and hence, its footfalls would get affected. A QUIET PLACE PART II begins on a rocking note, showing how the attacks began on Earth. It sends a chill down the spine and also references the supermarket and space toy which formed an important part in the earlier film. The attack on the Abbott family outside the foundry arrests attention. The attack on Regan inside the train coach is predictable but is quite fun nevertheless. The sequence where feral humans attack Regan and Emmett gives a nice jolt but also raises questions as to how did they manage to survive. Secondly, the way the creature manages to sneak into the boat and attack only the next day on the island is very unconvincing as it goes against the impulsive and reckless personality of the creature. The ending is a bit similar to the first part but the use of parallel track here is a great idea. The film ends with a hint that a third part is in the offing. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1283169" src="https://ift.tt/2Ynaph8" alt="" width="720" height="450" /> Emily Blunt delivers a superb performance yet again. But shockingly, she is relegated to the backseat in the second half. Millicent Simmonds emerges as the best performer and gets the maximum screen time. John Krasinski, also the director of the film, appears in the beginning of the film and is great. Noah Jupe lends able support. Cillian Murphy’s character is not well defined but gives a fine performance. Djimon Hounsou (colony leader on the island), Okieriete Onaodowan (cop on Day 1 of the attack) and Wayne Duvall (grocery store owner) are decent. Marco Beltrami's music enhances impact. Polly Morgan's cinematography is praiseworthy, especially in the opening scene. Jess Gonchor's production design is authentic. Kasia Walicka-Maimone's costumes are shabby and it works well for the film. VFX is top-class while the action is a bit gory but not disturbing. Michael P Shawver's editing is slick. On the whole, A QUIET PLACE PART II is a worthy sequel that stays true to the factors that made its predecessor such a huge success. At the worldwide box office, it’s already one of the biggest hits of the year. But in India, its collections might be affected due to the late release because of which its pirated prints have flooded the internet since a long time.

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Thursday, 23 September 2021

Movie Review: Jungle Cruise (English)

JUNGLE CRUISE is the story of a trio trying to find a magical Tree that can cure all illnesses. In 1556, Don Aguirre (Edgar Ramirez) leads Spanish conquistadors to South America in search of the Lágrimas de Cristal Tree aka Tears of the Moon, whose flowers can cure illnesses, heal injuries and lift curses. Most conquistadors die due to jungle-related illnesses. Don Aguirre and a few of his associates are rescued by the Guardians of the Tree. They are healed using the Tree’s flowers. When Don Aguirre asks the tribal chief about the Tree’s location, the latter refuses. Don Aguirre then sets their village on fire. Before his death, the tribal chief curses Don Aguirre and his associates. Due to the curse, they can’t leave the sight of the river again and they can neither live nor die. In 1916, MacGregor Houghton (Jack Whitehall) requests the members of the Royal Anthropological And Diverse Adventure Society, London for access to an ancient Arrowhead recovered by a certain Dr Albert Falls. The members of the society, however, refuse permission. MacGregor’s sister, Dr Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt), a botanist, sneaks into the Society building and steals the Arrowhead. She is looking to find Tears of the Moon and feels that the Arrowhead can help her in locating the Tree. While she steals the Arrowhead, she also almost gets caught by Prince Joachim (Jesse Plemons), an ambitious German royal who is also seeking the Tree. MacGregor and Lily then arrive at Porto Velho, Brazil, from where the Tree’s location is the nearest. They hire skipper Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson), who offers the cheapest cruise ride of the Amazon river and who’s perceived to be quite tough and knowledgeable about the topography. The adventure begins but it's not going to be an easy one. The route is dangerous and moreover, Prince Joachim has also reached Porto Velho. To find the Tree and defeat Team Lily, he locates Don Aguirre and his associates and gets them back to ‘life’. On the other hand, Lily realizes that Frank is mysterious and has been lying to her the whole time about several things. What happens next forms the rest of the film. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1276353" src="https://ift.tt/3i2jvXt" alt="" width="720" height="450" /> John Norville, Josh Goldstein, Glenn Ficarra and John Requa's story is formulaic and clichéd but is entertaining. Like THE PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, JUNGLE CRUISE is also based on a theme park attraction at Disney World. Glenn Ficarra, John Requa and Michael Gree's screenplay is light and is peppered with loads of fun and thrilling moments. A few twists in the second half also keep the interest going. The writers also make an interesting comment on how women were treated then and how Dr Lily proves misogynist men wrong; this bit will surely be lapped up by the audiences. However, the second half gets a bit heavy especially the track of Don Aguirre. Also, despite the unexpected twists, the overall narrative is predictable as there have been several such films in this genre. Dialogues are very well worded and add to the humour quotient. Dwayne Johnson’s corny one-liners are hilarious. Jaume Collet-Serra's direction follows the standard template seen in jungle adventure films. The filmmaker in the past has handled small and mid-sized films. This is his first biggie but the way he executes it shows that he knows his job well. The characters are very well introduced, the setting is well explained and that he keeps the tone of the film light will help in attracting families and kids. He also deserves praise for the way he has fleshed out electrifying chemistry between Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. On the flipside, the film gives a strong déjà vu of films like THE MUMMY, JUMANJI, INDIANA JONES and THE PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. JUNGLE CRUISE is like a bhel puri of the template, setting and such other elements of the aforementioned films. The second half could have been better or more novel. Also, the film releases too late in India. It had a release in the USA on July 30 in cinemas as well as on Disney+. As a result, its pirated copies have been out for more than 50 days. Hence, just like it happened with FAST & FURIOUS 9, JUNGLE CRUISE has already been seen by many Indian moviegoers, and this would affect the footfalls. JUNGLE CRUISE starts off very well. The chase sequence inside the Royal Society involving Dr Lily sets the mood. Dr Lily and Frank’s first meeting is hilarious and so is Frank’s subsequent fight with a jaguar. The cruise ride begins with a bang as Frank’s boat is attacked by a torpedo. How Frank, Dr Lily and MacGregor survive this attack is too good. The waterfall scene is nail biting. In the second half, the twist in the tribal track is fine but it’s not as interesting. The scene where Frank reveals the truth about his identity is sure to shock viewers as they would not see it coming. In the pre-climax, the scene where Dr Lily goes underwater arrests attention. But it’s too unconvincing as Dr Lily is shown to have a phobia of swimming. Yet, in her first attempt at going underwater, she manages to nearly unlock the lever leading to the Tree and it’s too difficult to digest. The climax fight is fine but predictable. The film ends on a little abrupt note. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1276354" src="https://ift.tt/3AInXlO" alt="" width="720" height="450" /> Dwayne Johnson brings the star power to the film and is absolutely entertaining. He also ensures that his character looks different from his act in JUMANJI, which was also a jungle adventure. Emily Blunt is quite lovable in the role, which can be described as the female Indiana Jones. She is great in action scenes and her comic timing is spot on. The scene where she is required to remove a sword from Dwayne’s chest is too funny, thanks to her. Jack Whitehall delivers a fine performance and contributes a lot to the laughter quotient. The scene where he tells Dwayne Johnson about his past is memorable. Edgar Ramirez is okay. Jesse Plemons is decent but raises laughs in the scene where he mispronounces ‘jungle’. Paul Giamatti (Nilo Nemolato) and Veronica Falcón (Trader Sam, chief of the Puka Michuna tribe) do very well but get limited scope. James Newton Howard's music has the elements of the adventure of period drama and it works. Flavio Labiano's cinematography is spectacular. Jean-Vincent Puzos's production design is detailed. Paco Delgado's costumes are very impressive. The Amelia Earhart-inspired clothes of Emily Blunt especially are praiseworthy. Action is fun and sans violence and blood. VFX is extraordinary, which was expected. Joel Negron's editing is neat. On the whole, JUNGLE CRUISE is formulaic and clichéd but manages to give an entertaining time to the viewers and has tremendous appeal for kids and family audiences. Unlike SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS and FREE GUY, this film will have a 3D release in India. This and the casting of Dwayne Johnson, a popular actor even for Indian masses, will help the film get footfalls. On the other hand, it is releasing nearly two months after its release in the USA and on Disney+. As a result, its pirated prints have flooded the internet for a long time and this would affect the box office to an extent.

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Thursday, 9 September 2021

Movie Review: Bhoot Police

BHOOT POLICE is the story of two tantriks who discover themselves when trying to ward off an evil spirit. Vibhooti (Saif Ali Khan) and Chiraunji (Arjun Kapoor) are brothers who pretend to be ghostbusters. They are the sons of the famed Ullat Baba (Saurabh Sachdeva) who died when Chiraunji was just 5 years old. Vibhooti doesn’t believe in the existence of ghosts and spirits. Till now, they have encountered several instances where there were no evil spirits. But instead of telling their clients the truth, Vibhooti and Chiraunji would pretend to eradicate the ghost from their lives and take a fat fee in return. Vibhooti, however, believes that ghosts exist and is waiting for an opportunity to teach an evil spirit a lesson. The opportunity arrives at their doorstep when they meet Maya (Yami Gautam). She runs the Silawar Tea Factory and owns a sprawling estate. She lives here with her sister Kanika (Jacqueline Fernandez). Yami tells Vibhooti and Chiraunji that she and the tea factory labourers have experienced the presence of a ghost (aka kichkandi) in the estate. A similar spirit was seen at their place 27 years back and it was Ullat Baba who had trapped it in a pot and kept it in a safe place in a forest. At the estate, Vibhooti, who still doesn’t feel there’s any ghost in the estate, challenges the kichkandi. The same night, a labourer, Lata (Jamie Lever) and her husband Vinod (Rupesh Tillu) encounter the kichkandi. A few days later, many other labourers claim to have witnessed the spirit but the description of the kichkandi varies from person to person. One night, Vibhooti and Chiraunji venture into the forest and come across the tree where the kichkandi was trapped in the pot and stored. Chiraunji is shocked as he realizes that the pot is intact and unbroken. This means that the spirit is still inside. Hence, he concludes that the spirit troubling the estate at present is different. To make matters worse, Vibhooti claims that their father was also a conman and that the pot has no evil spirit. To prove his point, he breaks the pot. What happens next forms the rest of the film. <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1270123 size-full" title="Movie Review Bhoot Police" src="https://ift.tt/3ldY7PJ" alt="Movie Review Bhoot Police" width="720" height="450" /> Pavan Kirpalani's story is novel. It gives a déjà vu of STREE [2018] and ROOHI [2021] as BHOOT POLICE is also a horror comedy. But unlike the other two films, BHOOT POLICE focuses on ghostbusters and that gives a unique touch. Pavan Kirpalani, Pooja Ladha Surti and Sumit Batheja's screenplay (additional screenplay by Anuvab Pal and Devashish Makhija) is entertaining. The characters are very well fleshed out and the balance between horror and comedy is well maintained. A few jump scares do remind one of Hollywood horror flicks though. On the flipside, the first half is alright and it's only from the intermission point that the film becomes intriguing. A few developments are bewildering. The track of Inspector Cheddi Singh (Jaaved Jaaferi), meanwhile, is far from funny. Pooja Ladha Surti and Sumit Batheja's dialogues are quite witty and funny but only at places. There was a lot of opportunity for many more funny dialogues in a film like this. Pavan Kirpalani's direction is stellar. He has made horror films in the past and in that regard, he deserves praise for putting up a convincing horror setup in the film. He handles the comedy well but what’s surprising is that even the dramatic and emotional moments are executed nicely. The scene where Vibhooti slaps Chiraunji and the dialogues that follow is memorable. Also, the climax has an emotional angle and it's well woven into the narrative. However, he leaves a few questions unanswered. BHOOT POLICE starts very well. There’s humour, horror and an unexpected twist in the entry scene and it sets the mood. The chase sequence at the Tantrik Fair fails to raise laughs. The scene where Lata is compelled to sing a song by her husband Vinod is scary and also funny. But apart from this scene and the beginning sequence, nothing interesting happens in the film. The interest level increases only when Vibhooti breaks the pot. Post-interval, the humour is minimal and horror gets preference. The last 30 minutes are quite gripping. The numerous twists and the emotional track works well. RAPID FIRE- Saif Ali Khan & Arjun Kapoor’s LAUGH RIOT| SRK | Kareena Kapoor | Ranbir Kapoor <iframe id="jwiframe" class="playerFrame" src="https://ift.tt/38Vtmtu" width="800" height="340" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Saif Ali Khan is the best performer in the film. He slips into the part of the wicked tantric effortlessly and adds to the madness. Arjun Kapoor is sincere. His role doesn’t allow him to contribute to the laughter quotient. But he seems apt for the part and looks quite better than his other film appearances off late. Yami Gautam is decent but goes on another level in the pre-climax. Jacqueline Fernandez is average. Jaaved Jaaferi fails to raise laughs. Saurabh Sachdeva and Girish Kulkarni (Santu the monk) are there for just a scene and deliver worthy performances. Late Amit Mistry (Hari Kumar) has a substantial role and is entertaining. Jamie Lever and Rupesh Tillu leave a mark, especially the former. Yashaswini Dayama (Guddi) is too good. Rajpal Yadav (Goggle Baba) is wasted. The kid actor playing Titli is adorable. BHOOT POLICE is a songless film. 'Aayi Aayi Bhoot Police' is played in the end credits while 'Mujhe Pyaar Aaya Hai' and 'Raat Gayi' are absent in the narrative. It’s great that the actors don’t break into song and dance and that the romantic track between the leads is subtly shown. Clinton Cerejo's background score is excellent and special mention should also go to Anirban Sengupta's sound design. It enhances the spooky element of the film. Jayakrishna Gummadi's cinematography is breathaking. The locales of Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh are captured with finesse. Anita Rajgopalan and Donald Reagen Stanley's production design is rich and in sync with the film’s theme. Abhilasha Devnani and Manisha Melwani's costumes are glamorous. The ones worn by Saif and Arjun are stylish and yet go with their tantric characters. Redefine, Fractal Picture Pvt Ltd and Old Monk Studios's VFX is a bit unreal but works. Pooja Ladha Surti's editing is smooth. On the whole, BHOOT POLICE has a weak first half but the post-interval portions are quite entertaining and thrilling. The combo of horror, comedy and emotion makes for a decent watch.

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Wednesday, 8 September 2021

Movie Review: Thalaivii

THALAIVII is the story of a girl’s journey from being a prominent heroine to a prominent political figure. The story begins in 1965. Jayalalithaa aka Jaya (Kangana Ranaut) is an upcoming actress in Tamil cinema. She has been coaxed into joining the profession by her mother (Bhagyashree) so that they can have a steady means of income. In no time, Jaya gets a chance to star opposite MJR (Arvind Swamy), one of the biggest superstars of Tamil cinema. MJR loves Jaya’s attitude and her fearless persona. She, meanwhile, falls for his good-hearted nature. Both end up working in many films together. They emerge as one of the most popular jodis, much to the annoyance of R M Veerappan (Raj Arjun), MJR’s PA. Veerappan believes that MJR’s fondness for Jaya can spell doom for the superstar. A few years later, MJR enters politics and joins DMK, headed by Karunanidhi (Nassar). Karunanidhi wins the state elections by a record margin and one of the reasons is that MJR campaigned for him. MJR sadly is not able to attend party meetings. Also, he is more popular and that doesn’t go down well with Karunanidhi. Both have a showdown after which MJR quits DMK. He decides to float his own political party. Veerappan advises MJR that he should stay away from Jaya before it causes problems for him in his political career. MJR agrees. Jaya is devastated. The story then moves 10 years ahead. MJR has become the Chief Minister for the second time. Jaya is not getting many films due to her age. She starts accepting dance shows. One such show offered to her is a government sponsored one in Madurai. At this event, she meets MJR once again. This time, MJR invites her to join his party. Jaya declines but while going back to Chennai, an incident leaves a deep influence on her. In no time, she enters politics. What happens next forms the rest of the film. <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1269174 size-full" title="Movie Review Thalaivii" src="https://ift.tt/3ha3SwY" alt="Movie Review Thalaivii" width="720" height="450" /> THALAIVII is based on the book 'Thalaivi' by Ajayan Bala. Vijayendra Prasad's story is excellent and does total justice to J Jayalalithaa’s journey from being a film star to being a Chief Minister. It is not possible to show all major episodes and hence the writer has handpicked and chosen the best aspects of her life. Thankfully, it pays off. Vijayendra Prasad and Rajat Arora's screenplay is captivating. There are a lot of dramatic moments in the film and the writers have penned them very well to bring out the desired impact. However, the first half is not as powerful. Also, the focus at this hour is mostly on Jaya’s film journey. Rajat Arora's dialogues are sharp. The dialogue writer is known for some smart, whistle-worthy lines and he lives up to the expectations. A L Vijay's direction is very simplistic and massy. The film is executed in such a way that it is easy to understand for all sections of the audiences. He defines the characters very well from the very beginning and has peppered the film with some well executed dramatic sequences. In the second half, he takes the film to another level. Special mention here should be made of the funeral sequence of MGR. It’s sure to give one goose bumps. On the flipside, he is not in top form in the first half. The scenes are recklessly edited as if to hurriedly reduce the runtime. A few sequences will leave audiences bewildered. For instance, the scene where MJR is shot by a disgruntled film producer is quickly wrapped up and viewers will have difficulty in understanding what exactly happened. This flaw is seen in the second half as well. Why didn’t Jaya inform MJR that her meeting with Indira Gandhi has been successful? Was it a way to extract revenge or something else is again something that can confuse audiences. Lastly, the Hindi version has a major challenge since the film is about a politician down South. Most viewers in North, Western and Eastern India are aware of her but may not be interested to see her biopic. THALAIVII begins with a dramatic scene in the Assembly and sets the mood. One expects fireworks from here on. But the film then focuses on Jaya’s film career. Even here, the makers try their best to keep viewers engaged. The Medu Wada sequence works very well. However, one gets restless as one waits for her political journey to begin. That finally happens in the second half and then there’s no looking back. From Jaya exposing the corruption in the mid-day meal programme to Jaya wooing Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to her campaigning to the climax, A L Vijay keeps the film on a constant high. The funeral sequence of course is out of the world and even the pre-climax and climax contributes to the mass quotient. The film ends on a rocking note. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1269175" src="https://ift.tt/3nf66Pk" alt="" width="720" height="450" /> Kangana Ranaut lives the role and is fantastic to say the least. As the heroine of the bygone era, she is completely convincing and even as a fiery political leader, she rocks the show. In short, this is yet another award worthy performance from the National Award winning actor. Arvind Swamy is a big surprise. He had a very challenging role but he pulls it off effortlessly. Both Kangana and Arvind compliment each other well and their chemistry is electrifying. It’s also praiseworthy how the makers have treated the bond of Jaya and MJR. Raj Arjun is the third most important actor and has a considerable screen role. For most parts of the film, he’s constantly angry with Jaya. However, he plays his part well. His eyes do a lot of talking. Nassar, as expected, is quite nice. Bhagyashree is subtle and apt for the part. Madhoo (Janaki; MJR's wife) doesn’t get much scope. Thambi Ramaiah (Madhavan) is fair. Flora Jacob (Indira Gandhi) is alright but Rajiv Kumar (Rajiv Gandhi) looks ditto like the ex-Prime Minister of India. G V Prakash Kumar's music is poor. The film would have benefited if it had one chartburster. 'Chali Chali' is average while 'Nain Bandhe Naino Se' is well shot and choreographed. 'Teri Aankhon Mein' doesn’t leave a mark while 'Hai Kamaal' works more due to the visuals. The title track is the best of the lot. The background score is cinematic and dramatic. Vishal Vittal's cinematography is spectacular. The indoor and campaigning scenes especially are exceptionally shot. Neeta Lulla's costumes are glamorous and reminiscent of the clothes worn at that time by the stars and political leaders. S Ramakrishna and Monika Nigotre's production design is very detailed. The bygone era is perfectly recreated and they have also ensured that the film looks like a grand affair. Pattanam Rasheed's makeup is spot-on. Unifi Media's VFX is decent. Ballu Saluja's editing is first-rate in the second half but in the pre-interval, it’s quite haphazard. On the whole, THALAIVII is a well-made and well-written political saga that is embellished with yet another award winning performance by Kangana Ranaut. However, the poor buzz and prolonged closure of theatres in Maharashtra will affect the box office prospects of the Hindi version to a great extent.

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Friday, 3 September 2021

Movie Review: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (English)

It has been over two years since the release of the last Marvel film in theatres in India. Since SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME [2019], Marvel fans have been waiting for the next in the series or rather phase to hit screens. Hopes were pinned on the Scarlett Johannsson film BLACK WIDOW [2021]. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic that film saw a direct OTT release in India. But now, with SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS, Marvel intends on returning to the big screen with a bang. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1266908" src="https://ift.tt/3DI8xQj" alt="" width="720" height="450" /> SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS begins with the introduction of a man named Xu Wenwu, who finds the mystical ten rings that grant him immortality and great powers. The plot follows Wenwu as he amasses an army of warriors called the Ten Rings and conquers many kingdoms and topples governments throughout history. In 1996, Wenwu begins searching for the village of Ta Lo, which is said to harbour various mythical beasts, in order to expand his power. He finds the entrance of the village, but is stopped from entering by the village's guardian, Ying Li. The two eventually fall in love and have two children, Xu Shang-Chi and Xu Xialing. Wenwu abandons the ten rings and his organization to be with his family. However, Li is eventually murdered by the Iron Gang, old rivals of the Ten Rings, and Wenwu once again takes up the rings to massacre them and resume his criminal activities. Shang-Chi is brought to the Ten Rings' compound to be trained in all forms of combat by the Death Dealer, a high-ranking member of the Ten Rings. At the age of 14, Shang-Chi is sent by Wenwu to assassinate the leader of the Iron Gang. After fulfilling his mission, a traumatized Shang-Chi abandons the Ten Rings and escapes to the United States, where he adopts the name Shaun. Years later, Shaun AKA Shang-Chi is living in San Francisco and working as valet with his best friend, Katy Chen. One day while on the way to work on the Muni Metro, Shang-Chi and Katy are attacked by members of the Ten Rings led by Razor Fist. Despite fighting them off, Shang-Chi discovers that his pendant given to him by his mother has been taken by them. Fearing that the Ten Rings are going after Xialing for her pendant, Shang-Chi decides to track her down and reveals his past to Katy, who agrees to help him. They eventually find her at an underground fight club in Macau, of which she is the owner; Xialing expresses her resentment towards Shang-Chi for abandoning their family and their father for neglecting her. The fight club is then attacked by a regiment of the Ten Rings led by Death Dealer. Wenwu unexpectedly arrives during the attack and captures Shang-Chi, Katy and Xialing. Once captured they are taken back to Wenwu’s compound, and told that he is on a quest to save his wife, their mother who is being held captive. However, Shang-Chi, Katy and Xialing escape and make their way to the village only to realize that their father had been duped by an evil being and to protect all life on earth they will now have to face their father Wenwu, the leader of the Ten Rings. Being an ode to Chinese culture and wisdom, SHANG CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS involves plenty of references to oriental folklore. From stories being told of soul devouring demons to eternal guardian spirits, the film covers a vast gamut. The film starts off on a light note with basic character introductions and soon progresses into laying the groundwork for what is to come. Once Shang-Chi (Shaun) and Katy are introduced, the plot fast moves to revealing who they really are and their backstory. From there we see new characters being introduced, which helps move the story forward. Interestingly, despite being an action film, SHANG CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS starts off slow and gathers pace. However, towards the interval proceedings slow down considerably, but pick up in the second half. Humorous elements sprinkled aplenty through the film, with a number of Easter eggs and surprises for true Marvel fans the film keeps the viewer in his seat. The second half of the film though is a well-executed and built action sequence that sees almost all of those introduce in the first half participating. In fact, SHANG CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS makes Marvel fans jump with joy as the action unfolds with seamless CGI, well-co-ordinated action & stunts and of course the trademark Marvel flare with the background music building a thumping crescendo till the finale. Destin Daniel Cretton on Simu Liu, Tony Leung, Avengers | Shang-Chi & The Legend Of the Ten Rings <iframe id="jwiframe" class="playerFrame" src="https://ift.tt/3yIGqNc" width="800" height="340" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Despite this though, for those who have been following the Marvel series from Day 1, SHANG CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS seems to be missing a crucial ‘X’ factor, a panache of sorts that made the likes of IRON MAN, THOR, AVENGERS and HULK stand out. But despite this, and the fact that the story is rather predictable the film does manage to entertain and revive a nostalgic feeling of watch a Marvel film in theatres. Performance wise, Simu Liu as Shang-Chi does a good job of essaying the role of a child trained to be a master assassin. Liu manages to execute his action sequences with aplomb while managing to emote as well. Nora Lum professionally known as Awkwafina as Katy, Meng'er Zhang as Xialing, and Tony Chiu-Wai Leung as Xu Wenwu do similarly well in their given roles. A special mention for Tony Chiu here, as he balances his character of a father longing for his children, a husband for his wife, and a warlord for his power with finesse. Michelle Yeoh, and Ben Kingsley are severely underutilized, with one being there only as a welcoming party and the other as a comic interlude. As for the background score, Marvel has time and again proved that they are masters of the game when it comes to using sound in building up to a climax. Be it in any of their previous releases the background score has always played a major role in lending gravitas to the onscreen happenings. In SHANG CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS, it is the same, the difference being this time the music feature heavy undertones of oriental instruments. This coupled with flawless CGI, and seamless transitions makes for an entertaining watch. On the whole, SHANG CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS manages to revive the Marvel action hero saga rather well. Despite a predictable story line the film is definitely a visual spectacle to be experienced on the big screen.

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Thursday, 2 September 2021

Movie Review: Fast And Furious 9 - The Fast Saga (English)

FAST AND FURIOUS 9 is the story of Dominic Toretto and his gang facing threat from none other than Dom’s estranged brother. The film begins in 1989. Dominic Toretto’s (Vinnie Bennett) father Jack Toretto (J D Pardo) is a racer who is killed in an accident while racing. Dominic is soon arrested after he assaults the rival racer who was involved in the accident leading to Jack’s death. In jail, Dominic realizes that it was his brother Jakob (Finn Cole) who did some mischief in Jack’s car and that he is responsible for his demise. After releasing from jail, Dominic challenges Jakob in a race. The deal is that Jakob will have to leave town if he loses. Dominic defeats Jakob and the latter runs away. In the present day, Dominic (Vin Diesel), Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) their son Brian are living a peaceful life in a remote region. However, Dominic and Letty miss the thrill of their earlier life everyday. One day, their gang members – Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson), Tej Parker (Chris "Ludacris" Bridges) and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) – come to meet them. They inform Dominic and Letty that the plane carrying Cipher (Charlize Theron) was attacked by some rogue elements due to which it crashed in Montequinto, Central America. Dominic and Letty join them in finding the crash site. In the crashed aeroplane, they find a part of a devise named Ares but they don’t know what it is. At this point, they are attacked by a private army, headed by none other than Jakob (John Cena). Jakob steals the devise from them and escapes. Dominic and his gang then learn that what Jakob stole was one half of Ares. Once they get both the parts of Ares and they are able to unlock it, they’ll be able to hack into any computer-controlled weapons system. The other half of Ares is in Edinburgh where Jakob is headed too. Dominic and his gang follow suit. Meanwhile, they also find out that their deceased gang member Han Lue (Sung Kang) is also somehow connected with Ares. What happens next forms the rest of the film. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1266467" src="https://ift.tt/2WLEW7K" alt="" width="720" height="450" /> Justin Lin, Alfredo Botello and Daniel Casey's story is ideal for this franchise. Daniel Casey and Justin Lin's screenplay is entertaining but has several loose ends. The first half has lot of drama but very little action and even the drama is not that exciting. Also, its predictable; one can easily guess from a mile that Jakob will get double crossed at some point and that he’ll join Dominic. Dialogues are simple and witty at some places Justin Lin's direction is great but one wishes he was equipped with a tighter script. Talking about the plus points, he handles the scale, the action and grandeur very well. A few dramatic scenes are deftly handled. On the flip side, the film has a lengthy run time (2.23 hours). The first half hardly has any action and after a point, it tests your patience. Thankfully, there’s plenty of action scenes in the second half and it compensates for the shortcomings to some extent. FAST AND FURIOUS 9 begins on a sad note, showing how Jack Toretto died. But soon the action shifts to the chase sequence of Central America. This one is a brilliant scene and the much exciting car jump scene involving Dominic and Letty comes within the first 20 minutes. From here, the film falls and rises only during the Edinburgh sequence. The final action scene is exciting. However, one expected a little bit more tension in the space sequence. Vin Diesel, as expected, is at his best. He’s the face of the franchise and he contributes to the mass quotient of the film. John Cena has an important part and is fair. Michelle Rodriguez is restrained in dramatic scenes but quite fun while performing stunts. Tyrese Gibson and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges contribute to the humour in the film. Nathalie Emmanuel springs a surprise in the second half in the Edinburgh chase sequence. Charlize Theron and Jordana Brewster (Mia Toretto) get limited scope. Sung Kang is hardly there. Also the reason why he didn’t die and was underground all these years is not very convincing. Helen Mirren (Magdalene “Queenie” Shaw) is wasted. Anna Sawai (Elle) doesn’t have much to do after her whistle worthy action scene. But she can make for a great addition in the future installments of the series. Lucas Black (Sean Boswell) is strictly okay. Vinnie Bennett is great as the young Dominic. He even sounds like Vin Diesel to an extent. Fin Cole is fine. Jason Statham (Derek Shaw) appears in the mid-credit scene. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1266468" src="https://ift.tt/3jAFR3w" alt="" width="720" height="450" /> Brian Tyler's music is theatrical and enhances impact. Stephen F Windon's cinematography is spectacular. The lensman tries his best to get creative while taking shots and it gives a nice touch. Action and VFX are exhilarating. It is seen to be believed in the land mine sequence and the scenes where the electromagnetic waves create madness. Dylan Highsmith, Kelly Matsumoto and Greg D'Auria's editing should have been crisper in the first half. On the whole, FAST AND FURIOUS 9 is a decent, time pass entertainer which will be loved by the masses and the fans of the series. However, the long length, a comparatively unexciting first half and the prolonged lockdown for cinemas in Maharashtra would affect the box office collections in the long run.

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Thursday, 26 August 2021

Movie Review: Chehre

<a href="https://ift.tt/3mAM5m4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CHEHRE</a> is the story of a man who faces a tough time when faced with retired law professionals. Sameer Mehra (<a href="https://ift.tt/38gey8c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Emraan Hashmi</a>) is the chief of an ad agency called Paradoy. He goes to a hill station somewhere in the North for an ad shoot. But due to a work commitment in Delhi, he leaves from the hill town despite heavy snow. On the way, he takes a short cut to Delhi but due to a tree fall, he gets stuck. On top of it, his car suddenly breaks down. He then meets Paramjeet Singh Bhullar (Annu Kapoor) who advises him to join him to a friend’s place till it’s safe to go. Paramjeet takes him to the house of Jagdish Acharya (Dhritiman Chatterjee) where Hariya Jatav (Raghubir Yadav) is already present. Soon, Lateef Zaidi (<a href="https://ift.tt/3DjJin9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amitabh Bachchan</a>) also joins them. The quartet then informs Sameer that they meet everyday and play a unique game. As part of this game, they conduct a mock trial since all of them are retired law professionals. While Jagdish Acharya was a retired judge in a nearby court, Paramjeet was defence counsel and Lateef was chief prosecutor. They invite Sameer to play this game. Sameer agrees. The quartet tells him that he’ll be the accused in their court of law. Paramjeet would defend him while Lateef would try to prove that he’s guilty. Jagdish, meanwhile, would be the judge. Lateef gives Sameer a chance to confess if he has ever done any crime and got away with it. Then they’ll try him for that charge. Sameer, however, confidently tells that he has never committed any crime. Lateef then gets a chance to try him for any crime he desires. In the course of their conversation, Sameer blurts out that he used to detest his ex-boss, G S Oswal (Samir Soni) as he was a tyrant. Sameer also reveals that Oswal died recently and that he took over his position. At this, Lateef decides to try him in their court for the ‘murder’ of Oswal. Sameer is aghast and makes it clear that he hasn’t killed him. But Lateef tells the court that he’s willing to put his legal reputation at stake and that he’ll never play this game ever again if he fails to prove that Sameer hasn’t been a part of Oswal’s ‘murder’. Sameer is a bit apprehensive but then he realizes he need not worry as it’s just a game. But his worries vanish instantly when he finds out that Hariya Jatav was not a lawyer or judge. He was actually a hangman and that he has kept the noose ready, should the accused is proven guilty in their court! What happens next forms the rest of the film. <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1262837 size-full" title="Movie Review Chehre" src="https://ift.tt/2UOhS7s" alt="Movie Review Chehre" width="720" height="450" /> Ranjit Kapoor's story is inspired from Swiss writer Friedrich Dürrenmatt's acclaimed novel 'A Dangerous Game' and is very interesting and unique. Ranjit Kapoor and Rumy Jafry's screenplay is effective for most parts, especially in the first half. But the writing loses grip in the second half, more so towards the pre-climax. Ranjit Kapoor and Rumy Jafry's dialogues are sharp at several places. The 13-minute-long monologue, however, fails to make the desired impact and should have been shorter and should have had the required punch. Rumy Jafry's direction is impressive. For a director who has made light-hearted entertainers in the past to direct a thriller so well is praiseworthy. This is a challenging film as it’s mostly set in one house. But he introduces the characters and their traits very well. The manner in which they take Sameer into confidence is very convincing. In fact, there are no complaints in the first half as the way he builds up the tension makes for a thrilling experience. Problem arises in the second half as it seems dragging. Also, the climax should have been better and nail-biting. The monologue also spoils the narrative. In the past, Amitabh Bachchan had rocked the show with the ‘No Means No’ dialogue in PINK [2016]. It was shorter and far more impactful. Something on those lines was required here but sadly, the monologue turns out to be never-ending and even goes off track. The other problem with the film is that it’s quite dialogue-heavy. The makers have tried their best to infuse drama and tension wherever possible. But even then, audiences are not used to such a narrative and setting. Hence, a subject like this is experimental and would appeal to mostly urban and niche audiences. CHEHRE begins on a great note. Amitabh Bachchan’s entry is clap worthy. The exchange of dialogues here is very smooth and convincing. The way Lateef manages to conclude that Sameer is a culprit through the power of his observation and experience of asking the correct questions keeps the interest going. The intermission point is shocking. The second half starts on an interesting note. The flashback of Sameer and Natasha (Krystle Dsouza) is refreshing as it gives audiences a break from the four-walls of the mansion where the film is set. Initially, it is captivating but towards the end of the flashback, the film becomes predictable. The twist in the very final scene of the film is quite impressive and helps the film to end on a fine note. Speaking of performances, Amitabh Bachchan as usual is excellent and suits the part. His dialogue-delivery is obviously commendable but he’s very impressive in the scenes where he’s simply observing and planning his next wise move. Emraan Hashmi is the surprise of the film. He has always been a great performer but here, he steals the show and stands up in front of the veteran actors. Also, he looks quite dashing. Annu Kapoor is dependable as always and its funny how he pronounces certain words and terms. Dhritiman Chatterjee has limited dialogues but leaves a mark. Raghubir Yadav has a unique look and adds to the madness, especially at the intermission point. Krystle Dsouza is another surprise of the film. Rhea Chakraborty (Anna) has an important part and initially, she appears a bit caricaturish. But then it becomes clear that her character is a bit mentally unstable. She is memorable in two scenes – one, where she almost stabs Emraan, and two, when Emraan asks her for the keys. Siddhant Kapoor (Joe) has no dialogues but speaks through his eyes. Samir Soni looks dull while Alexx O'Nell (Richard) gets no scope. Emraan Hashmi: "Bollywood Actresses I always wanted to ROMANCE on-screen are Deepika and..."| Chehre <iframe id="jwiframe" class="playerFrame" src="https://ift.tt/38j43Bb" width="800" height="340" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> There are only 2 songs in the film. The title track fails to impress while 'Rang Dariya' is forgettable. Clinton Cerejo's background score is subtle yet intriguing. Binod Pradhan's cinematography is superb. A subject like this might lead people to think that they are watching a play on stage. But thanks to the lensman and the way he has captured the shots, it doesn’t feel so. Priya Suhas' production design also deserves brownie points for giving the film a cinematic feel. Shivam Vikram Kapoor's costumes are realistic yet appealing. Redefine's VFX is good in several scenes but weak in the climax. Bodhaditya Banerjee's editing should have been tighter in the second half. On the file, CHEHRE is a well-made film which rests on a unique plot and bravura performances. However, due to the lengthy second half and the experimental nature of the subject, the film will appeal mainly to the multiplex audiences.

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Wednesday, 18 August 2021

Movie Review: Bellbottom

BELLBOTTOM is an espionage thriller, inspired by a true event. On August 24, 1984, ICC 691 flight takes off from Delhi and gets hijacked. This is the 5th hijack in 7 years. In the past, the hijackers landed their plane in Lahore, Pakistan, after which the Pakistani authorities negotiated and managed to get a safe release for the passengers. This time, too, the flight moves to Lahore. Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi (Lara Dutta) is all set to negotiate. But she is stopped by a RAW agent, Anshul Malhotra aka Bell Bottom (Akshay Kumar). He has done extensive research on the past hijack operations. He is confident that ISI is the mastermind of the hijack episode. Indira Gandhi and her core team at first doesn’t believe him. But he proves it to them the truth. Indira Gandhi then gets a call from the President of Pakistan, Zia-ul-Haq, to ask Indira if he can go ahead with the negotiations. On the advise of Bell Bottom, Indira tells Zia-ul-Haq not to negotiate. The Pakistan President is taken aback by this conduct. The ISI then sends one of their best men, Daljeet Singh aka Doddy (Zain Khan Durrani) to take over the hijack operation from Lahore. For Bell Bottom, Doddy is someone he personally detests and with whom he has a past. What happens next, forms the rest of the film. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1258999" src="https://ift.tt/3mfk7My" alt="" width="720" height="450" /> Aseem Arrora and Parveez Shaikh's story is fantastic and well researched. It also tells about an important event in history which many might not know about. Aseem Arrora and Parveez Shaikh's screenplay is effective and tight. However, the film could have been tighter in the first half. The dialogues are simple and some of them will create frenzy in cinemas. But a few technical dialogues might go bouncer for the mass audiences. Ranjit M Tewari's direction is supreme and he seems in great form as compared to what he was in his last film LUCKNOW CENTRAL [2017]. He tries his best to keep the film as simple and gripping as possible. He also keeps in mind that it’s a commercial film which needs to work pan India. In this regard, he comes out with flying colours. The first half is where the build up happens and here the film is devoid of action or tensed moments. Yet, he attempts to ensure that audiences have a gala time. He reserves the best for the second half with the climax being the best part of enterprise. On the flipside, the first half, though interesting, could have been better. Also, it’s a 3D film but it doesn’t have the typical 3D effects. BELL BOTTOM starts off with the hijack episode. The entry of Akshay Kumar is superb. The flashback portion are fine; it might seem to halt the narrative but it helps audiences in understanding Bell Bottom’s past and why he joined RAW in the first place. The intermission point is clapworthy. The second half is where the agents reach Dubai airport and try their best to succeed in their mission. A few places, the film slips and drags but it picks up very well in the middle of the second hour. Two twists in the tale at this point adds to the fun. Akshay Kumar is in top form, as expected. He looks dashing and gives a subtle yet massy performance. Lara Dutta is the first one to be credited in the opening credits and she surely is one of the strengths of the film. Her scenes are dramatic and she gives her best. Vaani Kapoor is lovely in a small but significant role. Huma Qureshi is fair, but her character seems half-baked without back story. Zain Khan Durrani is great as the antagonist. Adil Hussain is first-rste, while Denzil Smith gets no scope. Dolly Ahluwalia (Bell Bottom’s mother) is adorable. Mamik Singh (Aashu) is okay. Vaani EXCLUSIVE on Bell Bottom: “Akshay Kumar & the production, they were GOOD at handling…” <iframe id="jwiframe" class="playerFrame" src="https://ift.tt/3iXf01h ?jwembed=1" width="800" height="340" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Music doesn’t fit well into the film. ‘Khair Maang De’ and ‘Marjaawaan’ are visually great. 'Sakhiyan 2.0' is not there in the film. 'Dhoom Tara’ is like the theme song and enhances several scenes. Daniel B George's background score is exhilarating and also has the vintage feel. Parvez Shaikh's action is limited but it is impactful. Amit Ray and Subrata Chakraborty's production design is reminiscent of the bygone era. Costumes are realistic. The ones worn by Vaani are appealing. VFX is overall satisfactory though a few scenes are not as real. Chandan Arora's editing is neat. On the whole, BELL BOTTOM is a complete entertainer meant for the big screen. Kudos to Akshay Kumar, Vashu Bhagnani and the entire team for pulling off a film of this scale in the pandemic and also releasing it when cinemas haven’t opened everywhere. Definitely a step forward as far as the revival of the film industry is concerned.

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Friday, 13 August 2021

Movie Review: Bhuj - The Pride Of India

BHUJ: THE PRIDE OF INDIA is the story of an incredible chapter from the 1971 India Pakistan war. The persecution of East Pakistan residents by Pakistani military in 1971 leads to lakhs of deaths. Innumerable people migrate to India to escape the killings. Hence India too gets involved in this conflict and deploys a majority of its troops on the Eastern border. Taking advantage of this situation, Pakistan begins to attack the defence base of India on the Western side. On December 8, 1971, Pakistan air force suddenly attacks Bhuj airbase, taking commanding officer Vijay Karnik (Ajay Devgn) and everyone else present by surprise. Several lives are lost in this attack and the airstrip is also badly damaged. Meanwhile, Pakistan also destroys Surajbari and Banaskatha bridges and five major roads that lead to Bhuj. As a result, Bhuj and Kutch are cut off from the rest of the country. The Indian air force aircrafts can't even land as the airstrip is destroyed and the engineers that can repair it have run away. The Pakistan army meanwhile has begun advancing towards Bhuj and plans to capture the whole region. The only solution in sight is to get the airstrip repaired overnight at any cost. What happens next forms the rest of the film. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1256086" src="https://ift.tt/2UfUu2z" alt="Movie Review Bhuj - The Pride Of India" width="720" height="450" /> Abhishek Dudhaiya, Raman Kumar, Ritesh Shah and Pooja Bhavoria's story is fascinating and also unknown to most people. Most viewers would be amazed to know that an incident like this occurred and that even the common citizens helped the forces in the war. Abhishek Dudhaiya, Raman Kumar, Ritesh Shah and Pooja Bhavoria's screenplay is a mixed bag. The first half doesn't have much development in the story. But it’s in the second half where the writers show their brilliance. The climax especially is very well thought of. Abhishek Dudhaiya, Raman Kumar, Ritesh Shah and Pooja Bhavoria's dialogues (additional dialogues by Manoj Muntashir) are intended to generate claps. Ajay’s monologue while convincing the villagers is touching. Abhishek Dudhaiya's direction has its share of glitches but overall it's fair. Talking of the pros, he handles the scale of the film very well. Certain dramatic and action scenes are well executed and this also enhances the impact. Also, certain one-take action scenes add to the entertainment quotient. The climax is nail-biting and he really takes the film to another level here. On the flipside, the characters are not well defined. The introduction is very quick of all major characters. For a layman, it’ll be too much to process so much information. Also, one could sense that certain scenes have been cut, possibly to curtail the length. In several action scenes, logic takes a backseat. The scene of Ranchod in the trench in the climax would be loved by the masses but it’s difficult to digest. Also, the first half has some interesting scenes but overall, it fails to make the desired impact as the execution is a bit all over the place. BHUJ: THE PRIDE OF INDIA’s first 5 minutes explain the context through a montage and also with the scene of Pakistani officials discussing their evil plan. The latter is a bit over the top but helps in understanding the conflict. The Bhuj airbase attack scene is shocking but soon the film goes into flashback mode. Here, too many characters get introduced and it becomes a case of information overload. The track of Heena Rehmani (Nora Fatehi) comes as a great respite. Her one-take mirror action scene is one of the best scenes in the film. In the second half, there comes a certain ‘thehrav’ in the narrative. Also, the introduction of Sunderben (Sonakshi Sinha) adds a lot to the film. The best is reserved for the last 20-25 minutes with the aeroplane landing scene taking the cake. “Ajay Devgn is an INDUSTRY, you can ask him anything about…”: Sharad Kelkar | Bhuj -The Pride of India | Ajay Devgn <iframe id="jwiframe" class="playerFrame" src="https://ift.tt/2VQGk8g" width="800" height="340" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Ajay Devgn plays a one-dimensional character. But performance wise, he’s first-rate and lifts certain scenes. His slo-mo walk especially is quite exciting and would have led to a riot in cinemas. Sanjay Dutt, too, plays a character whose back story is not properly explained but he is quite good, especially in the fight scenes. Sonakshi Sinha has a late entry but is the surprise of the film. Nora Fatehi charms with her performance and action. Her action scene is one of the highlights. Sharad Kelkar (R K Nair) is, as always, dependable. Ammy Virk (Vikram Singh Baj) is decent and gives his best. Pranitha Subhash (Usha), Ihana Dhillon (R K Nair’s wife) and Mahesh Shetty (Laxman) get no scope. Navni Parihar (Indira Gandhi) is fair. The actors playing General Yahya Khan, Heena Rehmani’s husband Md Hussain Omani, Wing Commander A A Sahu, Mukhtar Baig and Taimoor Rizvi are okay. Music is okay and there’s not much scope for songs. In fact, a few songs like 'Rammo Rammo', 'Bhai Bhai' and even the famous 'Zaalima Coca Cola' tracks are missing. 'Hanjugam' is forgettable but 'Desh Mere' is touching. The devotional song of Sonakshi Sinha ('He Ishwar Maalik He Daata') is powerful but looks a bit out of place. Amar Mohile's background score is exhilarating. Aseem Bajaj's cinematography is impactful. A few shots are exceptionally done. Archana Mishra's costumes are realistic and glamorous in the case of the heroines. Narendra Rahurikar's production design is detailed. R P Yadav & Peter Hein's action is entertaining and grand. NY VFXWaala's VFX is of a good standard. A few scenes were not upto the mark but overall, the VFX team deserve praise. Dharmendra Sharma's editing is a bit quick and haphazard. On the whole, BHUJ: THE PRIDE OF INDIA tells an incredible story from a chapter of Indian history. The performances are first-rate and the film goes on an exciting level in the second half, with the nail-biting climax being the best part of the enterprise. A film of this scale should have been released in cinemas as it’s full of massy scenes that would have generated immense craze among the audiences.

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