andre_rox99 Reviews

Befikre (2016)

It's a fun timepass

[5/10 · 30 December 2016]

BEFIKRE is a rom-com directed by Aditya Chopra, starring Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor.

The film revolves around the relationship of Dharam (Singh) and Shyra (Kapoor) in the city of Paris.

The main problem this film does possess is the fact that it is hemmed by a director who made an Indian classic (DDLJ), hence people are naturally expecting a lot. However, that being said, this film is a good entertainer. Yes, it does have an extremely predictable storyline and many people might be a bit annoyed with the physical affection, but I do appreciate the western outlook to rather Indian storyline. Aditya Chopra has definitely experimented on something and all due credit where it is deserved.

The film tries to keep it breezy. Beware, the film doesn't weigh in much on a story, but Ranveer Singh's acting does manage to keep the film afloat. His sheer charisma and energy elevates the dialogues as well. Vaani Kapoor does quite a good job, but it doesn't match up to her co-star. All the other supporting cast do a great job as well.

However, the music in this film is superb, in my opinion. Composed by Vishal and Shekhar, the soundtrack manage to elevate the film as well. The background score is great as well.

In conclusion, don't go into this one expecting too much. Befikre is slightly ambitious, but it manages to entertain. The second half tends to drag for a bit long, and there is this extremely 'bad comedy ending' to it. But excluding those, Befikre makes for a fun timepass.

BEFIKRE- 5/10

Dear Zindagi (2016)

Bad screenplay is the film's main downfall

[5/10 · 24 November 2016]

DEAR ZINDAGI is a drama movie directed by Gauri Shinde, starring Alia Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan in the lead rules.

The movie deals with Kaira (Bhatt) and her struggle to deal with her quarter life crisis, with the help of a therapist (Khan).

Let me just start with addressing how much potential this movie had; it starts two extremely talented actors and a GREAT idea for its plot. Team that up with a critically acclaimed director like Gauri Shinde, who has such great experience with directing drama films (English Vinglish)... its a recipe for success.

Sadly, much to my dismay, the film doesn't deliver. And that's primarily because of its HUGE problem with the screenplay. The film tries to present so many ideas that it tends to lost its main idea in the plot. This is seen mainly in the first half that's just a mess, but the film does pick up and manage to entertain in the second half. For one reason: Shah Rukh Khan. He effortlessly manages to channel his charisma and acting into bringing his role to life, and what helps is how beautifully his character is written. Alia Bhatt does the best with what she's given, especially in the more emotionally demanding scenes.

That being said, the film does try something innovative, which is always fun to see. The conversations between Kaira and her therapist are always a delight, especially the dialogues that are heartwarming and universally relatable.

In conclusion, DEAR ZINDAGI is a waste of potential, and that's disappointing once you realise what the film could have been. The screenplay could've been much better, had it been better constructed and didn't contain so many story arcs. But it's the heartfelt scenes and great acting and chemistry between the two lead stars that really make this film worthwhile. Keep your expectations low and the film may pleasantly surprise you.

DEAR ZINDAGI- 5.5/10

Any Body Can Dance 2 (2015)

Everybody is just dancing... with no reason.

[4/10 · 19 June 2015]

ABCD 2 is a dance sequel to the 2013's ABCD of the same genre. It stars Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor and Prabhudeva in pivotal roles. The story revolves around a group of dancers who join hands with a dance instructor in order to compete in a world hip-hop dance competition in Vegas and to regain their honour. ABCD 2 delivers on what it promises to give; dance. But that's all that's there to this film. While the first film gave a different spin to the dance genre with a proper storyline and some heart, the sequel pales in comparison. It doesn't know what it's trying to be, except that there must be dance. And this is where the film falters. Instead of trying to be a normal film with a SLIGHTLY higher number of dance sequences, it succumbs to an over-stretched 2h20m compilation of dance sequences. Since the film has a completely different plot from the first one, it immediately starts in the heat of the plot with literally no time to get to know the characters; not that there is much to know since hardly any detail is given to each of them. Hence, most of the film's flaws are due to its script and poor writing. For example, Prabhudeva's character, Vishnu, who had so much depth in the predecessor, is simply confusing in this one. It seems that neither him nor the viewers know what he's up to. And that's just the icing on the cake. The story doesn't know whether its trying to be a Disney G-rated film, or a serious drama. Its either trying to be childish, or sometimes overdoing it with serious preptalks and all throughout annoying you with several (sometimes unnecessary dance sequences.) The acting is quite "half-baked". If acting was dancing, every respective actor or dancer, passes with more than flying colors; including Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor. Dhawan, who proved to have major acting chops in his previous flick, Badlapur, tries to add a charm to a poorly-written Suresh, whose the hero in this film. While his efforts are noticed, there's still not much screenplay due to a new dance sequence sprouting after every five minutes. Shraddha Kapoor is wasted in this film as she hardly has any moments to shine except for her solo song, Sun Saathiya. Lauren Gottlieb, being a great addition to the group, only shows up in the last 45 minutes of the film. In conclusion, ABCD 2 completely messes up the great reputation its predecessor set up for the name 'ABCD.' It tries to follow the example of Hollywood's dance series 'Step Up' by taking a great dance film and following it with unnecessary and mindless sequels. ABCD 2 did have great potential, but its wasted by being extremely loud and annoying with a dance at every nook and corner. The film does practice what it preaches; everyone dances to express rather than to impress, and Any Body Can Dance... except it would have made more sense to take its predecessor's example and add a sensible story to it rather than simply showing us viewers that anybody can dance. ABCD 2- 4/10

Lekar Hum Deewana Dil (2014)

It's a Decent Watch if you're extremely bored!

[6/10 · 5 July 2014]

LEKAR HUM DEEWANA DIL is a rom-com film directed by Arif Ali, starring Armaan Jain and Deeksha Seth.

The film revolves around Dino and Karishma who decide to get married only to realize the problems involved with matrimony.

Being directed by Arif Ali, LHDD does have similar shades that were present in his brother, Imitiaz Ali's LOVE AAJ KAL. Therefore, Arif Ali attempts to direct a similar rom-com; with its youth as its target audience. He even introduces Ranbir Kapoor's cousin, Armaan Jain, and newcomer, Deeksha Seth, in his debut film. However, the real question is: Does LHDD succeed?

LHDD starts off by introducing us to its main characters, with college and friendship as its background; however, its evident that the main plot point is marriage. Inspite of tackling quite a mature topic for a film aimed at youth, LHDD does manage to somewhat do justice.

However, there are several flaws in this film that prevents this film from outshining. While the first half is quite enjoyable with its witty one-liners and the very introduction to Dino and Karishma's insane idea, the second half completely derails from its unique story and goes down the same monotonously cliché'd plot seen in mostly every cliché'd film in Bollywood. This doesn't mean that its audience doesn't see it coming; no, one must know that entering LHDD means that ultimately all's well that ends well. However, one does hope that the director might have done it in a much better way. And speaking of 'a much better way', the story could have had some polishing done to it as well. While the film does have its heart in the right place, its plot is EXTREMELY haywire (Hint: we're in a jungle at one point in the film).

Another shoutout to the film's runtime, which is 2h20m; with its first half spanning for 1h30m. LHDD would have been much better if they chopped out the unnecessary details which meant the film could have wrapped up by around the 2h mark.

The acting isn't quite grand either. It's evident that Armaan Jain is making a great attempt, however, it requires a lot more work. Deeksha Seth, on the other hand, did quite a decent job; but maybe she required better material to showcase her true acting.

Some of the plus points of the film is the several character quirks and without a doubt, AR Rahman's soundtrack. The film contains several chartbusters, however, LHDD blows through most of them in the first half. Why? I have no idea.

In conclusion, LEKAR HUM DEEWANA DIL would've been better if its plot would've been more straightforward and its acting and direction, polished. The film is quite a decent watch if you're extremely bored or looking for a timepass flick; it'll entertain, and mostly appeal to the youth, as intended.

LEKAR HUM DEEWANA DIL- 5.9/10

The Villain (2014)

An edge-of-the-seat thriller that's completely Riteish Deshmukh's show!

[9/10 · 27 June 2014]

EK VILLAIN is a psychological thriller directed by Mohit Suri, starring Sidharth Malhotra, Shradda Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh.

The plot revolves around Guru (Sidharth Malhotra) who seeks revenge for the murder of his lover, Aisha (Shradda Kapoor), by a serial killer (Riteish Deshmukh).

Upon its first viewing, Ek Villain is quite a dark film in nature- its action is brutal (and realistic), its atmosphere is gloomy; hell, its plot is rarely seen in Bollywood. Hence, it takes extra care to handle such a film; an opportunity that Mohit Suri gladly took up and I must say, he has somewhat lived up to the expectation.

Inspite of being denied, the story is based off the Korean-psychological thriller, I Saw The Devil, and it does have numerous elements taken from it. However, you can say that Mohit Suri has toned down the extreme gore from I Saw The Devil to a watchable film for Indian audiences, but that does not mean that Ek Villain is all fun and games; it does have its fair share of blood spilling on screen. Without further ado, I shall get into discussing the film.

One of Ek Villain's strong suits is its direction; even though it's dealing with a dark plot, it manages to balance Guru and Aisha's bubbly relationship with Rakesh (Riteish Deshmukh)'s dark activity. Doing this did not only help the film succeed but it also does give screen time to every character as well as doesn't bore its audience.

It's second plus point is its music. While Mohit Suri's previous flick, Aashiqui 2 did have several chartbusters, his music did live up to the public's expectations. Every song in the film had a reason to be in it, and was never unnecessary. It added to the experience of the film and are great to listen to.

The third and biggest pro of the film is definitely, and without a doubt, its performances. Sidharth Malhotra did a great job playing the serious Guru, but more importantly, it is Riteish Deshmukh who steals the show. Whether the film is good or bad, he's is (hands-down) the biggest reasons to watch this film. Ek Villain being the first film he has ever acted with a serious role (an antagonist, to be specific), Deshmukh delivers his role and dialogue with such finesse that even if the film leaves your mind in a day or two, his acting will still haunt you. At times you feel bad for his character and somewhat root for him, which speaks mountains for his acting. Watch out for the climax, where his true acting is displayed.

HOWEVER, the film does have a few minor problems that could have been worked on. For instance, the reason behind why Rakesh kills is not such a HUGE issue but altered. Also, the very reason the whole movie takes place could have been better, considering it was such a simple thing that recurred continuously throughout the film.

In conclusion, EK VILLAIN is a great summer movie. Its an edge-of-the- seat thriller that is extremely enjoyable. The cat-and-mouse chase between the protagonist and antagonist makes the movie worth its money, and the action and music is simply splendid. Some might find the movie slightly disturbing; however, I will say that you must watch this movie for Riteish Deshmukh's acting, on a more important note.

EK VILLAIN- 8.9/10

O Teri (2014)

The title gives a glimpse of everyone's reaction...

[3/10 · 28 March 2014]

O TERI is a political comedy directed by Umesh Bist, starring Pulkit Samrat, Bilal Amrohi and Sarah Jane Dias.

The film revolves around two news reporters who try to get their hands on a huge scam to become famous, but instead find themselves involved in one.

O Teri, as a comedy film, just fails completely, and here's why. Firstly, the film contains quite a good plot, showing it does have a great deal of potential, however, it's just completely wasted by the end of it. Since its produced by Salman Khan, I assume they realized doing a serious film like that doesn't work at all, so they decided to make a comical remake of it to appeal to all audiences. But here's where it gets worst. The several situations presented to the audience is so ridiculous that you don't know whether its comedy or just torture. Case and point, in one scene, the two main characters; PP and AIDS (no joke) go to a center where a dog is apparently an astrologer who can read out both of their fates. The film is said to be heavily based on the 1983 film, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, however considering that film was a cult classic, I doubt whether O Teri has done any justice to it. I will admit though that there are some scenes that are 'so dumb its funny' that you do chuckle a bit (of course after admitting to yourself that you're in for the long run in this film).

The acting is really bad, in all honesty. Pulkit Samrat, after acting extremely well in Fukrey and showing us how much his talent he has, just sinks to doing a really bad role like this. Bilal Amrohi, ditto, but its not better than Pulkit Samrat (in terms of bad acting). Sarah Jane Dias just kept screaming the whole time for no reason that I could literally hear her voice echoing around the cinema whenever she spoke. All the politicians in the film make no sense whatsoever. This includes Anupam Kher (I have no idea what he's doing in this film) and Vijay Raaz, who is the only person that made me laugh thoroughly whenever he was on screen and one of the most enjoyable things in this film. Just like in Delhi Belly, he keeps spewing out swears which can be extremely hilarious, and throughout the film, he breaks three phones in anger, and at one point, even mentions it in a dialogue.

The songs are the best thing in this film, and is the only thing I carried with me after I left the film. There are great songs like "Butt Patlo", "Akhan Vich" and "Ummbakkum". And the film would have been more enjoyable if they just spread the songs evenly, but instead, the director places all the great songs in the first half and with a five minute gap to allow us to focus on the plot (or in other words, torture us with his dull, mindless flick). And not to state that some of the songs are quite unnecessary in film. Case and point, it is not normal for two guys to lose their job and to break into song and dance, and neither is it plausible for a politician to start singing with the public about following on Facebook and Twitter in the middle of a speech.

In conclusion, O Teri is telling us from the title itself what we're going to be saying by the end of the film (in disgust, of course). You might even tell me I'm going too hard on this film, and that its not THAT bad, and to that I say it isn't, because at the end, it tries to change your opinion by adding this ultra patriotic speech and sticking to the plot so that when you leave the cinema, you think its a feel-good timepass, but overall, the film really isn't. It's just below average. O Teri is just a basic reminder than whenever Bollywood tries to get better, there will be big duds like this to bring it down. The film would've been much better if the plot was portrayed in a much better way, if the acting was better and, most importantly, if it made more sense. You may enjoy laughing at the mindlessness of the film if you watch it with friends, but other than that, stay away from O Teri.

O TERI- 3/10

Bewakoofiyaan (2014)

A One-Time Watch... but nothing more!

[5/10 · 14 March 2014]

BEWAKOOFIYAAN is a romantic comedy directed by Nupur Asthana, starring Ayushmann Khurana, Sonam Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor, in the lead roles.

The film revolves around Mohit Chadda (Ayushmann Khurana) who's the Senior Executive Marketing Manager at an airline company, and is engaged to Mayera (Sonam Kapoor). Life seems great, until he meets Mayera's father, who's interested in money more than love. And the whole situation becomes worse when Mohit gets fired from his job during recession.

Bewakoofiyaan, inspite of facing cold responses from critics upon watching the trailer, is quite a watchable film. The plot is extremely predictable and seems copied from several romantic comedies involving the father's hand in marriage. However, the one factor that makes Bewakoofiyaan very different is the reality check it offers about modern relationships. Most romantic films involve everything being just fine; however, Bewakoofiyaan, set in the backdrop of the Great Recession, offers a very realistic view of how money indeed is necessary for a relationship to work.

Inspite of all that, the film does have several flaws too; one of them being how the plot struggles to flow easily. Habib Faisal, who has written scripts for several great films like Band Bajaa Baraat, Ishaqzaade and Do Dooni Chaar, fails to stick one point. Case and point, he was trying to include the financial point of view of a relationship along with the idea of the main character impressing the father of his soulmate. The film would have been a lot better if it just stuck to one topic only.

The acting is quite good. Ayushmann Khurana offers an extremely good performance as a short-tempered, egoistic bankrupt man, and Rishi Kapoor offers a great performance, as always. Sonam Kapoor still needs a bit work in terms of her acting. Her fashion sense is extraordinary, however, after showing how well she can act in films like Raanjhanaa and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, she returns back to her earlier performance that does not show any improvement, whatsoever. That being said, Bewakoofiyaan is watchable as well for its great performances and chemistry between the two main actors.

The songs are quite alright to listen to, however, not extraordinary. Some of them are quite unnecessary in the film though and could have just been edited out of the film. In terms of the album, all of the songs are quite fine to listen to.

In conclusion, Bewakoofiyaan is just a one-time watch. As the name suggests, it is quite stupid to give it an entertaining screenplay; fortunately, it doesn't go over-the-top. It could've been much better though, but since it fails to do, it is quite forgettable. But if you are looking for quite a fun timepass at the movies, Bewakoofiyaan is the film you're looking for.

BEWAKOOFIYAAN- 5.5/10

Gulaab Gang (2014)

Only works because of the Great Acting and Direction

[6/10 · 9 March 2014]

GULAAB GANG is a political thriller directed by Soumik Sen, starring Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla.

The film revolves around how a woman named Rajjo (Madhuri Dixit) started the Gulaabi Gang, who fight to prevent injustice to women, and teach education to children for free. However, the Gulaab Gang gets compromised with the entrance of the corrupt politician, Sumitra Devi (Juhi Chawla).

Gulaab Gang had gone through a lot of controversy near the release date, and in addition to that, the trailer and soundtrack hadn't quite pleased the critics. That being said, the film was only recognized due to the fact that two of the most iconic actresses in Bollywood were sharing the big screen together.

And Gulaab Gang pretty much delivered what we expected in terms of acting. Madhuri Dixit gave a stellar performance but Juhi Chawla clearly overpowers her, playing the film's antagonist. But the film does have many flaws. Firstly, the plot isn't very steady as it tries to focus more on how the Gulaabi Gang operate without having any real plot to help the audience refer to what's going on. It is that same reason why we aren't really on the edge of our cinema seat, wondering what is going to happen next. Juhi Chawla is only introduced a few 20 minutes before the interval, and it is only then where the real (I think) plot begins. One more problem was that Juhi Chawla didn't quite have much screen time compared to Madhuri Dixit. That being said, she is STILL able to overpower Dixit's acting, but there should have been equal screen time for both the lead casts. Since the film is dedicated to women's rights, you could see it does quite live up to the main reason why the film was made, however, the plot could have been better. Also, the film tends to be a bit slow, so everyone may not like it for the way it drags its story.

So, in conclusion, GULAAB GANG is quite an okay movie. If you're a die hard fan of political flicks, you might just find this movie good. If you're a die hard fan of Madhuri Dixit or Juhi Chawla, you too might enjoy, purely because the acting keeps this film together. The film tries to be original, but at times, you do tend to feel that it is one of those masala flicks trying to be serious but ends up not being. The film had a lot of potential, which you could say was quite wasted... however, it being dedicated to Women's Day, I will give this film credit for trying to get the message through that women are people and not objects, except in a more violent way to attract all types of audiences.

GULAAB GANG- 5.5/10

Queen (2013)

This QUEEN is ROYAL in every way!

[10/10 · 8 March 2014]

QUEEN is directed by Vikas Bahl, starring Kangana Ranaut, in the lead role, along with Rajkummar Rao and Lisa Haydon.

The film revolves around Rani (Kangana Ranaut), an innocent Punjabi girl, who gets dumped one day before her wedding day. She gets an idea to go on her honeymoon all by herself, and that very trip shows her road to self-empowerment while going through several comical situations...

The trailer of Queen didn't quite attract much attention, therefore, the film was extremely underrated by several critics, including me. However, the songs did grab a portion of my attention, so I was curious to know whether I was looking at Queen from a wrong angle. The film, itself, faced fierce competition from Madhuri-Juhi starrer, Gulaab Gang and the much-awaited Total Siyapaa. However, the reviews came in for the three films, and I was shocked to see so much praise for Queen. So I decided to go with the critics and chose Queen over Total Siyapaa that weekend. And I think its safe for me to say that it is one of the best decisions I've made in my life (and it might be yours too).

Queen starts off in the most mainstream desi way possible. The Big Fat Indian Wedding with relatives at every nook and corner and dance to Punjabi tunes is galore. The calling off of the wedding takes place and you feel yourself going through the very same events as Rani. This is due to pure direction and acting. However, the film takes a VERY sharp turn when she leaves for her honeymoon. Rani meets new friends, goes through life how a woman should, and I think it was a smart move on the director to release it on Women's Day, because at the end of the film, the message is pretty clear. However, I shall not go on further about the plot, because after she leaves India, its all just fun.

The acting is just top-notch. Kangana Ranaut, in all honesty, carries the film on her shoulders throughout the 2h30m run time. She portrays her character with such finesse that she deserves awards and utter praise for it. Rajkummar Rao played a great job as well and the rest of the foreign actors were just delightful and splendid to see.

The songs are great as well. Amit Trivedi also deserves applause for the great music as well as background score. Every single song captures a theme of the film and just blends perfectly with the several scenes in the film. It helps you feel like Rani while she goes through her journey. 'London Thumakada' captures the Indian Wedding Theme, while 'O Gujariya' is just great to listen to. A special mention about the remake of 'Hungama Ho Gaya' which is just complete fun to listen to.

In conclusion, QUEEN is possibly one of the best films of the year. I can't seem to see any flaw in the film; it is just complete fun. Go watch it; I highly recommend it.

QUEEN- 10/10

Pompeii (I) (2014)

Gladiator + Titanic = POMPEII

[22 February 2014]

POMPEII is a disaster film directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, starring Kit Harrington and Keifer Sutherland.

The film revolves around a boy who grows up to be a slave and eventually witnesses one of the biggest volcano tragedies in Pompeii.

Pompeii is quite an enjoyable time. I went in the cinema expecting a complete dud of a film, but I came out surprised at how much I had underrated the film. Inspite of the poster and trailer of the film failing to impress, the performances are great, and the action was extremely entertaining. The effects and directing were top-notch, especially after the volcano eruption commences. However, the film doesn't have a GREAT storyline and it does have that 'fake' factor which involves every other person dying and the main hero surviving through all the circumstances. ALSO, a gentle reminder about how the first half of the film is rough copy of Gladiator and the second half is a direct copy of Titanic.

A special mention about the 3D effects of the film. It truly is worth its price, because it just enhances the whole experience of the film, and adds to the enjoyable factor of the film.

In conclusion, inspite of its flaws, POMPEII is quite a good film. Don't go in expecting the best movie of 2014, and go in with an underrated opinion of the film, like I did, and promise that you'll have a great time.

POMPEII- 6.5/10

Gunday (2014)

An Average Movie over-hyped to the point it being a Letdown.

[5/10 · 14 February 2014]

GUNDAY is a crime film directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, starring Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Irfan Khan in the lead roles.

The story revolves around two friends, Bikram (Ranveer Singh) and Bala (Arjun Kapoor) who are refugees who get involved in the coal business, eventually becoming Calcutta's biggest 'gundas'.

The marketing of Gunday was extremely good; the teaser, let alone the trailer, grabbed everyone's attention. The music was outstanding, the promos gave everyone the impression that the sizzling bromance between Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor could cause Gunday to be the next Sholay... or so we thought.

Gunday starts off with the characters' backstory, which later dissolves as we are introduced to the adult versions of Bikram and Bala. Initially meant to be a crime story, we are introduced to the romantic side of Gunday as Priyanka Chopra's Nandita enters into the plot. Nevertheless, the film is unable to have a solid plot, and so the first half of the film doesn't quite live up to it's potential. As we enter the second half of the film, it tries its best to live up to all the hype its created but, unfortunately, fails to do so. The very script, as well as its characters, needs quite a bit of polishing; it would have made it a great movie (and even a possible cult classic). You could say that the director wasted a huge amount of time in the first half and started to rather cram everything he wanted into the second half. However, by the end of the film, I wanted to love it so much but its blatantly obvious that the film is a waste of potential, considering it had GREAT music, GREAT performers as well as GREAT location backdrops.

The acting is first-class, to be honest. Ranveer Singh, is the best out of them all inspite of having Irfan Khan in the film. Singh handles his character with ease, and seems to be getting better with every film he does. Arjun Kapoor is great playing a gunda as well, however, he needs a bit of work in terms of emotions. Priyanka Chopra's role doesn't have much to it, therefore, its quite hard to judge whether she was necessary or not. Irfan Khan was great as usual. A special mention to the actors who play the young Bikram and Bala. They were fabulous and might just turn out to be splendid actors.

The music was just MINDBLOWING. Every song from 'Jashn-E-Ishqa', 'Tune Maari Entriyaan' and 'Aasalam-E-Ishqum' to 'Jiya', 'Saiyaan' and 'Mann Kunto Maula' are just great. However, one of the noticeable flaws in the film is the fact that the director kept cramming every song at every nook and corner. And to be quite honest, inspite of Jiya being a great song, its as unnecessary as 'Dil Tu Hi Bata' Krrish 3.

The dialogues are real good but its like Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai Dobaara; no gangster ever cries out one-liners whenever he speaks. Nevertheless, both versions of Bikram and Bala say it with great macho that you actually quite enjoy it.

The one thing that actually does quite live up to its hype is the Ranveer-Arjun bromance. Its quite entertaining at it contributes to one of the reasons why some of the film's flaws are forgiven.

In conclusion, GUNDAY is over-hyped to make it seem like a must-watch Bollywood film, but in all honesty, its just a masala flick that's a great timepass, but by the time you realize that, you're so irritated at what a letdown the film actually is. If you want a great buddy film that has action, great one-liners, and some killer performances, then GUNDAY is your film. But don't go in expecting the best movie of the 2014 or a classic, because you are going to be extremely disappointed, just like I was.

GUNDAY- 5/10

Yaariyan (2014)

Clichéd, Stupid, Immature and just Plain Awful.

[2/10 · 18 January 2014]

YAARIYAN is a coming-of-age film directed by Divya Khosla Kumar, starring Himansh Kohli and Rakul Preet Singh in the lead roles. The rest of the star cast includes Serah Singh, Dev Sharma, Evelyn Sharma, Deepti Naval and Gulshan Grover.

The film revolves around "college life" and how a group of 5 Indian college-goers must battle against Australia in a range of activities to save their college while undergoing life-altering situations.

I'll just get straight to it: this film is just plain awful. Now I know that my summary of the review above is extremely harsh, I apologize, but its nothing but the truth, and believe me, if you're still reading, there's gonna be a lot more of it.

Now, first thing's first: the promos and hype. That's all great, I mean, they used the music and the fact that its 'from the makers of Aashiqui 2' to distract you from the ACTUAL story, in fact, the trailer itself doesn't even give you a real insight to what you're getting into. Normally, that's a good thing... but for a film so bad, its a downright con, and its totally like having a guy's pocket money stolen.

If you skipped on reading the story synopsis and if you're planning to watch the movie, I STRONGLY suggest you read it IMMEDIATELY. It makes NO SENSE WHATSOEVER, in fact, it looks like a cheap rip off of Student of the Year (which wasn't that good either) but in comparison to Yaariyan, the former looks like we're comparing the latter with 3 Idiots. There's no better way to put it; its obnoxious and I don't know what the staff of the film saw in the script. I don't even understand what it has to do with college life. In the case of SOTY, we understand that the competition takes place every year, so it's completely justified... but in the case of Yaariyan, it isn't like we have the name of the film talking about a competition, its about friendship, and I'm sorry to say that the film failed in portraying that as well.

The acting was just alright; most of the stars were new-comers, therefore mostly immature. The only good ones were those who have been in Bollywood for years; Gulshan Grover, who had less screenplay, and Deepti Naval, who was my favorite of the two; she portrayed her emotions and character with such accuracy (which everyone else failed to do) that you actually wished the story could be better to support her acting. Himansh Kohli had potential, and you could see he had the charisma, being he's like I said earlier: immaturity was at its finest in all the youngsters (including him).

AND I shall leave the only best thing (and saving grace) of the film for last: THE MUSIC. BRAVO TO ALL THE MUSIC DIRECTORS. The music was so good that it was the ONLY reason I was sitting in the cinema till the end. I haven't heard a better album since Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, and the film delivers such great hits like "ABCD", "Sunny Sunny", "Baarish", "Allah Waariyan"... even the not so popular ones were great, especially "Love Me Thoda Aur". By the end of the film, I sat wondering whether the film was just directed for the songs, and a cheap plot was added just to have a background to the songs. Whatever it was, it worked to an extent because when I left the cinema I felt that my ticket money was justified only because the music kept me hooked. Its a shame though, that such a song like "Sunny Sunny" that gained global recognition belongs to such a poor film.

In conclusion, I'd tell you to watch YAARIYAN only if you were only interested in the music. If you can't wait to watch the way the movie blended with the music, I'd suggest you watch it in a single screen, because it's not worth the full price. And if I could lead you with one last message, it's that YAARIYAN is not completely rubbish, because I'd rather enter the cinema and watch the music and some of the extremely ridiculous situations it has rather than sitting and staring at a wall for 2 hours.

YAARIYAN- 2/10

Gravity (2013)

Stunning in every single way possible.

[9/10 · 3 November 2013]

GRAVITY is a space/sci-fi film directed by Alfonso Cuaron, starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney.

The film revolves around two astronauts, Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (George Clooney), who get drifted off into space after being hit by debris. With low oxygen levels and the possibility of death, they must work together to survive the accident and return back to Earth.

So the first thing that makes Gravity so different from the rest of the mainstream movies nowadays is, obviously, its a movie that takes place completely in space, but, other that that, it has a very different tone to it. Right from when you see the trailer, you can literally see how the directer plays with your senses using the pitch and type of music along with the visual effects. Its truly amazing and eerie at the same time.

I went and saw the movie, in IMAX 3D, because, well, you don't usually see a space film with a plot in IMAX, and I'm going to cut short this and just say GRAVITY IS JUST STUNNING. Thats what everyone's being saying right? But WHY?! Well here's why.

The acting is just first-class. Even there are just two stars in the movie, using a green screen, they portray their character so damn well. They are one of the reasons for the intensity you feel all throughout. Sandra Bullock is one the BEST things in the film; she's as good as the special effects in this film, and that's a really high bar. You can see the fear in her eyes that seems like she's slowly losing hope but still has this unknown push to keep trying. She's just so good in Gravity and if she doesn't get nominated for an Oscar this year, I'm going to flip out. George Clooney's acting is quite decent. Throughout the film, you feel like you're in the head of Sandra Bullock's character, and whenever she's nervous, you're nervous, and to sum it up, George Clooney is the guy who keeps you, calm when you're having a panic attack. He's the smooth talker that keeps the level of intensity just to the right amount. That's another one of the best things about this film. The acting makes you feel like you're another one of the characters in space, feeling what they're feeling. Another contribution to that is the directing, because you literally feel you're right in there with Sandra Bullock.

The visual effects and splendid and mind-boggling. They aren't shot with IMAX cameras so that was a bit of a letdown considering they had so much of potential with it, but the visuals make up for it and the 3D is just great, and isn't any of that post-converted crap. The directing and camera-work is great too. The way they zoom in on the face, as well as the views of the Earth. Its all just so realistic.

The soundtrack is extremely suitable for the film. There's this sense of calmness yet drama in it. Its wonderful how its portrayed in the film. The film starts off with the main title flashing across the screen and the music going extremely high and suddenly it cuts to the view of the Earth and there's dead silence. Great way to get the audience involved and feeling eerie. The trailer also makes that pretty clear, and the movie just carries that message forwards.

The plot is quite simple, honestly, but its the rest of the components of the film that has made the film, shine. And to be honest, I have no problems with it. The only issue that some people will find is that fact that they have no gravity-defying action stunts or some cheesy villain driving fast cars. You must have the patience to stay through every one of Ryan Stone's thoughts to actually enjoy it. It is quite slow, but its really intense and just good fun.

And to that I'm going to say Gravity is just amazing. Its visually breath-taking and one of cinema's best achievements yet.

GRAVITY- 9.5/10

Chennai Express (2013)

This Express is hardly worth your money!

[4/10 · 26 August 2013]

CHENNAI EXPRESS is a comedy directed by Rohit Shetty, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Paudkone. Its directed in Rohit Shetty SH-tyle and re- unites the SRK-Paukone pair after OM SHANTI OM.

The film revolves around Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) who boards the Chennai Express and witnesses the killing of the ticket-collector. Soon, he has to go to Komban village along with Meenama (Deepika Paudkone) who's the daughter of a don.

So, the trailer of Chennai Express hit the internet with millions of views and the hype for the movie had been created. On top of that, Chennai Express had been slated for an Eid release. So with all of that, what do we think of Chennai Express?

Chennai Express is a half-baked timepass with a wafer-thin storyline that looses itself halfway through the film. The jokes are hardly funny except for a few and the situations placed in this film are ridiculous. Rohit Shetty, who's known for his blockbusters like the Golmaal series and Bol Bachchan along with Singham, has completely failed us with this one. Shah Rukh Khan chose not to make use of his acting skills and Deepika Paudkone is the only actress who is still sane in the film.

The music in the film is great though and is the only thing worth talking about. Songs like '1234 Get on the Dance Floor', 'Titli', 'Kashmir Dil Tu Kanyakumari' and 'Lungi Dance' have been recent chart-busters and are great to listen to. The songs weren't so well- planned in the film though; they tried cramming too many songs in the second

Overall, Chennai Express does entertain enough to be worth watching on DVD or download. Its a timepass and may do well in single screens, but it was such a letdown for me after all the hype it had created.

CHENNAI EXPRESS- 3.5/10

Ramaiya Vastavaiya (2013)

Mindless yet Simple Romantic...

[19 July 2013]

RAMAIYA VASTAVAIYA is a romantic film directed by Prabhu Dheva, starring Girish Taurani, Shruti Hassan & Sonu Sood.

The film revolves around Ram and Sona. Ram is the son of a billionaire in Australia whereas Sona comes from a small village where her brother, Raghuveer, grows crops. The story is about how both of them fall in love and how Ram tries to convince Raghuveer by growing more crops than him.

When the trailer of Ramaiya Vastavaiya came out, I wasn't quite sure I wanted to see it; due to the fact that it had that clichéd romantic storyline and Girish Taurani's acting looking extremely unprofessional. But after a while, due to the promos and the grand soundtrack, I decided to give the film a shot only because of Sonu Sood and Prabhu Dheva.

Ramaiya Vastavaiya is, in the uttermost truth, a simple romantic film with a bit of mindlessness. Honestly, the plot is quite good upon execution and there does tend to be a few funny scenes only due to the fact that there are some mindless, crazy situations placed in the film. That, and Girish Taurani's acting. But even though the first half of the film tends to be a bit over-the-top, it settles down to be a normal romantic film in the second half; something we wanted in the beginning. Its like, in the first half, Prabhu Dheva decided to butter us up so that we get comfortable with the characters and then in the second half, he gets down to the real stuff. And honestly, I quite understand that; its a good execution, but then some people who don't like mindless films may be a bit annoyed.

The soundtrack is extremely good and it gives the film an even further romantic feel. Songs like "Jeene Laga Hoon", "Bairiyaa" and "Rang Jo Lagyo" suit the film's theme, whereas "Hip Hop Pammi" and "Jadoo Ki Jappi" are just dance songs.

Another topic to comment about is the film's item song, "Jadoo Ki Jappi". It was extremely unneeded but maybe Prabhu Dheva didn't want to keep it too serious, although, I feel the film wouldn't have made much of a difference without it.

The acting is quite alright. Its nothing grand, yet its simple. Sonu Sood's acting was very good, as usual. Shruti Hassan was quite good displaying her emotions from time to time. Girish Taurani's acting quite okay, I guess? I felt it needed a lot more work on his display of emotions even though his character had more of a joker feel to it. I really don't know, his acting didn't really stun me.

In the end, Ramaiya Vastavaiya is a simple romantic film. Go watch it to pass your time; it isn't a GRAND film but it does entertain you. Go watch it especially for the second half of the film... You'll have a great time.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)

Truly Inspiring... Bhaag Milkha!

[12 July 2013]

BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG is a biopic directed by Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra, starring Farhan Akthar and Sonam Kapoor.

The film revolves around the life story of Milkha Singh.

Everyone who is associated with this film has done a GREAT job. The directors... the writers... the actors... EVERYONE. When the first look of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag came, we were shocked how similar Farhan Akthar looked like Milkha Singh, and his acting has showed us that not only is he a GREAT actor, but he can mostly do any role by now. His portrayal of Milkha Singh was outstanding.

The film starts off a BIT slow, but you manage to keep with its pace. Inspite of the film being 3h10m, you never feel bored; instead, you find yourself stuck in the world of Milkhaji- poverty, love and speed.

The replay value of this film is very high. Its very entertaining.

The acting, as said above, is very good. Other than Farhan Akthar delivering an award-winning performance, every other actor did a great job. Sonam Kapoor didn't have much to do in the screenplay, but she did it quite well.

The film does depend on each person's likes and tastes. A person who enjoys watching the so-called 'masala' flicks, may not enjoy this film due to its different type of story compared to other films. Also, people who can't sit in cinemas for a VERY long time may get annoyed at the fact that its a 3h10m film.

But Overall, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is an award-winning film. It shows us the life of Milkha Singh through his very own eyes and deserves a standing ovation for its performances, writing and direction. Truly Inspiring...

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag!- 10/10

White House Down (2013)

Great Chemistry, Good Comedy, Good Action AND clichés.

[8/10 · 29 June 2013]

WHITE HOUSE DOWN is an action/comedy film directed by Roland Emmerich, starring Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx.

The film revolves around John Cale, who tries to save his daughter, and in the bargain, ends up protecting President Sawyer while the White House is under attack by a group of invaders.

So, we all know that White House Down is EXACTLY the same story as Olympus Has Fallen. The White House is under attack, and there will always be ONE GUY who can save the whole place while the trained military get killed. Fantastic. But, anyways, both these films are actually fun!

White House Down has a smooth delivery with lots of clichés, along with some PG-13 action and quite a few laughs. The thing that actually causes White House Down to achieve its goal are two things: the chemistry and the comedy.

The chemistry between Channing Tatum's role and Jamie Foxx's is EXTREMELY good, and proves as a plus point. I really don't know, but when you see these two together, cracking their jokes, doing their thing, like launching rockets and stuff, you cant help but smile and go like, "Yep, they're doing it right..."

The comedy is the sole item that differentiates Olympus Has Fallen from White House Down. While OHF has quite a serious tone throughout with some dark humor here and there, WHD has some funny moments during the action scenes which give a more enjoyable experience. However, in some areas of the film, the shuffle between serious and comical couldn't be balanced, so I don't think they thought that through.

I would prefer Olympus Has Fallen over White House Down because it offers a more serious tone, whereas White House Down is fun, but lacks that serious punch that Olympus Has Fallen has... the brutal action, the serious tone, it rather makes you believe that the White House is under attack.

Overall, I would say White House Down is a great time. Its no Olympus Has Fallen. But it is the PG-13 version of it with good chemistry and good comedy. Go watch it, I promise that you'll have a great time with Tatum and Foxx.

WHITE HOUSE DOWN- 8.5/10

Ghanchakkar (2013)

An interesting premise leading to such a devastating ending...

[28 June 2013]

GHANCHAKKAR is a comedy/thriller directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, starring Emraan Hashmi and Vidya Balan.

The film revolves around Sanjay Atre, who receives a call to join two people; Pandit and Idris to steal a bank. Being a small time thief, he decides to end his career with this one last job worth 350,000. After pulling it, Pandit and Idris decide to keep the money Sanjay and only after three months, they will collect their respective shares of the loot. The only problem is that Sanjay has partially lost his memory due to an accident, and doesn't quite remember where he kept the money, but we don't even know if he's telling the truth, or just conning everyone.

Alright, the trailer of Ghanchakkar left me awaitng its release due to its premise and star cast. When the film released, I booked my ticket to see the film and it didn't quite live up to the hype I had created.

So let's start off with the plot of the film. From what I've written above, the plot seemed solid, yet when executed into a 2hr15m, the movie sinks.

I'm going to be honest with you; THIS FILM IS A DARK COMEDY. Yes, the trailer betrays you. Pandit and Idris are seen more comical in the trailer, but are much crazier in the film. And this movie isn't quite funny. Except for a few forced laughs here and there, it tries to keep you gripped to the plot. But we can never do that, due to the fact that no entertainment on-screen tends to bore a person. Inspite of the movie being quite alright, the film's BIGGEST flaw is the end. It is SUCH a letdown. I could have thought of tons of ways to make it better. After realizing the movie hasn't lived up to your expectations, everyone expects the ending to be a BIG one; one that you didn't even see coming from a mile away. But the director sticks to a very common one that literally irritates you. And later when you dwell upon the movie, you say to yourself, "What was the point of that movie?"

The acting was great; that I can tell you. Emraan Hashmi seems to be getting better with every movie he does. VIdya Balan was also good, but had much of a background role. And everyone else associated with the film did great. But it was wasted talent, as the plot played a spoiltsport.

In the end, GHANCHAKKAR is a pointless film. It builds up your expectations to a point where you watch the film and it just crumbles down to spots. It just proves that Bollywood is trying to hard to be Hollywood. The film would have been alright if the ending had a GREATER and more powerful twist, but it doesn't, so it makes you leave the cinema just disappointed.

GHANCHAKKAR- 5.5/10

Monsters University (2013)

They're back... and its GOOOOD.

[9/10 · 19 June 2013]

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY is a prequel to MONSTERS INC., directed by Dan Scanlon. The characters include the voices of Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Hellen Mirren.

The film goes back to where Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan were before they were buddies and in Monsters Inc. It shows how the two of them were in university, showing the relationship between them which led up to the two of them becoming the best of friends.

Alright, so MIKE AND SULLY ARE BAACKK!!! Well, thats what every kid or adult that was associated with the enjoyment of Monsters Inc should say. Okay, so it's been 12 years since we saw these two on-screen, providing us with animated humor, and now they're back again, to show us how they were in University. The teaser trailer was extremely funny as it showed a prank played on Mike by Sully, and it gave a short look-in into the sort of relationship we would be seeing. Soon enough, the trailer came out and boy did it get people hooked. Finally, I was able to catch a premiere screening of the film, to my advantage, and IT WAS GREAT.

So let's start talking about the film, not necessarily the trailers. Who are we kidding, at first when we heard that Monsters University was coming, that a sequel was coming to the classic Monsters Inc, we gave up hope, saying that no one could make it better than the first one. But Dan Scanlon challenged that, and the first teaser proved it. And I think that the movie does it as well- kinda. So, Monsters University isn't AS good as Monsters Inc, but it does come second in line. It includes Mike and Sully in an underdog team, but throughout the film, you can't help and laugh out at the jokes, and smile at the fact that the sequel is finally out.

Monsters University is GREAT. It has two parts and its all happy and fun. I, honestly, liked the way they showed the chemistry developing between Mike and Sully. You can actually feel it, and even though its animation, it feels real. This one isn't quite sad, like how Inc was. Inc ended in a sad tune, at the fact that Boo was gone, but this one ends at the beginning of Inc. I loved the way it ended. The line that Mike uses just makes you go like, 'YEAH! Thats what I'm talking about!' Honestly, I'm not gonna say any more, because I don't wanna spoil anything for anyone.

In the end, Monsters University is great fun. Pixar has done it again, the director has managed to do it. I don't think that there is gonna be another part to the franchise, which kinda dulls me, but at the end of Monsters University it makes you wanna see more, which you will only get by watching Inc, since its the continuation. Go watch Monsters University, with anyone to be honest. I guarantee you an extremely fun ride that these two will give you.

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY- 9.5/10

Fukrey (2013)

A Real Fun Time with just a Simple Plot!

[16 June 2013]

FUKREY is a college comedy directed by Mrigdeep Singh Lamba, starring Pulkit Samrat, Varun Sharma, Manoj Singh, Ali Fazal and Richa Chadda.

The film revolves around the lives of 4 guys; 3 of them are trying to get into college even though they never study, and the remaining one is trying to get money for his father. All of them are interested in Hunny and Choocha (Pulkit Samrat & Varun Sharma)'s idea. Whenever Choocha dreams, Hunny is able to break that dream down to a lottery number, which always ends up winning.

Fukrey is an extremely interesting film under the 'Excel Entertainment' banner. It has a simple premise about a simple idea that goes wrong and how four people try to earn money just in order to go to a college or to help out a person in need. The jokes aren't as mindless as you think; they are simple and funny as well as related to the movie at the same time.

The acting in this movie is quite good. All the cast did a fantastic job with whatever role they had.

The songs are quite decent as well. They can be heard by both generations; 'Fukrey' and 'Beda Paar' is more for the modern whereas 'Ambarsariya' has a more simple tone that can be enjoyed by any crowd.

In the end, Fukrey is a simple comedy. It isn't GREAT to a point of praise, but it does well enough to make you laugh out loud and exit the cinema saying, 'I had a great time.'

FUKREY- 8.5/10

Man of Steel (2013)

"SUPERMAN... That's what they're calling him."

[15 June 2013]

MAN OF STEEL is a Superman flick directed by Zack Snyder and produced by Christopher Nolan, starring Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon.

The film starts off with the story of how Kal-El is born, and continues to show how Zod tries to find Kal-El, who is on Earth, to accomplish his mission of re-creating Krypton.

Obviously when the trailer of Man of Steel hit the internet, it was the local buzz due to it's iconic character: Superman. Adding to that, it was produced by Christopher Nolan. So, as usual, I managed to catch the IMAX 3D screening of the film, to the advantage of this review.

NOTE: This review is done by a non-Superman fan.

Lets start off with plot line. The story for Man of Steel was quite good actually... from the looks of it. The film starts off pretty solid, but as the beginning scene distances itself from Krypton and fades into Earth, it tends to become quite mindless. There, still, is a bit of the plot there but Snyder tries to balance Clark Kenton's young as well as old life into half-an-hour which doesn't quite work out. By the end, there is no character development which makes Man of Steel just a mindless action flick.

There is TOO much of sci-fi in this one. It seems that Snyder created all the hype for this film just for the Superman fans. Films like Spiderman, Batman, Star Trek have all had this hype, yet they toned it down for it to be appreciated by all types of audiences. However in this one its just bizarre by the amount of alien-type stuff flying around he screen. To the disadvantage, Snyder never directed the film with IMAX cameras and it's 2D-converted-3D so the effect isn't quite there.

Also, the action in the film is fun at times, but then you just get bored of it. The fight between Jor-El and Zod was good, considering it was in one position, but as Superman is introduced, it tends to get a bit annoying with the cameras moving about everywhere, zooming in and out.

Acting-wise, the film manages to keep it's standards. Henry Cavill keeps the audience glued to the screen with his role as Kal-El/Clark Kenton/Superman and Amy Adams was quite good as well. Kevin Costner, Russel Crowe, ditto. Michael Shannon was a great villain with his emotions, but not the best. One more point, The film doesn't have much speech. In the sense, its less talk, more action.

In the end, Man of Steel is just a timepass visual-effects film. It's great at times but it has a lot of flaws, and tends to make you feel bored at times. Didn't live up to the the expectations, Didn't QUITE live up to the hype but it gave me some of what I wanted.

MAN OF STEEL- 6.5/10

The Internship (2013)

These two are at it again... Hilarious as ever.

[14 June 2013]

THE INTERNSHIP is a comedy film directed by Shawn Levy, starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson.

The film revolves around two guys who's jobs have been taken away by a company that has been closed due to poor sales. Billy and Nick decide to enroll themselves as interns at Google, just to live their dream.

So, The Internship, clearly, isn't the sequel of Wedding Crashers; I'm clearing that out in the beginning of this review. The plot lines of both the films are quite different in their own way. Wedding Crashers is about two womanizers who crash weddings for the romantic tone, whereas, The Internship is about two guys who just want to live their dream out by working at Google. As you can see, there doesn't seem to be any crudeness in this one, except for a few jokes.

The Internship is, honestly, a simple film with a simple plot and LOT of humor due to the two main cast who always do well on-screen. Yes; Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson have managed to do it again, however, in this one the former is more humorous than the latter. I'm also gonna bring up one more thing. The Internship does have some parts where it is quite 'geeky' due to the Google background. However, due to the on-screen pair and director, it tends to be quite humorous to some.

In the end, The Internship is a great time. Go watch it alone, watch it with your family... Trust me, you'll have a fun ride with these two.

THE INTERNSHIP- 8.5/10

Furious 6 (2013)

Too Fast To Remember...

[6/10 · 8 June 2013]

FAST AND FURIOUS 6 is the sixth film in the Fast & Furious franchise. It's directed by Justin Lin, starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez and MANY more.

The film starts off with Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) approaching Dom (Vin Diesel) about a case involving Shaw (Luke Evans) and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) who was assumed dead in the 4th segment of the series.

NOTE: This review is written by a Fast & Furious fan.

SO, the trailer of Fast & Furious 6 was everywhere by the time it came out and it literally caught everyone's attention, whether they were a fan or not. I, as usual, booked my ticket for the movie and hoped for the best... which isn't what I got.

Now this is quite hard to explain, so I'll do my best. According to me, this film is great, no doubt. It has the fast cars, the hot chicks, the action, yet it is quite forgettable. Now, I've seen Fast & Furious 6 twice, so far, and I've tried my best to engross myself into the film, but FF6 fails to do that for me. It's like, a chase sequence will take place, and 20 minutes later, you try your best to remember what happened during that very sequence. So, to me, it has all the elements of a Fast & Furious film, yet, it fails to captivate and by the time you leave the cinema and reach home, the film just remains faintly in your head.

Second problem of the film is: WHERE ARE THE CHASE SCENES? Oh my God, this is what makes a Fast & Furious film, and yet there were only 4 of them in this one. Alright, one involves a tank, and another involves an airplane, yet it does not suffice, compared to the earlier Fast Five which had plenty of chase scenes to get you engrossed in the film.

But apart from the flaws, Fast & Furious 6 does have some enjoyable parts, like whenever there is an action or chase scene, it is quite fun. The comedy is quite entertaining at times and the post-credits scene is quite a cliff-hanger, involving a star who is going to make a great villain to Fast & Furious 7.

In conclusion, I feel Fast & Furious 6 is half-baked. Honestly, from a Fast & Furious fan, its quite sad to say this, but FF6 doesn't hold a chance compared to Fast Five. It is fun at times, yet its extremely forgettable which makes it quite difficult to focus your attention on the screen.

FAST & FURIOUS 6: 6/10

Now You See Me (I) (2013)

MAGIC is always the answer to everything.

[9/10 · 8 June 2013]

NOW YOU SEE ME is crime/thriller film directed by Louis Leterrier, starring Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fischer, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman & Michael Caine.

The film revolves around 4 magicians, who rob a bank, using magic. The police want to know how they did it, and why.

The trailer of Now You See Me, was quite short, to be honest. It didn't reveal a whole lot of information, however, it gave just enough to engross the viewer. The idea of magic and detective worked quite well together and since it was a story never touched before, I decided to give it a shot, and so I booked my ticket for Now You See Me.

My immediate conclusion at the end of this film: IT IS ONE HELL OF A TIME. Yes, magic and good acting has managed to get the better side of the audience. With such a great star cast, Now You See Me is a smart, intelligent film with many twists that will only be understood when watched under close attention. The final twist, at the end, is one you don't even see a mile away; its that good.

So, Now You See Me is a great time. It takes a lot of thought though, but if you do so, its possible to understand the whole case and have a great experience. Like the title of this review says: magic IS always the answer to everything, including the ending.

NOW YOU SEE ME: 9/10

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

A Space Voyage filled with Mind-Blowing Visual Effects & GREAT Acting!

[9/10 · 6 June 2013]

STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS is the sequel to 2009's STAR TREK, directed by J.J. Abrams, starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana & Simon Pegg.

The film shows Kirk (Chris Pine) as Captain of Star Fleet, and how he deals with mass terrorism caused by Khan (Benedict Cumberbatch) who has killed people as well as his closest relatives, along with Commander Spock (Zachary Quinto).

The trailer of Star Trek: Into Darkness was extremely impressive; it didn't reveal any of the plot and kept the element of surprise for many, which was greatly appreciated. The movie provided everything anyone expects from a sci-fi flick- action, suspense, thrills and emotion, and J.J. Abrams has managed to show this in extreme finesse surrounded with spectacular visual effects.

Note to anyone who wants to watch this- STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS can be watched by anyone; whether Star Trek fan or not. Neither do you have to see the first film to understand anything, as Into Darkness manages to start off a fresh page after Kirk is made Captain.

The acting is GREAT. Chris Pine as Captain Kirk is always fun to watch. I loved Zachary Quinto as Spock; he managed to do it in his robotic way as usual Star Trek fans would expect. His role as a robotic, smart, law- abiding person paired with a care-free, large-hearted person (Kirk) proved to be a good friendship when played by Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto. Zoe Saldana didn't offer anything SPECTACULAR, however, she did do a good job.

Benedict Cumberbatch is becoming an even better actor with every role he does. He, first, had his break-through in Sherlock and has managed to probe he is much better after Star Trek: Into Darkness. His role as a villain is flawless; he is managed to show that shrewd, threatening person that Khan is. He has even managed to show his audience the combat skills he has. Other than Spock, Cumberbatch is one of the best things of this movie.

Overall, I would say that STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS is a GREAT way to start off the summer holidays. It's got all the elements for a summer sci-flick and it manages to deliver. The only thing that keeps it short from getting a full 10 is the fact that after a few hours, you quite forget a bit of the film, but upon viewing it again, it remains sharp in your memory; the visual effects and acting fails to leave you.

STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS- 9.5/10