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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
A Rowling masterpiece
Fantastic beasts and where to find them is a true Rowling story. It reminds you of the first two Harry Potter films ie it gives priority to the story. For example, simple things like the wands in this movie made me beam with joy because they looked exactly as they were supposed to - a normal piece of wood that holds immense power.
From the beginning of the film (when the newspaper montage is shown) one can see Rowling's flair and style of writing. The film is a mixture of dark scenes and vibrant bright scenes which (like her books) has the effect of the ever lasting battle between good and evil.
The story covers it all - romance, mystery, plot twists and turns and a brilliant climax. As always, JKR uses her eye for detail and leaves nothing to imagination. As the story begins, the audience starts having questions and as the story progresses, all those questions are indeed answered.
The only negative here perhaps is that if you haven't read the books (and especially if this is your first Harry Potter experience), you probably won't appreciate it as much as a seasoned Potterhead would as there are a lot of references (that arnt explained in detail - they don't have to be if you have read the books) from the Harry Potter series. For a seasoned Potterhead however, these references, some subtle - like the Hallows' necklace; some not - like Leta Lestrange; make the movie all the more enjoyable.
Finally, Jonny Depp is Gilderwald to the T. The few minutes he is on screen makes your skin crawl in a magnificent way as you want to face him but somehow do not.
Bottom line - I loved it. Can't wait for the next part. Cannot believe it isn't a book. And simply cannot stop obsessing.
10 Endrathukulla (2015)
Watch it for the second half!
If you ask me, I should have probably walked in just in time for the second half of the movie. Of course, I wouldn't have understood all that much, but anyway.
I will be dividing this review into two parts everywhere. The first half and the second half!
1. Direction - First half - It was crude, slapstick and down right boring. Right from the beginning fast and furious like sequence all the way to the intermission, it was a drag. Samantha down right got on my nerves. So much so, I wished to god I could slap her right across the screen. Second half - The direction was pretty much the same. Bad sequences and badly down fights. Of course, one thing that always amazes me is how Indian cinema forgets blood. A guy will be hit right across his face with a sharp object and when he falls to the floor, there will be no blood around him!
2. Writing - First half - Puts you to sleep! Second half - Perks up a bit. The story finally stars unraveling. And the plot starts making sense.
3. Acting - Vikram - Wasn't exceptional. Was just like any other tamil actor. Trying to act cool and macho with his lame jokes. Trying to take on way more bad guys than he can deal with etc etc.
Samantha - This girl blew me away. She is the sole reason I enjoyed the second half of the movie and the sole reason I am rating it a thumping 8. Her acting as the usual dumb damsel in distress wasn't exceptional. But in the second half when she rose as the warrior princess of the clan, my god, I was really impressed. She did herself and the tamil cinema proud. I hope she gets to act in more domineering roles like that rather than the usual mousy ones women are always subject to.
4. CGI - Forget it. It was so boring, it was like a bad video game.
5. Sound - Irrespective of what the public says, I quite liked the sound track and the song sequences.
Bottomline - If you are a guy looking for "hot masala" this movie is not for you. If you are a woman who believe in women empowerment, go for the second half.
Goosebumps (2015)
Not a Goosebumps fan - Do Not Bother
I have no idea how people give such high scores to crappy movies on IMDb. My score of a 4 is me being generous.
1. Direction - Okay. I guess the director did do a good job! The animation was on spot. There was no shoddy scenes or weird cuts.
2. Writing - Oh my god. Kill me already. Boring. Boring and so very Boring. I don't know how many times I dosed of during the film. The story was dry, monotonous and a complete, utter waste of time.
3. Acting - Well, Jack Black blew us away as usual. The "Champ" guy was pretty awesome too and so was the puppet. I think personally, the two that really let me down were the hero and the heroine. There was negative chemistry literally between the two. They could have passed off as siblings. Watching them kiss was just down right weird.
4. Production design - Loved the costumes, the outfits and the props. It tied the movie up very nicely.
5. Sound - The sound track and the background score wasn't memorable. I indeed liked a couple of songs but they were not exclusive to the movie and were pop songs already out on the internet.
Bottomline - GO watch if you used to read Goosebumps in your younger days. Go watch if you are 10 or below. Go watch if your kid is 10 or below. Else, do not bother.
The Martian (2015)
Average. Not worth the hype.
First of all, the Martian was nothing like Gravity. I guess that was my biggest problem. Having loved movies like Gravity and Interstellar, this one did not come close to the performance bar let alone pass it. Everything about this movie was average. So highly disappointed with Matt Damon.
1. Directing - The director worked with what he was given but there was so much more he could do. For example, there is a scene where Damon is severely undernourished and is skin and bones. His face isn't shown. The very next camera shot shows Damon 'who was supposed to be skin and bones' completely healthy and as muscular as ever. No, the space suit cannot hide a body's figure.
2. Writing - I wasn't impressed with the script. It wasn't very different but the only good thing was it was light, had a lot of humor and the story kept you going. However, every twist and plot was extremely far fetched and close to impossible. A person with common sense just sits there going "-_- seriously? Whom are you kidding? That is so not possible!"
3. Acting - The acting was top notch. I expected big things from such a promising cast and then delivered. Very pleased.
4. Production design - It was brilliant. The sets, both on Mars and on earth were amazing. I was blown away. The red planet was indeed red and the equipment all looked fancy and expensive. Tick. Tick. Tick for The Martian.
5. Sound - The sound track and background score was average. Neither catchy nor lethargic.
Bottomline - Go watch this if you have nothing better to see. P.s. Forget watching it on the TV.
Bãhubali: The Beginning (2015)
Killer graphics
Oh man. Tamil cinema is going big for sure. This is one if your typical historic dramas that of course bring the lord all mighty into it. The movie completely stands out from the rest cause first of, you can understand every single word thanks to the English subtitles.
The first half isn't too captivating. It is long, dreary and boring especially with the lack of complete chemistry between Prabhas and Tamana. The second half blows your mind. It is invigorating and captivating and the C.G.I scenes are extraordinary.
The climax is brilliant and you have no idea what hits you when the movie ends.
From an acting stand point, Prabhas and Rana were amazing (Rana looks extremely hot by the way). Ramya Krishnan, duh, can she do anything wrong? Now, what really surprised me was Tamana. Having always seen her in a girly role, I was pleasantly surprised by the kind of ferocity she brought into the movie as a warrior (please ignore her sloppy running). The only thing that saddened me perhaps was the fact that her incredibly fierce role as a warrior hardly lasts as Prabha takes over very soon.
Transcendence (2014)
major fail for Johnny
I was a huge Depp fan and thank god that try as it might, Transcendance was unable to change mind.
Frankly I think the biggest problem o faced (reason for a 7 rating) is cause the entire plot of the movie was a little too close for comfort. The fact that a man can transcend beyond the organic physical self baffles me.
Apart from the moral battle I faced during and after the movie, I began to realize that it was probably not Johnny's best work. Look at his acting in POTC or in Charlie and the chocolate factory and you come to realize that the acting in this title was very wishy washy. Perhaps that was due to the fact that he wasn't given much of a role except that of a dying man (whichay I say he portrayed perfectly) and that of an AI (which isn't much sadly).
The main reason why I saw this title was cause of Depp and Freeman and both of them ended up disappointing me. Overall I think if anyone needs.praise, it would probably have to be Rebecca. She was simply brilliant.
The story line, the direction, yes yes all good. Much like any other top notch sci fi movie now a days.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
loved it
How often do we see a sequel that is better than the original? Almost never right? Well, your wrong. HTTYD 2 far surprises the original.
While I thought the first part was interesting and invigorating the second killed it. It was dark, dense and yet brought warmth to.your heart. Plus the highlight for me was the fact that it was close to impossible to predict. Right from the appearance of the dragon thief to whom it was to what happens to Hiccup's father, everything was just when it shouldn't be (if you get my drift).
The only negative was perhaps the fact that the ending was a little too similar to the first part.
However, I can't wait for part 3. It will be really hard to top the work done in 2010 and 2014.
Despicable Me (2010)
No No its not great, not even good. just OK.
Finally saw this one.
I am giving this title a moderate 5. Why? Cause of was moderate. It doesn't wow you, doesn't make you laugh more than a moderate number of times, sorta gets repetitive and is tremendously predictive.
Yes, the animation was really good. But sadly that's not gonna cut it anymore cause let's face it, the 3D effects and animations of every single film has been outstanding over the past couple of years.
The movie tried really hard but fell short at pleasing me or hitting the right notes. So much so that I am skeptical about watching the second part.
The only good that came out of this is that I am looking forward to Minions as that is probably the only good thing in this movie.
Max (2015)
Trailer promises a lot. The film fails to deliver.
After watching the trailer I decided to match max the day it released. *sigh* worst decision of.life. it was childish, slapstick and totally boring. I enjoyed perhaps the first 10 mins of the movie (until Amell dies that is) and then it was completely downhill.
I went expecting a movie (as the trailer appeared to promise) that was full of emotions and heartache from a dog's point of view. I even went armed with tissues that instead of being used to wipe tears up were used to wipe my hands after the buckets of popcorn I ate (out of sheer boredom). But instead saw a movie that hardly portrayed the emotions of a dog and instead.focused more on a teen and his problems (don't we have enough movies about that already?)
Very disappointed.
Inside Out (2015)
Brilliant animation. A family entertainer.
Let me start off with the bad (as yes, the were few. But few, as I said.)
1. As the trailer clearly states, the story revolves around the little voices in our head. The little simple everyday emotions that every human being no mater how old will endure : Joy, Anger, Sadness and Fear. Yes, these are very basic emotions and one could argue that you certainly have more complex emotions out there in the world - one's like guilt, sympathy, narcissism and so on - but if you look at it from a child's point of view (yes, our Riley is simply 11 years old) every emotion ultimately bogs down to those simple few in the end. So, well, I guess I was wrong. Looks like this isn't a bad thing at all.
2. It was pretty kiddish. Yes, I love Disney and yes, I love my animation. But, yes, Inside out was perhaps a tad bit childish.
Now for the good and the great -
1. Brilliant animation - Ridiculously good animation. Pixar has clearly outdone itself. Stunning 3D effects definitely put this in the Frozen league.
2. Interesting twist - It had a nice interesting twist that completely saved the monotony of the movie. You find yourself affected by sadness and are on the brink of despair when, suddenly, tada, here's your typical (or perhaps not) Disney-ish twist.
3. Its a Disney movie - I think that says it all.
Bottom line - Go watch it. Chances are it will win an Oscar (and of course 'Lava' is a bonus).
Lava (2014)
Short bundle of joy
OH MY GAWD!!
That is pretty much all I have to say about Lava. I am not one of your typical crybabies at romantic short films. But, damn, this one moved me to tears.
Stunning animation, a really catch heartfelt tune and brilliant use of mama nature is enough to get anybody in a state where they pull one handkerchief after another out until it ends.
The upside,the fact that everything works out in the end, nobody is lonely and everybody finds their lava is bliss and it leaves you happy and warm on the inside.
Dil Dhadakne Do (2015)
Watch! Watch! Watch!
This movie for some reason excited me. Perhaps it was because of the fact that I could never pronounce 'Dhadakne' properly , who knows?
All I know is, going for it, was probably the best decision I had made that week. Yep, you read it right. Forget everything anybody told you and just go watch it. You will not be disappointed.
The movie itself - 1. Hardly shows you Turkey or Greece (even though they are apparently on a cruise there).
2. Basically is shot on a ship. The only scenery you will see is a ship and water.
3. Has a great cast of big big Bollywood names. Huge bonus, yes?
4. If you are looking for a crappy people's pleaser that has the usual problems about love and the average citizens of India, this movie is not for you. Perhaps something like Tanu weds Manu returns is up your alley.
5. But, if you are looking for something that really showcases the rich, their lifestyle and the amount they go through and the fact that perhaps being at the top isn't all that awesome afteral but maybe just is a case of the grass is greener on the other side - then look no further. Get onto bookmyshow and buy yourself a ticket right now.
I for one, thoroughly enjoyed it and thought it was a brilliant idea. Oh, plus, I thought Ranvir killed it in this one (p.s. I have never liked that guy).
I (2015)
Stunning direction... Lame storyline...
I saw 'I' with my family. And this is the second movie in a row featuring 'Lingeswaran' that we weren't particularly fond of (the first being Linga of course).
To begin with, I don't understand how 'I' was rated U/A when it is definitely more suitable for an audience of 18+ (parents, you might need to exercise a lot of caution during the film).
Second, the movie itself is NOT a remake of the Beauty and the Beast (which is no doubt a Disney classic). 'I' is perhaps very very loosely based on the theme. But it is way darker and grotesque than the adorably innocent animated film. So if you go expecting a fairy tale movie, you are gonna be devastated (much like I was).
That been said, this movie is perhaps worth a watch for the sheer brilliance of Vikram. Vikram out did himself with his acting and of course throwing himself into the role of the model as well as the hunchback. He was mind blowing and certainly surpassed his past performances in movies like Anyan and so on. No wonder Arnold was impressed.
Finally, the make up and direction. As pathetic as the screenplay was, the make up was out of this world and we had no negative comments on the direction. Shankar had no doubt paid extreme attention to detail and must I say, it definitely paid off brilliantly.
Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)
Utterly pointless. Don't bother.
Ridley Scott, my foot. I prebooked this movie and I have never felt more let down and disappointed.
Frankly, according to me, the direction was okay (sumar as we say in Tamil). Nothing extraordinary, no gorgeous scenery, no vibrant colours, nothing. I felt like I was watching an old timey movie. Sigh!!
Now for the story line, what part of "parting of the Red Sea" do the writers not get? That was one of the main reasons why I went and I now wish I hadn't bothered.
Trust me, the trailer is kick ass. The movie is not. Christian Bale is kick ass. The movie is not. Ridley Scott is kick ass. The movie is not.
Bottom line - Not worth your time and definitely not worth your money.
If you want to know the story of Moses, watch the animated movie called Prince of Egypt.
And if you want a movie on ancient things with some religion attached, watch Noah.
Sex and the City 2 (2010)
Urgh...!!!
I have such high regard for Carrie. I just recently started watching the series and it certainly has grown on me. However, this movie was torture. It was simply horrendous.
I have been to the middle east and trust me, no one over there is as extreme as they portray them to be in the movie. Of course, if you go around behaving like Samantha, i mean, that's enough to make anyone go a little crazy.
The movie starts with no promise and constantly drops in quality from there on. The screenplay and story line was atrocious. The characters, don't get me started. I understand that movies are all about exaggeration and drama queens but this was a tad over the top even for fiction.
I cant believe i wasted 2 hours of my day sitting through the entire thing. I seriously hope there isn't a 3rd part.
Real Steel (2011)
Hard work and faith.... is all you need.
Real steel. A movie that certainly lives up to its name. Plus it has Hugh Jackman. So technically, what more does one want? In reality, if you are going to watch this just for him, you will be mightily surprised. The movie completely takes over and you enjoy the movie for what it is and not for the actors that bring it to life.
The emotional bond between father and son, between childhood friends who turned sweethearts and the battle between one man and himself is all so beautifully woven. This movie has robots, fights, boxing, emotions, a story line, survival of the underdog and so much more.
I have wanted to see it for such a long time and i am really glad that i finally got down to watching it. Much Much worth it. I personally think it is a movie for all ages, men and women alike, for the movie teaches you one important life lesson.
If you work hard and you have faith, nothing and no one and stop you. You are unbeatable, unstoppable and will remain undefeated.
Bottomline - Must watch for movie buffs and non movie buffs alike.
Big Hero 6 (2014)
Trust Disney to wow us!
I cannot get over how adorably cute this movie is. The movie constantly hits all the right notes. It is adorable, quirky, witty and completely emotional at the same time. The love portrayed between a young boy and his brother, a man and his daughter and of course a young boy and his robot is amazing.
It definitely is in the frozen league and m certain there will be tremendous fan following for baymax. Now that I have seen it, I am not surprised at all that it grossed way more than interstellar. Everyone needs movies like big hero 6 that leaves you warm and fuzzy right to your core.
I am satisfied with your care. - once you get familiar with this quote, if you cried when you did, rest assured, you are awesome.
Oh and btw, don't worry, the ending leaves you happy happy happy.!!!!!
P.s. It is probably the only Disney movie where the characters do not burst into a song. :p
Bottom line - must watch for humans of all ages..!!
Interstellar (2014)
Intense!!!!
There is only one word to describe Interstellar and that is intense. Oh my god, a movie like no other. It's been around 3 hours since the movie ended and I am still reeling from it, desperately trying to hang on to the little shred of sanity I have left in me.
Based on the rave reviews it received, the ridiculously high IMDb ratings and of course the fact that all most all the theaters were pretty much completely prebooked, I decided to pick this over Big Hero 6 this weekend.and that is probably one of the best decisions I have made (in all fairness I do not know how big hero 6 is, but still).
So, the movie starts off like any other normal sci - fi Hollywood drama, you know, a little slow, with a lot of big words and explanation. However, you might want to pay attention to the first half as it sets the base for the second.
The second part starts and seems to go on forever. From the first appearance of Matt Damon till the end of the movie, you are thrown into a mixture of emotions and slowly start losing the grasp on reality.
Amazing direction, screenplay, acting coupled with some brilliant background scores sets this movie on the path to wining a couple of Oscars hands down.
Bottom line - a must watch for sure. However, ensure that you have some Tom and Jerry stored on your laptop that you can come back to.
Noah (2014)
Serious, well directed, not for the faint hearted + Emma Watson & Russel Crowe
I wholeheartedly enjoyed this movie and am actually sad I did not catch it on the big screen but instead on my tiny little laptop.
of course one of the main reasons I wanted to watch 'Noah' was cause i simply love historical dramas. that, plus, of course the infamous flood scene (which sadly is very very poorly done). the story line, does seem terribly exaggerated (i might have to get on to Wiki now to understand the actual story of Noah's ark).
talking about the movie in itself, Emma Watson does herself justice. She is a brilliant actress and portrays her role of Ila to perfection. Watching her in action is a joy like no other even when her eyebrows raise weirdly when she tries to make her point.
The direction wasn't up to the mark and the story line okay-ish. Overall, this is a serious movie with a lot of blood, gore and emotions. Definitely not for the faint hearted and definitely a movie that leaves you thinking for days to come.
Bottom line - Not a 'must watch'. but definitely a 'could watch'.
Bang Bang (2014)
The usual exaggerated action!!
A decent movie, well directed and of course featuring a great cast with Kat, Hrithik and Javed. If you are in a mood for some mindless-highly exaggerated action, check this one out. It is a perfect copy of Tom Cruise's knight and day, with the only difference that the romance between Katrina and Hrithik is much better (except for the sloppy kiss of course). The songs are pretty good, the dancing out of the world (as expected) the scenery and locations captivating. However, not really worth paying 450 bucks per ticket for(IMAX).
So perhaps you should check this one out this week. Everyone is bound to be talking about it. Plus,there aren't too many option out there as of now anyway.
Queen (2013)
QUEEN forever!!!
A movie like no other... Queen is fun, fast paced and an absolute must watch for men and women alike. The movie aims to be an eye opener for Indians and justifies it's aim. A conserved, reserved girl finds her world turned upside down when her fiancé dumps her only to realize that perhaps that was the best thing that ever happened to her.
This movie revolves around women power. And the fact that a woman can stand on her own irrespective of the social protocols of our country.
The first half is all about Rani discovering herself. She goes from the scared little girl to a slightly bolder chick who can face the harsh realities of the world without a man to lean on. The second half really showcases her change, where she meets 3 brilliant fun loving guys who become her life and soon realizes that she is much happier on her own instead of being a Mrs. Someone and pandering to his whims and fancies.
Women come out of the theater after a gripping 146 minutes finding themselves empowered, turned into a free spirit, wanting to roar and soar into the wild. The men (hopefully) come out swearing that they would never be a 'Vijay' and if they were lucky enough to have the role of a caring, protective friend bestowed upon them, they would choose to be like Sikkandar (Olex), Jim and Taka.
It is unfortunate that out of the many millions of movies made, the odd one or two end up like Queen. But, who knows, with the success and praise Queen received, that might just change. After all, we are the society arnt we?
Jack Reacher (2012)
Intense!!
Spoiler - my review is full of praise.
Everyone loves Tom Cruise. Well almost everyone :p. And I love him too. He is good. Real good.
Jack Reacher, like almost all of Tom's movies is intense and full of word play. I hate the fact that I missed it on the big screen and ended up watching it on my tiny 32" tele at home. Oh the horror!! Rest assured, if you miss a minute cause you have something on the stove or you had to get the door, you will be lost for almost the rest of the movie.
Add defying-rules-of-nature action to the intense plot and the Sherlock kind of amazing powers of deduction and voila, you have Reacher at his best.
A movie pretty much fit for all ages if you enjoy murder mysteries. I can't wait to read the book it was based on. This is the first time in like forever, a movie has inspired me to read the book it was based on.
Bottomline - Kick back and relax with family and friends on a Sunday evening and enjoy two hours of intense concentration. :)
Skyfall (2012)
Not bad!! Not bad at all!!
Skyfall!! Every time I hear that word I am instantaneously reminded of Adele's gripping song. One like no other, it certainly deserved all the Grammys it won her.
Interestingly enough, the latest Bond movie was named the same. And not until the later half of the movie do you understand why it was named so. A movie title with such history and emotion thrown into it. A movie that started a little slow but soon, very soon picked up pace and met the already set 'Standard of Bond' bar and raised it even higher.
Packed with crazy unbelievable action coupled with the typical sarcasm of Craig, this movie craves for the undivided attention of the audience....which dare I say it, it easily gets.
I don't know about you but being a feminist myself, the climax left me a little shaken. It's not everyday one of the most powerful fictional female characters is replaced.
M, you will be sorely missed and no one, no one can take your place. Nope, not even Lord Voldermort ;)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013)
Wishy - washy!!
Almost five years after the release of the first movie, Sony pictures animated comes out with the second part. And sadly, it was definitely NOT worth the wait.
The film started with no promise and took a pretty dry and boring turn fast.
I would'nt say it was unbearable or anything. You can definitely watch it once. But it is not a film you would spend hours or even minutes thinking about, once done.
The animation (especially after having just seen Frozen) was pretty tacky. The 3d effect is laughable. Even the oh-so-cute strawberry named "Berry" was swaying between cute and bland. The story line, though, was interesting. But there weren't any songs (which for me define a good animated movie). However, I loved some of Sam's lines like - "How can you eat a living thing?"
Did I Have a few laughs? Yes a few. I could count them. Did the film keep me interested throughout? Wanting for more? Wondering what was going to happen next? No. It definitely did not.
I sat through the entire film and probably remembered a max of two, maybe if I really stretch my memory three scenes as I came out. Now I don't know about you, but that for me is not worth spending my Christmas morning on.
Bottomline - Don't waste your money. Wait for it to come on the tele and catch it then.
Gravity (2013)
Stunningly Brilliant!!
"Dont let go" they said; "Dont let go off the rope" we thought; "Dont let go of hope" they meant.
Gravity is a serious movie that leaves one speechless and spellbound, wanting more. 91 minutes with Sandra Bullock trapped in space is enough to make the audience jelly-legged when the movie ends.
No violence, no bloodshed or guns or cars, no weird looking creatures of outer space, no romance... but just one woman who struggles against the odds for survival. And still this movie was far more impressive than all the others that have violence and cars and so on.
Bottomline - Definitely worth a watch on the big screen (preferably in 3D), if you are in a mood to be gasping like you have run a marathon.