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saad_khi
Reviews
Bombay Begums (2021)
worth watching
This is my reply to the review of a self proclaimed yt critic and many like him.
what about the inappropriate treatment toward children and women in reality!! what if it would have been set in beverly hills or in new york with the same storyline??? bombay begums is hard to digest as truth is! (big bad) bombay aside what all must be happening in some small city right now with children? how many here preaching log on to the dark web??
inappropriate treatment toward untouchables but the so called upper caste males do not think twice raping dalit women or abusing them for their own pleasure!! and surprisingly don't become impure!
are all celebs doodh ka dhula? in movies and on tv doing social work?? no 'dark' secrets!!
overnight become 'human'!!! and after what??
though i didn't revisited the review of BB, but rani has been shown to be ruthless but she is humane too, she comes across a homeless (wet and hungry) ayesha in the bank's washroom and after hearing her ordeal tells her to be in her office where she serves her poha.
so the exclaim 'yeh kahan hota hai?' tau dunia mein bohat kuch hota hai. aur ho raha hai.
no man is a villain in BB. if the husband told fatima to carry on working despite being pregnant then he would have been. but he specifically told her to rest while he would work.
chuma chaatee between ayesha and a female and then again with another reflected her sexuality (and confusion while with singer) though she has an ex boyfriend. later she (initiates and) gets intimate with ron, but steps back. nor is she in a 'me too' situation with deepak. ayesha (in an inviting skimpy dress) has been shown to be a go getter. the way she gushes over (much older) deepak and wishes to work under him, then smoking and drinking with him followed by rushing for a lift after her cell dies reflected she wanted to get close. what follows leading to gargling only she asked for it.
compared to her ron is chilled. he tells her the reason is he is not in the rat race so does that make him a villain too?? he, who gives her space to stay and food to stuff her face!!
revisit some of the long running crappy serials that showed so much!! but no whimper while the whole family watched!!
revisit crime patrol. the shocking real incidents projected about children, and children watched!
most and every story we come across is frome lives around us.
the best feature about BB is the disclaimer.
by the way critics galore but no one read books!! web series based on books but while reviewing no reference to the latter. recently behind the eyes was written off but then it became hot!! now the ending is being analysed and the characters with ifs and buts!! so are the critics reviewing the book in motion which no one read and those who did didn't find it fantastic and odd?? or are they looking at it as an original screenplay?
what behind her eyes is all about can get the 'yeh kahan hota hai?' reaction, but every one is looking up to it and for a second season!!
a suitable boy (the web series) was reviewed by some self proclaimed intellectual critics here, but no one read it. a book comprised of more than 1000 pages. they wont ever, and if they do then like many who either read the ending of the book first, or just skip pages to brag about reading such a book!
cinema is more than 100 years now and television getting there so enough of reviewing trailers and explaining endings!!
and if web series are being reviewed by fast forwarding, then don't watch them just to be the 'first' here with verdicts.
excerpts of books come out but are not reviewed like trailers. the whole book is read and reviewed with character analysis, their psyche and the story's impact along with the author's perspective mentioning his or her previous work(s).
any one cared to look back at (BB writer/director) shrivastava's 'lipstick under my burkha' and 'dolly kitty chamakte sitare' and what was objectionable in them?? how does BB compare to those two??
did anyone recalled pooja's last prominent role in a movie?? her performance in 'everybody says i am fine'?? excellent performance! and back with bose in BB. both in '...fine' too.
if in every second vlog while reviewing one is 'i am sorry but...' then its better to be safe (not watching ).
i am not a pooja fan nor a netflix addict. nor am i subscriber. i am a movie and now a web series buff too. just watch what i feel is worth watching and form my opinion based on sensibility looking at positive features.
and streaming trailers half way have saved me hours of what's around the corner.
after watching 'burkha' and 'dolly kitty' which stood on their own i visited BB because of the director's potential and not disappointed.
in fact she is maturing! looking forward to her cover more milestones!
p.s. voice over of shai is effective. what is so shocking about??
yt has videos covering indian cities where (educated and very young) women/girls are talking about watching porn and sex, and sex before marriage! tau dunia aik taraf, india mein bohat kuch hota aarha hai!
Tamasha (2015)
Why always the same story? Yeah! Why? And with the same situations!!
No need to debate or get sentimental, Tamasha is as easy (to comprehend) as Rockstar was!
Rockstar: Bindaas couple, Delhi, Ranbir (a la good for nothing like Raanjha with elder bros n sis in law from the folklore Heer Ranjha) transforms into Jordon, meets Heer (Fakhri, n a coincidence a song titled 'Heer' in Tamasha!) in Prague, and misses her carefree spirit!
Tamasha: Bindaas couple. Corsica (!!!), they meet again (in Delhi) and Tara misses Ved's carefree spirit! Matargashti on the same lines as hawaa hawaa!
Though the saying is what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but Tara telling Ved referring to Corsica in the same vein was lame, and the way she says it is similar to Heer and Jordon going to watch soft porn and later having cheap wine! Flashback: Ranbir had been to Vegas in 'Anjana Anjani', so not there again, and it too was about a couple meeting up by fluke, and going on a trip. Oh well!
There was Janardhan chasing his dream and makes it big as a super duper rockstar, and here Ved wishes to be someone other than a 9 to 5 exec.
And imtiaz has the gall to throw 'why always the same story' line at us, which in fact, i think, he asked himself while shooting, and was a late realization!
Recall his 'Socha na tha', the protagonists belonging to well off families didn't have cell phones to be in touch (in 2005)! Now what kind of spiritualism was that? In 'Love aaj kal' the 'aaj' didn't have any romantic and memorable moments that would make Saif and Deepika miss each other, the way they were made to!!
So, what is the debate all about this one? Huh? All there in the face!
Stuck in a groove and (non linearly) pseudo, Imtiaz should get some fresh air, and for that he should get a hair cut! Otherwise look forward to Ranbir pursue another artistic endeavor to complete the trilogy - a rehash of Rock and Tamasha, and n a European city that gives ample facilities to film crews.
Roy (2015)
Deserves a Roy(al) snub!
Writers/Directors, want to be pseudo or want to come up with a gabfest then revisit the script again and again till you feel it will be comprehended by anyone paying good money at the multiplex, plus the time spent and the enthusiasm of looking forward to it is worth the hype! and nowadays movies try to survive for a day or three on the latter, but its all backfiring! Roy is one of those with the trailer and promos looking interesting despite the fact (publicized) that Ranbir is Roy, but in a cameo. Another thing, stop aping indie n European cinema. many examples in mainstream Bollywood where what is conjured is totally insipid and so blatantly 'me too' that such movies though having an original concept are designed and executed simply looking good as trailers! Roy is also one of those which could have worked on many levels with only Ranbir as the protagonist. Yeah! with a different look as the film director and Roy - the alter ego instead of Jackie in a double role. Could have been some trip and a high for Ranbir as an actor! Roy reminded me of another 'R' bomb Ra-one where coincidentally Rampal as the villain was in the title role with little space, and here is Ranbir out of place! Another observation, Jackie seems to have a mature look about her and just like the 'one film blunder' heroine in Besharam who looked older than Ranbir, here Jackie is in the same slot. Looks okay with Rampal. Good music, but chittiyan song sounds like a variation of baby doll!
Ghanchakkar (2013)
Fork(ing) funny!
Yeah! The fork here is a weapon to reckon with!
If you, with a black sense of humor, can overlook done to death 'abusing the posterior' dialogues and the run of the mill 'déjà vu' character at the railway station then this one will keep you glued!
Seriously:
The pace didn't drag nor did I find the proceedings repetitive
Balan wasn't over at all. In fact she should have been a tad crazier
Hashmi carried the role with aplomb - after Shanghai
The rest of the cast did a fine job
Music is totally different and one of a kind!
Balan and Hashmi's chemistry comes alive with well written dialogues, and it's like watching a real life couple
Raj Kumar Gupta shows versatility after the serious Aamir and Jessica
On the other hand looking back smiling:
Did Uttam really win a lottery ticket?
Was Neetu really going to visit her sister in London?
Was she really speaking to her sister on the phone?
Apart from the suitcase full of money there was a bag too! So, who had it?
Was it a coincidence Neetu met Uttam while checking an apartment to buy like she told Sunju when he suspects her having an affair with him?
What exactly happened to Sunju that lead to sporadic amnesia?
Where did Neetu had the dresses stitched?
How much truth did Neetu tell Sunju when he angrily reacts saying she didn't inform him about this and that?
The above questions are like salt at times missing from Neetu's cooking, but at the same time add mystery in the right amount to enjoy this crazy concoction! I hope it's a sleeper hit like 'Fukrey'!
(Thought balloon: Is there a director's cut? With Sunjay Dutt's special appearance and some (missing) scenes like Neetu with an aerosol.)
Fukrey (2013)
SOB(utcher)! Seriously madcap!
The caption doesn't refers to Zafar, but just as an expression of appreciation.
If Bholi Punjaban (and of course the producers with sensibility) can buy the dream idea so why can't we? And oh boys! Is it credible! Would have been more if a flashback showed how it hit Hunny to interpret Choocha's subconscious state into lottery and moolah.
I agree with Pulkit that those allergic to laughter shouldn't watch this, or rather who don't have a (non-linear) sense of humor should believe the reviews pulling it down, and stay away.
Good performances by Fukrey. Controlled direction. Catchy music especially my favorite 'Rabba', breezy tempo with right timing - this wacky comedy keeps one smiling, chuckling and lol! Though Varun Sharma now has Choocha stamped on him with approval (by many), on the other hand Manjot Singh did an expressive job! The look in his eyes complementing various situations and while interacting with others makes him totally natural! The scene where he and Zafar are followed by the police to Neetu's house is straight faced (but) hilarious! So much so that Ali Fazal chewing his lips and acting embarrassed (though he succeeds) reflected he was trying his best not to erupt into laughter.
Richa Chadda though quite, quite fairly good should have been 'Sinderella' (the tattoo on her nape) instead of 'Bholi' (reminiscent of Neha Dhupia's Munni in 'Phas gey ray Obama'), which was clichéd considering many characters in the past happened to be the opposite to their innocent sounding names. She should have worked on her dialogue delivery which echoed Parineeti Chopra's Zoya (Ishaqzaade). And the writer on her dialogues as most lines were not even half funny, but written with the (monotonous) thought that that is how a foul mouthed woman should behave and speak.
The girls did a fine job, but whoever cast them overlooked that they seemed quite similar, and the boys prettier than them!
Not to forget the (Richie rich) hobo. Some character!
I am looking forward to a sequel (with Hunny and Choocha's families), and hope it would be funnier and crazier than this warm up! (Bholi back on her turf and after Fukrey for framing her, and more!)
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)
Yeh Jawaani is not Deewani!
Once Karan Johar said he gives his directors a free hand, but not at all evident in this one! In 'Wake up Sid' Ayan Mukherjee may have had his own way albeit with some glitches but in YJHD the Ghagra song in the first 10 minutes to introduce the hero on an obviously studio set just doesn't gel with Bunny's character! Same goes for dancing at the wedding with a nearly 30 plus heroine (eight years back she must be 23) acting like a teen to compete with the groom's party! I bet not Mukherjee's call.
That and more is Johar's idea of entertainment since KKKG, KHNH et al! And Jawaani is not exactly Deewani but treads on familiar grounds like ambitions, dreams, ideas about love and marriage, unrequited love, and seen every which way you already have! All that in 'not much of a story', but slices of lives knitted to make one feel good! But not so! The glossy veneer wears off with seen and felt before situations. Akin to occasionally going to a resort with some restored landmarks! Like Naina with glasses is Preity Zinta from KHNH, and Bunny is Sid out of the burrow! Nothing dramatic in the script either!
The single emotional scene that succeeds to tug one is Bunny with his father. Whereas, those with Naina with the former just don't create any impact! Reason: the off and on frankness and innuendos lose their charm by the time Bunny walks away teary eyed, and must say Ranbir is one actor who really looks (naturally) good while crying! So much so that one is compelled to reach out to console him!
The 140 min could have done away with the (repetitive) 'kabira' and the wedding songs. Mukherjee missed out on some situations worth waiting for! Like Bunny and Naina meeting after 8 years! What a moment it could have been! But at the cocktail party she simply dances with him like any stranger or friend would! Eventually being (casually) close again gives an impression like they were in touch. But, there were no indications if they were in contact on the net, or Naina with a special place for him in her heart watched his program?
On the contrary, Avi confesses avidly following the series!! So was he in love with Bunny, too? (Well, he was keen to share a 'Dostana' pad to live in with him! And even screams at him for being away for long! Note: he remains single!) Bisexual Aditi loves Avi and outspoken and brash she could never profess her affection!! So she wasn't Deewani after all! So who exactly was crazy?
Surprisingly the characters look the same after 8 years! And during the period even 'Incredible India' couldn't pull Bunny on the pretext of filming it, and along the way to attend his father's funeral! So, is that what Jawaani Deewani does? To severe contacts with one's parents? And Johar spouts about loving them! Then this is an extreme case of mixed up priorities!
Ending on Bunny's close up while he hugs Naina is close to kind of odd! Literally looking at the audience it seemed he would (meaningfully) wink indicating he hasn't changed, or a sequel, or maybe confusion with some relief – reflecting Mukherjee's state of mind. In other words this 'Yeh jawaani ho na ho' or 'Yeh jawaani milegi na dobara' is not Deewani in any ways! Labeled (by a critic) riddled with clichés, at least it does away with a few like Naina is aware about contact lenses which Naina in New York in KHNH wasn't! And so Bunny while praising her looks and smile didn't had to take off her glasses, and thankfully her hair was already undone.By the way, the four main characters don't have siblings so that is clichéd!
I wish, Johar now over 40 feeling young at heart to swing at dance reality shows would have let the much younger Mukherjee soar with craziness to make this one zany and memorable. The only driving forces are the performances! Deepika shines after 'Cocktail'. Ranbir is as usual good, and so are Aditya and Kalki. To think of it what I remembered after stepping out was the peppy 'Budtameez dil' song, which would apparently be a title of a film soon! Other than that watching the promos reminded me of the rest of the film in parts!
Coming back to clichés, thankfully again no Kajol and Rani in 'Ghagra' or rather in cameos!
Ek Thi Daayan (2013)
A concept wasted! The trailers were better!
News bar on the day of ETD's release: Emran Hashmi says, "If you are intelligent you can fool others." In my view it's not intelligence but taking others for granted and underestimating them, and in ETD's case the audience! I don't claim to be intelligent but resort to sensibility, which I groped for in the 2nd hour!
Irony: with ETD Hashmi along with the director is at the receiving end and are truly fools! If Hashmi considers intelligence to be smart and making the right choices then he has not. With ETD, Ekta has conveniently made up with Emran for not casting him in OUTM 2. And on the other hand, has experimented with Balaji flirt with VB's production house.
That aside I don't want to dwell like some critics: one who in every second review states in the first or second para: 'first thing first' or to that effect. Another on his show can't help getting excited like film production started five years back and anything that appeals to him is novel though it's mundane - like twice while reviewing ETD : the audience screams! (eyes rolling!) Then there is one who while flaying mostly his right hand with index finger and thumb joined saves the most stars for a certain (bad) actor(crowned but for me still a wannabe) and even tells him to take a bow for emoting (badly)!!
The point: these critics are either daft at times, or for the sake of appearing (pseudo) intellectual while supporting something which they think is between art and commercial (conveniently) overlook senselessness! And another thing: they can't help reviewing the film pre and post interval like post is a sequel, and is usually mediocre or downhill for them. Why can't films be reviewed in totality? Do they watch in morsels like another critic while watching a film tweets!! Scene after scene!! And are they so dumb that while reviewing ETD showed scenes which were not in the film and didn't mention their absence! And which confirmed my thoughts that some links were missing! If only we were not subjected to inane songs about parrots the missing scenes could have been incorporated. Was there a scene with Lisa fainting in a washroom seeing a lizard like she tells the police?
So awed are some critics with aping Hollywood tactics in Bollywood now that they don't forget to mention the additional screenplay writer (literally spoiling the broth!) and the casting in-charge that (leaving me agape!) they didn't point at the sheer stupidities!
I am not interested in Bhardwaj composing the music and Gulzar's zany poetry, or how Bhardwaj choreographed the intimate scene between Hashmi and Qureshi. in fact Hashmi by now is well versed in such scenes just like he has acted in spooks like Raaz 3, so ETD not being new turf he could have called the shots like he directed the director supervising the eclipse show toward the end.
If Hashmi thinks he is Mr. Fool proof like someone is Mr. Perfectionist, whose 'Talaash' was idiotic more than thrice then he should carefully read the script and ask the writer/ director some intelligent questions so we may have had a smooth ride! Reiterating: should have done away with some songs to productively utilize those minutes to show scenes which were in the promos but not in those 2hour 14min!
Hashmi after the flashback asks the doctor where did Diana come from? We are made aware where Lisa sprang up from, but the same Bobo (by the sound of the name should either have been a clown or a chimp) never bothered to know his live in girlfriend's past? Or her birthday! A GF who sits with a computer backstage recording like she is watching the show on Skype or Youtube! If Bobo is India's Chris Angel then he doesn't give that impression - to have a fan following.
Any reason why they adopted a kid? Couldn't Tamara get pregnant? And how interesting it would have been if she had given birth to a witch! And oh yes! There is no witchcraft but Satanism! The witches' plait akin to a lizard's tail – having a life of its own, is overlooked! Is it the plait not destroyed a reason for the witch to be born again? And talking about Zubin , the kid is damn talented – seen in a serial, and in ETD he is wasted ! His scenes in a bath tub and then with some book are missing!!
The period: is Bobo a child in late 70s or early 80s?
Witches while sacrificing a child go through a ritual (with a dagger) then why not the same with Bobo's sister?
The obvious facet is that the story rides on the clichéd approach: who you least suspect turns out to be the culprit!
At the end if I recall correctly Bobo and Lisa are in the same attires and in the same setting like they met for coffee after his show. What did it imply? Whatever happened in between was a flash back? And as he noticed her earrings etc - signifying she is a witch (and he tells her he mistook her to be one) would it lead to a sequel? Spare us!
On the lighter side it didn't surprise or shocked me when blimp like Qureshi fell off the balcony while leaning over the railing - breaking it!
I wish the producers instead of wasting time and money on promotional gimmicks for an already film crazy public would thoroughly brush up their product - making it worth the (multiplex) ticket!
Life of Pi (2012)
Amazing Parker! Impressive Sharma! Superficial Khan.
According to Lee, Pi has been an exhausting experience, or rather his most exhausting film. And if exhaustion is an exhilarated feel one gets on achieving the desired results, then same goes for the special effects team.
Where 'The Wedding Banquet', 'Eat drink man woman', Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon' (though with effects), "Brokeback Mountain', 'Lust, Caution' were character driven then Pi is CGI driven especially led or say eclipsed by Richard Parker (the tiger). So I can imagine those in air-con suites working 24/7 on various animated sequences and effects, and creating him and his movements – ultimately credible! And commendable!
For me the only reason to see it was to affirm what I had imagined while reading the book, and must say the film is pretty close to it! But along the way I couldn't emotionally connect to it like I did with the book! I thought maybe it was because I knew what was coming next but a realization dawned!
Transforming more than (I think) 500 pages into 120 plus minutes can be laborious and so, what has been projected are measured situations in terms of (cost and) duration: resulting in calculated scenes (against the green screen) supplemented by effects comprising Pi and Parker in the second hour. And while executing them an exhausting Lee and equally fatigued CG team overlooked many aspects, which made the boat always look neat and not weather- beaten! So much so that after the zebra, hyena and orangutan are devoured there are no traces of blood! Meaning continuity sank here and there!
As for the 3D touch, many portions could have been stunning, but opportunities were lost! Like Pi on spotting a ship signals by emitting smoke and burning flare, could have been shot from the top with the two effects hitting the audience.
But thank Martel for writing about a teenage Pi sailing with Parker and not a 30 plus man! Otherwise, if Irrfan Khan had been selected to portray that role it would have been unbearable! A mediocre or rather below mediocre (so-called ) actor who is over-rated (like Frieda Pinto) and I can't figure out why? He is, to an extent, just OK for the role in Pi or he did in 'Slumdog' and 'New York'. If someone creates a montage of scenes from his films (and a TV commercial), the result will be simply monotonous!
One effect the CG team created and that turned out to be as lame as this actor (by fluke) are a couple of tears that materialize in his left eye toward the end. They just don't trickle down like they do on young Pi's cheeks! And Sharma does a good job!
Khan's stoicism was evident in 'Billo Barber' where he (Billo) was completely stone faced when Shahrukh emotionally poured his heart out about his friendship with him.
So compared to Priyadarshan, Lee had to take the help of an animator to make him emote with an effect! And a pity the tears don't look as natural as Parker: even expressive when he is unwell, and rests his head on Pi's laps! An expression, which would have been very, very difficult for Khan to give!
The (artificial) tear factor can be included in either trivia or goofs.
Talaash (2012)
The answer is on the surface: It's Raaz 4!
The (blooming) Zo(ya) and Ree(ma) team is reminiscent of Salim-Javed. A female duo, that wrote about male bonding instead of female 'Dostana'. The result: 'Zindagi na milaygi dobara'. A hit with awards! And made me wonder: women writing about men! And recently the bubble burst! Sanjay Gupta (the director) for some reasons making sense exposed ZNMD inspired by Fandango!
Now Zo-Ree are not like two ladies on rocking chairs knitting or making quilts and sharing gossip and stories. On the contrary, guzzling beer and smoking, they burped and puffed up and out some stories from across pacific (Hollywood) - patching and knitting them with some local (a shiver up the spine type) incidents and sighting (coincidentally in Karachi, too!) to cook up this concoction! And the two believing that 'Zindagi nahi milaygi dobara' prove to be in 'Talaash' for lifted ideas to make movies like a quilt comprised of patchwork, or knitting a shaded (of the same color) sweater, and presenting it as an 'original' work of art!
Talaash isn't! And for that reason, some critics, with some indications gave away the climax, and the (extra-ordinary) nature of a character. Critics aside, viewers have even revealed the end! And despite the spoiler, I watched it, and what the rest of the movie is made up of has been shown all over (the planet) before.
On the other hand, the surprise element of Kahaani (earlier Talaash compared with it) was kept close to the heart, and I don't remember anyone being a spoil sport. As for the rumors that the endings of Kahaani and Talaash were similar, but refuted, I like to add that when that was presumed, then it wasn't content wise but as a shock value!
So, Talaash is nowhere close to Kahaani – alive with suspense and curiosity! In fact while watching Kahaani when I suspected the director's caliber: on the one hand into details, and on the other a pregnant protagonist running up a staircase, he confirmed my doubts, but he had a reason. And how he unraveled, one didn't like to share it with others. In the case of Talaash I wouldn't, but Zo-Ree have duped the audience into believing it to be a murder mystery. Whereas, it is actually a fusion of films – trying to be noir. Like the mini skirted red light area, which I think doesn't exist in Mumbai! In fact by proxy it can be termed as Raaz 4!!
Two writers! And even then one didn't remind the other of the gaping holes! In the three years since the accident didn't Armaan ever pass the same street? Did the apparition appeared once in three years? Didn't Pinky the bitch ever saw it as dogs are supposed to see such forms? Was the third guy bedridden for past three years? When Sekhawat visited him what did he extract from him? When Sekhawat checks into the hotel (if it wasn't Lido) with Rosy, was the receptionist there familiar with her? And how did she let him into the room as he couldn't through walls? Who found Rosy after the accident as Taimur recalls she being attended by a doctor in a room? What was the purpose of Armaan's friend telling his father what happened three years back wasn't what he told him? After the accident at the beginning a subordinate tells Sekhawat to consider the case closed and about some form being sighted and accidents happening there before. Didn't Sekhawat's assistant know about those accidents? And what about the residents and those on the street, or anyone as rumors spread about mysterious appearances? Toward the end when Sekhawat's colleagues know who he had been seeing why didn't that subordinate talk to him? Sekhawat digging the right spot!!
Knowing ZNBD being unoriginal, one aspect that kept ticking was the slogan: 'The answer lies within', that was close to 'What lies beneath' the film. Then the trailers openly revealed a couple grieving a dead child. And finally watching it I tried to recall, like now, a film in which the protagonist doesn't believe in the supernatural, but changes his opinion after being in touch with a character - later found to be long dead!
This is one film in which some of the supporting cast is outstanding compared to the leads though Rani and Kareena are almost good! Aamir plays a cop again, and tries his level best to look tough with a scowl, and a mustache for a prop! Nawazuddin and some of the company he keeps are excellent!
And couldn't Farhan and Kashyap be credited together as dialogue writers like Zo-Ree for the story? It's understood if someone is given credit for choreographing an item song etc., but for additional dialogues! What were Kashyap's lines?
It's sheer 'luck by chance' that Zo and Ree have nearly made it! Next, it will be Zo's turn to direct, and then Ree's... And on the side the 'Talaash' for stories from here and there will continue for us: to look for what (unoriginal) lies within each production and from where?
After a film like Talaash being a let down, it's with a sigh of relief to intentionally miss and overlook Dabangg 2 and Khiladi 786, and even Matru
Their worth is and will be as cheap as what a DVD generally costs. And so is Talaash!
Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012)
What the F...(as said in JTHJ)...it's Himmatwalla 2!
What the f
' you bet! This is the kind of love story which Sajid Khan would have directed or Pooja Bhatt with Emraan Hashmi flanked with two starlets. A type of film which someone in the crew would have thought he could have done a better job than Sajid or Bhatt or Chopra.
More than the content of the film some critics have been more than mushy, dramatic and romantic about it! Because the director passed away! So does that make him infallible? A swan song that is more like a dead duck already flogged to death! The same critics who panned Ghai's Yuraaj and pointed at him for living in the 80s don't seem to feel the same about Chorpra's Jaan!
This one is 3 hours of sheer test of patience and can leave one reeling! It's like a bomb ticking to detonate one's sense and it does! A production so crass that it tries its best to be classy – with forced corny and lame humor!
Classy with an unhealthy looking hero – reflected by his nicotinic lips and nails! Totally repulsive!
It's not mushy but messy and insincere like "Silsila" which was more of a quartet then the actual Amitabh, Rekha and Jaya triangle. And as absurd as Veer Zara which was like wishful thinking of romancing two countries with different beliefs!
Leave alone the protagonist, Chopra suffered from amnesia while helming it and was stuck in the past: like the ghost of Veer (from Veer Zara) appears for Meera while she sings Heer, like he did for Zara in Mein yahan song. And with stereo situations and dialogues that don't say much about his storytelling skills (a reason to see - thinking it would have a certain style)! In fact Chopra post interval just loses it! Blame it on being a romantic and old age.
The sequences are so immaturely handled that they are like a parody of any romantic film and this film itself! The second accident is like a black comedy! The accidents reflect a typical sub-continental mentality: London or any place where civic sense prevails can be unsafe like Mumbai or Amritsar and desis from back home would behave like they are not on a main street but in a park!
The director's caliber (even assisted by his son who wrote this lame story} is evident by such aspects: Note the over the top dramatic way Meera (Kaif) is introduced. Running in the snow toward the church. And when she steps out of the edifice a chauffeur driven car awaits her at a distance!! Why not at the door of the church?
A waiter becoming an expert in the bomb disposal unit of the Indian army!! Fantastic!! (Himmatwalla to boot!) Like in VZ Chopra's utopian romanticism had Veer, belonging to the forces, easily cross the Pak-India border!! And compared to diffusing bombs without any precautionary measures he is prone to danger on streets abroad!! Indeed a man who cannot die on thoroughfares!!
Post interval it comes across as being shot impromptu. The women of all the places meet in the park!! The casual manner with which Samar regains complete memory is like it's OK to oscillate between amnesia and normalcy. Earlier, Meera while leaving Samar tells him she has to marry Roger as she is committed to her father (Kher) for caring for her! But no mention of how she tells Kher as to why she didn't tie the knot with Roger. Kher's appearance is like he was left in London in the Lamhe days!
Chopra hurries (while coming to half his sense) to the end with Meera in white materializing (like an apparition out of the blue) in Ladakh or wherever Samar is!! And he looks at her like she was expected! Happens to be Chopra's premonition to have Kaif ready for his (the director's) funeral on celluloid!
Performances: Kaif is truly a Barbie. Now redundant In looks and appearance! She did try her best to act and anyone would if paid what she got! To be intimate with Khan!! And to kiss him!! Disgusting! As for her collagen filled upper lip, it has a life of its own! A fishy way when she speaks and sings!
Remember Sharma's beau in Band Baja... who is not shown but she talks to on phone. Here too there is a guy pursuing her and while talking to him she sounds totally unconvincing! The writer and the director might have found her to be sexy and tempting going by her character (Akira) full of herself, but personally I didn't. Chopra gets a kick by introducing her in some rags passing for a bikini exposing her androgynous body. A turn off! And so is her vivaciousness carried over from Band Baja
, Badmash Company, Ladies vs Ricky
and now in the coming Matru ki bijli
Take it easy girl, and pipe down! The 'sullen, curved downward lips' look while smiling and emoting is irritating!
Khan is usual pathetic self and his best is still Swades – thanks to Gowarikar. He doesn't look 25 with the coal dyed hair, and as he claims (in interviews) to do anything who can pay his price, it's about time he and those approaching him think twice and again. Being in TV commercials is a different ball game than on 35mm. Horrifying results! And this goes for the other two Khans, and over 40 heros.
Compared to this Son of Sardar is honest for being totally unpretentious. It is what it claims to be and succeeds to more than an extent! To sum it up it is fun in parts and Devgn shines!
Barfi! (2012)
Welcome to Barfiville!
Yeah! Basu takes us to a world inhabited by innocence, care, love, smiles and tears with situations and scenes that tug one's heart along the way!
And while feeling kind of nice and touched, Basu lingers (at the back of the mind) with one hoping that this one should be original (leave alone the inspired Chaplinisque slapstick - executed with ones own style and with desired results). As to why the looming Basu? Because whoever knows about his past record: gangster, metro, kites etc they were not original as such! In fact metro which he wrote had Billy Wilder's The Apartment taking up a chunk with the menon and ranaut clandestine meets! Or Kites which he must have easily directed as it was nothing short of dime a dozen C grade backstreet Hollywood fare - straight to video!
So, while watching Barfi where one appreciates Basu's sincerity and depth from within the thought is: is it a copy of any film from any corner of the globe? As it is so rampant in Bollywood, where the makers are sheer lethargic in coming up with an original theme to be picked up by say France and Italy or even Iran!
But despite all that one cant' help getting impressed! The sheer hard work along with the narrative is mesmerizing! And Barfi is a kind one just can't help recommending once you reach the intermission and text to friends, or back home with the effect to tell the world about it!
To say it out loud that Ranbir is huggably excellent! And Priyanka is commendable in to- heck-with-the-world-i-will-do-this role, and good she did! Petite Ileana with expressive eyes and contained is just right!
Toward the end it occurs to watch it again but Barfi is so memorable that you just want to let it live with you and simply cherish the experience!
The Avengers (2012)
Is this a spoof?
Six (super heros) versus one nemesis!! Otherwise usually it's one against one. The fact is this film is over-hyped and doesn't live up to what it claims to be nor does it complement the critics' excitement, which is to rave the first action movie of the summer - like a ritual and to be quoted in the ads. While watching I asked myself how many times have I seen done to death special effects like a gaping hole in the sky? The aliens raining and attacking New York? Technical jargon supplemented by devices and gizmos? Some huge contraption passing for a space station floating in the sky? And so much executed and projected before that I felt fatigued! The 3D effects are absent where they should have been in your face and more - like when the black widow holds the gun at a character and the nozzle is out of the frame! The cohesive factor, and which keeps it going is the (tongue in cheek) wit, which everyone is blessed with! So much so such dialogues appear to be out of a MAD satire! And to think of it when Thor knew Loki so well or his psyche, then why send for the other five?
Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (2012)
another one with an American complex!
cute! cute! wannabe cute! a cut (from Hollywood) and paste film which tries to harp on a platonic relationship (from the heroine's point of view) but the writers and the director are at a loss for words, so the easy way is to describe it is 'friendship' (how original!) just like they refer to the shrink or psychiatrist as psychologist in USA! this Indian with an American complex fare is a half baked (in the Vegas sun) version of umpteen 'man meets woman and one of them realizes its love' stories! and considering opposite poles attracting each other why doesn't someone simply copy Bullock and Affleck's 'Forces of nature'? and get over it. Imtiaz tried with Jab we met, and now this! nothing refreshing or original or different like some critics are praising it. the straight faced or zombie like mode with which the hero moves along with his voice over complements Imran as he doesn't have to make an effort! couldn't figure out why the heroine with a doting family is away working in Vegas? or why does she spat on the car window? from Vegas to Mumbai and back seemed as easy like hoping across to the suburbs! and the director succumbing to the writers' insensibility and taking the audience for granted conveniently conjures up the meeting between the hero and his mother! the good thing about Kareena is no eye bags. photography is commendable, and now when Indian movies are slotted into multiplex and single screens this one is truly meant to be seen on home video. about time Hollywood should also start dubbing romantic comedies and dramas in Hindi etc while releasing them in India, so the audience should know where Jab we met and Ek tu types are coming from. and please work on the casting. Imran as Ratna and Boman's son is just like Amitabh as Rishi or Shashi's brother! no match! and looking back Naseer and Ratna as Imran's parents in 'Jaane tu... ya jaane na' were indigestible! and this me too and hardly a romantic comedy (as romance is deflated by the heroine) literally gets corny at the end with the title: 'the beginning'. yeah right! when 'Ek main aur ekk tu' will give way to 'Ekk deewana tha' next Friday, an extra k in it too. and the spoiler is already in the promos. another 'christian' heroine telling the besotted hero she considers him only as a friend! (eyes rolling!) not forgetting 'Ek main...' lives up to the line in a song: 'Sab kuch wohi hai.... ' and u bet it is and that too under 2 hours! phew!
Agneepath (2012)
agony and kaput!
saw it with the hope it would be better than the copy of scarface (read previous Agneepath). but oh boy! what a drag! a run of the mill story replete with violence and the nagging thought like i am watching of those dime a dozen dubbed in Hindi south Indian movies with names reflecting the heroics or intentions of the protagonist. flawed from the start the story seems to oscillate between turn of the 20th century and wherever! considering the situations especially the flesh market, with Arab sheikhs i just couldn't figure out whether it is today's India or some place surreal or symbolic? Maandva in particular! Vijay or whatever Hrithik is no one has a covered past or where he is coming from. like Kaancha never bothered to find out about the hero's background as if he has returned from another continent! and a joke when Om Puri shows the hero's snap as a child, n on the other hand he is involved in charity work, n not a single picture of him as an adult!! is this 21st century cinema or a Prakash Mehra or Manmohan Desai fare with loopholes and fantastic drama? Sunjay's Kaancha is like Munnabhai having a nightmare about himself! and Rishi's Laala is akin to Akbar (of Amar Akbar Anthony) grown old and taking up pimping! in fact both try their best to be bad, or say scare the kids to go to sleep but appear superficial! Hrithik is like experiencing deja vu! revisiting Fiza. and for that matter instead of Priyanka (nothing note worthy) any small time actress could have done the role and maybe got a boost!
The Dirty Picture (2011)
Vidya's Item film
Not being a party pooper but the only aspects that drive it are the script and dialogues. Did i hear, what about Vidya? The fact is she is a miscast! Gone are the days when actresses wanted to act blind or mad. Now the crores worth heroines are not different from Raakhee Sawant and the like. They want to do dare to bare roles and item numbers and it's becoming passe! The journalist Naela rightly tells Silk to stick to her guts. What she did will be considered 'freedom' in the future. She was right. Silk was original, or say a pioneer. And the vying for top position heroines today are following suit! So much so she even inspired (a saree clad) Vidya to emulate her and gave an excuse or say a reason for the sake of celluloid art to show skin and do not just an item number but a complete item film to last a lifetime! The fact is any actress could have easily done this role, so Vidya is no exception.
Ra.One (2011)
B. One (B for Bad)
while watching the sudden twists, and hops and skips give a clear impression this drag of poor show must have been more than 3 hours, but hurriedly edited down to the present running time. shabby and sloppy approach, add to it the seen it all before effects and crude, down the drain humor (may be good enough for khan's kids), and unnecessary scenes, the funny moment is when the super hero sits atop a dome like a chimp holding onto the pole! just for nothing he carries the heroine from up somewhere when she was on the ground! as for the game just didn't get the levels! and nothing exciting! no love for the hero but saw it for the hype and effects, and to confirm my apprehensions which happened to be right! actually its an ego trip considering khan refused 'Robot'. and all i would say the latter is still worth watching and a sequel, but not this one. by the way chamak challo didn't fit in!
Mausam (2011)
A big let down
Shahid's dad your film is super bad. It's bad to the extent your wife (Supriya) walks in and out with a weary expression like she told you how bad the script was but you didn't listen to her. The film is all imagery and places which you happen to like and then tried to develop a story around them. Unnecessary scenes and situations: the hero's paralyzed hand. The heroine with cousin and child stopped in Switzerland. And why the heck did Sonam stand on a heap of snow (pseudo artistic or what?) with the baggage instead on a platform? Referring to a cousin's parents one mentions the closest relationship like maasi's son and not her husband's like Sonam tells Harry that Akram is my khaalu's (khaala's hubby) son. Shahid did a better job in Jab we met n Kaminay. And the way he tells the British about their air force plane (nice bird. It flies well) like the sub-continentals taught them to fly. Director dad u did a film (Dharm) in which you were a Pandit priest who adopts a Muslim child so why did you shy from saying out loud that the heroine is Muslim and the hero Sikh (instead of referring to him as a Punjabi)? Muslims, Hindus and Christians are Punjabis too. The date line supers get on one's nerves and makes one wonder why didn't the heroine exchange email addresses in 99? Or the hero didn't even have 2 minutes to call her when he was send for Kargil whereas he yearned for her and missed her earlier? Mr. PK gets stuck in 99 that soon after showing 9/eleven the next dateline is 99 again. There was Gulzar's Mausam with evergreen music and a simple but interesting storyline which did well without any hype, and here is another Mausam (PK couldn't you think of an original title for your first directorial effort?) which I just can't fathom how the producers poured money into. Lots of extra bucks I guess. Less said about the ferris wheel drama at the end: totally atrocious. And Sonam by praising PK as an excellent director you have placed him next to the one who directed Aisha
Thank You (2011)
No thank you!
A dyed hair and old over the hill Akshay! Dyed so black like its a new color! And his voice and dialog delivery is sickening. Pathetic acting like he is being sarcastic! Then you have Shetty with his fish out of water dialog delivery. And Irfan Khan (well, one 'r' is enough) who is one of the most overrated actor. And John Abraham etc are criticized for being dull and bland. Irfan is monotonous and at the most has two expressions and simply drones with the confidence that he has made a fool of everyone in b and h woods! Looks like a dummy in the promos and that extends to the film! Create a montage of scenes from his different films and u will know you are looking at a one dimensional dud! even in his infamous mms he had a blank look! As for the heroines less said the better. Cheap dialogs and the best part was a promo showing (only the) female audience praising the film after a sneak preview! A desperate attempt by Akshay to declare this one a hit like Blue and Kambakht Ishq! Mr Kumar if you are doing characters which are meant to be leave alone in their 20s even early 30s then you don't look it! And that's why your films are bombing! Worth missing.
Dum Maaro Dum (2011)
Dumn good!
Rohan is maturing! Dumb does it for Goa what Blufmaster did for Mumbai. Making the location appear cool and stylish - without faking Goa as in Golmaal.In fact the location and art direction lends credibility to the proceedings and Rohan succeeds!Contrary to what some 'know all' critics pointed at, i think the second half is equally interesting. The story is such that one wants to do some guessing game along the way and bingo! I was right about the 'black sheep'. Other than that it's a surprise! Good performances and here i like to add that Abhishek knows how to act. He is not pretentious nor does he sells himself like some below mediocre actors with the superstar tag. And critics or a certain lobby all out to kill him while criticizing his acting and career why do you forget to mention 'Guru', 'Sarkar' and sequel. 'Yuva'. 'Phir Milenge', 'Dostana', 'Dhoom' and sequel and 'Paa'.
7 Khoon Maaf (2011)
Bhardwaj disappoints!
Priyanka and Bhardwaj don't know the meaning of a dark comedy and this one isn't as they promoted and claimed it to be. a big disappointment! Going by the book of acting, Vivaan Shah is at home and consciously or otherwise copies his father. Priyanka is OK as psychotic roles such as Susannaha have been done to death. Neil is impressive! Darkly filmed this is one should be seen with the hall lights on. And considering, and as it is obvious from the premise, the protagonist kills seven husbands, the let down is she is not exactly a femme fatal (alone) but is one of the sadists under the same roof. When she was capable of becoming a mother then why didn't she? Or instead of a husband, was she looking for a father figure as she was close to her's? Not clear! No thrills or twists the story just trots on! looking back Kaminay was dark (the way it was executed) too and was close to a black comedy. so the latter is one definition for a dark comedy for the director and his current muse. As an antidote for this looking forward to Tanu weds Manu next week!
Tees Maar Khan (2010)
pretty funny!
i didn't like 'mhn' n 'oso' n after reading most reviews panning 'tmk' thought of skipping it including the fact it's a copy of sorts of the peter sellers' 'after the fox'. me thinks: the trailer and promos never invoked laughter! on top of that Akshay Kumar desperate to act young! anyways, took a chance n saw it 1st day 1st show! Farah and bro and directors like them may appear to be all filmi and for bollywood, but in reality are out to make a quick buck with the opening weekend collection. and nothing for the art of film making nor creating an impression for others to be inspired from. quite repetitive in places! how long will she in particular pay homage to Indian (commercial) cinema in one way or the other? lady, come up with your own style to be acknowledged as 'Farah maar khan'. "never the less 'tmk' is funny n crazy! made me lol! and this one reminded me to be as fantastic as 'Mr Natwarlal'. the 2nd half was equally hilarious! Aryan and Akshay Khanna are good. Kumar is not over but doesn't look young as those 2. would have given it 3 stars if it had been 'original."
Band Baaja Baaraat (2010)
insipid!
could av been a hilarious sit-com but this rom-com is just another 'at the end of the day realization' of the protagonists loving each other. and it hardly succeeds to tickle! in that context Anjaana Anjaani had some laughs along the way. good concept but it appears to be like a pilot of a TV serial. there is nothing exciting which could have been created with sub-texts and some characters livening it up. in fact it has a feel of a TV movie! the highlight is Delhi has been shown like you are there!Yash raj can cash in on this one as a sister serial running parallel with Shaadi.com. Anushka and Ranveer are good.let's see how his other two films go considering the 3 picture deal with the production house.
Raajneeti (2010)
not Gangajal
its one of those which look more than good in the promos but the opposite if you watch all the reels. yep! raaj is not about bad vs bad as in a party against a party or parties, but bad within bad. Jha keeps it 'simply' within the parameters of a political family and not against another one. so the faces in the backdrop on the stage keep changing till a new party is born. no doubt Jha develops the story with measuring cups but what was the reason that Bajpai's father preferred Rampal? as politicians are actors and most are 'bad' (at it) Bharti sans tears meeting illegitimate Sooraj proves it. Samar's ruthlessness n insensitivity to the extent of 'killing' the latter in broad daylight deflates while leaving his mother behind tells Indu he has to look after Sarah's mother in America!! and Jha's (own) raajneeti of desperate commercialism soars when he abruptly ends the saga on Vijay Mallya!! Tch! Tch!
My Name Is Khan (2010)
Not worth 4 or 5 stars
When close friends over coffee and drinks criticize others' work and have a good laugh then knowingly or unknowingly they partially produce what they would tear apart to smithereens (done by someone else). And in this case mama Jenny wouldn't even console them! In fact all those critics who gave 4 to 5 stars to My name is Khan should don her dresses and do a jig! If just three stars are to be dished out then Shahrukh gets them after Swades and Chakde India. Imagine only three movies out of so many where he really did act! Karan is or wants to be a storyteller but he doesn't makes sense! He starts to lose way after building up the tempo (Kurbaan bombed because of this reason) and what we see are gaping loopholes in this one, too (KANK had many!)! Where he elicited moist eyes at Sameer's death then bringing in mama J and son with cows and ducks and the hurricane only invoked guffaws and chuckles and groans: 'When will this end?' Everyone turning up in the waist deep water, and lo! A fanatic popping up to stab Rizwan (what the heck!!) seemed like the MTV pool party with shades of a black (pun unintended) comedy!! And if this wasn't enough, Rizwan instead of meeting 'the' president during whose tenure Muslims took the flak for 9/11, he meets a bouncer like Obama! Making it all very satirical! Why San Francisco or California where it was pretty peaceful after 9/11? Why didn't Mandira approach Sameer's best friend after what happened to the former? When Rizwan (the hero), a devout Muslim wasn't targeted or accused of being a terrorist, then why the Sameer episode? Did Mandira really loved Rizwan (to think of it? I think it was platonic and 'we are friends' from her side)? And hey! Was the first meeting between Rizwan and Sameer ever filmed (a special moment missing there)? Khan-Jo and co will claim conducting research etc re Islam but it's the red chillies brand of Islam – going by the company's logo. Be it who to give Zakat (charity) to, or marrying a non-Muslim such matters are simply divine, and not what Shahrukh and the other khans there would like Islam to be. So, please don't commercialize it or give it entertainment value.