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Rudra: The Edge of Darkness (2022)
Brilliant performances in a mediocre series!!
Tauted as an official remake of the British series Luther, Rudra lacks all the tension, grip and intensity of the original.
The screenplay never rises above mediocrity. Writing lacks the punch. Even the most intense parts, appear to have been written lazily. Only thing that stands out are the performances. Ajay Devgn is brooding and intense. And even brings out the vulnerability of Rudra brilliantly. Ashish Vidyarthi and the guy playing Prabal Thakur impress. Ashwini kalsekar and Atul kulkarni are ok and overact in some scenes.
But it's Rashi Khanna who just springs a pleasant surprise. She looks hot, dangerous and intriguing. She's absolutely fantastic.
Her chemistry with Ajay is amazing. Wish there were some more such moments in the series.
Overall not disappointing and a one time watch for sure. But Devgn's OTT debut could have been a lot better.
Kapil Sharma: I'm Not Done Yet (2022)
Underwhelming and unfunny!!
The format is similar to the stand ups Kapil usually does before his TV shows or at numerous award shows.. Only difference is his stand ups on TV or award shows are at-least funny.
In this Netflix original, he mostly speaks about his life experiences, his life before fame. Sad part, lot of it is already known. His frequent yet and not so subtle intended jibes at the prime minister and his infamous tweets are unfunny to start, that get annoying soon.
The story telling is good but none of the jokes land.
Well if Netflix is frustrated that it is not able to get record subscribers in India. Then the targeted audience too is frustrated that Netflix continues to churn Sub standard content. Start making something that connects to the common people, the majority india that lives in small towns.
Mimi (2021)
It's a Kriti Sanon show!!
A good and entertaining hindi movie, in a while.
Story is about a girl(Kriti Sanon), an aspiring actress from small indian town, who agrees to be a surrogate mother for an American couple. And what happens when that couple decide to abandon her due to some unforeeen circumstances. How she deals with it, forms the rest of the story.
The execution of the plot is very engaging. The movie keeps you glued to the screen for its entire runtime. Screenplay and dialogues are crisp and applaud worthy.
Performances by each and every cast member is terrific. Sai Tamhanakar leaves a mark. Manoj Pahwa and Supriya Pathak are adorable as Mim's parents. Pankaj Tripathi is excellent and almost steals the thunder in every scene he is.
But it's Kriti Sanon who just wins you over with her range of emotions. She shines and shines bright in every scene she is in. She brings Mimi to life. Watch her acting during the child birth scene and you would be in awe. The fact that she stands out in midst of some of India's finest actors, says a lot about her.
The American actors are good too.
Blemishes? Very minor. The characterization of John and Summer could have been better developed. Some of their motivations don't make sense. Length could have been shortened by 10-15 mins. The culmination is very predictable and convenient. Makers could have been a little more creative. But that aside this is great cinema.
Recommended!
Mare of Easttown: Illusions (2021)
Just when you thought it couldn't get any interesting!
What an episode. Just terrific.
Honestly the first 20-25 mins were not great. I had a sinking feeling that this show has passed its peak. And the current and next two episodes are going to be pretty average. It starts usual. Theres more focus on each individual's personal stories during first half. However almost around 30 mins into the episode, plot thickens as Deacon confesses his meeting with Erin on the night of her murder. Also as Jesse finds something startling in Erin's journals.
Zabel and Mare do eventually seem to warm up to each other after the disastrous date.
Finally when you thought Zabel and Mare may have something going on, romantically. BAM.
Very well written. Performances were terrific.
Mare of Easttown (2021)
Spellbinding performances and a tautly written screenplay.
Where do I even start? The series is a must watch, atleast if I go by the first 3 episodes.
The premise is about, first a missing girl and then a murdered girl, in a small town where everyone kind of knows everyone.
The screenplay is tight and moves at a great pace. Dialogues are very well written. Direction is superlative. And performances are truly top notch.
Kate Winslet shines as a middle aged detective. Bringing the character's angst, insecurities very effectively on screen. Evan Peters is terrific. Just watch his drunken scene in episode 3. You could feel his intoxication, he's that good. The girl playing Erin is brilliant. Making your heart go for her.
All in all a great start. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed for the show to keep its momentum and make the time worthwhile.
ACT 1978 (2020)
How far would you go when cornered?
ACT 1978 is one of the best social thrillers, I have seen recently.
This is Geetha's story, who has been running around every pillar and post at a government office to get a compensation for her father's death, in an accident. It's been months and because of her refusal to bribe the officials, she's been made to go through hell. Almost 9 months pregnant and pretty much broke, one fine day she takes drastic measures to get what is rightfully hers.
Premise may be similar to many movies in same genre. However what sets this movie apart is a very well written screenplay. And performances that are just brilliant.
The screenplay delves effectively into the reasons behind the protagonist's decisions and her psyche. Bringing out the emotional angle, brilliantly.
The film is very well executed. Some scenes would leave you shocked and disgusted. For example the treatment meted out by the government officials towards a pregnant Geetha, before she picks up the arms, will leave you shocked and upset.
Performance is terrific all around. Pramod Shetty is excellent as a tough but sensible cop. Shobraj and Shruti are terrific in their brief roles.
Surprisingly, the very talented and dependable Achyuyhth Kumar is average here but he makes an impression. Other actors portraying government officials are very good. So is the old man who plays Geetha's accomplice. He's brilliant.
However the star of the show is Yagna Shetty. What a performance. She brilliantly conveys the helplessness, the anger and fury of Geetha. She lights up every frame she's in. She doesn't miss a single beat. Take a bow! Wish this movie had a wider release. I still hope she gets nominated for major awards.
Cons? There are a few minor blemishes, which are totally ignorable. The screenplay could have been a little tighter in first half. Wish this movie had more budget, it would have made this movie technically more appealing.
But, no doubt, don't miss this one!!
Drishyam 2 (2021)
Does he deserve to get lucky a second time?
Drishyam (2013) is probably one of the top 5 well made thrillers I have watched, all around and across all languages. To be very honest, I did not have very high expectations from the sequel. To me, surpassing Drishyam's brilliance was impossible, even if it came from the same talented team. Yes, I knew the movie would be good but never did I imagine it will top its predecessor and would it do it so gloriously.
In a nutshell, the story picks up 6 years after the first movie. And it transports the viewers meticulously back into Georgekutty's world. It effectively manages to give the viewer a very good idea of what has happened so far in George's life. How people's perception towards him and his family has changed over the years. The first half lays the groundwork. It introduces a few new characters. The story moves at a very good pace, narrating George's family life, some sub plots. The incidents of prequel always looming in the background.
A twist around the end of 1st half takes you by surprise and sets up a premise for thrilling 2nd half. And a brilliant climax. Oh boy and it does it in style. The 2nd half is just brilliant. There's not a single dull moment. It won't let you take your eyes off the screen even for a second.
Mohanlal gives a towering performance. He is terrific. He lives the character. Meena plays her part really well. Ansiba and Esther are good too. Asha Sharat leaves a mark.
Jeetu Joseph does an outstanding job with his writing and direction. He's done a brilliant job. Writing and executing a sequel, to a film that was perfect in every aspect is not easy. And to make it better than the first one is a mark of a genius. Take a bow!
The cinematography is good. A special mention for the background score which is just amazing.
Cons? Well not really. There were a few cinematic liberties taken but hey doesn't the hero deserve to be lucky and have god watch over him sometimes? I won't complain about that. I wanted George Kutty to win.
Verdict - Grab your pop corn, soda and make it a perfect movie night. Such thrillers are not made very often. Enjoy the experience. Just a word of caution, take all breaks before the 2nd half. The movie won't let you get up.
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
Gal Gadot deserved a better script. And audience deserved a better movie!
First and foremost. I wasn't disappointed with the movie. If you are a Wonder Woman fan, you should watch WW84. However this isn't a movie for which you may want to go to the theaters. HBOMAX subscription would just do fine.
Plot is about a mysterious stone that grants people their deepest desires come true. How it plays havoc in the world and more importantly Diana's life.
Good - Performances by Pedro Pascal, Kristen Wiig, Chris Pine and towering above everyone Gal Gadot. Gal was born to play Wonder Woman. She looks fierce, strong, effortless in action sequences. And at the same time she's terrific in emotional scenes. It's just because of her that a mess of a screenplay doesn't fall apart. You would just find yourself adoring her in some of the sloppiest written scenes. Same goes for Chris Pine. He lends able support and his chemistry with the leading lady is amazing. Pedro Pascal and Kristen Wiig are very good. They make the villains look more human and bring lot of dimensions to their characters.
The bad - the screenplay is terrible, to put it mildly. Direction is really average. Action sequences are barely there. Romance between Diana and Steve is well written but too much stretched and something you don't expect to see in a superhero movie. Again like I mentioned before, that too works only because of Gal Gadot and Chris Pine. Else it would have fallen flat. VFX is really average.
At the end you really feel bad for Diana/Wonder Woman the character. And for Gal Gadot, the actor. She's really good and looks stunning. Definitely deserved a better written movie.
Swades: We, the People (2004)
A movie that deserved better box office returns and way more mature audience
A simple story of a NASA engineer discovering his roots. And his life transformation narrated in a way that stirs your soul. The experiences that the protagonist goes through and the journey the audience takes with him is a must see for any connoisseur of classic Indian cinema.
I would rate Swades as Ashutosh Gowarikar's best work. And definitely SRK's best performance till date. If I look back and see. The movie had a great story. Screenplay that was brilliant. Ashutosh's direction was perfect. And SRK definitely stood tall in a restrained yet poignant portrayal of Mohan Bhargava. His best performance till date, yet underrated. Kishori Ballal remains etched in your memory as Kaveri amma. Gayatri Joshi is perfectly cast. Sadly she didn't appear in any movie after Swades, atleast nothing notable. An untapped potential. All other actors leave a mark.
Why did it underperform at BO? It came out in 2004. 3 years after the magnum opus Lagaan. There were bound to be comparisons. Both stories had the underlying love for motherland as theme. But were completely in stark contrast in their content.
Lagaan, set in British era, was more of a fight about the protagonist and his village's honor. It had a bad guy, his evil intentions and then protagonist and his ideals. A classic underdog story. David vs Goliath. And we love those stories for sure :)
Swades on the other hand was more about an individual discovering his roots. His inner journey and conflicts. His choice of leaving a comfortable and cozy life to be with his people. It's a simple story minus the melodrama. But so effectively told that it just wins you over.
I think it was the expectations that audience had from Swades that made it underperform.
Please do not miss this gem of a movie
Durgamati: The Myth (2020)
Bhagamathie minus Anushka Shetty, suspenseful moments and the energy=Durgamati
Durgamati is a tepid, low on energy and many a times unintentionally funny remake of Bhagamathie. It lacks all the trappings and worthy moments that the original was high on.
The movie is, for the most part, a scene by scene copy of original. However the screenplay lacks the tension. Direction is lazy, to put it subtly. The performances are really below par. You will have to really endure some hamming and over the top acting by a most of the supporting cast.
Some scenes/characters which are modified from the original, probably to scare you more end up being silly and funny. For instance the watchman of the mansion, crippled with no hands. The idea was probably to create an impact that the constable felt someone touching his hands but when he asked the watchman to open the gates, he showed his helplessness saying he had no hands. It was meant to be shocking. But did the writers even think how did the watchman go inside the mansion and close the gates, if he had no hands. First and foremost why on earth would someone even employ him for guarding a mansion.
The weakest link of Durgamati is its leading lady. Who neither gives a feisty performance nor has the screen presence and elegance that Anushka Shetty so effortlessly infused into the original. You would struggle not to break into a guffaw when Bhumi Pednekar transforms into Durgamati and tries to deliver roaring dialogues. They end up being funny.
Jishu Sengupta is good but wasted in an underwritten role. Mahie Gill fails in leaving a mark. Her inconsistent Bengali accent and intonation is irritating. Arshad warsi is good in the beginning. However towards the end, his character starts to look caricaturish. Karan Kapadia is good and leaves a mark. He needs to work on his dialog delivery, though. Others are just about okay.
Skip this one. Watch Bhagamathie, instead, which is also available on Amazon Prime with subtitles.
Soorarai Pottru (2020)
An awesome movie that falls a little short of being an epic
The good - great and inspiring story, Surya is in terrific form, performances by supporting cast is excellent, Aparna Balamurali and Urvasi leave a mark. Screenplay is engaging. And keeps you engaged, for the most part, until the very end.
The not so good - the movie is too dramatic, for its own good. Some of the situations in the story seem forced and lack realism. Subtlety would have gone a long way for such subject. More than often, you feel story is not going anywhere and scenes look repititive. Music in the movie is average. Actors like Paresh Rawal, Prakash Belavadi and Achyuta are under utilized.
Minor blemishes apart the movie should not be missed.
Taish (2020)
An ambitious thriller that falters with average execution and uneven screenplay..
I watched 'Taish' in the movie format. It starts off with two parallel stories - one about a family of gangsters, difference between two brothers (Harshavardhan and Abhimanyu Singh) and a girl (Sanjida Shaikh) who is the bone of contention.
Second story is about a sweet couple (Jim Sarbh and Kriti Kharbanda). And what happens when they go for Jim's brother's wedding. Eventually, how these two stories cross paths.
What starts off as a slow drama, gradually turns into a revenge thriller. And culminates into a dramatic climax. It's almost 3 hrs in runtime. And feels lethargic in parts. Probably you may find it more bearable if watched in episodic format.
What works - The story is good. Performances, especially, by Jim Sarbh, Pulkit Samrat, Harshavardhan, Sanjida and Kriti are great. To me, Jim's performance really stood out. His character goes through various emotions over the course of the story and he effectively conveys them. The action/thrilling sequences are very well shot and will leave you glued to the screen. Watch out for Pulkit's confrontation with Abhimanyu Singh. Or the climax chase/action sequence. The story does surprise you at different junctures and the twists/turns don't seem forced at all.
Negatives - The pace is really uneven. It picks up slow. Is interesting in the middle. Again pace drops until pre-climax/climax. At places, story doesn't move at all.
Jim's dad's character and his attitude towards Kriti(her being a Pakistani Muslim) feels forced into the story and sticks out like a sore thumb. It was totally unnecessary and story could have done without it. It just makes me wonder, can't they make one movie/series without political references.
Abhimanyu Singh is wasted. He shines in scenes he's in but overall wasted. The dialogues are mostly heavy on Punjabi. Making majority audience try to go back and forth to understand dialogs.
Overall watchable. But you won't miss anything if you don't see it
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Watch the ultimate edition..
Way underrated and probably misjudged when it was released.
I was one of the fans who felt disappointed watching this, when it came out in 2016. Probably because, like many others, I too wanted it to be like Avengers or better than Avengers. And never giving it a thought that the characterizations and tone of both the universes is way different.
This was never meant to be similar to the MCU or compete it.
Today when I watched the ultimate edition, I felt this movie is way too underrated. The storytelling feels unrushed in this edition. You get to know a lot more details about a few events and characters. You are invested a lot more in the characters. If you are a fan, definitely watch the ultimate edition.
Waiting for the Snyder's cut of Justice league.
Aarya (2020)
The lioness roars and how!!
Watching Sushmita Sen in the titular character as Aarya, makes you feel sad that such a terrific actress has been away for such a long time. She's simply brilliant. You just cannot take eyes off her. She's completely natural and brings the character to life. She gives a powerful performance, effectively showing the character's journey. Looking stunning all the while.
The show itself is brilliantly written and there's hardly a dull moment in the 9 episodes. This one's a very well made intense thriller.
Well not going into too many details, It's about a family that owns and runs a pharmaceutical company, while also doing some shady business on the side. It's about how some members are greedy for more, while others just want to get done with it and keep their loved ones safe. Its about how Aarya, suddenly, finds herself in the middle of all this and how she deals with all the threats and bullies, that constantly threaten her family.
Other than the writing, the performance of each and every actor is brilliant. They ably compliment Sushmita Sen's power packed performance.
Chandrachur Singh is amazing in a brief role. His character is so well written and woven into the story that his essence lingers in every episode. Would love to see him more.
Jayant Kriplani, Manish Chaudhary, Viswajit Pradhan, Namit Das, Ankur Bhatia, Flora Saini, Sugandha Garg, Namit Das, Vikas Kumar are brilliant . All child and teen actors are natural.
This is one show you shouldn't miss. Watch it just for Sushmita Sen. All other aspects are just a bonus..
Dia (2020)
Too filmy
This is one of the most difficult movies for me to rate.
It kept me hooked till the end. But at the same time, it disappointed me.
This is a story of a girl. About how she finds love. The complications in her love life.
Positives - very good performances. Especially by the leading lady. The leading males too have done a great job. However the actor portraying Adi could have been a little more subtle. All supporting characters too, especially Pavithra Lokesh, leave an impact.
***Spoilers****
My biggest complaint with this movie is, it's made as a tragedy just for the sake of it. All the twists in the story seem forced and looks the makers were hell bent on not giving a happy ending for the leading lady. All the situations looked unnatural and it was hard to believe.
Special OPS (2020)
Absolute cracker of a series!!
Well written, directed and brilliantly performed web series.
The story follows a RAW analyst and his team of operatives tracking down the mastermind of some key terror attacks in India.While staying a step ahead of his nefarious plans and foiling them.
Thanks to brilliant writing, direction and sharp editing this show completely keeps you glued to the screen.
Performances - it's such a joy to watch Kay Kay Menon on screen. What a performer. Carries the show on his able shoulders. Each line he says , even his pauses and silences speaks volumes. Undoubtedly one of his best performance.
Vinay Pathak is brilliant. He's amazing in a brief role. He's so good, you miss him and just cherish his wonderful presence whenever he's on screen. Just superb!
All actors essaying the role of on field agents are fantastic.
Cons - Proceedings feel a bit rushed during the final 2 episodes. You can't ignore the fact that a brilliant actor like Divya Dutta is so under utilized. There are a few places, where you would feel the makers take a bit of creative liberty. But these are minor blemishes in otherwise a fantastic series.
Don't miss this well made thriller!!
A Quiet Place (2018)
Interesting premise executed terribly
Consider this, planet taken over by blind alien monsters, who track you by your sound. Silence is your survival. This premise could definitely have gone places.
But "A Quiet Place" , ends up being mediocre and cliched at best. It starts out very interestingly. I mean it's difficult keeping your audience glued to the screen without the characters speaking a single word and minimal back ground music. I give it to Krasinski for building the required tension. The shocker in the first 10 mins is gut wrenching. And you definitely expect the things to get scarier and wish the proceedings are unpredictable.
However, the creative team settles for tried and tested cliches. The story goes on predictable and sometimes really silly lines. The makers have woven the whole story around the main characters and their decisions, which are outrightly flawed. They do everything, which no one in their right minds would do given the situations. 1) You know the consequences. It's not like world's run out of electricity. Moreover the monsters are blind. Yet, why would you let your kids play with a lantern placed so close to them? 2) You not only give into a 3-4 year old kid's demand for a noisy toy but also leave the batteries well in his reach. Given the whole monster scenario, again a dumb move 3) Earth is not a safe place. Noise hunting monsters are running around. Then why would you want to bring a baby in such a world? Seriously?
Agreed there are some really terrific moments but they are watered down by foot ball field sized plot holes.
The culmination is very convenient and does not make it any better. This is a classic case of interesting idea gone wrong at execution level.
I still don't understand what are critics raving about this below average movie. A trend I have seen, quiet prevalent these days.
Wonder Woman (2017)
A big welcome to Wonder Woman on the big screen
Finally DC gets it right and how!
Wonder Woman is the movie DC fans have been waiting all along. It has a soul of its own and a very good story to tell. It catches your attention from the first scene and keeps you glued to your seat (almost), till the end. Diana's origin story, self realization and her inner conflicts are very well depicted. Almost all the central characters are etched out very well & as an audience you would definitely connect with them, emotionally too. The screenplay is well structured. Action scenes are good and CGI is apt.
Performance wise Gal Gadot and Chris Pine do an amazing job. Gal Gadot brings life to the character. She makes Wonder Woman's naiveness, innocence, strength and emotions very real. Chris Pine is perfectly cast as Steve. He gets ample one liners and delivers them with panache. Like Gal, Chris too really makes the character very believable. Great work!
Negatives? Yeah a few - DC still leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to choreographing action sequences. The moment action sequences begin, CGI takes over. And there are instances you almost lose your connect to the on goings on screen. Because the scenes are too CGI heavy. At couple instances you could easily make out that the action figures are completely CGI. This makes the action sequences lack the soul and indulgence, that Marvel movies do so amazingly well. The movie starts out very well and maintains a good pace until the last 20 - 30 mins. There are clichés and some forced twist elements, that genuinely don't work. The bad guy does not have the desired impact, as his character is not developed as good as it should be.
This is the best movie in the DC universe but if WB wants to give Marvel a run for their money, there's still some work to be done. Overall, it is still a great movie. Go for it!!
The Frozen (2012)
Has to be one of the lamest movies made....
Interesting premise and a one liner story stretched into 1.5 hours of annoying movie.
Honestly what were the makers thinking when they made this one?
This has to be one of the most purposeless movies ever made. I m a big thriller/horror fan. But the intended thrills here were plain irritating.
****SPOILERS AHEAD***
A pregnant girl and her boyfriend's adventurous camping trip in snow goes awry when they meet a snowmobile accident. The boyfriend goes missing and the girl makes very lame attempts at getting out of the situation. Strange things keep happening. A mysterious gunman keeps appearing at random and doesn't say a word. Adding to your annoyance and making you hate this movie even more.
The performances are in sync with the movie, BAD!!
The "supposed" suspense/twist in the climax is plain lame.
Avoid this one at all costs.