Movie Review Sadda Adda Hindi 2012 : Average

Amidst the lacklustre films gracing the theatre this week, comes yet another film of dismal publicity and awareness Sadda Adda. With a complete new cast and a relatively new crew, let’s see whether this film achieves its purpose or not.

The film starts with a note “The only thing that will stop you from fulfilling your dreams is You”. Six boys from different states come together to share a 2BHK apartment in a middle-class colony, which they lovingly call “Sadda Adda”. All come from diverse backgrounds with dreams to make it big. While one wants to make it in acting, the others in engineering, and sales and design. There’s another who is struggling to find a suitable job.

However, very soon they lose focus, the film takes a predictable downward spiral and finally the boys come back on track to regain lost grounds.

Giving glimpses of 3 Idiots, the film could well remain to that had it not been for the Pyaar Ka Punchnama type of angle where the guys take incessant digs at girls giving in for MCP humour. The initial scenes of boys guzzling beers, ogling at women, having light-hearted moments are all fine but it all goes down the drain when the film tends to tread on clichés and takes to a drama done to death.

Filmmaker Muazzam Beg takes issues highly relatable to the younger lot and shows it with utter empathy hence the audience finds it easier to engage in the actors situation. However, just when the film starts grasping attention, the predictability makes one lose focus and give in to boredom. Some of the situations appear half-baked as if there wasn’t enough thought put behind it.

All the actors are well cast and exude confidence. Very promising debuts by all of them.

Over all, Sadda Adda has the heart in its place but gets mired by poor execution.

Rating : 2/5

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Movie Review Agneepath 2012 Superhit

Mukul Anand created a classic that is yet immortal in people’s memory, here is Karan Malhotra paying a respectable homage to ‘Agneepath’. Though comparisons are bound to happen, we suggest watching the film without any preconceptions and thoughts about the original and you are sure to love it. Master Dinanath Chauhan (Chetan Pandit), a principled man who wants the best for his village Mandwa. Whereas, Kancha (Sanjay Dutt) wants to illegally grow cocaine in the village by fooling and ruling over the poor villagers. Now, he eliminates his only hindrance, Master Chauhan by controversially hanging him in front of his pregnant wife Suhasini (Zarina Wahab) and his 10-year old son Vijay (Hrithik Roshan /Arish Bhiwandiwala). Vijay comes to Mumbai with his mother with only one aim, to get Mandwa back from Kancha. He walks the ‘Agneepath’ (path of fire) that his father has taught him and wins back the trust of his people.

Courtesy : supergoodmovies

Karan Malhotra’s version of Amitabh Bachchan’s 1990 classic has definitely been tweaked from the original. The basic plot is the same but each member of the team has worked hard to create an original film and have partially succeeded. If Yash Johar’s ‘Agneepath’ is still remembered, Karan Johar’s too will have its own space in the history of Indian cinema.

Performance:

Hrithik Roshan convincingly plays his part. Though he doesn’t look as grand as Big B, his aggression was quite evitable on his face and eyes. Priyanka Chopra looked cute and did a decent job. Rishi Kapoor should be commended for his immense versatility as he is par excellence. Sanjay Dutt looks exceedingly scary and performs par expectations. He impeccably portrays evil. Warina Zahab and Chetan Pandit are decent enough. Also, worth mentioning is the fastastic work by child actor Arish Bhiwandiwala. It seemed as if Hrithik had watched his performance before starting shooting for the film and has improvised on it. ‘Chikni Chameli’ is absolutely entertaining and Katrina Kaif has given it her 100 per cent but casting fails here as a half Indian cannot be portrayed as a Mahrashtrian as she did not suit it.

Technicalities:

Malhotra has earlier assisted Karan Johar with his projects and makes a promising debut. He has a long way to go. He has put in the necessary masala elements in a high octane action drama. Sabu Cyril as a production designer is a master at his craft. Cinematography and picturization are good. Characterization slightly suffers as compared to the original. Ajay-Atul’s music as well as the background score complements the film. Dialogues have been taken good care of, especially the ones that Sanjay Dutt mouths.

Positives:

- Performances
- Chikni Chameli

Negatives:

- Too much violence to handle

Final Word: A must watch

Agneepath Movie Rating: 3.5/5

Starring: Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Rishi Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra
Banner: Dharma Productions
Music: Ajay-Atul
Producer: Karan Johar, Hiroo Johar
Director: Karan Malhotra

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Movie Review EK MAIN AUR EK TU : Hit

After the stupendous success of Agneepath, Dharma returns in a span of two weeks to greet Valentine’s day with a romantic comedy Ek Main Aur EK Tu. Imran Khan is on an all time high after the success of his recent films and so is Kareena for the past few years. But it is always fun to see the weirdest couple pull of a cute rom-com. As the trailer suggested we were hoping to see the remake of “what happens in Vegas”. But with Karan Johar in the credit list, we were expecting a surprise as we entered the dark hall. Were we surprised or what?

Once again it is the story of a rule book meets break-the-rules. Rahul (Imran Khan) is the 25 year old yes-boy of his parents who decide everything in his life from which tie to wear to whether to use fork or chop sticks at dinner. He loses his architect job in Vegas. Scared to tell his overbearing parents of his failure he decides to visit a psychiatrist where he meets Rihana (Kareena Kapoor) . She mistakes him to be the spy appointed by her ex-boyfriend and gives him a good show down. When she realises her mistake, she calls him up and asks him out for a drink to make amends. One thing leads to another. Rahul, in a fit of irritation, decides to let loose. They both get drunk and end up getting married in a church. They wake up with a terrible hangover and the shock that they are married. While they apply for an annulment of the marriage, circumstances throw them together. The rest follows but not as usual.

The debutant director has chosen a safe yet difficult path.The storyline is nothing new. We have seen it in Jab We Met, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Yet the story in itself has a refreshing twist which makes it different from any of these films. He weaves towards this well in the second half of the film. His use of humor with liberal innuendos makes Ek Mein Aur Ek Tu a good entertainer. The scenes between Rahul and his parents are done very well. The final scene with Rahul and his family is surely worth a mention. The film is very well paced and does not drag.

Imran Khan as a dull meek youngster bogged down by the ambitions of his parents is commendable. His look and performance compliment his role.He shakes his leg with ease in the film enhancing his ‘cute’ image. Kareena has shown maturity as an actor with each film. She is as bubbly and delightful as ‘Geet’ in Jab We Met. Unfortunately, all her roles are getting stereotyped to that character. Her next film Agent Vinod hopefully will add a new dimension to her characterizations so far. Boman Irani as Imran’s father supports the script very well along with all the other actors.

David MacDonald’s cinematography especially in Vegas takes your breath away and the songs are wonderful. Some of the scenes have been shot with an ad like treatment. The film overall is very visually appealing. Editing by Asif Ali Shaikh is neat and helps the film move forward with ease.

Each and every track in the film is impressive. Amit Trivedi’s ‘Aunty ji’ is a foot tapper. The chemistry, lyrics and the blend of jazz makes it a personal favorite. Moreover, the visuals add an energy that make your head and feet move on their own.

Overall, Ek Main Aur Ek Tu is a typical Dharma Productions with the big stars, big marketing push and high production values. This time the screenplay and storyline work big time too. A good entertainer, this cute rom-com is sure to draw the Gen Y to a full house.

Verdict: Enjoy this Valentine’s day special

Rating : 4/5 – Article courtesy : behindwoods

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Movie Review Players Hindi 2012 Thriller

After the stupendous success of their last film ‘Race’, it took the usually active director duo Abbas-Mustan 3 years to come up with their new film. This time they decided to take up the Italian Job and desi-fy it. For a change, the film is an official remake and not a copy as has been the trend over the last couple of years.

The first Italian Job (1960) was a fun filled comic entertainer. The same film was remade in 2003 as a thriller that is claimed to be one of the greatest entertainers in Hollywood. Players has used the 2003 version as its baseline. Unfortunately, the film leaves out the fun aspect.

Charlie (Abhishek Bachchan) is an orphan brought up by a former con man Vinod Khanna. With the help of Vinod Khanna, he forms a team of skillful cons- Ronnie (Bobby Deol), Spider (Neil Nitin Mukesh), Riya (Bipasha Basu), Bilal (Sikander Kher) and Sunny [Omi Vaidya). They call themselves The Players. The team successfully pulls a heist when they rob gold bullion from Russia. But predictably, one of them double crosses the players .The film goes on to narrate how the team along with a new mate Naina (Sonam Kapoor), head out in search of the traitor to retrieve the booty and avenge the death of their captain.

While Players is the official remake of the Hollywood film, Abbas-Mustan have sprinkled generous portions of desi masala and their signature twists to cater to Bollywood sensibilities. Unfortunately, the film ends up too twisted. The first half moves fast with well planned and executed action scenes. The second half is the culprit where the timing of the songs plays the spoiler. The directors take the audience for granted by oversimplifying the plot. There are more than a few jumps in scenes which leaves you expecting answers at least towards the end. But the expectations are not met.

Abhishek Bachchan is a glamorous con. But he carries the same look throughout the film making his performance dull and boring. Vinod Khanna delivers well in his limited role. Bobby Deol is sidelined but impresses when on screen. Bhipasha portrays elegance and confidence. Sonam Kappor takes on a role different from her other films. However, her problems with emotional sequences follow in this film too. Neil tries well but his character falls flat due to poor characterization. Omi Vaidya and Sikander Kher were to be the comic relief. Their antics and Hindi draw a few grins. But their humour fails to make an impact. Omi Vaidya struggles with his one liners. After several tries one or two of them click towards the end. Johnny Lever has been Abbas Mustan’s lucky charm. Even without much scope, he does bring in a smile once in a while.

Technically, Ravi Yadav’s camera work is impressive. Action sequences have been carried out with tremendous skill. The chase sequences, escapes and train scenes were executed in style. Art direction by Ashish Ranade is a mixed bag. The train sequence was done very well but the villain’s lair was not well thought through, reminding you of sets from the 80s.

Music director Pritam delivered some good tracks in his last film Desi Boyz making you look forward to the music in Players. This again is a disappointment as no song leaves an imprint.

Overall the film is a decent watch by Bollywood standards. A great theme with some very good action sequences. However, oversimplification, an overdose of twists and the absence of humour undo a potentially good film.

Verdict: Italian Job- fun = Average Entertainer – Rating : 2.5/5

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Movie Review The Adventures of Tintin 3D

The sheer thrill of seeing one’s favourite childhood comic being transposed on to a different medium (film) combined with technology and the best of hands from Hollywood surely sets one’s expectations soaring. Steven Spielberg’s “The Adventures of Tintin” features superb animation and the most refined use of motion capture technology thus far. This film attempts to bond three different Tintin stories — most notably “The Secret of the Unicorn” (which is the film’s subtitle) as well as “The Crab with the Golden Claws” and “Red Rackham’s Treasure”.

Courtesy : NowRunning

What ‘The Adventures of Tintin’ boils down to is essentially an Indiana Jonesesque movie, and is very much in that vein; a rollicking tour around the globe, hunting for mysterious treasures with various complex outcomes and action set pieces.

Set in the 1930s, Tintin’s (Jamie Bell) adventure starts at a market place in Brussels. A few seconds after he purchases a miniature sailing ship he gets exorbitant offers to sell it off. He learns that the miniature is a replica of a 17th century sailing ship called the Unicorn.

Apparently the Unicorn was navigated by Captain Haddock’s (Andy Serkis) ancestor and was carrying huge treasures in its vaults when it was raided and sunk by the pirates. This ancestor was the only person who knew the exact location of the sunken treasures. So he left behind a clue on a parchment in the three identical miniatures of the Unicorn.

Mild humour is infused in this film by the bumbling police officers Thompson and Thomson (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost) and Tintin’s faithful canine Snowy.

The treasure hunt takes Tintin along with Captain Haddock through exciting and visually delightful chases. Easily the most stunning and ambitious of these is a chase through the streets of a Moroccan port. They are chasing a mysterious man by the name of Sakharine (Daniel Craig) who is also trailing the Unicorn treasure. The sequence is about five minutes long and is conducted in one single, unbroken shot which, given the ludicrous ambition, complexity and pacing of the action, would have been simply impossible if the film had been live action.

It also takes place in a photo-realistic environment, which gives the sequence a physicality that should be at odds with the exaggerated characters, but actually heightens the tension and excitement of the whole scene.

Robert Zemeckis’ design and creation of this film knocks anything he has attempted before. Zemeckis’ earlier films, “Polar Express”, “Beowulf” and “A Christmas Carol” failed to create that photo realistic version of humanity, because trying to motion capture and animate real people in that photo realistic way just makes humans look plastic and dead behind the eyes. Here there is a valid reason for this use. It could be done in no other way.

The animation is attempting photo realism but still has that cartoonish quality. They have the Herge tropes, the funny noses and weird hairstyles. Captain Haddock still looks like Captain Haddock from the comics but it’s Haddock as if he were a real life being.

That technique, however, is incredibly effective, and never distracting.

Unfortunately the sequences aren’t the most inventive. Beyond its gorgeous visuals the film resembles a conflation of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” with John Williams’s music always on the point of bursting into the Indiana Jones triumphal march, the film has very little to offer and it is a great shame.

Discussing Tintin’s action sequences makes it sound like it’s little more than a series of set pieces strung together around a wafer-thin plot.

The script is, quite frankly, all over the place, chock full of ellipsis which can sometimes be very helpful to a film but here it is just lazy and sloppy. The talented trio, Joe Cornish, Steven Moffat (of Doctor Who fame) and Edgar Wright haven’t done a very good job of covering the exposition. The plot depends heavily on too-perfect coincidences. It sets out to deliver thrills, spills and chills with as little extraneous stuff as possible, and at that it succeeds beautifully. Also, the dialogue delivery, I am sure would be an issue for the Indian audience.

This grand scale adventure story directed by Spielberg is a clean family film pitched to a much younger audience, probably those below eight years, for the slapstick comedy and good natured fun that does not resort to crass, lowest common-denominator pandering.

There are some very good parts in the film, but as a whole this film is disappointingly unremarkable.

Blistering Barnacles!!! Thundering Typhoons… My heart breaks to say so….

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Movie Review Arthur Christmas : Amazing

By Matt Patches Hollywood : We live in an age where six-year-olds have iPhones, most of our possessions live in a “cloud” and even the refrigerator connects to the Internet. Like it or not, technology has infused itself into every aspect of our lives—so it seems appropriate (and terrifying) that even Santa Claus’ gift delivery operation would upgrade to the 2.0 world. Arthur Christmas, the latest film from Aardman Animation (the Wallace & Gromit films, Chicken Run), introduces us to the newfangled operation. These days, Santa (Jim Broadbent) is just a figurehead for a full-scale war game run by the militant Steve (Hugh Laurie) and his band of black ops elves, who cruise the December skies in their souped up spaceship sleigh. Business is conducted in the most controlled manner, with each elf equipped with dog food launchers and back-up tape dispensers in case of any on-ground mishaps. On the sidelines is Arthur (James McAvoy), a bumbling black sheep who outweighs the entire force in Christmas spirit, but can barely stand on two feet.

The opening deliver sequence is expertly directed by Sarah Smith, whose action is reminiscent of the highly energized Ratatouille, injected with the quirky, British humor one would expect from Aardman. But the dazzling setup doesn’t turn Arthur Christmas into a bombastic, holiday riff, instead using its lead to dig underneath the 2.0 landscape to find true magic. When one present goes undelivered, Arthur stands up against his complacent family members to right the holiday wrongs. The anxiety-ridden younger son teams up with his Grandsanta (Bill Nighy) and an eager wrapper elf Bryony (Ashley Jensen), hitching up the classic sleigh and venturing into the great unknown, all in the name of a young girl who might wake up gift-less.

The trio’s adventure takes them around the globe, from the busy streets of Toronto to a colorful Mexican town to the planes of an African wildlife preserve. With each wrong turn and each obstacle to overcome (outrunning a pack of lions while wearing reindeer slippers is no easy feat), Arthur’s belief in the greatness of Santa and the wonders of the Christmas are tested. For kids, it might be a familiar existential crisis, but the warmth that accompanies Arthur’s triumphant spirit should resonate with those young and old. That’s an achievement in a Christmas movie, but Smith’s delicate balance of sentimentality and over-the-top humor blend and keep the movie moving at lightning speed.

The movie’s 3D animation and stereoscopic display are top-notch, but the real extra dimension comes from the cast. Aardman has a knack for realizing characters, supporting or leads, who feel fully developed—and Arthur Christmas is no exception. Smith and writer Peter Baynham (Borat, Arthur) know when you trap the Claus family in the result will be brilliance: Steve commanding the floor, Grandsanta telling “when I was young” stories, Santa falling asleep, Mrs. Claus (Imelda Staunton) keeping the peace and Arthur reminding everyone that it’s Christmas. That’s as real as actual Christmas dinner gets. The elves of the North Pole are equally eclectic and odd—even with hundreds of workers scurrying around the ship, each one gets their time to land a joke. Overlaid on the rousing tale his a whimsical score by Harry Gregson-Williams that, much like his work on Narnia, feels simultaneously fantastical and exhilarating (as any good sleigh ride should).

There are so many Christmas movies in the pantheon of the season that it’s almost unimaginable that another could slip in without relying on a gimmick or cynical spin, but Arthur Christmas is as warm, fuzzy and hilarious as they come. Crafted with authentic joy, performed by lively voice actors and subtly imbued with jokes for all ages (no frame goes by without at least one sight or pun gag), those who catch it this year may find themselves returning every season. It’s just that nice.

Movie Rating : 4/5 – it’s a visual treat, don’t miss out this christmas.

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Movie Review The Muppets English 2011

Thomas Leupp Hollywood : Now here is a reboot to cheer for. The Muppets heralds the return of Jim Henson’s beloved furry creations, resurrected from pop-culture irrelevance and lovingly restored to their former greatness in a vibrant comedy-musical.
Jason Segel, in addition to co-writing and starring in the film, served as executive producer and the project’s resident evangelist. His choice of collaborators is inspired. Directing is James Bobin, best known as the co-creator, along with Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, of HBO’s Flight of the Conchords, a show whose good-natured and yet slyly irreverent tone often recalled that of old Muppet Show episodes. (I’ve never quite recovered from its premature departure.) McKenzie served as music supervisor, contributing several original songs to the soundtrack. Segel’s co-star, Amy Adams, is the rare breed of actress who can transition from playing a pugilistic, potty-mouthed waitress (in The Fighter) to the role of an angelic schoolteacher with ease. And few actors portray cartoonish villainy with more verve than Oscar winner Chris Cooper.
The film opens with a montage introducing the character of Walter, a Muppet raised in Smalltown, USA, who figures himself the first and only of his kind until he happens upon an old Muppet Show rerun, after which he is inexorably transfixed. Together with his “brother,” Gary (Segel), and Gary’s fiancé, Mary (Adams), he travels out to Los Angeles to meet his idols, only to find their studio vacated and on the verge of being demolished by Tex Richman (Cooper), a sinister tycoon who covets the oil reserves beneath it.
The only way to save the studio, naturally, is a kick-ass variety show reuniting the Muppets, long estranged after the demise of their television series. Kermit the Frog is now holed up in a sprawling Bel Air mansion, which he once dreamed of sharing with his former flame, Miss Piggy, who has gone on to become Vogue’s “plus-size” editor in Paris. Consummate entertainer Fozzy Bear is slumming it in Reno with a tribute band dubbed the Moopets; Gonzo is consumed by his work as CEO of the plumbing company Gonzo’s Royal Flush; and Animal is seeking treatment at the Fresh Pathways anger management clinic.
Segel and company’s affection for the original Muppets property is clear, so much so that some viewers may dismiss the film as a tedious exercise in nostalgia. Pay them no heed. Kermit and the crew are as fresh and funny as they were three decades ago, and their anarchic brand of humor with young and old alike. The film suffers from an over-emphasis on its human characters (Gonzo’s miniscule screen time is particularly baffling), and McKenzie’s songwriting, while more than adequate, yields no memorable standouts in the vein of “Rainbow Connection” or “Mah Na Mah Na,” but these are minor quibbles. Only cynical curmudgeons like Statler and Waldorf would waste time finding fault with an experience this joyous.
Cast : Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones
Director : James Bobin
Rating : 4/5
Genre : Children’s/family, Comedy
Release Date : 11/23/2011
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