David movie review

	Release date: 01 Feb 2013
	Director : Bejoy Nambiar
	Rating : 3.25/5
	Producer : Bejoy Nambiar, Sharada Trilok
	Music Director : Bramfatura, Mikey McCleary
	Starring: Vikram, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Lara Dutta

Amalgamating multiple stories in a single film, is a concept that not many directors have managed to take up. From movies like Yuva, Life in a Metro, Salaam-E-Ishq and Shor in the City, some movies have been successful and some did not. With this weeks’ release David, the trend has once again been carried on. After his critically acclaimed film Shaitaan, Bejoy Nambiar is back with his bilingual film David. Starring the talented Neil Nitin Mukesh and South Star Vikram, the movie is set to release this Friday. Bollywood3 has got an exclusive movie review of David, so lets see how it is…

Story :

The story revolves around three characters of three different generations, Neil Nitin Mukesh in London (1975), Vinay Virmani in Mumbai (1999) and Vikram in Goa (2010). The three characters have different stories, but have one thing in common which is their name, David.

The first story is based on the life of David (Neil Nitin Mukesh)a gangster who lives with his beloved baba(Ghani). David is absolutely possessive about his baba and does not let anyone come near to him. On the other hand, David is in love with Noor (Monica Dogra), but does not reveal his affair to anyone because of their difference in caste.

The second track portrays a 1999 Mumbai. David (Vinay Virmani) lives with his dad, Father Noyal (Nassar) and his two sisters. He is an aspiring guitarist who dreams big for himself. It is only Neelam Mam (Lara Dutta) his guitar teacher, who believes in David’s dreams and supports him. One day David gets a huge opportunity to perform but his dad, Father Noyal becomes the victim of political problems. Now David is forced to forget his career, and starts appealing for justice.

The third story is of David (Vikram) in Goa, who is a drunkard and does no work. He is 40, and hates marriage as his long time girlfriend leaves him for some one else. He lives a carefree life and does not care about anyone, until he falls in love with Roma (Isha Sharvani). One fine day David comes to know that his best friend (Peter) is about to marry Roma, and a huge misunderstanding separates the couple. Finally, it is his friend Frenny (Tabu) who comes into his life and decides to help him.

Finally, as the three stories unfold, Will the David in London get up and fight for himself, and reveal his affair to his Baba? Will the David from Mumbai get justice for his father? and Whether the David from Goa, manages to get back Roma in his life? This forms the rest of the story.

Positive Points:

Even though Neil Nitin Mukesh has a few dialogues in the first half, his screen presence is what which holds the movie. He is surely the star of the film, and plays his role with lot of ease and perfection. Vinay Virmani carries the look of a musician aptly, and his performance is pleasing. Vikram surprises you in a never done before role . He brings the humor element in the movie and is quite convincing. Tabu’s performance as always, is bold and up to the mark. Isha Sharvani’s role as a mute girl is quite decent.

The real stars of David are Nasaar, Saurabh Shukla and Rohini Hattangadi who give a stunning performance. They are so apt for their roles, and give a lot of weight to the film. David has some nail biting scenes right throughout the movie. Milind Sonam in a small role is quite decent.

Negative Points:

Since the movie goes back and forth in time, it becomes a little confusing sometimes. Vinay Virmani’s character is not that convincing and is stereotypical. His story is slow in the first half, and slows down the pace of the movie. Vikram’s plot has no substance and many of his drinking scenes could have been completely chopped off.

The first half has less thrills, when compared to the second. Bejoy has successfully created three different stories in different eras, but their connection that is showcased is unrealistic. The climax showcased also does not live up to the expectations that have been built up from the beginning.

Technical Apects:

R.Rathnavelu, P.S.Vinod and Sanu Varghese require a special mention here for their incredible cinematography. Action sequences have been shot quite brilliantly, particularly the one involving Vinay Virmani. Songs are placed in the right sequences, especially the ‘Dama Dam’ song which features Sarika. Neil’s plot, which is set in black and white, makes the film’s look more authentic. Editing is apt and so is the background score. Bejoy Nambiar’s taste for aesthetics is miraculous, which creates an unusual beauty for the film.

Verdict :

On a whole, David falls in the category of new age cinema, which totally depends on the characters rather than the stars. Stunning performances by Neil Nitin Mukesh and some well designed thrills are sure shot plus points. On the flip side slow pace of the movie and a disappointing climax, spoils some of the fun. Finally, David is a film which is worth watching for its interesting and unusual way of story telling.

Sakshi Sivanand's hot stills

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Soundarya cute stills

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Senha's erotic poses

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Suman Ranganath sexy shots

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Simran's seductive poses

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Priyamani pretty poses

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Aruna Shields hot snaps

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Sonakshi Sinha's beauty treat

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Sonali Bendre's sensuous poses

Anjala Jhaveri hot shots

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Race 2 review

Release date: 25 Jan 2013

Director : Abbas-Mustan

Rating : 3/5

Producer : Ramesh S. Taurani, Ronnie Screwvala

Music Director : Pritam

Starring: Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone,John Abraham,Jacqueline Fernandez

 

Director duo Abbas Mustan, have been making thrillers right from the start of their careers. They have become specialists in this genre, and have churned out hits after hits. The 2008 super hit film Race, can be termed as one of their biggest hit in terms of thrills and action.

After the success of Race, they are back once again with its sequel Race 2. The film boasts of a huge star cast in Saif, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Jacqueline Fernandez, Amisha Patel and the evergreen Anil Kapoor. The trailers have caught on hugely, and the film has finally released today. Let’s see how it fares.

Story:

The story continues where it was left back in Race. Ranveer Singh(Saif Ali Khan) is a happy man who lives with his wife (Sonia) Bipasha Basu. One fine day Sonia gets killed in a bomb blast. Ranveer Singh chases down the culprits, only find out that a powerful and rich Armaan Mallik(John Abraham) is behind the murder. Ranveer cleverly plans a revenge against Amraan, with the help of his close friend RD(Anil Kapoor) and his assistant Cherry(Amisha Patel).

He flies down to Turkey and successfully manages to win Armaan Mallik’s trust, by wooing his sister Alina(Deepika Padukone). Both Armaan and Ranveer together plan for a huge illegal deal, and when they are making plans to execute this deal, Armaan comes to know that Ranveer has actually come to take his revenge. Rest of the story is how Ranveer and Armaan out do each other, and finally who wins the ultimate Race to the finish.

Positive Points:

Race 2 is high in style and attitude. The whole look of the film is awesome. Stylish costumes, stunning locales and high production values are surely worth a mention. Saif Ali Khan takes the cake once again in the film, and gives stunning performance. The introduction scenes of all the stars have been shot extremely well, especially Saif’s  entry. Race 2 has all the thrills, twists and turns that all Abbas Mustan films have.

John Abraham suits his role well, and makes a decent effort. He impresses highly with his chiseled body and is a perfect opponent for Saif. Deepika Padukone and Amisha Patel have nothing much to do but provide the necessary glamor quotient. John’s fight sequence with a foreigner, is well shot and showcases John’s body ultimately.

The twists and turns and all the suspense elements have been maintained decently. First half of the movie is crisp and moves on very swiftly. Anil Kapoor once again does an wonderful job, and brings the comic element to the whole film.

Negative Points:

Though Race 2 has everything from thrills, twists and stunning actors, it always reminds you of Race. One could easily get a feel what is going to happen next in the movie. The second half become obvious, and loses its plot in some places. John character could have been designed more edgily. In many scenes his character lacks the punch and is not given the necessary emphasis  which a villain needs to have in these kind of thrillers.

Climax has been dragged out and the film loses its way in the second half. Some scenes like the robbery episode could have been completely chopped off. Race 2 will mainly suffer because of the fact that it only reminds you of Race again and again.

Technical Aspects:

Abbas Mustan’s movies have always been high on technical values, and Race 2 is no exception. It has beautiful locales, stunning camera work and well designed stunts. Songs in the movie are decent, and especially the ‘Party on my mind’ song. The stunts in the movie are surely above Bollywood standards and specially the chase scene involving Saif Ali Khan.

Camera work is top notch, and showcases Turkey beautifully. The actors have been showcased well and the look designed for them is also worth mention. Dialogues are apt, and so is the editing. Abbas Mastan’s screenplay is disappointing in Race 2. He does not hold the audience right till the end. The thrill and interest which is built up in the first half subsides drastically in the second.

Verdict:

On a whole, Race 2 is one film which has all the trappings of a decent thriller. Stunning actors, great locations and some suspense elements are sure shot plus points. On the flip side, striking similarity to Race, and a dodgy second half completely spoil the fun. Finally, if you have not watched Race and do not mind watching huge multi-starrers with songs, dance and unexpected twists Race 2 can surely be given a shot.

Bandook movie review

Cast: Aditya Om, Manisha Kelkar, Arshad Khan
Direction: Aditya Om
Genre: Crime
Duration: 2 hours 10 minutes
Fri 25 Jan 2013

Story: A man turns to guns and violence, believing that's the only way to achieve power in society.

Movie Review: Bhola Kevat (Aditya Om) is a man of limited means who lives a miserable life in rural Uttar Pradesh. He gets harassed by cops and villagers for crimes he didn't commit, in every possible way, physically, psychologically and sexually!


Life changes for Bhola when he's rescued by Lochan (Arshad Khan). A politician's ace shooter, Lochan makes Bhola realise that to be feared, one must know how to use a gun. The two become star sharp-shooters, formidable names in UP's gang wars. Will Bhola be able to keep love and loyalty aside to be the best in the business?

The film intends to show the major role gun violence plays in politics but ends up focusing on one individual. There is no revelation in the story or emotional connect with characters. The film also doesn't take a stand on violence. Atrocities against girls, rich exploiting poor, are issues touched upon but seem unnecessary.

Dialogues seem more scandalous than authentic. The hero says, "Mard banne ke liye doh cheejen aani chahiye - condom chadana aur bandook chalana (you need to know two things to become a man - how to use guns and put on a condom)." Performances and songs are impressive. Actor-director Aditya Om plays his part with conviction. Arshad Khan is decent. Rekha Bhardwaj's song 'Chunav Re' stands out.

Bandook leaves you a tad confused about what exactly the filmmaker intends to portray. Positively, it doesn't glorify gun violence and captures the UP mafia well.

Mumbai Mirror movie review

Cast: Sachiin Joshi, Prakash Raj, Gihana Khan, Vimala Raman, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sudesh Berry, Aditya Pancholi, Prashant Narayanan
Direction: Ankush Bhatt
Genre: Thriller
Duration: 2 hours 7 minutes

Fri 25 Jan 2013
Story: A powerful and corrupt dance bar-boss exploits the Mumbai cops to boost his sleazy business; but a daring inspector cracks down on his plans, exposing 'rats' amidst his own men-in-uniform.

Movie Review: Chor Police anyone? We've all played the game. But here comes a new twisted tale to show us that there ain't nothing like a good cop or bad cop. A cop is a cop. That sets the premise for this fast-paced police-drama, filled with bad boys and some good fellas.
Shetty (Prakash Raj) is Mumbai's biggest bhai, owning several dance bars - a 'hot-bed' for other nefarious activities for his customers who are always 'tight'. Abhijeet Patil (Sachiin Joshi) is a cocky, super cool (a tad bit stylish too) and an audaciously overconfident inspector; who shows absolutely no mercy for one burning issue - atyachar against women. Of course, along with the 'khakee' comes some 'grey' too. He beds (one-night-stands), bets (on cricket matches) and snorts coke. On the other side, he hooks up with a pretty and pancaked TV crime reporter, Jiah ( Vimala Raman).
Adding more weight to this underbelly drama are characters like the unscrupulous CBI Officer, Yadav (Sudesh Berry) who ends every dialogue with 'carrect me if I wrong?'; Patil's boss-cum-mamu ACP Gaitonde ( Mahesh Manjrekar), Manish ( Prashant Narayanan), another cop and Patil's rival and Shetty's sex-pot, Rani ( Gihana Khan), who also doubles up as his item girl.


Sachiin Joshi does a fairly good job of a cool cop with a chip on his shoulder. His bheja satkaoing whenever he sees a woman abused - relevant in today's times. He slips into the character like a gun in a holster. However, what's missing is a booming baritone that could pack more punch. Prakash Raj, in his silk lungis and hard lines like 'jeeto toh rokda, warna Prem Chopra', adds humour with fear. Sudesh Berry strikes with his Bihari accent in a brief role. Aditya Pancholi tries to evoke fear, but doesn't go far.

Ankush Bhatt's slick flick grittily exposes the nexus between seedy cops and sleazy bars barons, albeit with a lot of Dabangg-isms. It has flaws in the first half, and also too many killings - random and ruthless. However, the second half sums up the suspense - blood soaked in tragic truths and raw realities.

It mirrors the ugly face of Mumbai, but one that's desperately calling for a clean-up job.

Mai Krishna Hoon

Cast: Juhi Chawla, Namit Shah
Direction: Rajiv S. Ruia
Genre: Animation
Duration: 2 hours 10 minutes
Avg Readers Rating:
Check out Main Krishna Hoon show timings in
Delhi/NCR
Fri 25 Jan 2013

Story: An orphan boy, who longs to have his own parents someday, finds happiness when he befriends Lord Krishna.

Movie Review: Kantaben (Juhi Chawla) runs an orphanage and funds it by mostly running a small-scale pappad business. One rainy night, she finds a baby abandoned in a basket, outside her orphanage. She takes him in and nurtures him. The circumstances in which she finds the baby, reminds her of Lord Krishna's birth and childhood. She thus names the boy (Namit Shah) Krishna. Krishna suffers from epilepsy. Things change for better for the boy, after he befriends Lord Krishna.

The film is not a full-fledged animation film. Barring lord Krishna's character and a few portions, the rest of the film is not animation. We wish the animation part was more as without it, the dramatic story isn't as effective and engaging.

The animated Lord Krishna is super cute and is the reason why you forgive the disjointed storyline. He is the hero of the film. The animation is decent if not first-rate.
Juhi Chawla plays a Gujarati character and we aren't sure if that is the reason why she chooses to go loud with her dialogues and expressions in most scenes. She makes you feel as if you are in a Kurkure commercial! She becomes subtle eventually for good.

Katrina Kaif and Hrithik Roshan are seen in special appearances. While Katrina's looks like a forced scene, Hrithik impresses even in the small but emotional scene he features in. The film, in fact, seems inspired by Hrithik's Koi Mil Gaya, where he overcomes all his short-comings after befriending an alien. Here it is Lord Krishna who creates magic and makes the world a better place.

Social issues have been unnecessarily added to the story. Child labour, discrimination on the basis of skin colour, milk being mixed with dangerous chemicals... add nothing to the story.

It is the presence of Lord Krishna that will make the kids in particular, ignore the flaws and enjoy the film which has both mischief and tears.

Inkaar movie review

Cast: Arjun Rampal, Chitrangada Singh, Deepti Naval, Kanwaljeet
Direction: Sudhir Mishra
Genre: Drama
Duration: 2 hours 10 minutes

Story: Advertising whizzes Rahul and Maya have an affair - one claims sexual harassment. Can the innocent present a strong-enough Inkaar?

Movie Review: You know those cakes that look gorgeous in pictures but collapse when they bake? Inkaar is like that. Polished-looking, its edges - the tension of feeling harassed at work, office politics, ego flashes - hold rather well. But its centre collapses in a soft mess. Featuring advertising hot-shots Rahul (Rampal) and Maya (Singh), Inkaar shows the heat and dust from work- place lust. It begins with Rahul and Maya meeting in a swimming pool after an old affair, seven years spent apart - you'd rather like to know what they're saying, but in what becomes an annoyingly familiar move, their words are drowned by background music. Next, Maya's promoted by the company where Rahul is CEO and was her mentor - and lover.

Here's where Inkaar should've begun rising - as Maya climbs the ladder, Rahul feels things shake and starts acting odious, passing wise-cracks or vibrating heat. Maya slaps a sexual harassment case onto him, to adjudge which social worker Mrs. Kamdar (Naval) arrives. But instead of becoming tauter, the film starts to unspool. Rather than let characters grow or scenes fully unfold, the camera careens around, frequently distracting. That's when the background score isn't flooding exchanges - although not drowning out Mrs Kamdar's remark, "Arre, do khoobsurat log kaam par jayenge, time spend karenge, toh sex toh hoga."

Alongside such howlers, the acting doesn't hold. Rampal's good at the snide, sardonic ex, recalling how he taught small-town Maya it's not "Channel" for No. 5. His nasty-tasty Rahul makes some mark but the same can't be said for Maya. Despite all that lovely make-up and the luscious hair, we just don't get enough sense of Maya's tightrope tangle between ambition and passion. But we do learn a lot about the corporate world presented here, where everyone gargles with whisky, throws up frequently and inappropriate office behaviour is necessary to pass the tedium of selling toothpaste.

In this odd-ball zone, even Mrs. Kamdar looks like all she wants is a drink and out, so there's a vote - yup, a vote - on the harassment. That's amidst Kanwaljeet flitting in and out as a B&W dad, characters dropping glasses like crystal full-stops and one asking another, "Ye sab kyun, kyun?!", to hear - "Kyunki mein gusse mein tha!"

Such an anti-climax, no.

Viswaroopam movie review

Rating : 3.25/5

Director : Kamal Haasan

Producer : Kamal Haasan, Chandra Haasan

Music Director : Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy

Starring : Kamal Haasan, Pooja Kumar, Upendra, Andrea Jeremiah

 

Universal Star Kamal Haasan’s ‘Vishwaroopam’ is all set for a massive worldwide release today. The film will not be releasing in Tamil Nadu and a few areas of Hyderabad(for today only) due to objections from certain Muslim communities. Vishwaroopam has been made with a massive budget and the film has an ensemble cast that includes Kamal Haasan, Shekhar Kapur, Rahul Bose and Pooja Kumar. Let us see how the movie is.

Story :

Vishwaroopam is a multi-layered story that is set in USA and Afghanistan, over a period of many years. The movie starts off with Vishwanath (Kamal Haasan) and his pretty young wife Dr. Nirupama (Pooja Kumar). Vishwanath is a dainty fellow who teaches Bharatanatyam and does not have any of the masculine qualities that Nirupama, who is a nuclear oncologist, desires. As a result, she starts developing feelings for her boss Deepak.

But she soon discovers that Deepak is not the suave and intelligent fellow he seems to be. He is a shady operator who has links with a terror outfit headed by Omar (Rahul Bose). As she gets into trouble, she also discovers that her dainty husband Vishwanath has more to him than what meets the eye. He has a past, and he hooks up with Nirupama for a reason.

Vishwanath and Nirupama soon get entangled in a dangerous plot that seeks to explode a dirty bomb in the heart of New York City. Can they stop Omar and his gang of thugs? What is Vishwanath’s past? That forms the story of ‘Vishwaroopam’.

Plus Points :

As usual, Kamal Haasan is brilliant in this film. He just excels in whatever he does and being a method actor, he brings so much realism into his performances. The man’s passion towards cinema deserves respect. Sekhar Kapur is dignified and delivers a classy performance. Rahul Bose is highly effective as the terrorist boss Omar.

The surprise package of the film is Pooja Kumar. She delivers a nice performance as the naive nuclear oncologist Nirupama. There is something very charming about her and the voice used for her Telugu dubbing suited her role perfectly. Andrea Jeremiah is ok.

The film’s look and feel is on par with Hollywood flicks. Especially the cinematography and the action sequences. They are outstanding and credit must be given to Kamal Haasan for taking Indian cinema forward in these areas. The scenes shot in Afghanistan and the interval firefight with the US Army stand out for their superb execution.

Screenplay is excellent in the second half. I really liked a narration technique used by Kamal in the film for revealing key flashback episodes, where the camera freezes in Matrix style, and takes the viewer back in time.

A lot of work has gone into making this movie and it is apparent. The locales, the chase sequences and the scenes involving the US Army require tremendous logistical planning.

Minus Points :

The film is slow, sometimes quite painfully. This is more evident in the first half, where Kamal is shown for a while as a dainty fellow with feminine traits. These scenes will not go down very well with entertainment seeking movie lovers.

The songs in this movie do not really gel with the film and they should have been avoided altogether . They merely act as speed breakers.

This is primarily a spy thriller, but the gripping narrative that is required to make such films effective is missing here.

Technical Aspects :

Sanu Varghese deserves special applause for his brilliant cinematography. Afghanistan has been shot beautifully. The dusty mountains, the deserts and the vast expanses of wasteland – they all seem so majestic in the movie.

Editing could have been sharper, especially in the first half. Background music is good, though it seems to have liberally used a few sounds from ‘The Dark Knight’. Choreography of the action sequences is fantastic.

As a director, Kamal Haasan excelled in the technical aspects of filmmaking. But he should have speeded up the pace of narration in the first half.

Verdict :

Vishwaroopam is a technically brilliant movie, but its Box Office appeal will most likely be limited to multiplexes and A centers. Brilliant cinematography and superbly shot action sequences are major assets for the film. A very slow pace of narration at times and some poorly placed songs spoil the overall effect. Kamal Haasan deserves respect for having the courage to mount the film on such a scale and with such high technical values.

Satruvu movie review

Cast: Srikanth, Aksha, Rehman, Giri Babu, Brahmanandam, Raghubabu, Jocky, Prabhakar and Duvvasi Mohan Direction: NSR Prasad Genre: Thriller Duration: 2 hours 28 minutes Avg Readers Rating:

Story: Anu (Aksha) is the daughter of the city' mayor and heir to a fortune running into thousands of crores. Some unidentified killers hatch a plan to kill her but is saved by Shankaranna (Srikanth), a small time conman. She appoints Shankar as her bodyguard to protect her from her unknown nemesis.

Movie Review: When people want an opinion about a movie, they don't go asking if the performances are intense, or if the direction incredible, or if the editing is ground breaking. More often than not they just want to know if the movie is any good at all. Most reviews are extended answers of the same question. To put it simply, this movie is just too lame! Read on for the extended analysis.

We have Anu, a typical damsel in distress who loses her in her childhood. She is the daughter of the city's mayor on the threshold of inheriting a fortune running into a few thousand crores. It has to be said all's not well between the father and daughter. Anu hates the corrupt ways of her dad and goes abroad to pursue her studies. Thanks to a few unforeseen turn of events she lands in Hyderabad.

One day she is attacked by some unidentified goons. Shankaranna (Srikanth) a small time goon comes to her rescue. Anu promptly makes him an offer to be her bodyguard and clings on to him for her dear life. Meanwhile, the CBI is in hot pursuit of a benami land owner who own properties worth crores. There are a few more twists in the tale before the villain is revealed. How our man saves the damsel in distress is what the movie is all about.

The movie is all about Anu and the filmmaker seems to have added Srikanth's character as an afterthought. Srikanth does his bit to breathe life into a poorly conceived character but it just doesn't add up. Aksha has a lot of screen space but the script is so slipshod that no amount of acting was going to save the day for her.

It seems like a B-Grade action film from the nineties and everything looks too outdated. There are too many loopholes in the script and the execution so analysis into what all went wrong will be a waste of time.

Last Stand

Last Stand – Enjoyable Popcorn Entertainer

 

 

		Release date: 18 Jan 2013
		Rating : 3.25./5
		Director : Kim Ji-woon
		Producer : Lorenzo di Bonaventura
		Music Director : Mowg
		Starring : Arnold Schwarzenegger,Forest Whitaker,Johnny Knoxville

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger is the alpha dog of action films. Together with Sylvester Stallone, he utterly dominated the Hollywood action film genre in the 70′s, 80′s and early 90′s. After retiring as the Governor of California, Arnie is making a comeback. Let us see how his flick ‘The Last Stand’ is

Story :

Ray Owens (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is the sheriff of Sommerton Junction, a quiet and very small town near the US-Mexico border. He is a former LAPD narcotics special agent who has decided to call it a day and settle down in for a peaceful life.

But trouble soon comes looking for him in the form of a notorious drug cartel boss known as Gabriel Cortez ( Eduardo Noriega ). Cortez is on the run from the FBI and he is headed for Sommerton Junction, to cross over into Mexico.

FBI agent Bannister (Forest Whitaker) tries his best to stop Cortez, but he is thwarted by the superior firepower of the drug boss. All that stands between Cortez and Mexico is Ray Owens and his team of inexperienced but courageous deputies.

Can Owens stop Cortez? Does the old man still have it in him? Watch the film to find out.

Plus Points :

Arnold Schwarzenegger can still pack a punch. The punches though, are a lot slower than they used to be. The best part about Arnie’s performance in this film is his acknowledgment of father time’s victory over his body. He knows he is slower and weaker, and he fights accordingly.

Noriega turns in a decent performance as the cartel boss. Forest Whitaker is just about ok.

The film is laced with humourous and witty dialogues. The action sequences have been conceived well. Sure, some of them are outrageous, but this is an Arnold Schwarzenegger film so what did you expect?

The car chase sequences have been shot well. If you are a fan of the Chevy Corvette or the Ford Mustang, you will love them even more.

Minus Points :

The plot, if you can call it that, is extremely lame and predictable. You will know what is going to happen next.

Violence is a little too graphic in the movie, akin to what is found in ‘The Expendables’. The bad guys keep bursting into pieces.

Arnold looks uncomfortably old in a few close up shots. If you are an Arnie fan, you will squirm in your seats when he puts on those reading glasses to look at something closer.

Technical Aspects :

Director Jee Woon Kim has played his cards smartly. He has managed to keep the entertainment quotient in the film high, despite the harebrained plot.

Cinematography is pretty good,especially in the action sequences. Editing is neat. Background score is effective

Verdict :

The Last Stand is an enjoyable old school action flick. Arnold Schwarzenegger is back and the old man can still pack a punch. Just don’t try to analyze the ‘plot’ . Go with the flow and have fun with this popcorn entertainer.

Inkaar movie review

 

Inkaar Movie Review

The moviegoers have developed a taste for innovative, out of the box stories. Topics that were once considered taboo are being attempted on the Hindi screen. Pushing the envelope within commercial parameters is the new mantra. Known for attempting diverse stories in film after film, Sudhir Mishra takes on a hitherto untold topic for his newest venture INKAAR: Sexual harassment in a work environment.

A film like INKAAR is extremely relevant, topical and relatable in today’s times. Sexual harassment is a reality and one needs to address it. We ought to discuss it — with students, with grownups, with working men and women, within and outside organizations. One has to be vigilant, on the guard against those indulging in it and getting away scot free. The ones who endure harassment are often scared to come out in the open, fearing that it may ruin their personal/professional life.

INKAAR may revive memories of DISCLOSURE [Michael Douglas, Demi Moore] and also Abbas-Mustan’s AITRAAZ and Madhur Bhandarkar’s CORPORATE, but INKAAR depicts the clash of egos most differently. Beneath the sexual harassment issue that it addresses, there’s a love story that comes to the fore during the culmination of the film. However, the writing isn’t watertight this time. More on that later!

At one of India’s leading ad agencies, the battle for the top job between Rahul [Arjun Rampal], a venerated advertising CEO, and Maya [Chitrangda Singh], his ambitious protégé, takes a dramatic turn when she files a sexual harassment complaint against him. It’s the job of the committee set up by the agency to hear both sides of the story and work through the layers of lies and accusations to find out who’s really telling the truth and who’s lying. The stakes are high because only one of them [Rahul or Maya] will walk away with their reputation intact. Will the committee really be able to uncover the truth?

INKAAR is a tough film to make and one must compliment Sudhir Mishra for sticking his neck out. Let me add, INKAAR is not just about sex. It’s about greed, ambition and power play. Generally, in a majority of Hindi films, it’s the man who seeks sexual favors, while the woman is projected as someone who’s meek. But the woman here is shrewd and spiteful. When the two sexes collide, what the spectator gets to see is not just the issue that the film raises, but also the games the ambitious play to reach the top spot.

Mishra is a sensitive storyteller. At the same time, he’s a director’s actor. Given the subject matter, INKAAR would’ve turned into a sleaze fest, a cheesy film, but the director handles the provocative moments elegantly. However, like I pointed out at the outset, the writing is gripping in parts, not in its entirety. A few episodes are engaging, but a couple of them lack the hammer-strong impact. Besides, the screenplay should’ve been exhilarating and engaging towards the resolution. Also, the track of the father [Kawaljit Singh] is a little difficult to comprehend. What was the writer trying to convey in those scenes? Dialogue are incisive, razor-sharp and acidic, depending on the situation.

INKAAR succeeds in bringing out the right emotions from its actors. Arjun Rampal displays remarkable understanding of the character. Post CHAKRAVYUH, which released a few months ago, this is yet another power-packed performance that makes you realize that this supermodel has transformed into a super actor. Chitrangda immerses herself into the role brilliantly. She uses her lustiness in a wicked, dominating way and that’s what catches your eye. It’s great to see Deepti Naval after a hiatus. The film has a collage of talented actors, which includes Vipin Sharma, Mohan Kapur, Asheesh Kapur, Shivani Tanksale, Gaurav Dwivedi and Rehana Sultan [cameo] and each of them stands out in his/her respective part.

On the whole, INKAAR is for spectators of serious cinema. Caters to a niche audience!

SVSC review

 

		Release date: 11 Jan 2012
		Director : Srikanth Addala
		Producer : Dil Raju
		Music Director : Mickey J Meyer
		Starring : Venkatesh, Mahesh Babu, Samantha, Anjali

 

The eagerly awaited multi-starrer ‘Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu’ is all set for its grand release tomorrow. We have been to an exclusive screening of the film at Prasad Labs and we are bringing you the first and exclusive review of ‘Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu’. The film has Victory Venkatesh and Mahesh Babu in the lead roles and Srikanth Addala is the director. Dil Raju is the producer of the film.

Story :

The story of ‘Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu’ is set in a small village called Relangi. The story revolves around a lovable family headed by Prakash Raj. Fondly called as Relangi Mavayya by his nephews and nieces, Prakash Raj is seen as a kind hearted gentleman who gives great importance to human values and relationships. He has two sons – Peddodu (Venkatesh) and Chinnodu (Mahesh Babu).

Venkatesh is seen as a strong willed and highly emotional guy who does not like to bow down to others. He believes in doing what is right and waits for the ‘big golden chance’ in life. He is unemployed, but very honest and loves his younger brother Mahesh a lot. Seetha (Anjali) is his maradalu. She is very attached to Venkatesh and grows up believing him to be her husband.

Mahesh Babu on the other hand, is a witty and charming young lad who is irresistible to women. He tries to talk his way out of situations using his wit. He falls in love with Geetha (Samantha), who happens to be the daughter of Rao Ramesh. Rao Ramesh is seen as an arrogant guy who ridicules Prakash Raj and his family for their low wealth.

The unemployment of Venkatesh and the ridicule heaped on the family by relatives puts some strain on the relationships. Both Venkatesh and Mahesh Babu find that their love lives also get affected by all this.

What does Prakash Raj do in these circumstances? Can Venkatesh and Mahesh Babu win the women they love? That forms the story of ‘Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu’.

Plus Points :

First, director Srikanth Addala and producer Dil Raju deserve applause for having the courage and the determination to mount such a project in this day and age. Their efforts are evident and it is a treat to see Venkatesh and Mahesh Babu together on the big screen.

Venkatesh is at his best as the straightforward and emotional elder brother. He looks macho, performs with ease in the emotional scenes and brings a lot of dignity to the movie. His scenes with Anjali have been conceived very nicely.

Mahesh Babu is very cool as the handsome and witty younger brother. His godavari district slang and clever one liners will stand out in the film and he succeeds in making people laugh. His romantic scenes with Samantha are brilliant. During the closing stages of the movie, Venkatesh and Mahesh Babu displayed great chemistry as siblings and their performance in the Bhadrachalam episode is a treat to watch.

Samantha is beautiful and adorable in this movie. Her cute expressions and romantic scenes with Mahesh Babu make you want to root for her. Anjali is good as the innocent Seetha. Her expressions are pleasant and she has very good screen presence.

Prakash Raj has done a great job as the father. He is dignified and classy. Jayasudha is neat. Rao Ramesh is highly effective as the jealous and arrogant guy. Murali Mohan, Rohini Hattangadi, Ravi Babu and Tanikella Bharani are good.

The film has beautiful emotions – the bond between brothers, the care shown by an uncle for his niece, the concern shown by a mother for her good but emotional son. It is these emotions and the pleasant nature of the film that pull you in so convincingly.

Middle class family ambiance has been shown realistically and convincingly. The first half of the film goes by at a nice and breezy pace. All the songs in the movie have been shot well.

There are some heart touching scenes in the movie, like the one where Venkatesh and Mahesh Babu want to express their affection for each other but hold back due to personal reservations.

Minus Points :

There is a slight lag in narration in the second half. It is not uncomfortable, but it can be felt. The film needs to be watched without expecting any of the traditional heroism associated with Venkatesh and Mahesh Babu. If you go looking for that ,you may be disappointed.

Great emphasis is placed on family bonding and human emotions and traditional commercial elements take a back seat here.

Technical Aspects :

Guhan’s cinematography is outstanding in the movie. The visuals are rich and colourful and the frame appears very rich. Mickey J Meyer’s music is an asset for the movie. Editing is decent. Dialogues have been written very well.

Srikanth Addala’s success lies not in brilliant storytelling, but in patiently weaving a family drama that balances Venkatesh and Mahesh Babu well. It is not an easy thing to do in this day and age.

Verdict :

Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu is a beautifully woven tale of human emotions. The film is a must watch, just to see Venkatesh and Mahesh Babu bond so well on the big screen if not for anything else. Good performances from the lead cast, clean family drama and some nice emotional moments are big bonuses. Don’t go in expecting traditional heroism from Venkatesh and Mahesh Babu. On the whole, SVSC is a Sankranthi entertainer that you need to watch with your family.

Nayak Review

 

		Release date: 09 Jan 2012
		Director : V.V. Vinayak
		Producer : D .V. V Danayya
		Music Director : Thaman
		Starring : Ram Charan, Kajal Agarwal, Amala Paul

 

Mega Power Star Ram Charan will hit the screens with ‘Naayak’ tomorrow. We have been to an exclusive premiere show held at Prasad Labs and we are bringing out the review for you well ahead of tomorrow’s release. V.V.Vinayak directed this movie and Danayya is the producer. Kajal Aggarwal and Amala Paul are the heroines in the film. Let us see how Naayak is.

Story :

Cherry ( Ram Charan) is a software engineer in CgTrix. He has an uncle named Jilebi (Brahmanandam), who unexpectedly runs into trouble and angers the local Don Gandipeta Babji (Rahul Dev). Cherry hatches a plan to save Jilebi from Babji and falls for Babji’s sister Madhu (Kajal) in the process.

As this is on, a series of high profile killings start taking place in Hyderabad and Kolkata. Minister Rawat (Pradeep Rawat) is targeted and Cherry finds himself taking the blame. A CBI team (led by Ashish Vidhyardhi) starts hunting for Charan and this leads to unexpected situations.

We now get to know that there is another angle to the story, involving Amala (Amala Paul). How does Cherry escape from the CBI’s clutches? Can he prove his innocence? What is the Kolkata angle? That forms the rest of the story.

Plus Points :

Ram Charan did a great job in this movie. His voice modulation is very good now. Charan is a very good dancer and this is reaffirmed yet again with Naayak. Charan’s dances in ‘Laaila o Laaila’ and ‘Hey Naayak’ are superb.

Kajal Aggarwal looks gorgeous in the movie and her scenes with Charan came out well. Amala Paul does not have too much importance in the film and her presence is limited to a few scenes and a couple of songs in the second half. But she looks great.

Brahmanandam has a meaty role as Jilebi and he entertains brilliantly. His expressions and characterization will remind you of his performance in Ravi Teja’s ‘Krishna’. Posani Krishna Murali is highly effective as a Kolkata criminal and his ‘chocolate scenes’ in the second half will leave you in splits of laughter.

M.S.Narayana is funny as a perpetually drunk CBI lip reading specialist. Jayaprakash Reddy is good as Rahul Dev’s Pedananna

The first half of the film is very good – with the right mix of comedy, action and romance. Pace is very fast and there is hardly a boring moment in the entire film. Just as the second half starts to get a little heavy on action and violence, Posani comes in and livens up the proceedings.

Songs have been shot brilliantly – especially ‘Katti lanti Pilla’, ‘Subhaleka’ and ‘Oka Choopuke Padipoya’.

Minus Points :

There is nothing much in terms of script or story and the plot will remind of you of a number of hit Telugu films. Once the twist is revealed during the interval block, you can predict the outcome. There are a few loopholes in the plot and cinematic liberties have been taken, as is the case with most masala entertainers.

The story does not move forward much in the second half and it is saved only by the high entertainment quotient. Violence is a little too graphic in the movie and it may not go down well with some sections of the audience.

Some fights are a little over the top. Climax block is not very satisfactory and it could have been handled in a much better way.

Technical Aspects :

Chota K Naidu’s cinematography is a major asset to the movie. The songs which have been shot in Iceland look spectacular. Editing is good. Dialogues have been written well, especially for the comedians. Thaman’s background score is effective.

Vinayak has a great ‘mass pulse’ and this fact is evident once again in this movie. Though there is nothing great in terms of direction or screenplay, Vinayak ensured that the film has a very high entertainment quotient with a good narration speed.

Verdict :

Naayak is a thorough entertainer. The film has some very enjoyable comedy. Good performances from Charan, Brahmanandam, Posani and M.S.Narayana give a major boost to the proceedings. On the flip side, graphic violence, a predictable script and a less than satisfactory climax spoil the flavour a bit. On the whole, Naayak is a perfect Sankranthi entertainer that has the potential to rake in lots of money at the Box Office.

Sevakudu review

Banner-Venkataramana Productions
release-4th Jan

cast-Srikanth,Krishna,Charmi,

Manjula,Brahmanandam, Nazar,Pradeep Rawat, Azad etc
Producer-Muttineni Satyanarayana
Director-V.Samudra
Producer-N.Sudhakar
Music-Srikanth Deva

Story

Vijayawada SI Ramachandrayya(Nasser) who is honest and sincere believer of law, dreams that one day his son Surya(Srikanth) will become a police officer and do what he couldn't do. Put all the powerful goons behind the bars!. Surya is already into action delivering justice in his own style saying 'No Judgement...Only Punishment' and asking all to break the rules.

Surya who later has change of mind comes to the city as Police Officer only to be arrested for the murder of NRI Lakshmi Krishna Prasad(Krishna) who comes to Vijayawada to serve the poor offering free education and treatment by constructing schools and hospitals. What is the real mystery behind the murders and how Srikanth fulfills his father's dreams and aspirations should be unraveled on silver screen.

Performances

Srikanth proved that if given a chance he can shine in powerful roles. Though his dances looked routine, his dialogue delivery and ease in action is quite good. Charmi did not have any scope for performance but she looked hot. Nasser once again came with top class performance. Krishna and Manjula with their special appearances generated interest in the film.

Analysis

Director Samudra made mess of entire story with out concentrating on script and screen play. He forgot the fact that politics is a vast area and he can not offer solution to each and every problem. He started off on a good note to show the strengths and weakness of police force and had he wove the script sticking to it accordingly it would have worked out well. But he included scams,black money, terrorists, rapes,politicians, criminals and what not.

Finally he failed at finding a suitable ending. He talks about changing the system and makes mockery of Indian democracy with PM and President leasing out Vijayawada to an unknown NRI and a highly temperamental son of an SI. Ultimately he ended testing the patience of viewers though the movie has some good message.

Technicals

Editing could have been better for entire part of the film.Director could have done away with some gory scenes like chopping off heads. Comedy of Brahmanandam is forcibly inserted. Music of Srikanth Deva is below average but BGM is ok. Choreography could have been better.

Finally
Sevakudu spoiled the show with too many ingredients.

 

916 KDM Prema

 

Critic's Rating:   Cast: Kranthi, Simer Motwani, Roopa Kaur Direction: Hemanth Genre: Romance Duration: 2 hours 15 minutes Avg Readers Rating:

Rishi loves Padmavathi. She drives him crazy. He drives us nuts. Padmavathi's only fault for Rishi being so madly in love with him is that she once goes out of her way to save his life in an accident. He cannot forget her. And she does not allow him to get anywhere near her. Will Rishi's love as pure as the 91.6 per cent 22 carat gold triumph?

Son of a businessman, Rishi (Kranthi) would rather marry a prostitute from the village than get entangled with any girl from the city. He does love her but shudders at the prospect of having to play dad to a baby he did not sire. But marrying a girl from the village is still at the back of his mind.

He drinks and drives and meets with an accident. That's when Padmavathi (Simer Motwani), a village girl goes out of her way to help him recuperate. She would rather go her way but Rishi wants to marry her. The girl is simply not interested. Rishi cannot take no for an answer. The rest of the film is about what he turns into because of his obsession with her.

Trying to trace the girl, Rishi becomes miserable and beggarly. If being in love turns someone into a dirty looking and filthy creature, one cannot help but shudder at the prospect of even having to mention the word love. So mad is he after Padmavathi that after a certain point of time in the movie, one becomes allergic to the name. One man's food is certainly another man's poison.

There are scenes that are absurd. And more scenes which are more than absurd. Rishi vexes you with his love. At one time when she traces the girl, he forces a spear to be pierced from his stomach out. No one would survive that. Director Hemanth ensured he did. No one can physically remove the biological heart to be given to his lady love. Director Hemanth made Rishi do just that.

How dare one question the director's talent? You don't like it, don't watch it.

Rajdhani Express review

Release date: 4 Jan 2013

Director : Ashok Kohli

Rating : 1.5/5

Producer : Ritika Kohli, Rajesh Patel

Music Director : Lahu Madhav, Ritesh Nalini

Starring: Leander Paes, Jimmy Sheirgill, Priyanshu Chatterjee

Leader Paes, is undoubtedly one of the biggest sports person in India. He has brought many laurels to the country and has won major Tennis tournaments in his illustrious career. However 2013 is going to be a special year for Leander, as he is making his Bollywood entry with his much awaited debut film Rajdhani Express. Also starring Jimmy Shergill and Gulshan Grover, Rajdhani express has finally hit the screens today. Let’s see how it is.

Story:

Keshav( Leander Paes), is an orphan who is brought up by his uncle. He is uneducated and mostly helps his uncle in his illegal activities. This is also the time when Keshav falls in love with his uncle’s daughter Reena(Sayali Bhagat). One fine day Keshav’s uncle knows about his love affair with Reena and kicks him out of the house.

A  depressed Keshav then boards the Rajdhani Express from Delhi to Mumbai. On the course of his journey he meets four other fellow passengers, who have their own set of problems. As the journey heads half way, one of the passenger turns violent and takes the rest of the passengers as his hostage. When the news of this tense situation spreads all over, the police department appoints Deputy Commissioner Yadav(Jimmy Shergill) to free the hostages. Finally, Who takes the passengers as hostages? What does Keshav has to do with the whole situation? and How does Yadav free all the hostages? That forms the rest of the story.

Plus Points:

The only plus point of the movie is Jimmy Shergill. He looks and plays his part to perfection. Though his role is similar to that in A Wednesday, he manages to deliver a striking performance. All the scenes related to the hostage situation and they way he plans and plots the escape is decent. Sudhanshu Pandey’s role as a Bengali brings some laughs in the second half. Railway control room scenes between Jimmy and his colleagues make an decent impact.

Minus Points:

This movie loses its plot, right from the start of the film. Leander Paes, who is the main protagonist of the film, fails largely to hold on to the plot. He simply does not have the sufficient screen presence, or the acting skills that are required to be in Bollywood. He looks raw and does not show any facial expressions.

There is absolutely no seriousness in the whole plot, and the first half moves at a very slow pace. Scenes have been dragged out to the core, and irrelevant comedy has been invoked. The thrill, plot and action which every thriller is associated with, is highly missing in Rajdhani Epxress. Senior actors like Gulshan Grover and Kiran Kumar are wasted in simple roles. Sayali Bhagat does not have anything to do and appears mostly in two or three scenes.

Technical Aspects:

Since major part of the movie is based in the train, the whole set up looks real. Camera work is decent and so is the editing. Director Ashok Kohli loses the plot and makes the film very confusing. The story behind each character is not at all justified and has many loopholes. Songs of the movie are just mediocre and so are the lyrics. Screenplay is not at all gripping and the conversations between the lead characters look unreal.

Verdict:

On the whole, Rajdhani Express will end up being one experience in Lander Paes’s life, which has come and gone very quickly like the train itself. Decent acting by Jimmy Shergill and some thrilling moments are the only plus points. Finally, Rajdhani Express is one film which can be completely ignored and stayed away this weekend.

Prabhudeva's tribute to Sachin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNG2G4s74tY

Table No 21 review

		Release date: 4 Jan 2013
		Director : Aditya Datt
		Producer : Viki Rajani, Sunil A Lulla
		Music Director : Gajendra Verma, Sachin Gupta
		Starring: Rajeev Khandelwal, Tena Desae, Paresh Rawal

Rajeev Khandelwal’s controversial television debut show, ‘Sach Ka Saamna’ comes to the silver screens with Table No. 21. Set in the beautiful landscapes of the Fiji Island, the movie promises to lure the viewer’s attention right till the end. Starring the experienced Paresh Rawal, Table No 21 is directed by Aditya Bhatt. After a series or promotions this movie has finally hit the screens. Let’s see how it is.

Story :

The story revolves around a happily married couple Vivaan (Rajeev Khandelwal) and Siya (Tena Desae) who win a free lucky draw trip to the Fiji Islands. It is when Mr. Khan (Paresh Rawal) who is the host to their trip, tricks them to play a game which has been viewed by eight million people through the internet.

To the couple’s surprise with each question, the game becomes more and more dangerous, leaving the couple but with no choice but to play the game. With every question there is a task that they will have to perform to win the price money of 21 crores. The rules are absolutely simple though; if you lie, you die. The rest of the movie is about the couple playing the game and whether or not they lie or die.

Plus Points :

Rajeev’s good looks and effective acting, Tena’s sensuality and Paresh’s villainous avatar is something that gives the movie a heads up. He sets the screen ablaze with his clever acting skills. He holds the movie right till the end and is worth watching in the climax. The concept of settling a dangerous game setting in the beautiful landscapes of Fiji is quite interesting.

The climax of the movie is really is an eye-opener and will definitely touch the lives of many. The second half of the movie is interesting and shocking. Tena’s beauty is sensibly used in some of the scenes. The game and the whole thrills associated with the game are worth a mention and also make you stick to your seats.

Minus Points :

The movie in some places seem to be less realistic. Even though Aditya Dutt has done a good job with the plot, the flick could have been more extended. Few rounds of the game seem to be outdated, which makes the first half of the movie a little slow and tedious. Even though Paresh has carried his look well, the actor would have been giving some more humor to carry, which is his forte. The first half could have been more sleek as some scenes have been dragged out.

Technical Aspects :

Numbers like ‘Mann Mera’ and ‘O Sajna’ are set in the perfect scene and timing. The director has taken a smart step in giving the movie less songs and more suspense. Aditya Dutt gets is successful in making the second part of the movie much more interesting than the first.

He makes the questions more dangerous, tensed and even sometimes nail-biting. Cinematography is cool and shows the fiji islands and the whole hotel set up efficiently. Screen play is the heart of the movie and is apt in most of the film

Verdict :

On the whole, Table No. 21 is one film will does not disappoint at all. Paresh rawal in a villainous avatar after a long time and the amazing chemistry of the new on-screen couple are sure shot plus points. On the flip side this movie is not the regular pop corn entertainer. Finally, If you are a fan of saucy thrillers an edge of the seat moments, Table No 21 is a film which is surely worth a watch. The social message in the end is the icing in the cake.