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Finding Fanny (2014)
Wonderful cast, lovely movie
A delightfully slow meandering movie with a fantastic cast. Naseeruddin Shah and Dimple Kapadia and Pankaj Kapur absolutely rock this movie. Deepika and Arjun blend into this movie so well--but the movie is definitely the older three.
Set in a quaint little village in Goa, the story is about 4 people who get thrown together on a road trip to "find Fanny" and the lessons life and love teach them on this journey. The scenery is so gorgeous and just emits a lazy, summery sunny afternoon sort of taste. The characters and the place seem to be caught up in a delicious time warp that makes you want to leave your electronic gadget filled busy life and just go off in search of this village.
Naseerudin Shah and Dimple Kapadia are simply brilliant. Mr Shah doesn't he even have to say anything--his expressive acting is dialogue enough. Dimple Kapadia as the matriarchal mother in law who is a force to contend with, is an absolute star. I saw them both last in Being Cyrus and while it seems like an odd couple to throw together, they are absolutely perfect.
A must watch--preferably the English version and not the one dubbed in Hindi
Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
A bit disappointing
I've been a huge Transformers fan, ever since the first one came out. Unfortunately, this movie was a bit of a let down. The characters (Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Lockdown) are still great. And the graphics are still mind boggling. Especially some scenes of Lockdown's fighting with Optimus Prime are a real treat.
However, the storyline is a bit weak and the new characters (humans) don't give this movie the same zing as the earlier ones. Also, the back-story of Lockdown is a bit weak not coming through very clearly in the movie. Mark Wahlberg plays the part of an out of work and down on his luck inventor, reasonably well. However, they could have done better with the casting of his daughter. She can't act at all and she just doesn't bring out any sense of kinship with Mark Wahlberg!
Overall, quite disappointing-but a good watch for the graphics and the bots.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
Another lovely animated movie
Generally sequels tend to disappoint--very few tend to keep the story and characters alive and true. This is one such one. I didn't think the graphics and animation could get any better--but they do. How does one make a dragon so absolutely adorable and so expressive! Credit and appreciation to the team behind this movie for making the characters and scenes come alive. Two scenes that really stood out in my mind--one is the way Toothless communicates despite not speaking!! And the other is the way Valka is introduced into the movie-it is just too cool the way she rides her dragon out of the clouds. Stunning imagery and visuals--a must watch.
Body of Proof (2011)
Lead character lets down the show
I started watching this serial thinking it would be another nice crime series. Some of the stories were really quite interesting and the relationship between the series characters has been portrayed well by all of them. All except the lead character, playing the ME Megan Hunt, Dana Delany. She comes across so artificial and so over dramatic that it spoils the mood of the story. Even while hunting for her father's killer, rather than coming across as sad and emotional she comes across irritating. Her portrayal of the ME as an arrogant, know it all person who doesn't respect authority or people is quite horrible.
Even in the most poignant scene where she confronts her father's killer, she still doesn't convey her sadness or anger convincingly. Also quite surprising that the lead character seems to be more about style than substance. While I'm sure MEs dress well am not sure if landing up at crime scenes in 10" stilettos is quite practical. The series director should have chosen a better lead for this.
Khatta Meetha (2010)
Hilarious movie!!!
I think this is one of the few movies where Akshay Kumar is absolutely hilarious and in his element in a comic role. He has acted really well, playing the middle class contractor in a small time Indian town. Another character who is priceless in this is Rajpal Yadav. As the sidekick to the contractor sahib, he is a riot with his comic timing. With the two of them in the lead roles, this movie keeps you laughing for quite a bit. Yes, the movie tends to get a bit long, but that is not unlike any other Hindi movie. Trisha isn't very convincing in her role and does look a bit artificial. The first half of the movie has most of the laughs when the character of Akshay Kumar is introduced to the film goers. One sees how he is a struggling contractor, made fun of at home by his elder brothers. He however refuses to give into all this negativity and realizes that his brothers are not doing the right thing and are crooks. The second half of the movie is a bit more serious where one sees Akshay come to his senses and do the right thing by his father and his sister. Overall a nice watch.
Zanjeer (2013)
Disappointing movie
This movie was a total let down--about 2 hours of this movie is just watching the ACP beat up everyone and that is supposed to portray the "angry young man" part. This movie seems to assume that everyone watching it has actually watched the original Zanjeer. So, if like me, you haven't watched it you're wondering whats so special about Sher Khan. And you are also left wondering why his name seems to be the best bet out of the millions of criminals in Mumbai, to be the one responsible for the oil mafia incident. And then you are even more bewildered when the ACP turns up at Sher Khan's office and they both start fighting without having said a word (like it was a pre-ordained thing!).
The editing of the movie should have been better as twice during one of Monas songs you have ample opportunity to see her innerwear. Mona plays the vapid woman of the deadly oil mafia Teja (played by Prakash Jha). In the whole movie, his acting is the best. He plays the part of the villain effortlessly.
The character of Mala, played by Priyanka Chopra is a minor one. She is first involved in the whole movie because she saw a murder and then after having spent a night at the ACPs house decides that she;s fallen in love with him. Of course in Hindi movies one doesn't always expect logical succession of thoughts but her falling in love is super instant. Priyanka Chopra is too old to play this chatty, twenties sort of girl who just keeps jabbering like a teenager.
Definitely not worth spending 3 hours over.
Rise of the Guardians (2012)
Brings back childhood memories
When you watch the movie and the entire range of characters - it hits you suddenly and makes you think of all the characters you grew up with. The Sandman, Jack Frost, Easter Bunny -- and makes you sit down and call your best friend and say "OMG do you remember this character and this one and this one!???". That was my reaction when I watched The Rise of the Guardians. Dreamworks has really got a winner with this one.
The characters come to life and make you believe in them. You remember how you used to put your tooth, without fail, under your pillow waiting for the Tooth Fairy to visit you. All this comes back to you when you watch this movie.
The movie brings all the characters together in their fight to keep children's dreams and hopes alive. It also shows you the vulnerability of these characters and how they need the children just as children need them.
The movie has some very cool visuals including the lovely globe that shows all the children who believe in the Guardians. You come away from the movie wondering what your center actually is . Just like North says--You just have to find your center and your place in the world and believe in the Guardians.
Gippi (2013)
Nice plot, could have been stronger
When you see the trailers of Gippi, what stands out is that its a movie about the misfits or the ones in the class who aren't the coolest or the smartest. It also talks about character and friendships.
The movie takes you through some things that most girls face while growing up. Especially being a teenager in today's overly conscious, hyper world. So whether it is the clothes or the looks or the boyfriend, the movie touches a bit on all of that. It touches on the importance of friendships and the right friendships at that.
What isn't so nice is that after a bit, the movie tends to drag. The story line falters and the actors aren't able to prop it up either. This is partly also because the girl is quite young and hasn't been able to portray all her scenes with as much reality as one would expect. I am also not too sure about the ending of this movie.
The character Gippi is shown as taking on a challenge first for the heck of it and then, just to prove she can do it. However, towards the end the seriousness of the challenge is undermined by the way she behaves when she does succeed and her logic for it. In our schools in India today, the position of the Head Girl or Head Boy is that of a person who is supposed to be a role model. Taking on that role is not taken lightly and nor should it be considered so. While the point they are trying to bring across is that no one is a loser or that everyone has a strength, something about the way she does it seems to belittle that belief.
Overall, I'd say the movie is a pleasant one, watchable once.
Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
A different theme for an animation movie
This is such a cute theme for an animated movie-especially one that a lot of today's kids can relate to - Video Games! Who would have ever thought that you could bring them to life the way the movie makers have! It will make you look at these games in a different way the next time you go to a shopping mall.
The graphics are just too well done and bring each of the characters to life. Especially the whole idea of video games having a life of their own. You can just picture these characters all shutting down after the day is over and just chilling out among themselves. That's how well they have been brought to life.
Each of the main characters of the movie, Ralph, Vanellope, Felix, King Candy, all teach you some little thing that can make you a better person. Even King Candy can teach you a thing or two about how to deal with life's little disappointments.
In a world today where the art of story telling is probably dying out with parents having less time to spend with their children, it's nice to see animated movies bringing out values that we should be teaching kids like love, hope, treating people right, never giving up.
Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
Disappointing story
Seeing the poster for the movie, you know that this is heading away from the traditional fairy tale. That makes it interesting. And that is the only thing. Somewhere along the way in this movie, the plot tends to unwind. Often times, there is no link between what is happening and how it is relevant to the story. The storyline doesn't weave an intense enough portrayal of the trials and tribulations of the protagonist.
What makes it worse is the acting or lack of it thereof, especially from the movie's title protagonist. Kirsten Stewart goes through the whole movie with one expression on her face (if it can be called that!). Even though her role has strength in it, she has not done any justice to it. She cannot bring out the innocence or the beauty or purity of the character that was Snow White. Charlize Theron as the Queen plays her part well. The role of the Huntsman again has not enough meat to it.
Overall-the story could have been portrayed much better. Definitely a more believable Snow White could have been found.