Assassin's Creed (Movie Rating:7.222/10)

Assassin's Creed (Movie Rating:7.222/10)

Action in the air,water, earth, across dimensions of time, space and religion. Fassbender enthralls with his iconic hooded profile and existence in two separate  centuries of time.. 

Marion Cotillard is ephemeral and does her scientist role with realism and a large smattering of demonstrable research... Lends a believable tone to her work. The scenes of fighting in the Spanish 'Torquemada' Grande Inquisition genre are multidimensional and the Cinematography is brilliant... Scenes burnt onto your cerebellum... The Apple 🍎 of the Garden of Eden is the leitmotif and its scientific footprint is a definitive new...(I knew not earlier I confess)

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The Gothic Spires, Grottos, flying buttresses, Knights Templar, Assassins with a pureheart and the hidden away aspect of free thinking led to the discovery of America... Enchanting, as the battle royale set in the Seville-andalusian region is at the South Spanish town of *Jerez-de-la-Frontera*, from where the now famous wine Sherry comes (and my nickname as well).. As they say in South Spain.. 'Sherry makes strong men stronger and women willing'

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An interesting chapter in biblical fantasy

Dangal (Movie Rating:7.99/10)

Dangal (Movie Rating:7.99/10)

Heartwarming storyline with a beautiful father-daughter saga of gruelling training and sacrifices... Adrenaline motors are running overtime... 

The USP is making audiences understand how points are scored in wrestling... After that the director sits back and enjoys as he roller costers you to judge each match point... 

A politically correct bedtime cinema, with women emancipation theme that goes well with current times. Aamir Khan acts his usual best. Fatima Sana as Geeta Phogat and Sanya Malhotra as Babita do a swell job, though the screentime is with Fatima... 

The dialogues are potent; except that the Haryanvi and rural dialect from an otherwise pretty Fatima are shock treatment. 

The child artists playing G & B emote really natural and bring out the smile in the earlier part of the movie. 

A must watch... a mast watch... Saaru che...kem che...?

Wajah Tum Ho (Movie Rating:6.75/10)

Wajah Tum Ho (Movie Rating:6.75/10)

Sex, mystery with twists and heavenly bodies scattered with a few clothes over. Bits taken from Hollywood, Singaporewood and other Woods, but done well. 

Sharman Joshi really does a swell cop role and his Robin-style-sidekick, the proverbial 'Gaetwande' brings in that smile to your lips.  Speaking of lips, lots of locks with flesh and a barely bikini by Sherlyn Chopra is planted somewhere.  Sana Khan, porcelain doll with a visage of Mahima Choudhry and body of Sunny Leone... she's the protagonist and the Leitmotif... barring her outre' wake-up make-up and skintight lawyer vestments in the courtroom, she's sensuous all the way. She lingers... 

The plot, now that's the plus point. it's got the twists and use of the Onion-Darknet is evident. Few clichés but it's a movie you'll enjoy later as well... :)

La La Land (Movie Rating: 8.5/10)

La La Land (Movie Rating:8.5/10)

Ryan Gooseling does a Fred Astaire, Al Pacino and Chopin rolled into one. Emma Stone is simply marvellous and her rendition is breathtaking. Choreography by Mandy Moore would make Ginger Rogers proud. 

A beautiful story with love underlying theme and life in Hollywood.. with all its trappings of fame, hardships and travails... 

Photography par excellence in low light, stage shows, Broadway all the way... 

Dreams make life.. and love.

Collateral Beauty (Movie Rating:7.0/10)

Collateral Beauty (Movie Rating: 7.0/10)

Profound and Philosophical in a witty representation... Actors hired for personification of Death as Hellen Mirren, Love as Kiera Knightely and Time as another actor.. All hired to allow video of a now reclusive Will Smith so as to bypass his boardroom voting rights... 

Edward and Kate Winslet realise their own Love (for daughter) and Bioclock-to-be-a-mom get unlocked in their peregrinations as these hired actors entwine ... 

Not for light hearted viewing, this movie is philosophically intellectual...

A beautiful experience.

Rogue One (Movie Rating: 8.5/10)

Rogue One (Movie Rating: 8.5/10)

Lucasfilms are back with Rogue One. What nostalgia created with such a masterstroke. Felicity Jones is every bit the character she's required to play. The planets, spaceships, battleships, Starfighters...it's all there. And yes, Lord Darth Vader, though as an introduction in the end.  Jedi beginnings and ends, the symbolic Red Light-Sabre weilded by Darth (Annakin Skywalker)... whew... and i won't spoil your fun... the very last face shown at denouement... go see it

Befikre (Movie Rating:5.5/10

Befikre (Movie Rating:5.5/10)

Cheap tricks and slapping an on duty Gendarme, doesn't lend to romance. Display of an archetypal Delhi cheap 'running-to-get-laid' guy juxtaposed to an Indian born Parisienne only showcased Ranvir as a buffoon attempting a fully monty with a barely humour bone as a stand up comedian for a living.

Vaani is sheer gaunt. The directors attempt at a Jennifer Aniston falls on a bony face...looking older than our cheapster hero. Redemption is her hourglass, which is captivating during their beach-yatch peregrinations.

Paris locales are breathtaking. The dialogues are good, as is the Cinematography.

Unfolding of the plot in the last 49 seconds (I mean too late)  is irate.

The only redeeming feature is a few dance sequences, especially the Sangeet, where a medley of performances by our lead pair exult in Contemporary dance followed by Paso Doble, Tango and a mix of one part Hula, two part Tap thrown in good measure to rustle up a marvellous stage show.

You might go for lack of another hindi movie  being screened.  Clearly a blunder.

Underworld Blood-wars (Movie Rating:5.0/10)

Underworld Blood-wars (Movie Rating:5/10)

 

Kate 'Leather-legs' Beckinsale as the intrepid warrior against the Lycans and setup to take on a new ruthless new Lycan leader is virtually unstoppable..until she gets killed by this new one...and then a resurgence....the fight scenes are in rapid succession; great for fight lovers, but the story has medium interest factor. A short shrift to the Nordic tribes, shown weaker (which is contrary to the actual, since theyve never been enslaved). Probably the underlining of a weaker race production house. 

Theo James has a small part, but interesting...as the ever reticent warrior, until truth of his mother is revealed upon him to unleash. The villains of the piece, Lara Pulver and Tobias soak up much blood and screen time, yawwwn.

Go only if you must. The cinematography is good though.

Kahaani 2 (Movie Rating:7/10)

Kahaani 2 (Movie Rating:7.0/10)

Sequel, NOOO... it's a new story, compelling, moves at the speed of time. Arjun Rampal has a meaty role done well and very realistic. Vidya Balan reacting to sounds and movements is spontaneous in her portrayal of an 'on the edge' mom for her daughters safety. The treatment is good,cinematography is tailored on realistic settings. The power dynamics within low level police functionaries comes through with ease. 

A must watch for all. The cute Jugal Hansraj of Masoom grew up to be this.... convincing.

Buy your tickets to Kalimpong. 

Moana (Movie Rating: 7.5/10)

Moana (Movie Rating: 7.5/10)

Animation treatise with a lovely take on conservation of the environs. Discovery of the world and more importantly, of Moana herself beyond the safety nets... it's about following your dreams and achieving before finally stepping up to accept your leadership position. 

Hawaian, Taihitian and lots more of Mermen and monsters aloft.. the music drums and expressions...watch out. Personification of the chicken is marvellous. and being a chiefs daughter does have its share of burden... of doing the right thing 

Nerve (Movie Rating: 6.0/10)

Nerve (Movie Rating: 6.0/10)

Pervasive Algorithm.... Sucks up all information of the pretty lass, Emma Roberts and pits her against the deadliest of foes... Herself in Dare mode... All pervasive algorithm capable of annihilation of personal lives... The dare scenes are scary stuff and if you have the NERVE, go watch how dangerous social media is... Bot Attacks, Cybots... Yes, Emma looks deadly in the final chapter...Red and Blonde 

Arrival (Movie Rating:7.0/10)

Arrival (Movie Rating:7.0/10)

President of the United States doesyNOT save the world from Aliens. ThankGod. 

AmyAdams as linguistic expert is cracking the alien communication code, sans any Rosetta stone help. 

The movie is all about communication and it's importance. Chinese, Russian Pakistan,communist clique is subtly shown as it impacts present world... 

Remember this movie is set on a story by Chang... And made by an American.. So that's the focal of geography. 

The language of the Heptapods (named in comedy actors, Bud Abbott & Lou Costello) is shown as complex and superior to humans left-to-right or r-to-l ; it's circular.. And why does it remind me of the UN logo 

...a serious and good depiction 

Dear Zindagi (Movie Rating: 7.25/10)

Dear Zindagi (Movie Rating:7.25/10)

Freud may revolve in his grave over Shrink Shah, yet this story remains captivating, cinematography powerful, dialogues memorable and Alia Bhatt, a Virtuoso performance. 

Shrink Shah has fewer minutes than Alia, and he does this soft person role immaculately. He's likeable once again. 

AliaB has gotten into the skin of the role. Her joi de vie, irritability, lust-for-life, childhood portrayal and Freudian Couch-Ouch are marvellous. 

Pace of Zindagi is palpable only whence Intermission hits you..You're waiting for restart immediately. Closure of Shrink scene is presented so subtle.. It's a copy of SRKs own movie Baadshah (walnut-bounce-off-the -mirror-sans-cracking)...it's a beautiful movie 🎥. 

It's a beautiful experience... To associate with someone in the screen would be but natural. And it's Goa.

Go choose your chair!

Fantastic Beasts & WTFT (Rating: 4.5 /10)

Fantastic Beasts & WTFT (Rating: 4.5 /10)

JK g(R)owling wrote a story for sub-teens... Not for a movie audience. Juvenile personification of animal kingdom, with an attempt to embed conservation of animal life into a wizard story. Eddie unfortunately continues to emote like Stephen Hawking, his character in his previous movie...(woe betide..)

The story itself is weak, why would a warlock travel from London to New York by ship to drop off a (bald eagle or whatever ) when he could have flown on it... and blah blah....  too many gaps in the depiction of this story...
Special effects are interesting;mostly about mutated animals, leaving Darwin in splits.

Avoidable movie  for adults. Censor board must have a J rating for this genre.

Movie 🎥 Review: Force 2 (Rating: 6.5 /10)

Movie  Review: Force 2 (Rating: 6.5 /10)

Budapest and the Danube... Racy from the start to the finish. The tempo keeps you on the edge and guessing, mostly. Sonakshi does a swell job. JohnAb is really good, despite the fact he can't act. It's the villian, Tahir Raj Bhasin that enthralls with his enlightened villany and ahead of the lead duo plans... John is eye candy for Venus ♀ folk... One silly item song stokes the guy-glands... Or maybe it was meant to at least. Buda and Pest, both are amply shown and breathtaking they are.
Grab your new 2000 Rs notes and head for the box office... This one's worth the movie, popcorn and coffee ☕.. Sonakshi has pretty eyes 

Dr. Strange (Movie Rating:5.75/10)

Dr. Strange (Movie Rating:5.75/10)

Benedict Cumberbatch as a super successful doctor (& super egotistic of course) is driven to Kathmandu... and magic rolls down his way... Story isn't much in this production. its the special effects and the representation of the Multipl-Universe (Called Multiverse fashionably) which is marvelous. However, somewhere the director loses his skill when he personifies the Black powers, which is shown akin to a computer generated vertical sliced image...irate at best.

THe windows of space and time created by fire rings are awesome and the creation of weapons and shields with mental prowess is a great concept. The tool choosing the master is yet another beautiful one, probably eked out from Avatar...Yet, very watchable for the magic...and a few good shots of Rachel Mc Adams...especially when she sees the astral form of Dr Strange as she operates on him... 

Shivaay (Movie Rating:5.5/10)

Shivaay (Movie Rating:5.5/10)

Electric until interval with a steamy Icemance (Ice Romance) with the Bulgarian belle, Erika Kaar. Ajay Devgn exudes charm for the major part of the movie. Locales in the Himalayas and the avalanche shots are breathtaking... the suspended tent amidst blue ice and lovemaking are tasteful

Erika Kaar of course cant act...
...thats not required of her in her contract

Thats where the problem begins...Ajay Devgn looses his tight knit plot and meanders into too much of every scene. its stretched to the end and you walk out with that whooping headache.

Bulgaria is shown to be a prostitutes nightmare with organ trafficking et al... The herione, Sayesha Saigal  has a few good shots, but the editing seems messed up during her song sequence. The dumb Abigail (Child artist) has no role except to yell 'mmmm'.

132 minutes of which the first 65 minutes are on the ball; the last 67 minutes are headache with a stretch beyond Young's modulus. Go if you must...take a break somewhere to retain your pizzazz

Jack Reacher (Movie Rating:7.0/10)

Jack Reacher (Movie Rating:7.0/10)

Screens burns with the pace at Mach 25...Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher is nonchalant, suave, super-fit and eye candy for them ladies... Lead lady Cobie Smulders does a Smoulder with her Uniform, high cheekbones and lissome limbs. High octane action, tight script, dazzling stunts and you have a boiling pot...

However, its the Father -Daughter chemistry played out with Tom and Danika Yarosh that steals the show. Danika plays a 'taciturn-in-the-beginning' girl role with aplomb; The End scene chemistry leaves you misty eyed and a walk out of theatre with a glow. 

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Drop your gym-zumba routine for a day and enjoy this packed -with-action tryst set mostly in Washington (and sniff the travails of the US Army deployed in AfPak Region).

The Accountant (Movie Rating: 5.5/10)

The Accountant (Movie Rating:5.5/10)

Can math be dangerous?  Very. Ben Affleck, a rather UnChartered Accountant seems nonchalant about knocking cash flows as bodies with elan... He's shown morbid, intolerant of people, not inviegled into casual conversation and absolutely intrepid of bad boys... 

Plot moves slow-fast-slow-fast...  Some bits are not well explained leaving you gritting...it's the unfolding of math over matter over guts (intestines) that holds your attention... And that Renoir...ooh lala.. 

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Not light hearted fun.. Serious killer chase hard to digest staccato rhythm pileup movie for not the Bollywood types 

Inferno (Movie Rating:6.0/10)

Inferno (Movie Rating:6.0/10)

Good, not great.... maybe because the detailing is less. Inferno is there, but Dante and his nine rings of hell are missing. The description of sins and the punishment is just not there. 

Otherwise it's a tight chase with time and Tom does Langdon well. Felicity is tad wrinkled, yet seduct-intelligent and holds your eye, mesmeric. 

Irfaan seems out of place and his diction falters. Not impressed. The final chapter has a change from the book...

The interesting parts are the secret routes, the labyrinthine Firenze... 

Pity the coverage of masks was short shrift...would've loved to see the Colombina, Bauta, Volto Interno...

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A good Dan Brown adaptation, not a great one. 

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Movie Rating:6.75/10)

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Movie Rating:6.75/10)

Fantasy extreme tessellated with Irish dialect, French lead Eva Green (Vesper, Casino Royale ; Artemisia, 300) in her stylish bird-human form. 

Graphics - Surreal and screenplay extraordinare. The chemistry played out between our Protagonist and the amaranthine Ella Purnell is pure magic. How the hero falls in love with one older than his grandfather (not aged though with a magical time loop)... and she equally enamored. 

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Demons, powers, time-warp, un-sunk ships and the uncanny future - past... 

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You like fantasy movies, go watch this treatise 

Bridget Jones's Baby (Movie Rating:5/10)

Bridget Jones's Baby (Movie Rating: 5/10)

Hilarious and preposterous simultaneously... Absolutely British in humour, dialogues, locales and mumbo-jumbo. 

Hugh Grant is conveniently declared dead in the opening credits, leaving Renee to possibly betrothal with Mr D'Arcy... A wild party and enter Colin Firth as the first impregnator.... 

...preposterous because no man, however Brit.. would hold a full 9 months to poly-amory... 

Renee Z, waddles her signature gait and transforms silly to magnetic in a jiffy...gifted, talented and expressive.. 

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The humour is very british, so not recommended for Desi Bollywood lovers.. 

For BJ diary fans... Sine Qua Non 

The Magnificent Seven (Movie 🎥 rating: 6.5 /10)

The Magnificent Seven (Movie  rating: 6.5 /10)

Spaghetti Western Classic, with all the trappings of 17th century Wild West America...storyline same as original Yule Brynner movie.
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Denzel W, ChrisPratt, Ethan Hawke are marvellous... others are equally convincing in their roles... Peter Skarsgård as the Bad guy is really baaad...
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Gun fights, horses, whorehouses, saloons, belfry, red-Indian mohawks, Winchester rifles....coyotes... it's all in there... Your James Green 'Sudden' fantasy coming true...
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Ride out to the hall in your breeches, sniff them cow-boys, chewing cigars and blowing up a goddamit Gatling...

Banjo (Movie Rating:4.5/10)

Banjo (Movie Rating:4.5/10)

Aargh!  Jimmy Hendrix is passe, so is Elvis and the BeeGees... if this mumbai local rustic rousal with its quarter tones be the hallmark... 

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Overload of Ganapati, lazium and local mumbaikars.  What's touching is the actual travails of the common mumbaikar, struggling for basic amenities, water and potty...and food. 

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Nargis Faakhri in her negligee avatar,  alabaster complexion, a midriff divine with zero Acting skills...beestung lips and the uncanny holding the mike close to her mouth a.k.a freudian symbolism... Wonder if the director deliberately played up this unstated fantasy...

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Apart from the Mumbai-Bappa overload, the pace is quite 'quick', the friends brawls realistic and the bad guy turned good routine convincing... 

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Enter the hall at your own risk...Am quite sure, Lord Ganesh won't have asked to part of *Disco-Chawl-Rustic-Boor*  music competitive dynamics. 

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Party Dresses of Nargis F are notice worthy, especially when contrasted on Dharavi...masterstroke. 

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Don't go.. Don't go.. Don't go

Raaz Reboot(Movie Rating: 3.5/10)

Raaz Reboot(Movie Rating: 3.5/10)

Kriti Kharbanda, the demure wife of a banker in myriad shades of girlfriend, lover, wife, ghost, negligee model and a Hindu modelled exorcism... 

Gaurav is good looking... Period. Emraan *chumma-chaati* hams his lines with the usual liplock onomatoepia... 

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Copied events and scenes from conjuring, exorcism of emily..., evil dead... It's too obvious.. Bhatts have become boring.. 

Romania, the land of Count Dracula, is beautiful, the locale the architecture and furniture... It's beautiful... 

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You got some beans at home that don't cook... Take em to the movie... They'll be ready to go 

Pink (Movie Rating: 6.0/10)

Pink (Movie Rating: 6.0/10)

As a movie, very serious screenplay with earthy dialogues and only Amitabh Bacchan could make a commercial movie out of an otherwise documentary. 

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Courtroom drama 🎩 is electric, not because of the subject, but because Mr AB Baby decimates his opposition with gentle tones and sometimes ripping asunder the corrupt Police authority. His demeanour vindicates the foolhardy women...

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Tapsee Pannu is irritating at best with her smug cock-a-snook at the antagonist...and this time the antagonist is educated, versed, London returned Ugly-mug...

It's the prosecution lawyer role which is delicious to the point of indigestion, which when our Hero, AB rips apart becomes cathartic. 

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The moral lecturing is a drag, though a must for our Feudal Lords (Tehmina Durrani)...whilst the scrip leaves few details undetailed. 

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Supporting actress, Kirti Kulhaari is convincing in her shades of grey role.. 

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Social message movie 🎥 

Sully (Movie Rating:6.5/10)

Sully (Movie Rating: 6.5 /10)

Twin engine failure on Airbus A320 with Capt Sullenberger at the helm.... an ex USAF pilot, Master Green on the F4je Phantom... one helluva flying ✈ machine 

With only a 35 second window to decide on what bearing to head... the choice of a water landing is pounding. Tom Hanks is every bit realistic in his role as the saviour pilot. The pre landing emotional highs, the supporting services of air traffic control, river rescue teams all seemed very apt... 

Clint Eastwood makes you walk out of the theatre feeling you were the pax on board and were saved...

.......Go get saved

Baar Baar Dekho (Movie Rating:4.5/10)

Baar Baar Dekho (Movie Rating: 4.5/10)

Live, Die, Repeat + Back to the Future + 13-going-on-30 + two very attractive *don't-know-how-to-act* actors, SidM & Katrina and your stage is set... for a futuristic love story. Leitmotif - A run through different ages of life, a chance to reset his follies and win back his love.

Drag with a documentary approach... 

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The only reason for watching this would be for girls, a swoon over  handsome to the T - Sid.. and for guys, the gal to die for... Kat, with her 13 inch waist and looks to leave you besotted, fine chiseled legs and a disarming smile, putting that African Hex on you... 

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Verdict - terrible movie, gorgeous looking lead pair, dresses of Kat to die for 

Don't Breathe (Movie Rating:5/10)

Don't Breathe (Movie Rating: 5/10)

Edge of the seat drama, unfolding with blood, gore, killing, guns, machetes, knives, sadistic hand-leg-torso confinement of a girl into pregnancy ...name the Marquis de Sade technique and its in this cellar...

The story is but obvious...its the treatment which sets is apart. Have you seen 'Wait until Dark'...well the protagonist blind girl is replaced by the antagonist blind man...and the hunters shalt find themselves hunted...

Go watch this for a macabre element in your genes...

Mechanic Resurrection (Movie Rating:5.5/10)

Mechanic Resurrection (Movie Rating:5.5/10)

Action Extreme... the stunts make James, Xmen et al look babies. Jason exudes his usual machismo,albeit his dialogues are muffled at times. Jessica Alba, in her sun-kissed coppertone skin avatar is the damsel-to-be-saved with the right amount of vulnerability that would fire up the Mechanic.... to resurrect him into action. 

Tommy Lee J is still as cute as in all his Hollywood vectors though a very short role here. Michelle Y is also there... 

Story is weak, dialogues are not required as the staccato machine guns do the speaking. Locales are lovely but not long enough to grow on you.... 

Something is missing.... Maybe if Ms Jessica Alba was given a meatier role.

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Yet, it's a pure Adrenaline 99 minutes where guys may feel the urge to save Dame Jessica, in distress...

Flying Jatt(movie Rating:3.5/10)

Flying Jatt(movie Rating:3.5/10)

Fall from Grace... 

Small town of Punjab comic book strip in a motion picture... By Ekta Kapoor standards, it's brilliant.. by all others it's Nadir... Virtually everything is culled, Krishh, Matrix, Superman and Batman.. Even the dance sequence takes you back to *I've-had-the-time-of-my-life* with Patrick Swazye... Remo, what's short circuited your Pizzazz... 

Amrita Singh carries herself, albeit too little, too late... And Jacueline Fernández, she's wasted in them salwars...

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Great social message, the intent is understood... the treatment is waste,pun intended... 

Tiger dances and fights so well... What a waste... a fall from grace... 

Benhur (Movie Rating:6.5/10)

Benhur (Movie Rating:6.5/10)

The Red Car is still in the Chariot race and this time Messala wins....jesting. 

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This remake is technically superior, better screenplay, more Jesus - sculpting furniture... and the Roman dresses are better still. Somewhere, unfairly though, you keep comparing... Is this as good as 12 Oscars.. Naaah...it's unfair. 

The Charioteers, their horses, the tension in the stables, stands and the Roman Quaestors & Prefects...the race is astounding with remarkable clarity... Morgan Freeman-ed... You've got to watch it to see how dissimilar and identical it is to the original with Charlton Heston and his white horses. 

Embedded everywhere, though very subtly, are the Star 🌟 of David, the preaching of Jesus, the scene at Calvary and Jews (oppressed by EVERYONE...). Slavery in the ships and the close shave worn death is shown well, with everything from Ramming, flooding galleys, pouring oil to ignition and succumbing to ocean drowning....well the protagonist has to win and so he survives... to return to Jerusalem and.... the ending is different. 

Fair attempt by all standards. 

Rustom (Movie Rating: 6.0 /10)

Rustom (Movie Rating: 6.0 /10)

Electric courtroom drama 🎩 with all the peeves and jeeves packed to capacity... The police inspector Pavan Malhotra, likened to Hercule Poirot does his sniff-hunch ferret role with aplomb.

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The villian of the piece, is devilishly handsome.. That's all to him. Ileana D'cruz is cute-petite-spiteful-maudlin all in one... She can actually act a bit. 

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Esha Gupta, the bombshell in the Houndstooth dress shows décolletage and smokes filaments... I guess that's what the director must've couched her for... (oops)

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Commanders Rustom... Akshay Kumar is the magnum. 44 literally... Looks every bit dashing in the Naval uniform with his medal ribbons and accoutrements.. And his demeanour is apt... Ramrod straight... His dialogues in the courtroom are simply put across with politeness.... Effective.... 

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The chemistry between the judge, prosecution lawyer, news editor and jury is marvellous... 

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Unpalatable part of the story is Rustom taking his adulterous wife back... 

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Entertainer of course.. 

Mohenjo Daro (Movie Rating: 4.75/10)

Mohenjo Daro (Movie Rating:4.75/10)

To watch or not to.. is the question? 

Mohenjo Daro, set out as a trade hub in the banks of River Sindhu... the trade systems taxation, gold, barter system and respect for women is the leitmotif of this movie 🎥 

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Hritik is intense as always. Pooja Hegde looks attractive in the many dresses... Only whence she is sans any headgear do you realize her plain Jane looks. Disappointed... Though her smile is cute.. 

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The denouement scene with the river in spate as it rips apart the boat bridge in staccato rhythm is amazing....it's worth the wait through an otherwise so so movie 🎥. 

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Knowledge of history is important to understand the setting of the movie... And it's a great education tool for junior history school... 

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The head gear apparitions are a wee bit weird... Be patient, they'll be taken off.....

Wish Hritik had chosen a better movie 🎥 

Jason Bourne (Movie Rating: 5.5/10)

Jason Bourne (Movie Rating:5.5/10)

Ludlum alive.... action packed to the brim. Strangely though, the story unfolding is erratic and leaves much unexplained. It's a standard taking potshots at the Director CIA who's gone personal. Matt is Bourne with Aplomb. It's the female lead, Alicia Vikander as the Stanford Geek-gorgeous who can do anything with Algorithms.... (remember Dad telling you to study in teenage)..., well it's mostly chases and facial recognition software integrated into a potent vector.  The car destruction scene is wowwwww.... How many cars does the villian of the piece mow down before the director says, Ok Matt, you can kill him now... Whew! 

She's so pretty.... Beware

GhostBusters (Movie Rating: 5.75/10)

GhostBusters (Movie Rating:5.75/10)

Ghost gobbledegook and Photon reverse tractor beams in the holsters of 4 Busters of Ghosts... Mixture of scary ghost spewing green goo and Times Square with a Round Mayor... Mass mayhem, rock concert with apparitions and a cute as hell techno-savvy intrepid. 44 Magnum licking bombshell... 

Ok,the story is weak, Screenplay is deadly, physics professors are stuck up barons and this movie is fun... 

Dishoom (Movie Rating: 6.0 /10)

Dishoom (Movie Rating:6.0/10)

Pure masala mirchi and tadka... John Abraham, Varun Dhawan both are at their best.... Body and Bombay talkies talking... Nargis F Bikini is a 4 minute role  and she is hottt... Parineeti C in the item song has the waist of Vivien Leigh... and take home to mom look... 

It's Jaquiline F in that sizzler tray to cook you. The story plot is rather simple, but tessellated with the architecture of Dubai and Deserts the place grows on you. 

Akshays - Khanna & Kumar do a swell job. Pure entertainment with a cricket flavour to the kidnapping. And with Jaquiline Fernández setting the screen ablaze... One 2ka 4

Madaari (Movie Rating: 6.5/10)

Madaari (Movie Rating: 6.5/10)

Catharsis in the retribution of the common man. Edge of the seat drama, unfolds with the masterful performance of Irrfan (sic.)...brilliant act in 133 minutes. Story is quite on the lines of earlier movies 🎥 like Aakhri Raasta. The becoming of the Stockholm Syndrome, the unfolding of a chase across the Indian peninsula.. The angst & ire of a mother, the crafty politician versus the father... It's packed condensed ams wired.  Jimmy Shergill delivers a crisp performance...justice to his reputation. The ending is relatively realistic and gives you a weak moment.

For Irrfan fans, sine qua non...

Ice Age: Collision Course (Movie Rating: 6/10)

They're back with putting planets into orbit, Saturn into its rings..... and the quest for the quintessential Acorn... 

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Animation and graphics are top order. The playfulness of the characters is supercute. Story is really for children with lots of social and environmental issues addressed. 

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It's really fun filled 94 minutes with sheer delight at the dynamics of these life forms... If you need a fillip to your mood, go watch. 

Star Trek, Beyond (Movie Rating: 6.0 /10)

Star Trek, Beyond (Movie Rating:   6.0/10)

Space, the final frontier... The Starship Enterprise in its technical beautiful as never seen before. The usual Gene Rodenberry characters are all in there, Sulu, Scotty..and Jim Tiberius Kirk. Spock of course, without him the crew wouldn't know logic - love. 

Graphics and special effects of the 10th Dan. You can feel the expanse of space, the rotations of satellite towns and cities. The antagonist is as usual a force to reckon with.. Otherwise it's no fun winning in the end.. Isn't it? 

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Zoe Saldana has a small role. Yet memorable.  This space odyssey marks a tribute to Loenard Nimoy, original Dr.Spock. 

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The battle of the Swarms is the magnum opus scene of this Lin movie 🎥.... Story is pretty much predictable, comparisons with the old crew of the Starship are but natural. It's the technology demonstration here that's worth the money... 

....I only rue one thing.. Why doth all aliens have hideous heads... Maybe there's  a mother of pulchritude race out there.... Truly femme fatale... Where no man has come afore..(intended)... 

Great Grand Masti (Movie Rating: 4/10)

Great Grand Masti (Movie Rating:    4/10)

Absolutely zero brainer 2 hours with loads of *double-entendre,* skin & tone... and most notably, a very defined and sculpted midriff of a 50 year young virgin ghost, who needs redemption by any potent males.. 

Archetypal of bawdy humour - maid décolletage fantasies and the (yawn) *save-your-husband-from-virgin-chudail* denouement...

Urvashi Rautela looks every bit virgin sexy ghost that her role demands. And she does so with aplomb. The three amigos require to act stupid; well, they didn't have to try hard it would seem. 

Movie for those with a notably high TQ (Testicle Quotient). 

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Redeeming feature, the small remix song of Ila Arun, Resham ka..roomal... Lilting 

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Like I said, zero brainer. 

Sultan (Movie Rating: 5.0 /10)

Sultan (Movie Rating:   5.0/10)

Sultan: Pure Bull....

Puffed up Salman for 170 minutes with tummy bulge showing all through. Story details are ludicrous ; from a regular village bumpkin to a state level wrestler in 30 days... Story set in muslim family amidst land of the Khaps and a female wrestles males - asinine. Kite chaser Salman re-learns free style boxing in 6 weeks at 40 years... Anushka emotes well as usual - nothing more to her credit.  Song - Bass pasand and Jug... are catchy, period. Fight entry scene is culled from Gladiator, final fights setup copied from Akshay Kumar movie.

The positives, it's adrenaline when you see the fights. The cheerleaders are attractive. Sadly little else is memorable.

Salmans visage is for most part covered with beard.. hiding his lines and puffy face.
The decimation of Salman has begun. Sad,he was good earlier on. Alea Jacta Est

Movie Review: The Legend of Tarzan (Movie Rating: 6.5 /10)

Margot Robbie (Jane Porter, Tarzan's wife)

Movie Review: The Legend of Tarzan (Movie Rating:   6.5  /10)

Alexander Skarsgård (Mr. John Clayton, 3rd Viscount Greystoke aka Tarzan)

Tarzan  (Alexander Skarsgård)  is pure eye candy ladies, so feast on. Tarzan is handsome to the T. Jane, now she's a stunner and Margot has what it takes to be Jane. 

The plot is Hollywood country friends centric of course. England ams American are out to save African Congo from the Belgians... Ironic considering slavery in Africa was mostly beneficial to US,UK.

Animal charisma, the fights, pachyderm eyes, wine swinging, tracing tracking the spoor and the scenic beauty of raw, Africa. Go watch for a great experience.

But if I didn't speak of Christopher Waltz,the villian of the piece I'd be unfair. What a performance. Brilliant. 

Movie 🎥 Review : Independence Day 2 Resurgence 2 (Movie Rating : 6.5 /10)

Movie 🎥 Review : Independence Day 2 Resurgence 2 (Movie Rating :   6.5 /10)

Wow! Wow! Wow! 

VFX special effects are beyond what Hollywood has cobbled up until now. The opening credits has a glimpse of the Interstellar galaxies in a ether cloud like look,mesmeric. 

The alien ship, their technology, their leftovers on earth....it's all absorbing. 

Unfortunately, the story remains pretty much all the same. Aliens only attack America (other places are demi attacked). It's always the American President who saves the earth. The plot is politically correct bedtime... Female president et al.. The plot disappoints. 

But then this genre of movies is always about the special effects.. 

The Grande finale with the alien fighters (akin to klingon fighter planes)  forming a conical hive around the Queen is amongst the many scenes to remember -screenplay is deadly. 

The rendition of the alien Queen sprinting across the white desert sand is another memoire... 

They've played down the Semitic -anti Semitic, black -white juxtaposition this time round. And yes, the great white ball is the key.... (to future sequels...)

Must watch this on IMAX for awesome surround effects. 

Movie 🎥 rating by Sheraz... Movie Rating:  6.5 / 10 

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Movie 🎥 Review : Raman Raghav (Movie Rating : 4.5 / 10)

Movie 🎥 Review : Raman Raghav  (Movie Rating : 4.5/10)

Carry your pain killer along with the movie tickets.

Nawazuddin is brilliant in the initial 15 minutes with the movie kicking off at a blistering pace. Enter the police inspector (insipid actor -Vicky) and the movie plot loses its charm.

Nevertheless, Nawazuddin is a nonchalant psychopath with the role performance par excellence. 

Newcomer Nymph, Sobhita in her dusky décolletage with bee stung lips is interesting at best. 

The story is weak, the plot unfolding aka Agatha Christie methods... Yet the fare is pure headache... 

Watch only first 15 minutes if you must. 

Movie 🎥 Review : Now You See Me 2 (Rating : 5.5 / 10)

Movie  Review :  Now You See Me 2 : Rating : 5.5 / 10

Magic, post hypnotic suggestions , illusions, four Horsemen, one woman, an old ally, yet another older enemy and Vendetta Opus....
Enticing magical screenplay,verrry subtle romance, hardwire sheer magic tricks and a grande finale...
Wait... the card swapping in the computer room - it's your save offline YouTube material for keeps.
Lizzy Caplain is cute, though not quite in the class of Claudia Schiffer girlfriend of Co-Producer David Copperfield)....don't waste your time taking her on a clambake (do a private date... ;-)  )
Michael Caine unfortunately has a very small part done well though. It's Jesse Eisenberg who shines. The snap - you're feeling sleepy- hypnotic quips quite revv up the magic crescendo.
Some magic is explained, some left to imagination... Invoke Mandrake to tell you the rest... There is a bit of Mandrake built into the story, with the Octa Corp shown thus...
The Eye  sadly misfits, though it does smack of the Semitic presence on the dollar (above the truncated pyramid).
It's 2 hours of magic show, the kind you'd be expectant on David Copperfields show... and better
The Horsemen, they need a stage to outsmart the Villianery...

Movie  rating by Sheraz...BACB  : Rating : 5.5 / 10
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Movie Rating Protocol
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First Alphabet - Content, Story, Depth of subject, Acting
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Second Alphabet - Cinematography, Screenplay, Editing
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Third Alphabet -Choreography, Music,
....
Fourth Alphabet - Action, Pizzazz,
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Not all movies will get four alphabets. A is highest,  Z is lowest
...
AAAA - highest possible
Z - lowest possible
....

Movie 🎥 Review... Udta Punjab (Rating : 4.5 / 10)

Movie  Review... Udta Punjab : Rating : 4.5 / 10

Documentary woven around 2 couples. A dreary tale of Cocaine, it's victims, their families and the apocalyptic state of Punjab. Very little entertainment in the movie except for a pre-post interval drama and the last 20 minutes made racy. Alia is use bag for the mafia encased in a vomit infested room, whilst Tommy Shahid Kapoor is the archetypal coccaine singer gone bust.
Locales are set realistic in the barnyards of rural Punjab with no memorable content. The many sidekicks are just too many and really sidey.
Please don't go looking for entertainment. If censor board tactics arouse curiosity, do go, but beware... It's very close to reality... Uncomfortably
Kareena Zero Size Khan has a small role. That's it. Daljeet Dos does a swell job. Shahid does his Tommy role rather well it's just that you don't want your hero to be this druggy... Nor the heroine, Alia used by one and all as your story protagonist.

Chief element of these 148 minutes is Raw Punjab... If you have a proclivity to the rural it'll give you a high. For the urbane chic loving dudes, NOT RECOMMENDED

Movie  rating by Sheraz...CEFA : Rating : 4.5 / 10
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Movie Rating Protocol
...
First Alphabet - Content, Story, Depth of subject, Acting
...
Second Alphabet - Cinematography, Screenplay, Editing
....
Third Alphabet -Choreography, Music,
....
Fourth Alphabet - Action, Pizzazz,
....
Not all movies will get four alphabets. A is highest,  Z is lowest
...
AAAA - highest possible
Z - lowest possible
....

Movie 🎥 Review.... Do Lafzhon Ki Kahani (Movie Rating : 5.0/10)

Damsel in Distess love story - always a formula for success... for love story suckers like me. Deepak Tijori has indeed picked up a regular story, but the treatment is beautiful. Randeep himself doesn't act much, his scenes required him to be shown with busted lips, swollen cheekbones, burst nose etc... The damsel,  Kajol Aggrawal, playing a blind reminds me of Ms Marlee Matlin (Children of a lesser God).... pulchritude to die for... and it's a great setting for the hero to fall in love... The training scenes are culled out of Hollywood, yet unimpressive.

A beautiful love and Kajol makes you like the plot. The fight scenes are good. Replace Randeep with Salman Khan and this would be a money spinner...

Yet worth a watch.

Movie  rating : Movie Rating : 5.0/10

Movie 🎥 Review.... Conjuring 2

Movie  Review ..By Sheraz Varma. Conjuring 2

No white Saree clad buxom with Lantern and song this one...  A saga of true life horror unfolding with a notably bad ghost using yet another benign spirit as a false front. The Moriarty of ghosts; Wan uses sound surge startling techniques - which are distinct from true fear. Whilst you may end up being startled often,  fear is something this sequel manages only on a couple of scenes. The shots of the demon in The Habit (Nuns) is perhaps one such. The kids are a fun bunch, rattled only by *shrieky-behind-the-door-spooks*.
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Cult status definitely not to this one. Though one technique used to show immediate transportation from your normal world  to the arena of the demon is interesting.
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Horror Genre Fans only

Movie  rating by Sheraz...CBBA
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Movie Rating Protocol
...
First Alphabet - Content, Story, Depth of subject, Acting
...
Second Alphabet - Cinematography, Screenplay, Editing
....
Third Alphabet -Choreography, Music,
....
Fourth Alphabet - Action, Pizzazz,
....
Not all movies will get four alphabets. A is highest,  Z is lowest
...
AAAA - highest possible
Z - lowest possible
....

Movie 🎥 Review.... Te3n (Movie Rating : 6.0 / 10)

Set in Kolkata, Big B weaving his scooter on Durga Puja saturated roads looking for his granddaughters kidnappers...  A cop turned Father (Church) Nawazuddin reticent to helping Amitabh find the assailants ; a good cop Vidya... 

It's a mystery building up very slowly, catches staccato rhythm astride popcorn break.
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Twists to the twist hallmark the story. Interesting plot of....
With Big B & Nawazuddin, performances are natural. Vidya has her moments.
Details of location, period and setting are good ;except one... the tombstone of an 08 year old can't be 100 years old (construction & decay)...,tut tut...
Serious movie  with an odd comic relief moment.
Go watch, prepared for serious stuff

Movie  rating by Sheraz...AD:  Movie Rating : 6.0 / 10
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Movie Rating Protocol
...
First Alphabet - Content, Story, Depth of subject, Acting
...
Second Alphabet - Cinematography, Screenplay, Editing
....
Third Alphabet -Choreography, Music,
....
Fourth Alphabet - Action, Pizzazz,
....
Not all movies will get four alphabets. A is highest,  Z is lowest
...
AAAA - highest possible
Z - lowest possible
....