Robin Hood

Another Ridley Scott movie...

Well... if you expect this movie to be comparable to Gladiator then you are going to be dissappointed. If you are planning on going for the movie then get this stright - this movie is about The Making of Robin Hood and not about Robin Hood and his merry men. This is a 2 hours 20 mins movie with all kinds of masala that is you find in a typical Boolywood movie from Romance to Dance.

You will not come across any titilating fight sequences as in Gladiator. This movie more or less revolves around then fact that corruption and greed of men lead to a rise of an revolution. As in this case its the greed of the King John and the Philip (French king) that led to the rise of Robin Hood.

I will not tell you the story here as I feel the movie is worth watching, some might feel other wise. You should watch it for the elaborate sets and planning thats behind the making of the movie and also the little bit of history which tell how Robin Longstride, an archer in the English army turned into an outlaw called Robin of the Hood.

Enjoy... the show...

My Name is Khan

Didnt live upto expectations. Surely the green must onto work here for it made to the A list of most of the reviewers.

Dont waste ur time; invest the 3 hours doing something even throwing stones into a still water will get u more excited than the movie.

Up In the Air

Another one of George Clooney's jet setting executive guy movie with slapstick comedy. Well the concept is really interesting and is about a jet setting executive who earns his living by firing people out of their jobs. There is no much story to the movie - it just depicts how fucked up the lives of such jet setters are. People derive strength and courage to walk the tight rope from their families but these jet setters have no family no relations to turn to they jus live out of a box - everything they possess can be packed in a suitcase and the airport terminals is their home and they derive a satisfaction, pleasure and pride from the amount of jet miles that they earn during the travel.

This movie might strike a chord with the American audience but nothing much for people from other parts of the world who aren't much affected due to the 2008 economic slowdown.

The movie is a must watch for the dialogue deliveries and physchological analysis and negotiation that the firing agent does leading to the affecting party believe that this firing is a God Send Favour which he/she needs to grab.

The movie has received6 golden globe nominations too which is another reason to reckon watching the movie.

Great Movie Week

These last three days I watched one movie each day in the theaters. Watched Avatar, 3 Idiots and Sherlock Homes. Also watched Rocket Singh last week. All were fun and a must watch movies.

Sherlock Holmes - Watched this yesterday. Good graphics and awesome acting by Robert Downing Jr. Felt really good when realised this movie just launched Prof.Moriarti into the picture (figure of speech) because I am sure there is a sequel to follow. The opening scene where Sherlock saves a girl from the sacrificial altar itself titilates you especially the scene where he hits the henchman after a pre-meditated calculation and thats when u wish that you also had the knowledge (to do a mental calculation) to act that way. I am not trying to write a review so will not write more, just suggest that you should watch it if you haven't yet.

Avatar - This movie has entered my all time favourite list. Coolest graphics ever seen plus the 3-D effect added to the delight. Just imagine the Toruk-Maktur (whatever that largest bird is called) whizzing at you and you ducking from its path and then wrenching your neck to trace the bird's path that just whizzed passed. Good movie for children as its more related to saving the environment from the human greed, but under parental guidance because I believe this movie is a little heavy for children to interpret the message - parents will have to help them out here. I especially like the part where in the NABI are able to make a bond with the animals with the nature around them and are able to feel the vibes - I guess that's what most humans lack - ability to empathize. The starting dialogue titilated me a lot where in Jake says that he joined the marines because he was in search of something that was worth fighting for - Jake found his but many of us are still searching for that thing and for some of us the search never ends. As said earlier not going to write a review - go watch it, get out of the couch and make it a day, its a full paisa wasool movie (worth every penny).

3 Idiots - Awesome entertaining movie the one that jiggles you through out the movie, though every scene is predictable but you will end up loving it. Good paced movie you will never feel bored. Even the names of the characters have been carefully chosen to make you laugh. The movie is based on Chetan Bhagats Five Point Someone. The movie revolves around Rancho (Amir) and his 2 friends (Raju and Farhan). It depicts the journey of these 3 students in and Engrg college. Students like Rancho who try to change the teaching system are very rare rather I have never heard of such a happening. The messages that I really liked were that we need to live life in the present tense and not worry much about the future and also that if we take up a profession that we are passionate about then you will never feel that you are working (but alas not many are able to find that passionate thing). I know numerous self help books say the same thing but still whenever that message hits you on the screen it jiggles you but the next day you are back at square one. Thats it guys.

Enjoy the movies if you haven't.

Wake Up Sid

Coming back to blogging scene after a long time. I watched the movie yesterday. I won't say it was fantastic movie but being a Bombaitte I could relate to certain parts of the movie.

The best dialogue in movie was Mumbai shehar kabhi sota nahin hain. Got to see the Queen's necklace - marine drive after a long time made me feel a lil nostalgic.

The story of a young 20 year old boy freshly out of college falling for a older female didn't make much of a sense but I guess Konkona Sen is typecasting herself to say that she is best suitable for such movies.

Overall the movie was not the kind that would jiggle but since you can relate to certain movie parts like where Sid has a fight with his parents and then leaving home and then trying to adjust to new circumstance where in you need to clean up your own dirt etc etc...

The wake up call that Sid gets when suddenly thrown out into the rat race is something which will strike a bell with many Bombaittes...I guess Sid was lucky to have found a place to trash when he decided to move out which many of us do not. It also depicts that each one of us has a talent in us which just needs to be recognized - I liked this message.

To this I would like to add - If you are good at something never ever do it for free.

I know this review was quite rusty but bear with me I am starting to write after a long time now.

Will get better...

Rockon

Well I would say another good movie. I did watch it late...rather very late I guess, 3 weeks after release. Well I guess this is too late for review. So I would just say one thing if you haven't watched the movie you ought to.

Planning to watch Drona or Kidnap this weekeend ...lets c whether I manage any tickets.

Welcome to Sajjanpur

This is a Shyam Benegal movie and Shreyas Talpade is in the lead role, well if that is not enough for you to watch the movie then read on.

At first I was also apprehensive!! The title sounded funky an unlike Shyam Benegal. But what the heck I was totally freaked out, tired and dried of energy due to the excruciatingly hectic office work and had come with my school friends and also had not seen a movie for weeks.

In the opening scene Mahadeo (Shreyas) introduces the village Sajjanpur in a slapstick manner that really draws your attention and tells you that there is something special this movie. Sajjanpur is village in northern India mostly the Bhojpouri land I guess based on the hindi and the language used. The story revolves around Mahadeo who is a BA pass self employed letter writer (patra lekhak - one who writes letter for the illiterate). In his own sarcastic and slapstick way Mahadeo reveals about the realities of life - intercaste marriage, a transverstile getting elected as the village panch, corrupt politician, supertitious phoofi (aunt) who wants to get her daughter married to a dog to get the bad omen out of her, etc etc. The end is also a bit different and fantastic though a little abrupt. I assure you that you will get jiggled and have fun.

On the whole its a good, enteraining, well made movie and a total paisa wasool movie. One warning - donot take your children as the movie is packed with foul language and lotta double meanings.

I will rate the movie as 4 / 5. Have a good time.

The Devil Wears Prada

Watched the movie last Friday - the first thing that hit me was ... How could I have missed this?
Each and everyone of who is in the corporate rat race would have identified ourself with one of the characters of the movie - it may be the ruthless Miranda or the confused Andrea or the YES BOSS Emily or Nigel.

I tried to identify myself with Andrea who enters the Corporate World to prove to herself and the world that she has got the material in her to become successful like Miranda - she idolizes Miranda as the symbol of success. This is where many of us do the mistake of idolizing the wrong person. Success to each and every individual means different things - for some it may be having a lot of money; for some others it may mean becoming popular and well known in the society - each person defines Success in his/her own way. The key is to identify your definition of success Late but at least she finds her definition of Success.

I liked a particular part where Miranda talks about choice one makes when Anrea confronts her when she goes down a guilt trip or lets say has a guilt pang when Andrea makes Jacqueline the partner or something of the new company instead of Nigel (which was promised to him) in order to save her ass. At this point Miranda actually makes Andrea realize that she has dug her teeth into the Corporate shit by making the choice of agreeing to replace Emily for the Paris trip. I felt how very true its all about the Choices that we make - this is what takes each one of our lives in a different directions.
Just one last thing - at the end Miranda is also happy that Andrea made the right choice, a option or liberty that people like Miranda do not have. So make the right choice, stick to the path of righteousness you will always be appreciated and looked upon. I know many of you might say -Wat a cliche!!!
-Here's the Qoute. Enjoy it and pour your thoughts on it -
Miranda Priestly: You thought I didn't know. I've known what was happening for quite some time. It just took me a little while to find a suitable alternative for Jacqueline. And that James Holt job was just so absurdly overpaid that of course she jumped at it. So I just had to tell Irv that Jacqueline was unavailable. Truth is, there's no one that can do what I do. Including her. Any of the other choices would have found that job impossible and the magazine would have suffered. Especially because of the list. The list of designers, photographers, editors, writers, models, all of whom were found by me, nurtured by me and have promised me they will follow me whenever and if ever I choose to leave Runway. So he reconsidered. But I was very very impressed by how intently you tried to warn me. I never thought I would say this, Andrea, but I really, I see a great deal of myself in you. You can see beyond what people want, and what they need and you can choose for yourself.
Andy Sachs: I don't think I'm like that. I couldn't do what you did to Nigel, Miranda. I couldn't do something like that.
Miranda Priestly: You already did. To Emily.
Andy Sachs: That's not what I... no, that was different. I didn't have a choice.
Miranda Priestly: No, no, you chose. You chose to get ahead. You want this life. Those choices are necessary.
Andy Sachs: But what if this isn't what I want? I mean what if I don't wanna live the way you live?
Miranda Priestly: Oh, don't be ridiculous. Andrea. Everybody wants this. Everybody wants to be us.
-------Some more quotes------
Emily: [to Andy] You sold your soul to the devil when you put on your first pair of Jimmy Choo's, I saw it.

Good Weekend after a long time!!

One more good news -- Thomas is blessed with a baby girl. Well for those who do not know .... Thomas is one of my friens from ... He was really happy , he couldn't explain the feeling that he was having when he called me up to give the NEWS ... Congrats Thomas.

Well this weekend was really spent well. Met all my maternal side cousins in Bangalore. Watched Dasavataram with Madhu, Harish and Ramya ... of course was completely ripped off .. had to buy the tickets but no regrets as was able to meet anna (Madhu) (anna doesn't imply respect its a nick name for him). About the movie ... feel I got conned ..There is nothing to the movie other than just Kamal's acting. I think Kamal made the movie just to show that he is much versatile actor than Sivaji Ganesan ... (THOSE morons who donot understand what I am taking about here is some gyan - Sivaji Ganesan is one of the Tamil cinema legends who acted in a movie called Navaratri in which enacts 9 roles/characters). The story did open with a thud with 12th century tale but after that it went FUSSSSS! Absolutely Nothing!

After the 2 and half hours of the torture we were back home at 1.30 AM. Then we decided to watch Amir. Both the idiots went to Snoring City with in 30 minutes... and I also could barely keep away my winks after strugling for around 45 mins I caved in anf put off the movie.

Sunday -
Anna woke me up around 9 and said was going for bfast - I joined him. After a heavy breakfast we decided to go to Ragi Guda temple. We came back home and I had a bath and then we left. We spent around an hour talking about our work life and then after that came back home. I put my clothes for a spin and went with the guys to Matru place and had a good meal and then returned home finished the clothes load and then started doing what I do best - watch movies :-)

Saw Sarkar Raj and Amir today ... Sarkar Raj is no where near Sarkar ... Wats wrong with Ram Gopal Varma ... Everything that he touches is starting to stink . I have nothin more to say about it. Now lets come to Amir (Sujal Gharewal thats the household name of Rajeev Khandelwal ). Aamir is a good movie made by a rookie, there not much story to it but just a good theme thats been converted into a movie. Cheers to Rajeev... his long struggle is at last paying dividends.

Now tomorrow Monday ...hmmm... back to the grind...waiting for the next weekend ...will be going to Madras to meet parents....from there on to Bombay-Pune for Sids marriage in Pune... looking forward to it ...

BEE MOVIE

ANTZ please move aside the BEEZZZ are here.


Well!! Getting back to movie reviews after a lot of time. Reason for the sabatical - didn't watch any new movie.

First a little background about the movie - Jerry has provided voice to the lead Bee 'Barry' of the movie. Jerry has even written the story and script and so as expected the movie has many of his stinging wisecracks. The animation work has been taken up by DreamWorks.

The movie actually informative movie which is aimed at children as the audience. Its a one and half hour movie, not very entertaining - actually it didn't meet my expectation as I felt a Jerry Sienfeld movie should be packed with more sarcasm and wisecracks.

Bottomline is that the movie is to be watched with children for whom its quite informative as it gives a good account of the BEE lives and environmental balance.

Spidey3

Well I went to the theatre with lot of expectations. I thought that this would excel its predecessors, but what a waste of 150 bucks!!!i could have had 2 pints of Vodka:(

The movie makers tried to pack too much into the movie. The unnecessary prolonged drama between Peter Parker and MJ made it seem like a typical Hindi masala flick ... not that I have anything againgst our good old hindi flicks ... I expect them to be that way but movies like Spidey3, i would expect them to be way above the rest. When I was seeing the trailers Ihad this bad feeling in my stomach that the movie has been goofed up with 3 baddies.

I actions and stunts weren't new .... it was very similar to the ones in the previous parts only the drama made a lil difference. Yes! the music seemed to be much better this time. Tobby McGuire did get a chance to showcase his Hip Hop self. Apart from that there was nothing that met expectation ... I was always feeling that the actual story is gonna start now ... but alas! the story was never there.

Lets hope Spidey4 would be a much better show than this.

Tararumpum

I the this is another flop from the Yashraj stable. The almost empty movie hall on the second day after the release said it all. I feel the only saving grace was Saif's acting. The movie is basically about how a well to do family becomes poor and then struggles to get back to their earlier prosperity. The director has tried a narrative style of story telling but it hasnot worked - the story hasn't been well told.

Saif as usual has done a good job, Rani seems to have lost the touch ... Saif seemed to be more graceful than Rani. Javed tries a lil hand on the similar type of comedy that he had done in Salaam Namaste but since there was nothing novel in it, it didn't move the audience at all. Javed has tried to do a lil comeback by showing off some of his dance move... this also was a give up!!

Overall I would give the movie 2 stars and suggest that you go and watch only if you are an ardent Saif fan and have nothing better to do.