Rating 2.25/5.00
Value for money Rs.60/100
Should you watch it: Only if you have nothing better to do!
Prediction: Will recover its money with difficulty.
Brief review
This is a promotional video for Hrithik to enter into Hollywood. Papa Roshan goes all out to promote him by creating a script just for the purpose. The story is neither original nor interesting. This is a typical, brain-dead, movie where nothing is supposed to be real. It is a Bollywood tries to be Hollywood. Yes, the production values are high, but the story and the script is low. Not entertaining at all.
Fuller review
Kati Patang -- that is how Khalid Mohamed's friend called it on Facebook. I think it is well said. Instead of Kites flying high and remaining there, it gets cut and just meanders along to its end.
There is no originality in the story or script, unless you think that the heroine knowing only Spanish is something new. Apdiya? Jaise ki tum sub samaj gaye? In Ek Duje Ke Liye, Kamal Hassan knows only Tamil!
Most of the movie is totally clichéd. The car chases, cop cars turning somersault, violent scenes, and even the love scenes. In fact, one would not be wrong to think that this movie is a pastiche (jumble) of good scenes from old movies. At such a time, one feels that are we good only at plagiarism? Take Munnabhai and Chachi 420 (here I would call them inspired movies and not plagiarized ones) -- it is an organic rebuilt for the Indian audience. But Kites is a poor imitation.
Most of the movie is convoluted -- starts somewhere, goes somewhere, comes back somewhere, again forward, backward, sideways. Really tough to really keep track.
Music is lack lustre. There are a few songs in the Indian version, which do not add any value at all.
In case you plan to see the movie (despite being warned), then go directly after the interval. Because before the interval, there is nothing -- just a false built-up of the story. The movie in fact gets moving only a little after the interval.
On the acting front, Hrithik hardly does anything more than what he has done before. Hollywood actor Nicholas Brown as Toni, I think, was outstanding. As regards Barbara Mori, nothing to write home about. I think she was adequate.
In other words, there is hardly anything in the movie to attract you to it. Why should someone pay Rs.250 for a promotional video of Hrithik? Good looks do not an actor make!
You have been warned -- the movie is not at all entertaining, even a wee bit! Go watch two Marathi movies instead for the price -- they will provide you more entertainment!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Badma$h Company - Time Pass Movie
Rating: 2.5/5.0
Value for Money: Rs.80/100
Prediction: Average hit in multiplexes. Will recover money.
Genre: Crime thriller
Not a bad movie! You can watch it at least once. New ideas or new twists throughout the movie. Wish these twists and turns were sharper and more hard-hitting! Then we would have had a hit. I think PS's inexperience, interference, average acting, let him down.
A director is born -- Parmeet Sethi. I think the poor chap is condemned to be known as Archana Puran Singh's husband. Similarly, his acting past is hardly remembered. I know he is/was an actor -- but I don't remember a single role of his. I think this movie is a good first attempt. He definitely deserves another chance.
I don't know why our directors start with big monologues and histories. Why don't they get on to the story directly? In most Hindi movies, the first 30 minutes are painful -- one is begging, where is the story, where is the story. In this film, the real meat of the story begins much after the interval. The last 40% of the movie I think is well done and interesting.
What I like about the story is that it is rich -- not the flimsy, short story stretched into a film. There is meat in lots of portions, fat in lots of portion, and, er, gas, quite a bit.
This movie has an interesting story -- even though most of the players are card-board, cliched characters. Full marks to Parmeet for the story. Dialogues too are good in parts -- er, very few parts. One may have to watch the movie a few times to remember the good dialogues.
Anoushka disappoints after her good performance in Rab Ne Bana di Jodi. Shahid Kapoor is his usual self. Meiyang Chang, I thought, was very good. He looked familiar, but I did not realize that he was the singer from Indian Idol and then its host. Vir Das is good looking and makes some effort, but he is sort of miscast. Anupam Kher does the strict father act once again in his competent way. Kiran Joneja is again adequate -- but I don't know why she is looking so scared throughout the movie. (to me at least she came out to be someone who has been beaten by her husband) Pavan Malhotra was good, but I think he could have been better. I think he was hamming too much.
There were stories of interference from Shahid and Adi(tya Chopra). One is likely to believe this when one sees the film. One minute, you have an excellent scene, and the next minute it goes haywire. The story is going smoothly, it jars now and then, now and then. It looks as if the story is being told on a pot-holed street -- full of thuds.
Music is OK. Songs are chalta hai.
Best moment for me: when Manmohan Singh is shown on TV reading out the budget! Here is a salute from Parmeet to the new, liberalised world.
Should you watch the movie? Yes, why not? It is a worthwhile watch. It is just like the pop corn you had -- nothing memorable or gourmet -- just a small, little, time pass snack!
Value for Money: Rs.80/100
Prediction: Average hit in multiplexes. Will recover money.
Genre: Crime thriller
Not a bad movie! You can watch it at least once. New ideas or new twists throughout the movie. Wish these twists and turns were sharper and more hard-hitting! Then we would have had a hit. I think PS's inexperience, interference, average acting, let him down.
A director is born -- Parmeet Sethi. I think the poor chap is condemned to be known as Archana Puran Singh's husband. Similarly, his acting past is hardly remembered. I know he is/was an actor -- but I don't remember a single role of his. I think this movie is a good first attempt. He definitely deserves another chance.
I don't know why our directors start with big monologues and histories. Why don't they get on to the story directly? In most Hindi movies, the first 30 minutes are painful -- one is begging, where is the story, where is the story. In this film, the real meat of the story begins much after the interval. The last 40% of the movie I think is well done and interesting.
What I like about the story is that it is rich -- not the flimsy, short story stretched into a film. There is meat in lots of portions, fat in lots of portion, and, er, gas, quite a bit.
This movie has an interesting story -- even though most of the players are card-board, cliched characters. Full marks to Parmeet for the story. Dialogues too are good in parts -- er, very few parts. One may have to watch the movie a few times to remember the good dialogues.
Anoushka disappoints after her good performance in Rab Ne Bana di Jodi. Shahid Kapoor is his usual self. Meiyang Chang, I thought, was very good. He looked familiar, but I did not realize that he was the singer from Indian Idol and then its host. Vir Das is good looking and makes some effort, but he is sort of miscast. Anupam Kher does the strict father act once again in his competent way. Kiran Joneja is again adequate -- but I don't know why she is looking so scared throughout the movie. (to me at least she came out to be someone who has been beaten by her husband) Pavan Malhotra was good, but I think he could have been better. I think he was hamming too much.
There were stories of interference from Shahid and Adi(tya Chopra). One is likely to believe this when one sees the film. One minute, you have an excellent scene, and the next minute it goes haywire. The story is going smoothly, it jars now and then, now and then. It looks as if the story is being told on a pot-holed street -- full of thuds.
Music is OK. Songs are chalta hai.
Best moment for me: when Manmohan Singh is shown on TV reading out the budget! Here is a salute from Parmeet to the new, liberalised world.
Should you watch the movie? Yes, why not? It is a worthwhile watch. It is just like the pop corn you had -- nothing memorable or gourmet -- just a small, little, time pass snack!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
It's a Wonderful Afterlife -- Preview
A friend has asked me to review this film. As we wait for the film to release here, I said why not do a preview review!
The one trailer that I saw is pretty average and not at all interesting. Absolutely stale jokes on marriage and women! All those ghosts in the movies are not really looking very scary with the prop knives stuck in all odd places.
Bend it Like Beckham was an overrated movie, so was Bride and Prejudice (assuming that it was rated at all!) Both these films are totally for the NRI audience. I have a feeling that if you are an NRI -- you would be eager to know about the lives of other NRI's. Both these films explored that angle. IAWA will also perhaps appeal to the NRI crowd. It is being released in Hindi also as Hai Marjawan!
Gurinder Chadha is a competent director and she knows her craft. Her script writer too knows his stuff! But both are not too appealing for me.
What is interesting is that GC has explored what might be a new genre -- Comedy Horror or is it Horror Comedy, whatever it may be. I think at least for this novelty angle, people might watch this film.
Would I like to watch this movie? Frankly, NO! I know what boring stuff the movie will have! Shabana seems too dreadfull to watch.
My advance ratings for this film is 2.25/5.0 and Movie Worth Rs.60/100. In other words, watch it only if you have nothing better to do!
The one trailer that I saw is pretty average and not at all interesting. Absolutely stale jokes on marriage and women! All those ghosts in the movies are not really looking very scary with the prop knives stuck in all odd places.
Bend it Like Beckham was an overrated movie, so was Bride and Prejudice (assuming that it was rated at all!) Both these films are totally for the NRI audience. I have a feeling that if you are an NRI -- you would be eager to know about the lives of other NRI's. Both these films explored that angle. IAWA will also perhaps appeal to the NRI crowd. It is being released in Hindi also as Hai Marjawan!
Gurinder Chadha is a competent director and she knows her craft. Her script writer too knows his stuff! But both are not too appealing for me.
What is interesting is that GC has explored what might be a new genre -- Comedy Horror or is it Horror Comedy, whatever it may be. I think at least for this novelty angle, people might watch this film.
Would I like to watch this movie? Frankly, NO! I know what boring stuff the movie will have! Shabana seems too dreadfull to watch.
My advance ratings for this film is 2.25/5.0 and Movie Worth Rs.60/100. In other words, watch it only if you have nothing better to do!
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