Change Your Image
pushpargha
Reviews
Raaz: The Mystery Continues (2009)
Bhoot wants revenge.......bhoot takes revenge...CRAP!
Yet another Mahesh Bhatt horror flick but this time, not for the first time, its disappointing. The concept of Raaz TMC, is a mix of The Ring and Shutter. Stolen concepts yet again. Emraan Hashmi and the first scene were the only high points of the movie. The movie runs at a good pace but enter second half, it all becomes predictable. Kangana's was OK but nothing special. We have seen performances like this before. Urmila specializes in them. ADHYAYAN SUMAN.....WHAT IS HE DOING MOVIES HIS ROLE IN THE MOVIE WAS NOT PATHBREAKING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT and there was nothing much there in the story as well to help his role. Jackie Shroff turns up at the end but again i feel being a dignified actor he should not have done this role in this script. All in all, a flop for me.
The Last Lear (2007)
Exceptional!
Hail Indian Cinema and its talents, Hail the contemporary age of film making but also Hail the old school concepts and Hail Amitabh! Over the last period or so, quite very often nowadays, I have begun taking notice of the fact that along with the usual plagiarized concept of movies and the typical trend setting commercial Indian entertainers which when once appears, seems to come in a chain or pattern one after the other with the same level of thoughts and stuffs, comes some outstanding masterpieces comparable to the best of World Cinema and compete with the classics of the past and present. Are we having a dearth of talent in terms of versatility in Indian Cinema when it comes to direction and movie making? Well the answer is certainly a big NO! HOW? Well, How about some movies that include taaren zameen par, a Wednesday,Mumbai meri jaan and now add to that..The Last Lear.
I haven't sent much of Rituparno Ghosh's work but I have labeled him as a talented filmmaker but after seeing The Last Lear, I believe first I have to applaud him and then label him as one of the best directors in the country at the moment.It was simply exceptional.I would never had thought that such a movie would ever be made after the days of Satyajit Ray. I was literally in awe of the performances and also the story. I have a taste for movies of every genre and I can separate quality from crap but when it comes to making of a movie as The Last Lear and watching Dr. Amitabh Bachchan give a performance of a lifetime, I just didn't know how to separate quality from quality.
Amitabh Bacchan as we all know is a versatile actor and is a mark of greatness in the Indian Film Industry.Along with the likes of Nasseruddin Shah, Paresh Rawal,Anupam Kher, Om Puri, he has been the pillar of strength only and only in terms of pure acting talent and when it comes to role personification and giving powerful performances.When we talk of acting, we generally think of delivering or presenting the role of a character of a story in front of the audience and playing the character in the most skillful manner possible so that more than anything else the viewers gets to know the character and the character sells the movie to all.But nowadays,it's the actor who consumes or engulfs the character and not the other way round and sells himself and not the character. Almost everyone does that.When we look at a movie, we see a Shah Rukh Khan or an Aamir Khan or Hrithik Roshan or Rani or Preity etc not the characters.In the last lear,after a long long time that I see the character of the movie Harish and not Amitabh Bacchan because what Amitabh did was he became Harish and was not seen anywhere as the personality that he is.Amitabh Bachchan was at his imperious best.The direction and plot was outstanding and the movie was so well conceived that it just grabs you like anything.
Right from the beginning, when we know not as what has happened when slowly till the time Jishu sengupta(the protagonist) brings light towards the events that takes the movie forward and enter the characters one by one. First, Preity Zinta was very good.Portraying Shabnam, an actress troubled with her marriage and personal life, who decides to take a visit at Harish's residence who is dying on the day when his first movie is being premiered.Arjun Rampal meanwhile contemplates some thought that worries him.Soon we get to see the whole plot unveil itself and what exactly happens in it. How amitabh Bachchan, a man who was once a stage actor and used to play the characters of the different plays of Shakespeare being completely obsessed with Shakespeare and still lives in the lines of the plays gets to first meet Jishu and then Arjun rampal. How arjun convinces Amitabh to act in his directorial venture in a film and how the relationship between him and Amitabh(Harish/Harry)develops as between two friends and also between a director and an actor.Also unfolds other strong relationships between Shabnam(Preity) and Harish. The scenes describing the shooting of the Film, the colourful events during the shooting and also the how the film reaches its climax through the film's description.The story of the plot unfolds is narrated both by the protagonist( Jishu) and Preity Zinta who meets Shefali Chhaya(daughter of Harish).The events in the house of Harish that take place in between the scenes of preity, Shefali and Divya Dutta(the nurse) are also quite realistic and well crafted.The small events in Harish's house when he first meets Jishu for an interview about Neeraj marked the introduction of Amitabh in the Plot and it was fabulous.How Harry watches everything from the window outside and scorns the public for anything he sees wrong. From the first lines that he shouts "Idiot" to the mocking of the people who litters on his boundary walls is just amazing. The way Harry suddenly breaks into the Shakespeare characters time and again is superb. The ending of the movie is so very touchy and awesome that the character of Harry just consumes one. The technicalities of the movie were brilliant.The camera-work, background score and editing was fascinating.What really impressed me the most was the cinematography. The way small stories within the major plot take place is also so beautifully crafted. I won't reveal the plot anymore though I 've already spoken a lot but what I can say is a masterpiece has been produced.If anyone is interested in watching genuinely good movies as this one, please watch it and if you like it, write your comment here.I don't think it'll be very different from that of mine.Simply exceptional
Hijack (2008)
Unimpressive!
With the standard that is being set by the new age directors and scriptwriters in the age of contemporary film industry, Hijack was a bad deal.It was unimpressive to see a movie with mediocrity with old concepts and plots being put amidst a chain of highly thought of and well conceptualized movies.It brings down the standards and pushes the industry a step back. With the likes of Mumbai meri Jaan, A Wednesday, Aamir, Taaren Zameen Par etc setting high standards in their respective genres and making a deep impact on the mindset of the viewers and eventually changing their tastes of Hindi films, a film like hijack spoils everything.
It's not a very bad movie for which I would mercilessly thrash it but its a movie being made in the wrong time or I'd probably say a movie very lately made. Hijack being made 6 or 7 years back probably would have been a success but now it looks like an old school thought which will not be accepted by the present mass and moreover there was nothing special when it came to the technicalities of its making.Performances from esha deol and other supporting characters were just not good.Esha looked like she was desperately trying to give in a powerful acting performance and failing badly in the end.The events featuring the passenger characters during the hijack always looked familiar with the terrorists killing some of them and the threats that they posed on all of them time and time again and the way the passengers reacted.Many scenes reminded us of the film Zameen previously made on a similar hijack story and also on occasions reminded one of the Harrison Ford starrer Hollywood Hit Air Force one and off course elements of the hero(Shiny Ahuja) coming in and killing the terrorists in the plane one by one and saving all the passengers including his daughter in the end was so very stereotypic.
Shiny Ahuja wasted himself in this project.There was no element of thrill.It all looked coming.Every sequence was expectedly placed one after the other and had no surprise elements.There were no twists and turns that would draw the interest of the viewers. The director didn't do anything at all to make any educated movie viewer say "WOW" OR " MAZAA AA GAYA"(I had fun). Some of the events looked so very unrealistic and boring like the behaviour and mannerisms of the terrorists on plane during the hijack when doing their acts of threatening and killing. In real life they looked like some school boys for whom the police dept would have been enough to be taken care of.I can go on saying all the negative points but I think all of you by now must have understood what I want to say. Sorry to say, but it was disappointing!
A Wednesday (2008)
Instant Classic!
They asked us on Friday, repeated on Tuesday...I am just replying back on A Wednesday. If someone asked me after the movie about what i had witnessed, I would say a work of brilliance.This is a movie that has made me happy and feel good literally and i mean it by each of my words.
A Wednesday is a movie based on the repeated terrorist attacks made in different parts of India time and time again and its aftermath which makes the life of a common individual living amongst us the most painful and uncomfortable and how this common individual decides to respond to these hellish acts.I won't reveal the plot for those who haven't watched the movie yet but i would certainly say watch it and come up with your own views about it because If you happen to be an Indian who knows what exactly takes place in our country, you'll come up with the same statements that i had made earlier.
About the making,the performances that stood out would be, hands down, that of both Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher but Mr Shah was at his usual stupendous best.His performance was simply exceptional and showed his genius.Jimmy shergill with Aamir bashir and the other actors also filled in brilliantly.The cinematography and screenplay were brilliant. The pace of the movie in accordance with its plot was picture perfect and terrific but the thing that stood out about the movie was its thrill and drama that captivated the audience along with its pace and storyline.The climax drawn was also outstanding and the director was immaculate with his work of direction. The most wonderful thing about this movie is that the whole plot runs by taking the audience and the viewers along with it and towards the end,the climax brings and involves the audience deep into the theme of the movie and makes one feel oneself as the most important part of it. The movie is just one of those instant classics( I dare say) that will probably never be a big hit for no good reason and yet show that if really desired an excellent small work of art can be made.
I am no movie critic and as I write my comments, I write these entirely being based on the mindset of a big movie fan and viewer who has just seen a movie that has made him feel happy and so he expresses his views to all of you.Friends, if you want my recommendation for it, I'd say..Anyday, A Wednesday.Watch it, You'll love it.
Chamku (2008)
Not bad at all
When Chamku was released,there were no high expectations from it but those who spent the money to watch the movie, I can safely say that they must have had their money worth it.Chamku is a good movie and the performances by the actors were also pretty good.To be honest, the storyline has nothing extra special except for being well crafted and drafted but the direction,cinematography and screenplay were excellent and very well done.The director has done a very good job and has chosen the right actors for each character role. Bobby Deol is back(I won't say with a bang but with a decent performance after a long time)and with Irfan has worked out a thumbs up combination.The movie was intense and has been well dramatized by the actors' performances.Irfan as usual does justice to the role with exceptions on some occasions when it comes to the delivery of his lines in English and the accent he uses. The editing was also good and there were less of the unnecessary song sequences and character inclusions that would have added nothing to the plot.The plot was a well conceived one and the USP of the movie was its uninterrupted run of the plot and the dramatization.The usage of background music was good but on occasions some scores sounded familiar and heard of.
I won't criticize the movie much but if at all I have to speak something negative about it then it would be a couple of things.First, Priyanka Chopra again has nothing much to do other than being Bobby's love interest and being the cause of him drifting away from his job of assassination.Priyanka Chopra again didn't have much of the opportunity to showcase her acting skills and instead has been used as a fill up for the gap of the important character role that she plays.Honestly any decent actress could have done justice to that role as it really does'nt require a Priyanka Chopra or any other glam quotient.It doesn't really cause any harm to the movie though because she plays her part well but as I said it's not a very significant performance role from her in the movie.The second negative aspect is that the movie has shades of Badal and Bichchoo in its plot and the role of Bobby also signifies that and indicates towards it.The movie has the same elements of the hero avenging his father's death but with a different storyline but nevertheless the direction of the film and other fore said factors cover everything up pretty well. All in all, a very well made movie with no nonsensical approach and no extra uninteresting additions and the time limit was also kept fine keeping in pace with the plot and approaching climax.Not bad at all!
Mission Istaanbul: Darr Ke Aagey Jeet Hai! (2008)
Mission is-one-bhoool !!!!!!!!!!
Oh my God!!!!!.....Oh dear.... I think Vivek should get married and settle down in life, sunil shetty should start operating his own business and Zayed should go to Hrithik Roshan for advice. To sum it up, all three of them should stop making themselves available to directors as this one.Mission Istanbul!!!! On first place, why make a movie on this name and on such a story. Suniel Shetty should retire because his performances are becoming incorrigible and with the Hollywood wanna be script like this one the movie goes for a toss and the characters portrayed are worse than the actors.What a nonsensical storyline and set of characters. a movie with an intention of a Hollywood twist but ending up nowhere in between Hollywood and Indian b-grade movie. The whole crew hired are professionals and nothing to do with that, they have to do their work for a living but surely 3 people to be blamed have to be the director, the scriptwriter and the producer.Please don't go for any more missions or else you'll end up spoiling the actors' careers.
Phoonk (2008)
Rgv ..Please take a break and give us one as well.....
In an interview given to one of the reporters, Mr. Verma, the director of the movie "Phoonk" had warned that the film would scare the hell out of the audiences and said that it would give one sleepless nights.Now, let me put this straight, after I had watched phoonk, I can come to the absolute conclusion that Mr. Ram gopal verma is losing his way out there completely. The situation is not far when people will start ridiculing him at every launch or premiere of a movie of the horror genre.I mean, what is he doing?.Does he ever come to know what the audiences think about his horror films produced or directed by him and what the audiences actually want?.People go inside the hall and literally make fun of the characters and the movie.What chill and what thrill is he talking about? His thoughts and assumptions are going in the wrong direction.he expects us to be afraid..well we are not but instead embarrassed.
Talking about phoonk, the movie was a poor one.The storyline had nothing special and exciting.The usage of background music was pathetic according to the film sequences. The film had the typical Ram Gopal Verma elements of the typical ghostly faces and sounds and also the boring creepy atmosphere that was created. The movie had the same lame and boring atmospheric elements as that of Vaastu Shastra, Bhoot, Darna Zaroori Hai and Raat. Audiences can just whistle and tease and take the interest away during the movie.The cinematography with the camera-work was awful and disgusting.RGv wants to scare us but he needs to find new ways.Gone are the days of Raat and other ghost films like Dayyam in which he had some success.He really needs to look up to some Hollywood or Japanese movies and get some inspiration from them if he can't deliver it on his own and there is nothing wrong in it.Every good director gets inspired by Hollywood films and does copy the style because in the end what matters is the audience entertainment. If not watch Hollywood movies then read some good books or Ghost stories by some very famous authors and make a movie on that but not this. The performances given by the actors couldn't really help the story and the direction and instead made things worse. There comes a time when one begins to feel embarrassed after spending even only 30 bucks for the show after the taunts in the hall.The child artists cannot be blamed as direction was poor. The story didn't have much to really set a chilling effect.Faces made along with sounds were just boring.Mr Verma ..wake up...Do make Horror movies.. We need them but change the style. The horror genre of films are soon starting to disappear from the Indian Film Industry.We need quality stuff and if movies like phoonk and vaastu are made time and time again then we can all really stop going to movie theaters.
Singh Is Kinng (2008)
Same old anees bazmee entertainer with a sikh twist....
A typical anees bazmee film, nothing special, yeah entertaining but still you can make out the touches of welcome and no entry when it comes to the comedy and entertainment. Good entertainment for the typical Indian b-grade comedy lovers.Watch it for time pass..Nothing extraordinary.Akshay Kumar again seen in a comedy film has done well but he is kind of getting stereotypic.Om Puri did well but then again the story line doesn't contain anything unpredictable with the same romantic and action sequences mixed and the same old happy ending with akshay and katrina finally meeting each other. Katrina is nothing but an extra addition to the movie.All in all, Not very special...I will only recommend it for good time pass but nothing more than that.
The Dark Knight (2008)
the best batman movie till date! take a bow director
It's Batman Drama Apocalypso.It can't get any better.A must watch movie for all superhero movie fans! If spider-man wrecked havoc in the Hollywood industry being a superhero movie here comes a batman to challenge all the spider-man movies together at one go.Heath ledger was just outstanding and unparalleled.I don't know about posthumous but no one can do joker any better.The movie with its thrill and action was breathtaking and the dramatization and performances were power packed.You have to be a fierce and a harsh critic to find lapses and faults but i think its going to be hard for anybody to poke negative comments at it.Beautifully crafted and wonderful direction.The director should be applauded.What else can I say.I give 8 now to be safe but i'd love to give it a 9+.