Batman Begins

I remember watching Batman Begins in high school. I actually watched
it like a regular super hero movie. Since the release of The Dark
Knight Rises is nearing, I thought I might just revisit this widely
respected franchise. I also thought of inculcating some admiration for
Nolan, because I am one of those very few (hated) people who do not
appreciate the Godly presence of Nolan.

I discovered a new found respect for Nolan after rewatching this first
installment of the franchise. The way how Nolan has gone ahead and
portrayed Batman is what makes him special. More than being a super
hero, Batman is more about the dark shade of life. How you magnify the
after effects of misfortune and create a super human.

Batman begins progresses irregularly. The story set up is very
different, but what matters is how this legend called Batman is shaped
by Nolan.

It's hard to believe that this is just a beginning. Because a
beginning like this means, that something legendary is in the making,
for cinema to remember till the end of time.

My rating - 3/5

Funny Games

An Austrian movie that depicts violence in a very different fashion. As far as the story goes, it's very off-beat. But the film manages to grip you in a very terrifying way.

The only interesting thing about Funny Games is it's film making aspect. How the movie tries to create a one-on-one impact on the viewer. You would only understand this once you watch the movie.

In short, Funny Games is a different movie that has an ability to terrify you without the depiction of blood or gore. It depicts violence in a not-so-violent manner. To know what I'm talking about, you'll have to watch the movie.

I wouldn't recommend this movie to an average movie watcher. Those who love to discover something new wouldn't be very disappointed.

My rating - 2/5

Ciao, Professore!

This adorable movie is my introduction to Italian cinema. I am totally in awe of the sheer honesty and innocence of this movie. It's one of those very few movies that never really goes downhill all through the story but keeps you smiling till the very end. In fact by the time the movie ends, you would want to hug somebody due to an outburst of positivism.

Ciao, Professore is a light movie, as in, the subject is very easy to grasp and understand. What is commendable is the way an otherwise ordinary story is conceived. The movie is full of smile-worthy adorable moments and genuine laugh-worthy humor.

While maintaining it's lightness in the form of humor, the movie also touches upon some serious issues in life. The satire is very mild, and not in-your-face and it definitely adds a depth of meaning to the movie.

Don't miss this one. This one can definitely make you smile, and can even rescue you from a bad day.

My rating- 4/5

Grave of the Fireflies

Grave of the fireflies is a Japanese animation movie and till date,  it is the only animation movie that has touched me at a deeper emotional level.

One does not expect an animation movie to follow a series of real life events and depict a person's tragic story with such emotional intensity. The animated nature of the movie does not hinder the real emotions and feelings it leaves the viewer with.

A fine movie this is, which makes you realize that even the simplest of animation movie can be shouldered by the excellence of a touching story and result in a fine movie.

My Rating - 2.75/5

A Love to Hide

A Love to Hide (French title: Un amour à taire) is a french movie made for television which was aired in 2005. The movie revolves around the very depressing and horrifying Nazi war. 

The movie does not depict gore or violence like any other movie talking about the same subject. It shakes you from an emotional front. The story progresses in such a way that the war ends up being a very minuscule element, serving just a back drop to the movie.


The screen play of the movie is very gripping. Therefore, there isn't a lag in the story progression. The actors are pretty convincing in their roles, therefore even though you're dependent on the sub titles while watching the movie, you don't feel any kind of a disconnect with the movie. 


The movie describes the catastrophic effects of war on a complex relationship and how it effects a family as a whole. The movie also raises a questions on religion-based bias and how an entire world blinded by war, fails to understand that love is beyond every man-made segregation of religion, race and country.

Considering that the movie is a war-based one, it selectively picks up a smaller story in a larger scenario. However, the story that's told is commendable as it's unique and does make a connect at an emotional level. A serious movie watch-er won't be disappointed after watching this one. 

My rating- 3/5

The Magdalene Sisters

The Magdalene Sisters is a very intense movie, that picks up a very sensitive subject and presents it in such a manner that it may disturb you to a certain extent. The entire placement of the plot is such that it's hard not to let out those sighs of shock.

The movie is tightly scripted with a screenplay that maintains the intensity of the movie all through the progression of the story. Every actor in the movie, has done justice to every character.

Overall, the movie is a decent example of serious cinema that manages to leave you with some impact.

My rating - 3/5

PS- For some reason the movie reminded me of another movie, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" . Yep.

The Avengers

Finally got a chance to watch this much hyped super hero movie. I'm actually not too fond of sci-fi movies with the super hero element. Blame the declining Spider man franchise or the over dose of watching the special effects domain grow over the years.

The Avengers employs multiple super hero characters just like the X-men franchise. But the movie scores when it comes to the 3D visualizations. I can easily proclaim The Avengers to be the best 3D movie I've seen till date. Despite having a regular story the movie has been executed very well. The special effects, gripping action sequences and a light humor which runs parallel to the movie act like supporting pillars to make its ordinary story stand out.

The movie tends to lag a little in between but gets back on track and saves itself. Overall, very good.

My Rating - 3.5/5

Socha Na Tha

Socha Na Tha, the directorial debut of the now-acclaimed director Imtiaz Ali. Looking at this movie as his directorial debut I must say that it's quite a story.

More than Imtiaz Ali, it's Abhey Deol's debut that impressed me as far as this movie is concerned. The guy was phenomenal, so much into the character.

The movie as a whole is good but tends to lag. But the little flaws don't matter much because Imtiaz Ali has grown as a film maker and this movie which is his first one, may not be his best but is definitely good as it presents a story that is different and isn't stale.

My Rating- 2.75/5

Pyaasa

I've always admired Black and White cinema, even though I've not watched many Black and White movies. "Pyaasa' was recommended to me by many people and that's how I'm so glad that I've watched this timeless masterpiece.

Pyaasa is a touching story that's told in such simplicity that it manages to create an emotional impact. It's not just a story but a concept that resonates a meaning, about the world, our society as a whole and that's what makes it a master piece.

The lyrics of the songs in this movie just ooze out sheer beauty and just add up to the movie's prestige as a classic.

Pyaasa, One of the best movies ever. Something even supported by the Time Magazine.

What new movies can learn from the Black and White era is, the story progression and the crisp screenplay, that turns a movie into a make-believe reality by pulling in the viewer's involvement.

My Rating- 3.5/5

My Little Bride

This is the first Korean movie, I've ever seen. But even though I was constantly dependent on the subtitles   rolling below the screen, this movie didn't fail to make a connect with me. I can easily call this one of those genuinely cute movies I've ever seen.

The movie is a Romantic comedy in which there is a right proportion of both the elements. But most of all the movie, captures the beauty of innocence and that is what wins the heart.

Take a risk. Experiment. Watch this one, it's a downright lovely movie.

My rating -3/5

London Paris New York

A sad sad chick flick, although the story is pretty decent but it's imposingly presented and thereby looks very fake and unbelievable  . And you can't force the romance in a romantic movie, it should have a certain amount of realism before you progress to the dreamy level of clicheness and then show anything.

It's like the movie makers just wanted to show a couple kissing behind the backdrop of exotic locations. The purpose is served however the romance and the feel has been compromised. The cinematographer hasn't made use of the full potential, of the locations those grand places in the movie title offer.

Overall, the movie does make an attempt to create the magic. And despite the failure, I always value a trial.

My Rating- 2/5

Sarfarosh

Since I've been watching a lot of old movies, I just thought of randomly watching this Aamir Khan starrer from the 90s.

I'm an Aamir Khan fan but I won't say that this is his best performance. The movie as a whole is actually a good story but it lags in the screenplay which doesn't compliment the concept. Aamir Khan has a strong character and a few applaud-able dialogue sequences. Actor Mukesh Rishi also has a commendable role in the movie.

The movie bagged a Filmfare in the best film critics category. Which may be because the subject of the movie was based on the much hyped Indo-Pak disturbance.

The story of the movie is surely commendable but the screenplay is a tad bit random at certain instances and could be notch higher. Just by opinion though.

Nonetheless, Cheers to the good old Sizzling Sonali Bendre, Jagjit Singh's "Hoshwalon ko Khabar Kya" and the phenomenal perfectionist Mr. Aamir Khan who was on a course of self-progression during those days.

My Rating- 2/5

Vicky Donor

The Comedy genre in Bollywood never dares to venture into satire. Our comedy movies just focus on humor that is largely dependent on situational humor, punch lines and the only progress we're making here is only in terms of the level of explicitness.

Vicky donor is a bold attempt since it picks an off beat subject. Now going by the industry standards, a different concept is good enough to sell a movie to the audience, since it generates curiosity and hype. That's how most movies are sold today, by marketing the hype only and compromising with the content. Vicky Donor does not do that, the off beat subject and the humorous punch lines just support a movie that is strictly good.

The plot tries to shape the entire movie into a meaningful story and not just a mindless comedy. The screenplay could've been better which is one drawback. Another thing is that, the movie just misses a much needed satirical tone that would've concluded this movie in a very good way.

Ayushmann Khurana overacts but it somehow suits his character.Yami Gautam can do better but Ayushmann saves the show for her. Annu Kapoor delivers as always. There are certain surprise characters in the movie that     just add to the laughs.

I would say Vicky Donor is a good movie as it tries to deliver something with an off beat subject.

My rating- 2.75/5

The Trip

I wanted to see this movie due to my curiosity related to LSD, the popular psychedelic drug of the 60s. It was legal during those days and this movie was made after the drug was made illegal. The movie is someone's perspective on how an LSD experience might "look" like.

This is a very different movie with some really strong psychedelic imagery. The plot is pretty much nothing and the entire objective is to present something abstract that can be interpreted in any way. The movie just takes a peek into a mind that's on a psychedelic influence.

There's a genre of movies like Trainspotting and Requiem For a Dream which are known as stoner movies because they involve a series of events related to drug use. The Trip is a stoner movie in actual senses, the movie does not mean anything but it tries to recreate a psychedelic experience by placing it in a rough plot.

Watch it as an experiment, not something that will blow your mind but will definitely amuse you by the way it's filmed.

My rating-2/5

Oh and the movie is written by the awesome Jack Nicholson. 

Hair

This is the first Hollywood musical I've seen and it was nice to get a glimpse of this genre of movies. For an average movie goer such movies may not hold much appeal. Because you never know when the characters may break into a song making you go, "Dude. Not again!"

Apart from the insane song and dance that largely interrupts the story progression, this is a good movie. To be frank I picked this movie just to feed by curiosity about the hippie culture of the 60s. However the depiction of hippies in the movie looks very much fictitious something shown just to entertain.

The movie is inspired by the broadway musical going by the same name. The movie is set in the political scenario of the 60s, involving the Vietnam war and the hippie movement in response to it. However the subject is just used as a backdrop, and prime focus involves the story and humor.

Watch this one, if you want to watch something different and are patient enough to sit through the countless song sequences. Hair, is strictly good.

My rating- 2/5

Lakshya

I feel very ashamed that I had missed this great movie. Even if you manage to watch it after 8 years, this movie is capable enough of winning your heart. To be frank, no one can really write a review about this master piece. To me, this movie is just perfect because it tells a story about war without emphasizing on the violent aspects of war itself.

Lakshya can undoubtedly be named as a best war movie ever, that's because it is not entirely based on the war itself. The movie views war and all the political turbulence from a very human perspective. The movie is not about blind patriotism. It's about the selfless love of soldiers towards the country, about how they secretly do not support war but are compelled to pick up weapons because of the sacred duty of protecting the nation.

The music of this movie can give you goosebumps and the cinematography is just fabulous. Hrithik Roshan is the man, and every one should watch this movie and make their children and grandchildren watch it too.

I give it a perfect 5 because I am a proud Indian who is anti-war and also because, after watching this movie, you'll know that the attainment of a Lakshya is like attainment of Buddha-hood.

My rating - 5/5

Houseful 2

This movie belongs to the usual commercial class of Akshay Kumar comedies. The only relief is that it packs up a plot, puts in a lot of twists though. Due to the twists the movie tends to become a thriller. The consolation prizes are few laughable moments, a John Abraham who will succeed in cracking you up and an Akshay Kumar who makes his character stand out.

It's real tough to make a good comedy movie, this fact still continues to be true.

Houseful 2 is passable, unless you have insane proportions of curiosity and tolerance.

Rating-2/5

Dazed and Confused

One of those movies where there isn't much of a plot and the whole point is to depict something. That's what this movie is about, random depictions of the American student life. The movie has already attained a cult status maybe because it does depict the American school culture with a very realistic approach. It's something only an American upbringing can understand and appreciate.

For a regular movie goer, this is a strictly average movie with some amusing characters that try to show the types of personalities you can come across when it comes to the youth in the US.

A highlight of the movie, is its soundtrack. Catchy rock songs keep accompanying the story progression.

My rating-2/5

Due Date

The only reason anyone will think about watching this movie is because of Zach Galifianakis. Maybe that's precisely the reason why they took him for the movie, to increase the appeal of a movie that's actually below average in quality.

The movie packs in very very few laughable moments that will be entirely forgotten once the movie ends. The plot tries to sustain the thrill but somehow fails at it.

The OST of the movie is the only consolation which brings in a much needed relief by playing a good song every now and then in the background.

Skip this one. It won't be your loss.

My rating- 1/5

Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind

Another movie, yet another proof where "I'm late to the party". This awesome movie doesn't really need a review. It's already seen and appreciated by the world, check its rating on IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes. But I can't help but applaud the commendable and unique idea that this movie is an outcome of.

A unique idea or the subject is one dominating factor that can drive a movie to success, as other flaws start looking very insignificant in comparison to the mammoth of an idea being employed. I won't call this movie typically sci-fi as it is largely romantic too but I'll again repeat that one thing that won me. THE idea.

Narration in this movie, is very random and non linear but once you crack the confusing shell (which is not as confusing as Inception) , a beautiful brilliance will leave you spellbound. The movie never really lags as the randomness in screenplay keeps you digging the progression of the plot. A good movie and once again an epic idea.

My rating - 3.5/5