cxw1065 Reviews

Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

I hope Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron were well paid

[4/10 · 31 May 2012]

Do not watch 'Snow white and the Huntsman' unless you want to laugh till you cry. 

Whilst Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron are very very good, Kristin Stewart continues to suck the life out of everything surrounding her 

Her attempts to 'be tough' actually made me cry with laughter, and drove the man sitting next to me to exclaim "I can't take this anymore"

Chris Hemsworth CAN act, and tries his hardest to salvage some credibility from this fiasco- thankfully he is not required to romance the dark hole, only to show some vague interest in her. 

My only hope is that the wonderful actors starring in this movie were adequately, nay handsomely recompensed for having to share a screen with the talentless (though pretty) Ms Stewart.

Jodhaa Akbar (2008)

An amazing spectacle

[9/10 · 24 February 2008]

Being neither a fan of Hrithik nor of Aishwarya, went into this movie with a great deal of trepidation.

All I can say is that Hrithik is Akbar brought to life-- both regal and youthful, simultaneously majestic and boyish; this is truly the role he was born to play.

Aish is Aish-- I dislike her too much to be objective, but even i must admit that she looked amazing-- strangely enough, this woman looks better, the less makeup she wears! The cinematography and set design is amazing, the clothing is divine.

A special mention must be made of the jewelery-- I defy anyone to not want to own it all, immediately.

This film MUST be watched on the big screen, only then will it's scale be apparent

Om Shanti Om (2007)

Time pass- in the best sense of the phrase

[10/10 · 10 November 2007]

Saw this movie at an advance screening, and boy, was it amazing.......... it's a total time-pass movie and I mean that in the best sense of the word. Having just seen the heart rending Khuda Ke Liye, OSO was a reminder that life can be fun, filled with colour, love and laughter- and that even if you don't believe in punar janam, Bollywood movies thrive on the topic.

SRK shows why he is the Shahenshah of bollywood, and ALL his friends show up-- there were more cameos in this movie than I could have expected.

One must give credit to the stars who laughed at themselves with such good humour......even those who are supposedly currently at outs with SRK.

Live, Love, Laugh!! at this movie, and remember when not every movie had to have a message.

Viruddh... Family Comes First (2005)

an elegant movie, that moved me to tears

[9/10 · 22 July 2005]

Amitabh and Sharmila Two of the old school proving today that class and talent are evergreen, and that old is really gold This film is about a retired couple's fight to obtain justice for their murdered son.

However, the true beauty of the film is not the story (which has been done before, but not in this exact way) or the dialogues (which are very well written). The true beauty of this film lies in the amazing performances of both Amitabh and Sharmila.

Their chemistry is sensational, and one gets a feeling of great comfort from them, as if they truly are a couple who have seen life's ups and downs over 30years.

The majority of the film is in flashback, with a narration given by John Abraham as their son(s ghost). He is also good in his limited role, as are the actress playing the daughter-in-law, and all the other supporting cast.

Sunjay Dutt deserves a special mention-- he proves his acting skills are there when needed, and manages to give a brief cameo true emotional resonance But the film is carried by the two stars, and they do a stunning job.

Let me recommend this movie very highly.

There is a glaring flaw however-- the very clunkyly placed product placements. At certain points in the film, it felt as if we had gone to an add-break-- I understand the necessity, but did it really have to be so obvious. This truly irritated and at one point grated and almost destroyed the flow of emotion in the film. If you can make yourself ignore these placements, (or better still, buy it on DVD and fast-forward through them), then this film is otherwise almost flawless. I just wish the ending had been slightly less rushed.

BTW this is the second Amitabh film in a month (the other is that other powerhouse movie Sarkar) that has no songs (completely unlike a Bollywood movie) and yet you never notice this till you sit down and think about it later on. The soundtrack is so good that this is one lack that is not missed. Any songs would completely have destroyed the flow of the movie, so well done Mr Manjrekar for that decision.

all in all 9/10

Sarkar (2005)

A Powerhouse Movie

[10/10 · 18 July 2005]

Every expectation was fulfilled in this, the first on-screen father/son pairing of this immense father and son acting duo.

Words are not sufficient to describe Amitabh's performance-- indeed most of his acting is done with his body-- his eyes, his hands, the way he holds himself. In the scene when he is about to be arrested, the simple act of placing his hand on his son's shoulder conveyed more than any verbal statement could. A single tear running from the corner of his eye shouts more of his despair and disappointment than any histrionics could.

Abhishek Bachchan continues along his path to acting greatness. This role is the type that I feel suits him best-- low key, acting with his eyes more than with what he is saying. As the son who is obviously his father's favorite, yet who has been kept apart from the world he is now dragged into, he excels at conveying his horror at what he is doing, and then his acceptance of his position in life. The scene where he gently flicks the shoulders of the man whose death he has just ordered is chilling, for it conveys totally that no-one can escape his destiny or the demands that your family make on you.

Honestly, this film felt very much like the passing of the baton from one generation to the next (although of course Mr Bachchan senior has many many years of wonderful roles ahead of his I'm sure)

It has been hard for AB Jr to fill his fathers shoes, but he has enough of his mother in him to finally stand apart from his Papa, and prove his own worth, and that he does not need to fill the BIg B's shoes (cos the Big B is still filling them very well himself, thanks you very much)

This film would have been nothing however, without one of the finest supporting casts-- they may not be big name stars, but they are the body supported by the Bachchan spine. Special mention to the lady playing Amitabh's wife-- she conveys almost effortlessly the price the women in such a household pay.

Please please go see this movie on the big screen, buy the official DVD, support this move, so that Bollywood understands the value of this type of movie, and never makes another movie like "No Entry", which is an abomination against nature.

The Notebook (2004)

Tearjerker indeed

[9/10 · 18 July 2005]

I did not see this movie when it was released at the cinema, although the trailers looked interesting

it wasn't till the younger couple won best kiss at the MTV movie awards that I remembered this movie, and decided to buy it on DVD

Good investment, that's well worth the money

It's a sweet film, with enough romance to keep the girls happy, and a good older couple story with James Garner acting his little socks off. All in all, a good movie to spend a evening watching, especially if you are in the mood for a good cry!!

Ryan Gosling is amazing; for someone who's not conventionally good looking, and sports a beard through the latter half of the movie, he charmed me totally

The female lead is also good, but less memorable

James Marsden,as the spurned lover, is also good

Ten (2005)

time-pass movie, but so stylish, it's worth watching

[8/10 · 18 July 2005]

Well, I went in to watch this movie with absolutely no expectations-- other than to completely enjoy myself in this no-brainer movie

I did enjoy myself, as its one of the most stylish Hindi movies I've seen.

There ARE glaring plot holes, as well as enjoyable continuity errors (such as AB Jr's shoes changing from leather boots to red highlight trainers and back with impunity during one of the action scenes)

Still, for a time pass movie, it is extremely enjoyable

Sunjay Dutt proves he is still the king of cool-- his screen presence is amazing

AB-- one day this young man will outshine his father, he is already among the most accomplished actors of his generation

Shilpa Shettty-- still stunning, though underused

Esha Deol- unnecessary

Raima Sen- good

Diya mirza- good cameo

Zayed Khan-- cute as a button

Suniel Shetty- good, but i wish he wouldn't try and get emotional, he just can't do it

Be warned

lots of death loads of suicides blood guts and gore

STyle mania worth watching on the big screen for the full effect of the action

Batman Begins (2005)

what an awful movie

[2/10 · 30 June 2005]

What an awful movie I went into this with the highest of expectations, after reading all the glowing reviews, and boy, was I disappointed

Come back Michael Keaton, all is forgiven. Tim Burton, you are a visionary.

C Nolan-- what oh what were you thinking

Every possible cliché, every possible stupidity was in this movie

It was almost as bad as Spiderman (though saved from that ignominy by the absence of a "new-york solidarity" scene.

The only saving grace was Michael Caine, who delivered the best line (What's the point of all those push ups if you can't even move a block of wood off you").

Christian Bale tried hard, but had dire material to work with. Katie Holmes-- why was she in this movie?

There seemed to be a desire to turn Bruce Wayne and Rachel Dawes into longtime sweethearts- but the flashbacks showed only the minimum of interaction, so when Rachel says "the man I loved you're left wondering-- when exactly did you love this man??????

Liam Neeson-- totally wasted Morgan Freeman-- in it for the money and proud of it, another highlight ins this abysmal movie Gary Oldman--??????????

I know everyone's been raving about the car-- but after watching fast cars in another awful movie (The Fast and the Furious), for me the Batmobile lumbered like a tank, and didn't fly like a bat!

Yes some ideas were amusing, and some even clever, but overall the dialogue was substandard, and the lack of style unforgivable.

Tim Burton's Batman was the best-- Batman and Batman Returns will remain the defining movies for this comic-book world

Paheli (2005)

An amazingly thoughtful and sensitive movie

[10/10 · 25 June 2005]

What a movie.

Wow I went in with high expectations, although I fully expected to be disappointed.

I wasn't.

Mr Palekar has produced a beautifully thought out, well crafted movie, in which he has pulled performances of extremely high standards from all the cast.

The only slow point first-- Juhi's story was wasted with a hurried ending that left us unsatisfied-- other than flashbacks, we had no interaction between Juhi and Suniel Shetty. But throughout the movie-- Juhi spoke with her eyes! The rest of the film-- what an achievement.

SRK and Rani Mukerjee-- what a couple, they have almost the same level of chemistry as SRK and Kajol.

Rani looked gorgeous, dressed in styles which suited her, and I (a female myself) could understand why a ghost would fall in love with her after one look.

SRK looked wonderful, managing to convey the differences between the two characters he portrayed with body language alone. The main thing-- NO GIMMICKY ACTING.

All the other character actors were pitch perfect.

AS to the story, the romance of it all left me heartbroken, for in every love triangle there must be one loser. And indeed this was a love triangle, as, in SRK's portrayal of the distant husband, you saw the love and need for his wife.

Could there have been anything more heartbreaking that the thought that this poor man is alone with his dreams for 4 years, while his wife and her lover are happy and content, basking in family approval, at the same time.

I applaud the film makers for not turning the husband into a Hindi film staple-- the evil husband who we all love to hate. Instead, we empathised with him, and sympathised with him.

But in the end, this movie won the day with it's simplicity-- no violence, no jhatkas, just good old fashioned story telling.....

it's not a film for everyone, indeed as we were leaving the cinema, some people behind us were heard to say "what a boring movie". Don't watch it if you're expecting another "Main hoon na".

Watch it if you love movies that involve you rather than batter the senses.

Parineeta (2005)

brilliant except for the ending

[8/10 · 10 June 2005]

I have just returned from watching this movie-- amazing cinematography, brilliant costume design, excellent acting, good storyline-- except for the ending

Saif has matured remarkably, and so almost manages to carry the movie off, but (although normally a sucker for a happy ending) if you've watched enough movies, the twist at the end was predictable (I predicted it about 1 hour before the end!), and the demands placed on Saif in the end proved just too much-- he just doesn't have the machismo to carry off the last scene. Shahrukh and Aamir could have done it, although Aamir would have had problems with the rest of the film-- Sanju Baba could have done it in his sleep.

I think the sophistication of the movie was diminished with the ending-- they put a typical Bollywood ending into a grown-up movie, and they shouldn't have. I will buy the DVD to see if I am just in the wrong kind of mood, and I would certainly recommend the movie to everyone, but be aware-- this is no Devdas-- happy endings all around.

Perhaps that is why I am disappointed-- I went in expecting a tragedy, and instead got a good old style Bollywood movie, with an old fashioned plot-line.

Bunty Aur Babli (2005)

amazing movie, where abhishek truly comes into his own!!

[9/10 · 30 May 2005]

WOW I went into this movie with high expectations, and boy, did it deliver on all counts

Rani looks amazing in most scenes, and Amitabh was great (with a slight tendency to shout too much), the plot was fun but cool (and mostly made sense in a fantastic kind of way, apart from the child with the ENORMOUS head, and the amazing recovery powers shown by Rani towards the end!)

I must mention Aishwarya Rai's item number WOW WOW WOW WOW After several years of being underwhelmed by Aish's looks (I don't think she's ever looked as great as in Kandukondain Kandukondain) SHE LOOKED STUNNING, indeed truly the beauty she is supposed to be.

Rani and Abhishek have great chemistry, with certain scenes reminding of their connection in Yuva. Indeed, I could truly believe that this chance met couple would do anything for each other.

Amitabh and Abhishek look like they're having a ball together, and must be very comfortable together to play off each other with such ease.

BUT

The star of the show, the true revelation of this movie was ABHISHEK

I have always (before now) felt that he lacked that certain spark of something that turns a actor into a star-- he can act, we've known that since refugee and especially after Yuva but here, he not only acts his socks off, but manages to outshine his papaji on screen For the first time in my life I was actually looking at someone else while the Big B was on screen-- even Shahrukh has only managed that on repeat viewings of K3G

Well done Abhi, today you're truly the star your genes have always promised you'd become

The only stand out truly awful movie in the film- The song Balle Balle

What was Shaad Ali thinking of, filming Rani in those clothes and from those angles, and what was she thinking of allowing herself to be filmed like that Even Abhishek's arms looked weedy Unnecessary, pointless and cringe-worthy,; when i buy this on DVD, I will ALWAYS fast-forward that song

however, all the other songs are cracking and Chup Chupke was amazing

In fact, I think i'll just go watch this movie again, just to see that song again!!!!!!!!

Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)

THE classic tearjerker

[10/10 · 29 August 2004]

Of all the films that I have seen, and there have been many, this film has the distinction of being the only one that makes me cry EVERY time I watch it.

It is a tastefully understated tale, telling the story of Chips' life in episodic fashion.

What makes this film so good however are the performances-- Robert Donat is magnificient through all the ages, Greer Garson's brief appearance makes the film and all the supporting cast are note perfect.

A film like this could be accused of being sugary or over sentimental-- however, the wry humour and the very quietness of the movie prevent that from being true.

This is a true classic-- not to be watched if you don't like b/w or stiff upper lip movies, but a must see for true film buffs.

Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)

a flawless movie

[9/10 · 21 December 2003]

WOW

Nikhil Advani, Karan Johar and the amazing cast of this movie have come together to make only the second flawless Bollywood movie of this generation.

What can I saw about Shah Rukh Khan, an actor who even today manages to mesmerise and captivate his audience. In the majority of his movies, even I (a die-hard) find that he over-acts, but in this movie, his is at the pinnacle of his craft. His control is admirable, and I fell in love with him all over again.

Saif Ali Khan, who started his career as a callow youngster shows that he has finally come of age, and his heartbreaking performance in this movie is astoundingly mature.

Preity Zinta is wholly believable as the woman they both fall in love with-- I almost fell in love with her myself (except my heart belongs to SRK!!)

The supporting cast, full of stars in their own right, gave exquisitely balanced performances, with not a gesture or moment of screen time wasted.

Nikhil Advani, I salute you. You have managed to create what I didn't think was possible in todays world-- a Bollywood film that makes you laugh, cry, feel sad and yet happy at the same time, and also doesn't make you ashamed to take your non-indian friends to. The only other movie that has accomplished that recently was DDLJ (and even that had one scene too far).

The songs, which were disappointing on first listen, fit into the film so well that I will cry every time I hear them. They now make perfect sense (in the same way that the songs of KKHH also improved after watching the movie)

The look of the film, the humour, the choreography, the set direction, the cinematography, the everything of this movie are outstanding.

In years to come, I will watch this movie with my kids (I hope), and hope that they will learn what I have today-- that the Bollywood movie is not dead, indeed it is alive and kicking, and Kal Ho Naa Ho, this movie will be a perfect monument to 2003 Bollywood cinema.

Anyone who doesn't like this movie must truly have a heart of stone.

WOW

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

a fitting end to the trilogy - SPOILERS

[10/10 · 17 December 2003]

I can't believe it's finally over-- the three year rollercoaster that we, the viewing audience have been honoured to ride.

Well, it was a fitting ending, and almost completely satisfying. Aragorn deservedly reclaimed his crown, and Viggo Mortenson claimed a place in the pantheon of actors who are made for the role they play.

The Hobbits, who I detested in both the first and second movie, won me over so completely that I shall be defending them to any and all naysayers. A special mention goes to Sean Astin, who moved this cynical moviegoer to tears.

Gandalf, and Ian McKellan lived up to their reputations.

The battle scenes were incredible.

There were certain areas where booklovers (such as myself) may have felt cheated, but I am hopeful that we will see the return of some left out scenes in the extended edition DVD which has become such an integral part of the LOTR world. After all, there were a lot of stories and loose ends that had to be tied up in only 3.5hours of screen time-- realistically they did the best they could to fit in as many of the highpoints as possible. It would have been impossible to fit in everything and everybody.

As to the movie as a whole, it was good-- not without flaws, not perfect, but good. The CGI let them down occasionally, some of the dialogue was trite, some of the editing felt rushed, and almost none of the characters, except the hobbits and gandalf got the closure they deserved. Certain characters were treated abysmally-- with what we got eventually, did we even need to see the character of Eomer, or see the unrequited love of Eowyn-- after all, no pay-off was given. Characterisation was also given less emphasis than perhaps was needed, but then we had met all of the characters before, and they were well established, therefore you could argue that less time was needed for this.

However, very few films are perfect, and as stand-alone films go, this was certainly enough to keep me happy. As the final third of a 9hr+ movie this was indeed a fitting ending.

I shall be watching it again at the cinema, and I will be rushing to buy the extended edition DVD, despite it's flaws.

Go see it, but be warned, you might not get everything you wished for.

Go see it with no expectations, or if you've never read the books, and you will be in for one of the treats of the movie year.

8/10

Chalte Chalte (2003)

the realities of life

[7/10 · 19 June 2003]

Although I had great fears that this film would not live up to my expectations, I am happy to say that in almost every way this film was outstanding.

First let me get my only quibble out of the way--the ending was too rushed, too abrupt and too unrealistic--we needed more closure.

Otherwise, this was an outstanding movie in every way--from SRK's acting to the supporting characters to Rani's clothes to the absolute realism of the couple's post-marriage fights--I cringed with every word they spoke, watching how two people who loved each other so much could tear themselves apart so easily.

I commend the writer for not making either SRK or Rani's character's perfect; they were both flawed and both to blame for what happened. This is indeed the truth of any marriage--there are two equal partners, and very rarely is it more one person's fault than the other's no matter what people think.

On a purely shallow note--SRK continues to look as good as ever (though he has lost weight, poor babe, due to his recent ill health) and continues to remind us why Gauri is one of the luckiest women on earth!!

It was also good to see an indian film in which the actress did not feel that a string bikini was adequate attire--Rani wore sexy, stunning clothes, and never felt the need to undress the way the actresses in, for example, Andaaz did-- costume directors take note--this is how real women dress- elegant, revealing when necessary, but never vulgar.

All in all, apart from the ending, I would give this movie easily 9/10

Go See!!!!!!!!!!!

Sholay (1975)

a wonderful fulfilling film

[10/10 · 19 June 2000]

I love this movie, it has everything: a bit of humour, some romance, a tragic ending, a happy ending and also that undefinable something that gives a film Magic! The stars were never better, and Salim-Javed were at the peak of their powers in providing the script for this movie. It's simply the best!

Gladiator (2000)

A class act!!

[7/10 · 18 May 2000]

I am usually worried that I'm in for a big let-down when I am looking forward to a film as much as I was to this one. This time however, I was very pleasantly suprised, when Gladiator not only fulfilled but surpassed my expectations. It's a brilliant film, which (while containing weaknesses such as a script which wasn't quite as good as it could have been, and one climactic scene which completely changes, and ruins, the ending) manages to engage your heart and mind.

The performances are without exception excellent (although the accents may distract a bit, there is such a wide variety of them). I must single out for commendation Mr. Phoenix, who despite his youth manages to portray a character with such conviction that you never for a moment doubt his interpretation. His physical performance is as good as his mental one.

The film rests firmly on the (extremely attractive and capable) shoulders of one Russell Crowe. In a tour-de-force performance, he manages to convey a man (not a superhuman) with frailties and doubts and fears and heart. I cannot convey to you how brilliant this man's performance was. If anyone else had been this character, the film would have rated at best a five out of ten.

Kudos to Russell Crowe, and to Ridley Scott, for managing to keep this film on a level with humanity, rather than one in which the characters become killing machines.

A must see, five stars out of five.