Neethi N

This movie is not for everyone. I was not aware of the story line or the musical that it's based on. The graphics and the actors recreate the London if the 19th century quite precisely. It being a musical doesn't at all tone down the darkness of the story- so even if you are not a 'musical' kinda person you will buy into the characters anyway. The story is dark and is predominantly gore and ends with a Shakespearean tragedy-like twist. But there doesn't seem to be a convincing reason for the virtuous and wronged Benjamin to become the serial killer Sweeney Todd. That lack of conviction leaves you confused and you don't know if you should relate to Sweeney or hate him! Technically it's a well made motion picture. conceptually it successfully combines a musical with a contemporary drama format. However as an experience it's more repulsive than anything else.

So this is a spooky film but was not marketed like that. So if you like spooks you will be amused, if not you would be confused. However the direction and cinematography is flawless and either way you will be in awe of the work put into this. Amir, Rani and kareena have done some horrible movies in the past and this is certainly an atonement for all of them. Each one including nawazuddin and Rajkumar Rao have played their parts so convincingly. Kareena looks ethereal and is all about body language and expressions- which was a pleasant surprise! The story itself has some questionable content. The mystique is subtle till the end when it becomes more fantasy than anything- which partly spoils the tone of the movie. Some unnecessary angles like the last scene will make your eyes roll. All in all it is a good work of cinema and it is enjoyable if not relatable.

This is a strange film. Firstly cuz the story is definitely unheard of. Secondly because the posters don't have anything to do with it. Thirdly because none of the reviews and reactions clearly ever tell you what is in store for you. Let me start out by saying that there are several loopholes, including inaccurate accents and a half hearted work with the dubbing. The first half an hour seems like a waste of time and a confused depiction of a girl ending up in a teenage pregnancy and eventually becoming a terrorist trying to fight society. Yup kinda clichéd. But you have to survive those 30 minutes to realise that those 30 Minutes had you fooled big Time! Yes one of the best 'surprise' twists in an Indian movie ever. So from a naïve girl turned terrorist's story, it becomes a 'hijack' story, and then turns into a comedy! I loved all these angles! Except, when the comedy ends, it turns into an Indian version of 'philadelphia' highlighting the plight of an AIDS patient. And as if that wasn't enough it metamorphoses again into a version of 'the bucket list'. So basically it's several movies in one. Every turn in the story is shown with a lot of honesty and not much drama, which is why so many are able to relate with the character. I believe this story, or rather all the stories here need to be told and heard. The acting and direction was not the best possible, but definitely it made everything seem more natural. A single movie has referred to issues such as the parent-child bond, naivety of youngsters, sexual abuse, social stigma, prejudice, perception of people towards AIDS, the business of reality TV, the two faces of the media, the ruthlessness of the Indian police, the jumping to conclusions about someone being a terrorist, the futility of everything when death lurks near- phew! What have they left out?!!! The things that didn't strike a chord were: they are showing the protagonist reconcile with her 'rapists'. Plus there were too many issues touched upon loosely that I can't decide what the message of the movie really was! Not a masterpiece but no doubt a commendable attempt. Definitely worth a watch.

This is like two different movies in one! The first half is a 'wannabe hero centric' tale with ajay devgn defeating gravity, that too on the Himalayas, and getting laid with a firang whose friends find him "so hawt and sexaay'' !!!! You almost cringe realising that this was released globally! But a little perseverance takes you through that phase and leaves you confused if their love is dreamy or just a fling that ends with a white baby in a brown man's hands. It's impossible to get a white kid to speak Hindi like her 'father tongue' so she was conveniently made speech impaired! Brilliant! But just when you thought you should probably give up on this interracial khichdi- that kid just wins everyone over and Ajay devgn is ever so wonderful as a doting father. The story thankfully finds its way to its point and everyone is now in Bulgaria! The story henceforth is a desi take on 'taken'. The action scenes were creative except that they lingered along for longer than one could comfortably stand- you could take a cat nap and would not have missed much. Vir das is a welcome comic relief. But the best moments are Ajay devgn's poignant and vengeful expressions coupled with an equally strong performance by the kid Abigail. For Ajay to be acting and directing this at the same time- it's a masterpiece. But it could have been 'perfect' (maybe better than taken) if most of the desi drama and dialogue bazi was removed. surely a One Time watch (with lots of forwarding).

This movie tried to cash in on the aura of 'queen'.... without a story! Although it's based on a true story it doesn't delve deeper into the struggles or psyche of the character and not once did I relate to the character, in spite of the acting prowess of kangana ranaut. The treatment of each scene is artsy but then there are some unnecessary commercial elements thrown in. The music is really enjoyable except you never know what it's there for. The highlight of the story was supposed to be the 'bank robberies' but not only are they short, but also look like a joke - and that too a poor one. Very lousy crimes and lousier crime fighters! You never know if it's supposed to thrill you, make you cry or laugh. Absolutely worth a miss.

Its always tough to match up to a prequel, that too from 2 decades back. Rings is the 'reboot' of ring 1 and 2 from the early 2000s. There was nothing technically commendable in those two movies either but the cursed 'video' itself was the secret to its popularity- which has been used as it is in rings as well. The creepy (literally) ghost Samara is also the same and lots of of older footage are reused. So what's new? The protagonists are new with no mention of the previous ones... using an 'older' version of the kid from 1&2 would have been a better idea. The protagonist is drawn into the search for 'answers' for no clear reasons. She has visions that are never clarified either. They create a back-story of Samara's biological mother and father which seemed strange since ring 2 already laid out other facts about that. The faces of the victims are still as hilarious as before! The images of the fatal tape was and is the best thing about the trilogy- but it's not 'original' anymore. Everything new here does not match up to the expectations. In the era of internet and video phones they could have shown a 'viral' phenomenon with 'masses' of victims- but they still show the same "VCR" tape. And the 'experiment' sounds baseless. The ending however is amazing. For those new to the trilogy it will surely give you the creeps, but for previous fans it might be a disappointing reboot with much unexplored potential.

The title sounds like a murder mystery, however it's more of an 'art film' (as was previous terminology). It's gripping for the viewer who listens, but will seem boring for most contemporary viewers. This movie is all about the expressions and body language of the characters which has been perfectly portrayed by the 'star' cast especially Vikram Massey. It takes you back to those nostalgic "summer vacations" where you would just while around in a rural home with grandparents. The best thing about it is the direction that makes you actually live through the days in the story 'with' the characters. The 70s recreation however is a bit choppy with the choice of words seemingly contemporary. Another flaw is with the 'cultural' details of the characters that seemed very confused- somehow the overlapping decents and languages didn't seem like a 70s thing. The struggles and conflicts affecting the protagonist was not clear, but his turmoil was very very well depicted. It keeps you eagerly guessing who will be murdered! But the climax certainly gives the chills. And wait right there, cuz there's a "post climax" too that will raise your curiosity to the peak and leave you there to figure it out for yourself- which is brilliant! Must watch for the movie lover but worth a miss for the Bollywood buff.

India has a scarcity of mystery movies, let alone good ones. This movie definitely tries to fill that lacuna. First of all the story keeps changing so it's never stagnant. Secondly there are no time-wasters (read: item songs or unnecessary Romantic scenes). Thirdly: a period setting adds to that dark mysterious aura! Moreover the 'thrill' is balanced out by clever comic moments and a lively just-out-of-college protagonist. Since it is based on a well known character and book series, the recreation would have been a challenge which they managed to do successfully! (I haven't read the books, hence can't judge the similarities) Being raised in Kolkata I totally related with all the facts and scenes that were highlighted. It was certainly well researched. The performances were all apt, and each actor was convincing in their roles especially Sushant, swastika, Anand and most of all Neeraj! The only thing that disappointed was the choppy ending where one man seems to have killed a dozen goons in a few minutes... Seemed typically Bollywood there. But it does give room for sequel. All in all must watch for the story, acting, the set, and just a change from the usual.

This movie had my curiosity before I watched it, then Kept me engrossed throughout, and then disappointed me in the climax! Correction: there was no climax. The concept is bold, the scenes are bolder, and the stories are realistic. Each one of the actors did a convincing job. Every kind of 'woman' you see in daily life found a place among the lead characters from the housewife, the wild chick, the secret rebel to the ascetic grandma. And each story was predictable yet gripping, so much so that you feel their pain and joy. But after investing yourself in these characters you all the more will look forward to a solution to their problems. And that's where the ending hits you: the clichéd 'this is life'! Verdict: It is worth a watch, but create your own ending!

Spotlight is a true story about a team of reporters working in a news agency trying to dig deep into a sexual abuse scandal. Their challenges and turmoil is very well portrayed. But this is a movie that survives on dialogues and body language with nothing visual to offer. It reminds you of a typical office. It does hold your attention very well indeed but also requires the uninterrupted concentration of the viewer. The tone and direction was similar to zodiac with much less drama. The portrayal of the victims however was not as touching as it could have been. Must watch for fans of the multi star cast but not for the viewer who sees more than hears.