"Hit Man" is a gripping and unpredictable ride that balances comedy, romance, and thriller elements, with Glen Powell delivering a standout performance
"Hit Man" is a film that defies easy categorization, blending elements of comedy, romance, and thriller to create a gripping and unpredictable ride. Glen Powell shines as the eponymous hit man, bringing a charismatic energy to the role that keeps the viewer engaged. Definitely a standout and probably the next big thing in Hollywood. The script is clever , the hit man's meetups with his clients are sharply interesting. The film stays ahead of the viewer's expectations, making it a standout in its mix of genres. The sizzling chemistry between the two stunning leads is irresistible which makes you root for them
However, the secondary characters are underdeveloped and lack depth. Additionally, the film's moral ambiguity can be off-putting for some viewers, particularly in its portrayal of morally complex situations. The film's lack of a clear identity or genre can also make it difficult to categorize and connect with. The Philosophical learnings was a bit boring for me and ending was happy. Overall, Definitely a bit overhyped and overrated according to me, but entertaining for the most part.
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A Gripping Neo-Noir Thriller Exploring Morality and the Changing American West
In the film "No Country for Old Men", directed by the Coen brothers, the audience is taken on a dark and violent journey through the American West in 1980. The narrative follows the cat-and-mouse chase between a hunter, Llewelyn Moss, and a psychopathic killer, Anton Chigurh, as Moss stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong and a suitcase full of money.
The Coen brothers' direction is tense and atmospheric, immersing viewers in a world that is both familiar and unsettling. The use of silence and the desolate Texas landscape contribute to this feeling, as does the sparse, haunting score.
Javier Bardem's portrayal of Anton Chigurh is chilling and mesmerizing. His cold, calculated demeanor as he dispatches his victims with a bolt gun is both terrifying and fascinating to watch.
The film's dark, violent narrative is unapologetic in its portrayal of bloodshed and violence. The brutal, unflinching violence is a stark reminder of the harshness of the American frontier.
In conclusion, "No Country for Old Men" is a must-see for any cinephile seeking a truly intense movie experience. The film's exploration of morality, fate, and the changing landscape of the American West is thought-provoking and engaging, making it a standout in the crime genre.
Kho Gaye Hum Kahaan scores high on relatability and serves as refreshing coming of age cinema we deserve.
My Rating : :star::star::star::star: (81/100)
Kho Gaye Hum Kahaan delivers a refreshing coming of age drama which has a brilliant relatability factor for the modern times we live in. The film feels organic while it talks about emotional intimacy & deceptive social media influence in our lives and the social validation is taking presendence over anything valuable & important. Backed by wonderful music , the solid cinematography makes it more effective in piercing through the modern film watching audience. "I Wanna See You Dance", "Ishq Nachaave" & "Teri Yeh Baatein" are my favorites from the album.
The writing by Zoya and Reema Kagti is effective and the screenplay feels like a breeze highlighting the adverse repurcusions of social media affecting every human who consumes it. This effectively showcases even in the digital age we are more disconnected than we ever were. Adarsh, Ananya and Siddharth share a wonderful chemistry and their performances are admirable. Overall KGHK gives a beautiful message while being cinematically solid in terms of real life drama, great music and commendable screenplay. Excellent debut by Arjun Varain Singh as the director who extracted organic acts by the leads. Deserves your time. Netflix India should be proud.
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Ranbir Kapoor preaches dominance in this wild, unhinged & blood soaked rampage of an obsessed son with umpteen shades of gray
Animal is an unapologetic display of cinematic brilliance which by far will be the most polarising film of the year. Witnessed absolute carnage when the insanely choreographed interval block comes. Worth your money. Vanga's book of filmaking is certainly defies Indian School of filmaking as it breaks all stereotypes and challenges the critics with a more wierd and lunatic approach. A father son bond carved in blood, an obsessed son seeking the only validation from his father, power hungry dynamics within the family and conflicting relationship of the protagonist with his wife serves the core of the film. In short, Ranbir embodies the character by heart and delivers a riveting performance for film schools to make a case study of. Sandeep Reddy Vanga restablishes himself as director who defies all odds and keeps no stone unturned when he adds the grays to his lead characters. While the film shines because of the leading man Ranbir, exceptional music and the 2 stylishly choreographed action set pieces and obviously the meticulously written dialogues. What's dissapointing is the underdeveloped antagonists and a stretched husband wife dynamic which stretches a tad too long.
Performances
When Vanga said this is what violence means, we never expected this much mayhem. Ranbir Kapoor has outshined every other actor in the fraternity with this haunting and consumed characterisation. His dialogues, multiple looks and rage is a force to reckon with. Rashmika however trolled she might have been , she is quite formidable in scenes she had to deliver. There is a serious problem in her Hindi diction which may have affected her performance a bit. Anil Kapoor exceptional as he also presents vulnerability and disagreements when required. The heartbreaking fact is the Lord Bobby is criminally given less screen time and that will be debated by everyone. His screen presence is just terrorizing for the spectators. Missed Opportunity. Tripti Dimri is magical onscreen. Wished she was Bhabhi no.1.
Music and Background Score
The music is given by Vishal Mishra and Manan Bharadwaj. They have literally given gems as songs and the integration of the songs is extremely surreal. Credita to Vanga , being a Telugu speaking Director has got this on point. Be that a hardcore Arjan Vailly during the Interval block, a mesmerizing Hua Main , a resonating Papa Meri Jaan or the love song of the year Pehle Bhi Main. Each song and beats during the dramatic turn of events is magical and adds a crucial part of the screenplay.
Questionable Glorification of A Criminal
In Vanga's world , ethics and morality have always been the backbenchers. He writes obsessive characters whether its Kabir for Preeti or Vijay for Balbir, there is no right or wrong. While the obsession to safeguard his father is justifiable to some extent, the dominating and edgy dynamics between Ranbir and Rashmika is something not easily digestible. There is a sense of wierdness which Vanga loves to introduce which is voluntary. He knows moments which will trigger critics, audiences and help create more buzz and debates which eventually helps in box office footfalls. Vanga is a smart man. The writing is brilliant except some underused chacaters, while many may not share the same feeling as me , the dynamics of power leading to all the chaos is rightfully justified.
Watch or Not?
The film is a ticking time bomb, which has everything you have not expected from a Bollywood film. Breaks every stereotype unabashedly courtesy Vanga Sir. If you are a person who gets easily triggered, or has set standards how far a film's scenes are limited to, have allergies seeing bloodshed then stay away from this. If you are a Vanga fan, Ranbir Fan or a fan of unique storytelling without getting influenced then Animal deserves your time. Our country is filled with emotionally weak individuals and cinema has a lot of influence. The tone of the sexism should always be in check when you cater to such large emotional audience. I am afraid if people will draw inspiration from Ranbir's character instead of just watching it for entertainment. That will be a loss for Indian Cinema. Watch with care.
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YRF’s first web series is enthralling, engaging and shattering , buoyed by exceptional screenplay and performances
My Rating : :star::star::star::star: (86/100)
The Railway Men highlights the unwavering spirit and courage shown by the unsung heroes of the railways on the dreadful night of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. The four episode mini series skillfully merges real pictures and snippets of the tragedy with dramatized visuals. The excellent production design exemplifies YRF was serious with the subject at hand and leaves no stone unturned. The inspiring cast is enough for you to just binge watch it at one go just like I did. The writing of this disaster drama is tight with ample moments of thrill, tension and emotions. The show isnt a masterpiece, but it certainly encapsulates tragic incident in a more mature way.
Kay Kay Menon is one fine actor and his versatility speaks louder with each of his performance. R Madhavan is outstanding and his presence itself gives positive vibes. With shades of Irffan Khan his son Babil deserves a special mention. Babil is fantastic considering he being a new comer. Divyendu Sharma is a fine actor and he does complete justice to his role. So refreshing to see the beautiful Juhi Chawla in an extended special appearance.
Overall, The Railway Men is definitely worth a watch simply due to its inspiring storyline, fantastic production, marvelous acting performances and gripping screenplay.
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Atlee’s Jawan redefines commercial filmaking with an exhilarating cinematic experience , setting stage for SRK’s dominance in 2023
My Rating : :star::star::star::star: (83/100)
Jawan despite following the tropes of conventional commercial cinema, establishes itself as perfect example of perfect entertainer with a subtle yet relevant message. Tamil filmakers have aced the mass movies in thr past and Atlee doesn't shy away from it, he just delivered SRK his best mass appealing film which caters to all true Indian Cinema fans. Backed by a resonating storyline, fantastic action set pieces, scorching score by Anirudh , vicious Vijay Sethupathi as the antagonist and a magnetic SRK in the lead , Jawan delivers what it promised. The few inconsistencies in form usual fast forwarding of sub plots is easily forgettable, when you see SRK landing those heavy punches and dialogues. Thr supporting cast also provide great aid to make Jawan a true winner at cinemas. With no competition, this is going to become SRK's next entry to 1000 cr club.
The mass moments are brilliantly elevated by that scillntilating score by Anirudh. Atlee has a tendency to bring in the best interval blocks in his filmography and he doesn't disappoint. Jawan has massiest interval block in the history of Bollywood. The only gripe I had watching the film is it fails to expand on the hurdles of other female members in their past and at many places the emotions flow on a surface level (sub plot fast forwarding) . Well someone cant package everything in film of 169 minutes and I wont criticise Atlee for it. Priyamani and Sanya has a few important dialogues but stayed in background for the most part of it. Vijay Sethupathi is a show stealer with his versatility and his antiques. His hindi is delightful.
Overall, Jawan is a true family entertainer with many subtle plot twists, action , emotions and light humour. SRK as the leading man needs no marketing and Atlee solidifies his place as the mass commercial specialist. Go and celebrate Indian Cinema in theatres. I meant Bharatiya Cinema :hearts:
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Pankaj Tripathi dominates in the quintessential film talking about a bold subject with a hillarious and thought provoking execution.
My Rating : :star::star::star::star: (82/100)
OMG 2 is a sequel of popular film OMG which Paresh Rawal and Akshay kumar back in 2012. Unlike its predecessor which talked about atheism , the current talks about belief and faith in God. The film primarily delivers a strong social message and pleas for immediate reforms in the Education System constructed by the British during their term before independence. The humour is excellent & is spiced with sarcasm and wit, credits to the writer director Amit Rai that his execution with all the dialogues are on the money. All characters felt organic, and matter is handled with complete care and based on facts. Pankaj Tripathi is excellent, Akshay is sharp and appropriate for the role and the entire ensemble delivers an engaging affair which doesn't let you loose grip on the subject. A smartly executed, important film which will resonate with the millenials. Expect many thought provoking introspection as the film challenges unconventional norms. This film deserves your attention.
The film rides high especially due to its organic ensemble casting. Akshay Kumar as Shiva's is the best thing happening to the film. Even with a short screen presence he delivers the reminiscence from the predecessor and impact this film needed. Pankaj Tripathi is a bonafide star, he never dissapoints when he does drama and this like no other is one of his best works. Yami Gautam is pitch perfect in role, she delivers strong points with ease and delivers a challenging role with brilliance. The dialogues and wit in humour generated the loudest of cheers in the cinema screen I was in, and I pitched in too.
Overall, a much needed and important films which should be presented back to back woth such storytelling untill the reforms are made. There have been smaller projects talking about this subject but no changes are made till now. This time the problem needs addressing. A film you can take your family and enjoy. CBFC giving it an A certificate is the dumbest thing possible which highlights how backward the mentality is. Recommended.
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Christopher Nolan delivers an emphatic characterization of the most dreaded scientists in history with aplomb
My Rating : :star::star::star::star: (85/100)
Oppenheimer is a deep, engrossing and captivating piece of cinema, powered by a remarkable sound design , intense drama and strong performances. It delivers a sense of horror and tension which binds the entire narrative of 3 hours, with powerful people people talking most of its runtime. This Nolan film apologetically as usual packs in a lot of information, names and complexity which might need a second viewing to get a complete understanding and may be overwhelming for people watching a Nolan film for first time. Cillian Murphy gives a performance which gives him the oscars next year. He just sinks into the character with a facile demonstration of how well versed he is with his craft. Oppenheimer might not be Nolan's best work but its one the best biopics I have seen in recent years.
A gripe for me was the use of Bhagwat Gita while a character is having sex, this demeans the spiritual beliefs of Hindus to a certain extent. I could be more critical of it considering that scene wasn't necessary in the entire context of the film or it could have been hidden from the final cuts running in India. However a filmaker as huge as Nolan, could have been more sensitive to deliver such a scene. Oh I get it, its just a movie but there a difference between usual cinema and Nolan's films. We learn a lot from him filmography hence a concern. However, special mentions to Robert Downey Jr, Matt Damon and Emily Blunt for their fantastic support performances in the film.
Overall, Oppenheimer delivers a biopic with great and overwhelming detail, scorching score and powerful visuals of the chain reaction it lead to. There's no denying how dangerous the power could have been if it was only in the hands of the US. Now 9 countries including India and Pakistan are nuclear powers. If you want to understand the origin, then don't miss this film. Recommended.
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Greta Gerwig's on the nose social commentary in disguise of a brilliantly designed plastic world.
My Rating : :star::star: (45/100)
Barbie is a monumental achievement in terms of its eye pleasing production design yet is too preachy in terms of its messaging. Barbie is silly and messy and doesnt take itself seriously in the first half which was funny and enjoyable but its undertones drastically shift towards a preachy take on toxic masculinity and the usual gender norms. The film is a social commentary or sattire masked in plastic dolls. Its wasn't powerful or resonating to me as it is for people who loved it. It dilutes the harshness of patriarchy which is a serious problem in the living world. There is a scene where Barbies unite to cause chaos by disrupting peace within the Kens by swindling them. How can this be good? I loved the way Greta has designed the whole world but the messaging and commentary wasn't appealing to me nor my wife who went to watch it.
Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are true gems ofcourse. They are the best looking actors for the particular roles and the understood the assignment pretty well. The first half is enjoyable and no one can deny it. Ryan is good, Margot is good but calling them exceptional is going overboard according to me. People have already nominated Ryan Gosling for Oscars and nothing can be more hilarious than this. Its also overlooking hardworking actors in the west.
For someone who loved Barbie film will disagree and hate me for my opinion but this is a place where I put my unfiltered views on a film. I respect women and despise patriarchy but these two are so difficult and hard-hitting subjects to be addressed in a silly film as Barbie. For people in the West I would recommend films like The Great Indian Kitchen and Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey which is more hillarious and profound compared to Barbie in terms of its messaging. Watch it only if you ever owned a Barbie for the nostalgia else skip it atleast in Theatres.
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Nitesh Tiwari's latest starring Varun and Janhvi is a compelling, heartfelt and bold adventure which stands out on its own
My Rating : :star::star::star::star: (80/100)
Bawaal in all sense is unique, unconventional yet an honest film which presents a beautiful takeaway in form of a thought provoking message. Powered by a remarkable Varun Dhawan and ever improving Jahnvi Kapoor's performance, Bawaal rides you through a rollercoaster of emotions. Its sheds light on one of the most disturbing wars in the history of mankind while weaves an emotional & romantic adventure of a couple in a cold relationship. Yes the screenplay is at times directionless and there are scenes which follow the bollywood tropes, but the heart remains intact throughout which gives you the sudden gush of emotional tumbling more often that you expect. Nitesh Tiwari's direction and Ashwini Iyer's writing is astounding and deserves an applause.
The analogies of War used in the film could have been more effective that it already is, the screenplay is rushed in many scenes. The music feels surreal when vocals of Vishal Mishra and Arijit gets going. Dilon ki Doriyan and Tumhe Kitna Pyaar Karte melts your hearts. Varun yet again proves his hard earned prowess in dramatic acting and Jahvi gives a much improved performance. Manoj Pahwa and Anjuman Saxena provide the adequate support needed and are adorable throughout. Varun and Jahvi's chemistry is refreshing and likeable.
Overall not Nitesh Tiwari's best work but still a brave and earnst attempt and is rightfully released on OTT to cater audiences in large numbers. Many will misunderstand this film on how it uses its analogies to relate with modern relationships but if you watch a film and take away the good things from it then it's a filmmaker's achievement. Watch it with your families , it has everything we love in Bollywood plus a chapter from the history books teaching us from the past, in the present , for the future .
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Barun Sobti's latest mystery is evocative, captivating and easily one of the most compelling shows of this year
My Rating : :star::star::star::star: (85/100)
Kohrra is a hard-hitting and unapologetic murder mysteries which doesn't shy away from the harsh truths of Punjab. While the captivating screenplay sinks you in with its powerful writing and masterful performanaces, it also focuses on some the unspoken issues of a common Punjabi household. The casting is stellar and so are the performanaces. The show is a slow burn but still is engrossing and magnetic while it sheds the layers of the mystery. With just 6 episodes, the strong imagery, raw and rustic cinematography places it as a compelling binge.
The show is very well directed by Randeep Jha and written by Gunjit Chopra. Each character is flawed and is fighting personal conflicts while the mystery unravels simultaneously. Starting from the drug abuse in the streets of Punjab, the urge to marry off burdened girls to NRIs and certain levels of patriarchy, Kohrra shows the true side of a dark reality. Barun Sobti and Suvinder Vicky are exceptional and truly deserves all the praise. Hard hitting shows doesn't come often, this is a must watch.
Overall, if you are a fan of slow burn mysteries which takes its own time to get solved while also following the conflicts of thr investigating officers then this is a must watch. Netflix please bring such shows. Barun Sobti killing it in 2023.
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At 61, Tom Cruise still takes our breathe away and makes our money's worth at theatres.
My Rating : :star::star::star::star: :star: (97/100)
Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1 is an exhilarating experience bolstered by a magnetic Tom Cruise leading us to yet another Impossible mission. With welcome additions of Hayley Atwell and Esai Morales, the plot is more relevant , plausible and alarming at the same time. The film as usual packs death defining set pieces which the franchise deliberately adds to push the envelope of action and entertainment. The refreshing and hilarious chemistry between Tom, Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames makes you giggle from time to time while the seriousness of the film still stays intact. Tom Cruise is a true box office giant and there's no denying that. After Top Gun Maverick last summer this summer he gives us another entertainer worth your time. Christopher McQuarie understands that this franchise is just not about unbelievable action hence he adds a fairly plausible plot and packs it with a lot of twists. We have another adrenaline pumping blockbuster which deserves your love.
The film is not just about action even the screenplay is written with a lot of care to develop the story. The action pieces are well choreographed and are realistic for most part of it. The Rome car chase and final Austrian Alps train scene both are breathtaking. Hayley Atwell is one fantastic addition to the franchise and she deserves a place, she is charming and magnetic and her acting is so real. Tom is just amazing and there's nothing we can give this giy and he can't do. At 61, he makes us feel old.
Overall, if you have been a MI fan then you wouldn't care to read through this review and go buy a ticket and if you haven't watched Tom doing the impossible earlier, I am not sure what more can I write to convince you.
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Flamin' Hot is a sizzling cinematic delight which is subtle, feel-good and heartwarming.
My Rating : :star::star::star::star: (85/100)
Flamin' Hot is a delightfully written , inspiring true story of a janitor Richard Montañez , who revolutionized the snacking industry by channeling his mexican heritage to develop the Flamin Hot lineup in the Frito-Lay's range of snacks. The film beautifully transcends us to the 1990s , and gives us the taste of the flamboyant mexican vibes. With a hilarious screenplay and charming drama, Flamin Hot may be devoid of all the actual facts but it certainly sets itself apart from the regular boring biographies out there. Its presentation is what makes it delightfully entertaining. The organic relationship between Richard and his wife and also the tustle with own father all contribute to a heartfelt drama.
Jesse Garcia is the heart of the film and he delivers a solid act. The innoncence and naivety he displays is both beautiful and heartfelt. Annie Gonsalez provides the rock solid support to Jesse as his wife and she is one beautiful actress who can act. The music, imaginary screenplays and the emotional conflicts of the film truly works in its favour.
Overall, a feel-good, heartwarming ode to a revolutionary man whose journey is inspiring on how he held on to his roots and took pride in his identity. I am reading that the facts shownin the are not entirely true but do I really care ? If a movie makes you feel good while inspiring you then its a film worth your time.
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Kartik & Kiara's latest is a pure & endearing romantic drama leaving you with a canvas of strong emotions
My Rating : :star::star::star::star: (82/100)
SatyaPrem ki Katha is one of the biggest surprises of the year. Not only it gives you a sweet, appealing romantic drama but leaves us with a salient message at the end. Laced with stellar performances by the leads, the film offers strong emotional values , stunning cinematography with a vivid pallete of colours, some soulful melodies and a pure unfiltered story. Sameer Vidwan's debut as a bollywood director deserves the praise for deriving such a moving perfomance from Kartik and Kiara. The film starts strong with a jovial and comedic first half and slowly turns out to be a hard-hitting family drama post interval. Even with a few screenplay inconsistencies and overload of songs, SatyaPrem Ki Katha takes an cathartic and intense approach without necessarily being preachy to convey it potent message.
The best aspects of the film is the fantastic casting. One of the finest performances by Kartik where he choose a resonating story and plays a naive but sensible small town gujju guy. His dynamics through all the emotions is extremely well maintained and performed. Another strong aspect is Kiara's sensitive performance. She deserves much better roles than just being eye candy in bollywood projects. She is extremely adorable and beautiful as Katha. The chemistry is convincing and compelling. Gajraj Rao and Supriya Pathak provide the much needed depth and support the film deserves.
Overall, a fulfilling family drama which touches a sensitive topic without being preachy and serves us with a brush of various emotional dynamics catering to all this genre can serve. Rich perfomances by the leads makes this a compelling and captivating success as a well made film of the year.
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Sam Hargrave's Extraction 2 is bigger, meaner and more ambitious than its predecessor
My Rating : :star::star::star: ½ 78/100
Extraction 2 is an unapologetic sequel delivering high octane action and more nuanced drama that the first keeping us engrossed for the most part of it. With much bigger and meaner action set pieces and an exhilarating screenplay it delivers the right adrenaline rush for the genre lovers. While the film is divided into three stunning actions scenes, the prison breakout sequence clocks a whopping 20min one take which is breathtaking and unbelievable to say the least. The screenplay takes its time, while the creative liberties of Sam Hargrave pushes him to more edges to give something different for the audiences. The underwhelming third act just boils the entire setup down. Overall a brilliant one time watch just for that epic 20min one take.
While the drama around Tyler's son unravels more this time , Hemsworth gives yet another banger of a performance so solidify his position as a brilliant action hero. His accent during conversations and the screen presence during the hand to hand battles is just irresistible. While Golshifteh Farahani provides excellent support to Chris while she does a considerable amount of action herself. Adam Bessa is equally convincing .
Overall, Extraction 2 is a solid action film which lives by its legacy of giving us no nonsense action with a grounded plot and Chris meaning business. Sam Hargrave's sequel is a great testimony of his brilliant action direction and Extraction 3 will be no different. This is one is a no brainer if you really love to see great action on-screen.
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Ezra Miller's The Flash is an imperfect addition but still serves as a gleaming spectacle filled with humour, nostalgia and much more
My Rating : :star::star::star::star: (84/100)
The Flash is heavy on fan service and filled with articulated plot manipulations. It will likely work for DC diehards but only mildly entertain everyone else. While director Andy Muschietti’s time-travel crowd pleaser doesn’t blaze any new narrative trails, it does result in a fun superhero nostalgic dive, for the most part. It packs in a lot of humour and emotions but at times the humour is too much making the stakes a bit low. The CGI is a hit and miss and not perfect. The runtime is adequate with right number set pieces, well timed cameos and smartly executed reboot spell which kick opens a new direction for DCU compared to the messed up DCEU.
The set pieces are well executed, nostalgia kicks in when the original Batman comes on screen, Michael Keaton. Sasha Calle absolutely kills it as Supergirl. Looking forward to see more of her. The show stealer is undoubtedly Ezra Miller. Despite his ruffled and questionable public image, he doesn't dissapoint on screen. He plays two contrasting characters with conviction and confidence and charms us over with a brilliant performance.
In the end, The Flash triumphs through its ability to connect emotionally and deliver moments of genuine humour. These elements, coupled with impressive action, nostalgic cameos, a fitting emotional climax make it a worth your precious time.
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This hitman thriller is a gripping and energetic action extravaganza full of tastefully crafted frenzy
My Rating : :star::star::star: ½ (78/100)
Deliver Us from Evil delivers a no-nonsense, action thriller filled with fantastically choreographed set pieces, brutal fistfights and enthralling gun fights. The film offers very little in its plot to be distinguished from other Hitman thrillers but its the execution that makes this a riveting actioner and a box office success in South Korea. The screenplay is written by the person who wrote The Chaser, Hong Won-chan and he inculcates deeply engrossing sub-plots and building it up for a fitting climax. There is a lot of bloodfilled set pieces which are extremely convincing and well done. Despite the age, Hwang Jun-min (The Point Men) and Lee Jung-jae (Squid Game) perform deliciously crafted stunts and theit face-off comes in as the best part of the film. Hwang Jun is fantastic as the retired contract killer and as usual speaks less, is ruthless and deeply emotional. He gives a solid act. On the other hand, I see Lee Jung in Japanese Yazuka avatar and Oh God he strkes so hard as one. The character is intimidating and menacing and he delivers it with ease. Park Jeong-min aa Yoo-yi is unidentifiable, he provides the right amount of cheese and solidity as a support.
Overall, its difficult to deny that Koreans do action much better than anywhere in the world. This is justified in the film. Its no nonsense actioner with a predictable but riveting premise delivering the right amount of adrenaline rush you asked for.
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An untypical interrogative episode backed by a solid directorial debut by Tina Satter and a mesmeric performanace from Syndey.
My Rating : :star::star::star: ½ (72/100)
Reality is a compelling and captivating film covering an intense episode of interogation. An effective style of storytelling which blurs the line between a documentary and drama and sets itself apart from similar films of the genre. This is a true and unbiased piece of work which retells the initial questioning of Air Force veteran and a Yoga Instructor Reality Winner who was accused of leaking classified information in public domain. The dialogues of the film is redacted directly from the real recordings of the interogation and this makes it more engaging. The fact that you come know about the actual accusations late during the film even makes it more mysterious and intriguing. The film is carried by Syndey Sweeney who plays Reality. She expresses true dynamics of an insecure individual by riding through a series of emotions which is extremely compelling. She proves that she is much beyond just a pretty face and sex symbol. Josh Hamilton on the other hand gives a fantastic nuanced and controlled performance which sets the stage for a fantastic 3 person drama.
Overall, this is easily a well enacted and edited drama which retells the story exactly as it happened. Fantastic directorial debut by Tina Satter and remarkable acting by Sydney. The film is a slow burn and is thought provoking , leaving with you a question of what's right and whats wrong. Wished thry explored a bit more about Reality's mental state . May not be everyone's cup of tea. Watch it if you like convincing and engrossing dramas based on real events.
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The new Transformers film is a worthy and superior addition to the list of action packed films in the franchise. My Rating : :star::star::star: (67/100)
Transformers Rise of the Beasts is a significant and remarkable upgrade from the list of disposable flicks from this franchise however the writing is as cliched as it can be, the performanaces are plain mediocre. It delivers the spelling binding visuals of a VFX heavy action spectacle with three solid adrenaline pumping acts but its the human emotions which fall flat and doesnt necessarily gets you invested in the thick of things. The mosy predictable of writings is backed by remarkable action scenes which gives you the reason to get hold of this film in the biggest of screens nearby if you appreciate the franchise. After a good gap of 5 years, this film serves as notable prequel introducing us to a new faction of aliens called Maximals and Predacons and Tetracons after Autobots and Decepticons.
The chemistry between Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback is simply okay nevertheless dont talk about performanaces in a transformers movie. Overall, A film which serves its purpose of a globetrotting adventure with some bit of humour (in first half) and a lot of creatively designed action. If you can move past the absolutely underwhelming writing, this is a still a captivating big screen spectacle worth a try.
Overall, Rise of the beasts is a much better film in the franchise compaired to the other films out. Definitely gives us good action to enjoy. If you have kids in the family do take them with you to have a good time. Nothing to takeaway.
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A Daunting Shahid couldn't even salvage this middling and unexciting action drama
My Rating : :star::star: ½ (55/100)
Bloody Daddy is a lacklustre, indifferent and unremarkable in its execution. Probably Ali Abbas's weakest directorial after Bharat, this one rather being a menacing one night actioner becomes a slapstick of sorts with its poor writing. The action scenes and hand to hand choreography is something which is pretty well done shot courtesy Ali's sense of action but its everything else around which fails terribly. A daunting Shahid Kapoor tries his best to salvage the film on his shoulders and does justice to his part of the play. While his arrogant and menacing act definitely gives us the Kabir Singh vibes, its great to see him doing relentless action for the first time. Definitely a one time watch if you want to see Shahid doing some badass action else its a dull adaptation of its french counterpart.
Technically the action scenes are pretty likeable but the motive and intensity falls sharply as Ali tries to impart humour with Roy and Sanjay's character. You can't have everything in such a tight action genre. Rajeeb Khandelwal is fantastic and his screen presence is always an intimidating element of his works. His character is poorly written but he too brings in the plausibility of the film with his natural act. Ronit Roy and Sanjay Kapoor underutilized as they become insignificant and less important after a while. That child actor's acting was damn poor. Dont they have good child actors. Crap.
Overall, Bloody Daddy is a film you can definitely try as its free but its important to remember that not everything thats free is good. Its good time killer but unexceptional & easily forgettable. Please dont plan a sequel after this and if you do get a good writer.
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SpidermanAcrossTheSpiderverseReview
My Rating : :star::star::star::star::star: (96/100)
Across The Spiderverse is a spellbinding and mesmerizing experience and passes the sequel test with aplomb. Starting from developing the endearing characters we loved from the first part, it adds a few solid new ones which are written as brilliantly as we can expect. The dazzling cinematography and animations leaves you tranfixed and the thrilling plot shifts leave you floored. Spiderverse is expanded vividly with the captivating work of humour, emotions and keeps you excited for what next throughout. The loudest hooting when Pavitra Prabhakar , our very own desi Indian Spider-Man comes on screen got me exhilarated. With almost all emotions getting evoked with the drama, tension and elevated climax, the cliffhanger makes me thrilled for the final act. Magical experience.
The writing is superlative and introduction of the new concept of Canon event definitely opens up new possibilities. Miguel's Spiderman is terrorizing and adds more seriousness to the plot. While the emotional moments of Miles and Gwen with their family add to the list of winsome moments during the course of the runtime. Manhattan is now Mumbattan and Pavitra Prabhakar made us go crazy. The action and visuals are enthralling to say the least.
Overall, if you likes the part 1 stop reading ahead and go watch this epic spectacle asap and if you haven't then its the right time of this weekend to catch up both parts and join in the community of Miles Morales fan club.
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Tovino Thomas's latest is a thoughtful remembrance of Kerala's biggest tragedy and celebrates its heroes
My Rating : :star::star::star::star: ½ (93/100)
2018 is thoughtful yet heart-rending remembrance of the biggest natural tragedies in Kerala due to incessant rains. Jude Anthony Joseph's latest catastrophic drama is a testimony of how a good chunk of popular mollywood actors came in to contribute to this brilliantly designed and executed film just like the common men came to save the day back in 2018. A harrowing tragedy which rattled peace and harmony in the usual lives of most people in Kerala is reiterated with a commendable production design, soulful and consequential music and earnest performances from the cast. 2018 truly deserves the applause from the masses like it did and made this the all time highest grossing Malayali film. Tovino's empathetic performance and Akhil P Dharmajan's distinct writing are the key highlights of this emotionally overwhelming drama which solidifies the fact that humanity wins over chaos in any form.
Screenplay is linear and acts as a mosaic of multiple events and characters coming together. Technically the film is brilliant and the production design and editing is pretty convincing. The direction though commendable still had much more potential. The lovely music dignifies the tension and emotional quotient. Tovino is gem to Indian Film fraternity and he delivers yet another brilliant act. Asif Ali is equally good in the dynamic character he plays.
Overall, 2018 is a monumental film in terms of the quality and writing of character arcs. A film you all need to watch and celebrate. Malayalam films are the most advanced and beautiful films in terms of quality of content they provide. Another reason for you to watch this is that its available in most popular languages including Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
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Hansal Mehta's remarkable show with a monumental Karishma Tanna delivers the right thrills of a crime drama
My Rating : :star::star::star::star: (85/100)
Scoop, Hansal Mehta's latest is a riveting crime drama which absorbing and intense. With dazzling performanaces Karishma Tanna and Zeeshan Ayyub , Scoop delivers an engrossing true story. Just like Scam 1992, Mehta traverses through uncomfortable but honest storytelling of how Jigna Vora , a female crime journalist was made a scapegoat by organized efforts from the police and state. With a staggering ensemble cast thanks to Mukesh Chabra , Mehta delivers yet another no nonsense show boasting his marvelous direction skills and vision. Scoop deep dives into the ugly and dangerous sides of crime journalism and how its manipulated and controlled by the people in power. This six episode crime drama bombards you with a lot of names and information , which challenges the viewer to be on thei toes to keep with its pace. The emotional angles explored are beautiful. At the beginning it was difficult, but by the third episode you get thr hang of it. Scoop overall is a fantastic Netflix addition which delivers and serves its genre to the best potential.
Karishma Tanna is in a never before character and she delivers big time. This show is probably the break she wished she had years ago. Just like Prateek Gandhi from Scam, Mehta brought the best out of her. From a strong, bold & independent single mother she becomes vulnerable towarss the end, the dynamic of this character is extremely well maintained by Karishma. Md Zeeshan is another peace of gold to Bollywood and India, he is unhinged and spectacular. Really loved to see Deven Bhojani, he is super likeable in anything he does. Csn talk about hours about all individual performances, its so good. Everyone delivers.
Overall, a show which keeps the audience on its toes and you can't blink. Lots of name to catch up with and ugly motives to uncover. One of the best shows of the year.
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#SchoolOfLiesReview
Avinash Arun's boarding school mystery is a layered saga traversing through secrets and human trauma My Rating : :star::star::star: ½ (73/100) #SchoolOfLies is a gritty and absorbing mystery which is extremely layered and acts as a slow burn crime drama with phenominal performances. #AvinashArun’s series, set in fictional hill-station Dalton Town, delves into mystery of a missing child, and comes up with a bunch of troubled, twisted individuals lying to cover the real themselves. The show is laced with secrets, human trauma and tends to be thought provoking for the most part. The visuals by Avinash Arun is peaceful and tranquilizing but simultaneously keeps a sense of tention around the mysterious woods. Fantastic casting choices #SunnyDagar and well written characters by #IshaniBanerjee leads to make this a gripping story which is arresting during its 290 minute runtime. Overall, a competent addition to well written slow burning mysteries to the Hotstar portfolio. The screenplay is at many places non linear & delves into characters where everyone is sad and in some sort of stress or trauma. The show is not for everyone, as its too less of a mystery rather its a complex study of different human psychologies. #VarinRoopani and #VirPachisia standout from in terms of performances from the kids in the story. #AdrijaSinha and #AryanSinghAhlawat provide solid support to Varin . #AamirBashir, #GeetikaVidya and #NimratKaur are exceptional as well in their respective complicated roles. I kind of liked it because of the performanaces and cinematography to be honest. The ending left me unsatified and it ends abruptly without a likeable closure . Overall, a engrossing slow burn drama which explores complex characters rather than being a tense filled mystery. If you are watching this for your taste in slow burn mysteries and exceptional performanaces go ahead. If you aren't a fan of this genrr then School of Lies can be the worst show for you. Its slow bro too slow. Try it.
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#ZaraHatkeZaraBachkeReview
Vicky and Sara latest social drama is mediocre but passable
My Rating : :star::star: ½ (55/100)
#ZaraHatkeZaraBachke is a middling family drama which could never reach its true potential of the quintessential social Indian drama. Serving as another rooted indian rom-com highlighting a pertinent issue but stays generic throughout. Writer-director #LaxmanUtekar captures the young urban couples’ urge to go nuclear in this comedy of errors that is not entirely logical and original, but still quite watchable. A formidable #VickyKaushal is let down by a underwhelming #SaraAliKhan, and the chemistry never takes off as expected. Some noteworthy supporting performances and an emotional climax makes it salvageable but the poor writing and lack of relatable humour definitely leaves this to be mediocre.
The album of the film really is beautiful, from Tere Vaaste to Phir Aur kya Chaiye to Saanjha all are beautiful melodies. The screenplay is weak as the writing struggles to keep you engaged and bother about the proceedings. Vicky Kaushal is fantastic but his potential isn't truly tested, Sara seems to improve compared to her previous works but still struggles to matchup to Vicku. Other ensemble cast including #SharibHashmi and #Inaamulhaq gives solid support.
Overall, a fun film which is essentially underwhelming in terms of standards set by Laxman Utekar after Mimi. A good watch in OTT but not in cinemas. Donot believe the bloated IMDB ratings and Google Ratings.
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#BlackberryReview
Baruchel and Howeton's biopic is a witty, sharp and compelling piece of infotainment
My Rating : :star::star::star::star: (84/100)
#Blackberry is a riveting and fascinating tale of rise and fall of a product which used to be a status symbol back in the day. This film is probably one of the best product biopics coming from the west which deliciously crafts darkly comedic elements and a gripping screenplay. The score is peppy , the characters are solidly written and cinematography is marvelous. The camera zooming in on a woman, after a boss tells the mostly male coworkers to work and to not play with their little penises, is already one of the best scenes of the year, literally ROFL.
#GlennHowerton as Jim is ferocious and outstanding and sets the tone of the film on how his arrogance and ill mannered ego crashes the company down. #JayBaruchel is brilliant as Mike who was the brains of the BlackBerry and how ignorant he was as a co-ceo. The best part of the film is the Character of #MattJohnson who just kills it with his hillarious performance. To my surprise Matt is also the director which is just crazy talent.
Overall, a sharp, compelling true story which has the tension, thrill and humour of great intellect. Fantastic drama and fresh cinematography are good reasons why all should acknowledge this brilliant film and watch it when available to stream.
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#Asur2Review
My Rating : :star::star::star::star: (81/100)
#Asur2 is a scintillating and arresting addition to the franchise which keeps the tension running during its entire runtime. The screenplay is again extremely fascinating as it builds on the world which fuses mythology and crime to a whole new dimension. The dialogues are again well written and score elevates this taut thriller. The writing is solid as it deep dives into human psychology, manipulation, trust , betrayal and also gives us the sense of urgency with the cons of artificial intelligence and power of data. Overall, S2 builds on S1 with the same sense of tention, thrill, engagement and mystery in form of a cat and mouse chase , but this time its more smart than before.
Fantastic casting choices and solid performances are the reason why you will love the show. My personal favorites are #BarunSobti and #ArshadWarsi. Barun is such brilliant actor, who deserves more work than he does. His vulnerable yet smart character is beautifully written and he does complete justice. Arshad Warsi is veteran and he delivers as expected. #RidhiDogra is solid but she is more capable than the Character she is given here. The only gripe I have for the show is that it relies heavily on technology where #AnupriaGoenka is seen doing literally everything on thr computer which drastically reduces the plausibility of the entire show. She literally can do anything on a PC and thats simply outrageous in such a otherwise great show. #MeiyangChang is a great addition but he needs a good haircut in next season.
Overall, if you loved S1 you wiill love S2 as the theme, and genre service is done brilliantly where Barun and Arshad standout with their performance. Lives upto the hype. Recommended.
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Russo Brothers' expensive mistake which reaches new levels of ordinary
Citadel is an expensive & exorbitant mess made out of 1600 crores with which they could have revived countries out of poverty. This stylized, fancy espionage spy thriller is no better than hundreds of spy thriller we have seen in the past. Starting from patchy vfx, forced drama , unegaging characters and mediocre plot twists this has everything to get you dissapointed if you are loyal fan of solid spy thrillers.
The screenplay is a victim of uninteresting time jumps which taints every bit of engagement it tried to bring in. Other than Leslie Manville's vicious performance , Citadel fails to deliver even in terms of any other credible performance. The action set pieces other the opening sequence doesn't catch your eyes as all seem mediocre.
Overall, if you are someone who binge watches everything popular you may not like Citadel as it feels monotonous and tedious, but if you ocassionaly watch content on your TVs then this might be a good option to try. You might also want to watch this as Amazon is producing a spyverse for Citadel across multiple countries. Indian Edition of Citadel stars Varun Dhawan and Samantha and is being directed by Raj and DK. Citadel S01 also teases thr next chapter Citadel : Diana starring Italian actress Matilda De Angelis which will release in 2024.
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A formidable Elizabeth Olsen shines in this chilling and unsettling true story
Love and Death is a confounding and engrossing crime drama which is based on the true case of Betty Gore Murder in 1980. In addition to a fantastic ensemble cast, love and death dominates in its execution, writing and the unsettling tension it brings with its atmosphere. The show is a 7 hours long show split into 7 eps and it takes its own good time of around 3-4 episodes to get going. If you can sit through that, you are up for a wholesome satisying crime drama of top notch quality. The sound design, screenplay in the second half just strives through without us flinching.
Elizabeth Olsen gives a performance of a lifetime, she literally sinks into this character and dominates each frame she is put into. Her wide range of emotions are vividly scattered throughout the show and she kills it in each. The other genius of the show is Tom Pelphrey, this man is effortless and outstanding in the 2nd half of the show when the court proceedings take over. His presence of mind and his impeccable style of delivering his dialogues just makes you like him every single time. They way he says fat fuck will make you giggle. Other leads like Jesse Plemons and Patrick Fugit provide adequate support.
Overall, on hell of a fantastic crime drama led by an monumental and invincible performances by Elizabeth Olsen and Tom Phelphry. If you appreciate slow burning and unsettling cold murder dramas this is is must watch.
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Dasara is a fan service to the lovers of commercial cinema. Srikanth Odela definitely created a world which seems familiar but has a charm of its own. His direction is commendable but its the premise which is far fetched and routine that boils the screenplay to eventually become dull. The music is strictly okay and the depth of certain characters are matched with stereotypes seen hundreds of times. But kudos to exceptional cinematography and staging of Nani, this films feels passable and likeable for many parts. Nani is the soul of the film and he dominates throughout. No wonder why this man is titled the Natural Star. A passable commercial flick which stages Nani in the best way possible in a mass entertainer.
The film has no surprises, and serves as a monotonous affair for the most part. Nani is exceptional, Keerthi is commendable. Dheekshith Shetty gets a good amount of screen time and he does justice. The fact that the premise isn't exciting , it turns out to be just a usual predictable revenge saga which you might have seen a billion times by now.
Overall, if you are a Nani Fan, then Dasara is a good watch but if you are not , then this film wont surprise you or be worth your time.
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