REVIEW: Transformers: Dark of the Moon AKA Transformers 3

DIRECTED BY: MICHAEL BAY

Its 3^rd part of transformers series directed by Michael Bay and starring Shia LaBeouf as key protagonist with Autobots.

Movie starts with a cybertronian spacecraft ARK crash on moon in 1961 which detected by NASA and some dark secrets behind moon mission of USA in 1969.

In present, Autobot have formed a military alliance with US. During a mission at Chernobyl site Optimus Prime discovers a fuel cell of that crashed ship ARK which activates Shockwave-a decepticon. After this Optimus Prime launches a mission to retrieve the pillars-a technology which can recreate and save Cybertron, from ARK and Sentinal Prime who was traveling on ARK. Optimus brings 5 pillars and Sentinal to earth where he re-activates him with the energy matrix. On the other hand defeated decepticon leader Megatron has plans to retrieve those pillars and create Cybertron with it on earth’s resources.

Sam tries helps Autobots and Govt. with likely plans of decepticons but first Govt. didn’t consider him and this leads to great disturbance on earth.

Movie has stunning action sequences (as expected) and if you go for 3D you can have an extra edge. It has more transformers than earlier and bigger scale specifically the climax part. Michael Bay has created it exceptionally well. (In Hindi edition we have Akshay Kumar voicing over for Optimus Prime.)

No need to say its worth watching. Just go and enjoy it.

RATING: 7 OUT OF 10           

REVIEW: CARS 2

Cars-2 is a sequel to 2006 animated movie cars produced by PIXAR. Those who think animation is kido stuff need to watch this and some of the extraordinary animated movies released in past 5 years, they have got superb story with excellent execution on screen with great visuals (and I personally think animation is lot more better medium to showcase emotions on screen).

The story moves after four year winning streak of Lightning McQueen and he decides to take some break but in a live interview of Italian formula race car Francesco Bernoulli, his best friend Mater intervenes which leads McQueen to take part in world grand prix organized by a green activist and oil tycoon. So McQueen and his team head to Japan and Europe. But wait there is another side of this story where an international group of terrorists are involved behind a master plan which will change the scenario of green fuels.

One thing I am sure is that this has no less thrills as we see in BOND movies. Its thrilling, action packed and comical (where MATER turns out to be superb character). Not only kids but this has something for everyone.

Its worth of time and money we spend. Go watch it.

RATING: 7.2 Out of 10. 

REVIEW:GREEN LANTERN (2011)-A new breed of superhero is here.

Directed By:Martin Campbell

Starring: Ryan Reynolds AS Green Lantern.

This is the comic adaptation from DC comics’ character of same name called Green Lantern. First thing first, I went to see this with minimum expectations but it turned out to be super impressive (I liked the whole concept and character even better than Spider-man).

Millions of years ago a group called guardians of universe created Green Lantern corps with the help of green force of willpower. Each green lantern protects each sector of universe which is divided in 3600 sectors. In present time a fear essence-Parallax whom Abin Sur-one of the green lantern imprisoned, escapes from prison and after killing four lanterns attacks Abin Sur and wounds him. abin sur escapes to nearest planet (earth),and releases his ring to find suitable person to be green lantern in his place. The ring chooses Hal Jordan- an aircraft pilot. From here the whole adventure of finding himself and being a true Green Lantern for Jordan starts and ultimately finds why he was the chosen one.

 Plot may be familiar like saving universe from an evil and all but there is something in this character which differentiates him from other super hero and impress also. He was not looser kid like spider-man or not a born superhero from different planet like superman, here was a man who was fighting with his inner strengths and weaknesses which gave this an extra edge over others.

Action sequences are always life of superhero movies and this movie gets full marks on that ground. Ryan Reynolds as Green Lantern is impressive (especially after watched him playing soft loving characters in past-except in X-men:volverine).

It’s worth watching and paisa vasool entertainer specially for those who is tired of watching slapstick hindi movies.

RATINGS: 7 OUT OF 10

Review: THOR (2011)

Directed By: Kenneth Branagh

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hiddlestone

THOR-the god of thunder is based on a superhero character from MARVEL comics of the same name. It is meant to be summer blockbuster and so far has been successful. (Before anyone watches this movie, it is needed to have basic idea of the character and world around it)

It starts with Odin-King of Asgard(Hopkins) defeating Frost Giants of Jotunheim from conquering the Nine Realms including earth in 965AD. In present when son of Odin-THOR was about to be king of Asgard, the Frost Giants tries to get back the Casket of ancient winter which was ceased by Odin back when he defeated frost Giants. This leads to THOR overpowering his father’s order and he goes to Jotunheim with his brother Loki and his warrior friends. Odin interrupts the fight and ceases all powers of THOR for his insane and exiles him to earth with his hammer-Mjolnir protected by spell that a worthy person will be able to handle and use it.

On the other hand Loki finds that he is actually son of Leufi-leader of frost giants. He gives Frost giants chance to kill Odin but THOR’s worrier friends finds it and goes to earth to get Thor back. Thor also discovers what his father wanted to teach and get his hammer and power back and at the end defeating Frost Giants.

As it a superhero movie it is meant to be full of action and superhero stuffs. So it is there in it with superb visuals. The actor portraying THOR,Chris Hemsworth is visually perfect and portrays well. Hopkins, Portman and Tom have also done well with their respective characters. Kenneth Branagh as we know is very good  actor-director, has justified with the movie. 

All in all it’s worth watching and I think specially kids will love it.

RATINGS: 6.75 OUT OF 10.   

Review: SOURCE CODE (2011). . . .Decoded

Directed By: Duncan Jones

Starring: Jack Gyllenhaal , Vera Farminga , Michelle Monaghan

Source Code is Sci-fi action thriller. Capt. Stevens (Jack) is isolated inside a chamber of a program called Source Code which allows him to take someone’s body in to his life’s last 8 minutes. Capt. Stevens was sent on a mission to find the bomb and bomber which exploded a train headed towards Chicago for that he has been transmitted to someone’s body for eight minutes before the explosion happened. It was suspected that the bomber who has exploded the train has planned another blast by nuclear bomb which can destroy the whole Chicago city. So he has to find the bomber and help the program authority to stop next explosion.

What I really like is of course concept of the movie but the climax; it was quick but superb like if you don’t pay attention, you may totally miss what it wanted to convey. Overall a good sci-fi movie for sci-fi fans (which resembles little bit with Minority Report-that is what I think). It would have been great if the story would have elaborated little bit more but no complain from my side.

Jack Gyllenhaal and Vera Farmingo were superb and so was Michelle Monaghan. Its worth a viewers money.

RATING: 7 OUT OF 10

REVIEW: DUM MAARO DUM

Directed By: Rohan Sippy

Goa, as we hear the word, Sun-Sand and Sea with tempted beauty comes in to mind but there is one more thing behind, which is more darker reality of this heaven on earth, Drugs and Mafia running it all over. The movie moves around all these and at the end showcases how it is spread and hard to stop.

Abhishek Bachchan(ACP Kamath) is sent on task to clean-up goa from Drugs. He chooses his own way to do this. Prateik a young kid who wants to fly New York for studies has no money but got easily got trapped by local drug dealer to carry drug fro him for money he offered fro his study. Rana is a musician who lost his love to the drug mafia and when he saw Prateik movie fro same wants to stop and save him. Aditya Pancholi is a local business man and man behind all these drug mafia. Govind Namdev a police man in Kamath’s team for this drug mission. These guys moves story quite well.

Rohan Sippy has made movie quite stylish and tried hard to engage viewer for whole run and he succeeds in this. His execution is very good except a few thing which he needed to workout before but that doesn’t matter here as overall things move smoothly. Music is also good. Dialogues were good specially those of Abhishek.

Talking about performance two performances standout one from Abhishek Bachchan (when ever he plays cop its superb) he plays ACP Kamath with full conviction, job well done after last few bizarre and one from Govind Namdev as Rane. Rana and Prateik were good for their characters but nothing special. Sadly, Bipasha had nothing much to do but she was also ok. Aditya Pancholi made his mark and do satisfy with his performance.

Overall a good movie and worth watching (especially some scenes of police interrogation of abhichek were brilliant).

RATING: 7 OUT OF 10.

REVIEW: SUCKER PUNCH (2011)

DIRECTED BY: ZACK SNYDER

The movie is an Action-Fantasy directed by Zack Snyder (who earlier made '300' and 'WATCHMEN') and consists Female Star cast in lead.

its about a girl who is sent to mental asylum by her stepfather after her mother's death where she will undergo lobotomy in 5days. so she plans to runaway in next 5 days from mental asylum. here she travels in to an imaginary world where she is a dancer of a club and she gets help of fellow dancer girls to escape from the place and for that she and other girls has to perform certain tasks.(Don't get confused with girl's parallel imaginary worlds,just enjoy)

Its a mixture of Dark world with imaginary world around 50's time. the movie is A VISUAL EXTRAVAGANZA with spectacular action sequences with  some very good background music. those who liked 300 and watchmen will sure love it. its a worth watch for those fantastic visuals and beautiful star cast.

RATING: 6.5 OUT OF 10.

Review: 7 Khoon Maaf (Directed By Vishal Bhardvaj)

Directed By: Vishal Bhardvaj

Starring: Priyanka Chopra

It has been always great to experience Vishal Bhardvaj’s cinema and I honestly see him as India’s own Quantine Tarentino. He always brings something new on screen (which most of the filmmaker will avoid to even touch) with excellence. His latest offering 7 Khoon Maaf also follows the path which he started with Makadee. Its based on Ruskin Bond’s short story “SUSSANA’s 7 HUSBANDS”.

The story spans 3 decades from 80’s to present day. A story of Susanna who has lost her parents in her early life and being brought up by her servants and marries to six men who dies one after another. She has 3 honest servants who stays through her for whole life and a boy-Arun( Vivan Shah) of whom she becomes care taker. How these different men comes in to her life, marries her and what makes them being killed is centre idea of the movie.

The subject itself is quite sensitive and was needed to be written and executed perfectly on screen which Vishal Bhardvaj did excellently. Narration through Arun’s(Vivan Shah) character is one of the plus points of movie. Dialogues, especially for narration are very good with blend of poetry. Priyanka Chopra is a scene stealer and gives her best by far. Supportive Cast has done good job specially the Person who plays role of her butler. Vivan Shah as Arun has made a mark successfully on screen. Real surprise was Annu Kapoor (Susanna’s 5^th husband) was superb. Apart from these all the actors who played her husband had very small screen time and where reasonably good. The Climax is quite surprising one (I don’t know how many will digest it) and positive as well.

All in all the hates off to Vishal Bhardvaj and Priyanka Chopra and their efforts. The movie does not appeal to all kinds of audience but its worth watching.

RATINGS: 7 OUT OF 10.

REVIEW: (500)DAYS OF SUMMER

Well this one was surprising for me at least. It’s a romantic movie with a difference. It starts of with an interesting narration about two leading characters ‘the boy and the girl’ and then showcases their 500 days long relationship where the boy who falls for the girl from the day he seen her and she gets in relationship with him casually like ‘no label’ on their relationship. They had everything in relationship as a normal couple has. They enjoyed being together but suddenly she tells him that they should stop seeing each other and the boy couldn’t understand it. Things gets normal with the boy by the end he meets a new boy meets a new girl.

The story looks simple but the narration is different and was told keeping male character on centre stage which makes movie enjoyable. It’s worth watching.

Nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards | Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences

Nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards | Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences