Category: Reviews

Airlift-Uplifted


Airlift – a movie with a heroic attempts by an Indian- Kuwaiti businessman to evacuate 1.75 lakhs Indian from Kuwait via Jordan.
First of all, commendable job by Akshay Kumar and Raja Menon, for bringing into highlight, one of the best and largest evacuation effort by a country.
The story starts with a racist joke “How do you fit 20 Iraqis in a telephone booth?” showing Ranjeet(Akshay Kumar), imbibed in Kuwaiti colours.
We don’t get to see more colours of his character as soon enough, the Iraqi forces invade Kuwait and render the inhabitants homeless. In these tough times, Ranjeet finds himself on a crossroad, as he has to decide between his responsibility towards family or towards the people who are dependent on him. The moment of decision has been shown very subtly and simply.
Ranjeet realizes that he is more Indian than he gives himself credit for, as he takes on camp preparation for the dependents and tries to find ways of evacuation.
Nimrat impresses yet again in her portrayal of strong wife. Though cynical of Ranjeet’s actions initially, but she comes on board later as she realizes that Ranjeet is not going to leave anyone behind.
Purab Kohli, playing Ibrahim stands out in the crowd full of Indians in the camp. His cool and calm portrayal yet again shows his immense talent in bringing justice to any role he is trusted with.
The screenplay is balanced with apt focus on the internal struggle of Ranjeet and Amrita(Nimrat) while focusing mostly on the issue at hand.
Some scenes have been portrayed so well, they will get you emotional. A applaud-worthy effort, ending in a clichéd slow-motion waving of Indian flag, but that still works. J
We would have loved it more if it was based more on real life characters. Though we see some names like “Mathunny Matthews” and “Vedi” in credits, but they could have been portrayed in the movie itself. But, I won’t take credit away from Akshay, as this was a brave and flawless effort from his side.
In an era, where directors really shy away from making movies on historic events, due to fear of backlash from intolerant India, this is definitely a good start. We hope to see more of it.
I would definitely advise you to watch once and revive this genre of movies.
Image credit: Google Images

It’s legen-please don’t wait for it-dary

With HIMYM drawing to a close with the season 9 premiering very soon in every television near you (Oh sorry! Not everyone has a DTH connection), it got me thinking about how naturally it brings about the comparison with one of the best sitcom ever, FRIENDS. Certainly there are no comparisons, considering the timeline differences between the two. But we, audiences can’t live without comparing the two. It’s like comparing Messi and Maradona, but then again, we do that and isn’t it fun? As Barney says: ‘New is always better’, it is better when it is this awesome. Well, better or not, I leave it to your judgement, but NPH and Hannigan’s impersonation deserve the biggest of applauses.
                First of all, congratulations to the producers of the show, for completing 8 successful seasons (Of course they aren’t listening…..but…just….just….OK) with the same cast. Most importantly it was the holy-mother-of-all-that-is-good-in-heaven relief to finally not force to personalize the mom of the two kids (whom names we still don’t know off!) of Ted’s through his words. We have seen her buying ticket to Farhampton. And I hope directors aren’t smiling wicked while the audiences are having this thought. It’s already hard to digest all the twists, especially during binge watching, that it might seem uncanny. What?? Why are you looking at me like that?? How it is not uncanny you ask? Yes, Every day can be legendary, meeting at the bar every single night is possible, being friends even if you want to see your friend’s wife’s racks, hooking up with girls in the same bar over and over again (and the bartender or the manager doesn’t mind), hit by a bus outside a hospital (that never happens :P).  
                Being the most well framed sitcom ever (with timestamps in every story), it kind of makes sense that the anticipations are high for the final showdown. The team has given us great laughs, sumptuous jokes, hilarious one-liners and the aggregation of theories of which some of them really make sense. The ‘cheerleader effect’, ‘the hot v/s crazy scale’, ‘Platinum Rule’ are as charismatically true as Barney’s repertoire to make his audience laugh. Ted and Robin’s enthusiastic and simultaneous salute on every mention of military lingo viz captain, private etc. is exasperatedly sweet.
                And how can I forget the most important and sacred of all ‘The Playbook’ and ‘The bro code’, both written by Sir Barnaby Stinson. One is the notorious collection of plots and the other, the code of conduct to be followed by two bros. The two sacred books once safe in the havens of Barney’s ‘fortress of Barney-tude’ are now at large. Playbook achieved martyrdom and Bro code soon will be obsolete for them.  
 Kids have listened to his story once but the loyal fans have vicariously lived his stories for only God-knows like zillion times.  I would call you a ‘blitz’ if have missed any of ‘awesomness-packed’ 8 seasons of laugh-riot.  The show’s worth of all the attention it has got. It’s nice to know that this love story is going to be even better than the previous love interests of Ted, better than his 2 minute date with Stella…..well that’s the dream!
So now I leave you with the image that I got somewhere from internet that quite aptly compares some characters.
 

 

Kai Po Che- Movie Review

First of all, let me clear out the meaning of this phrase most of us heard for the first time; it’s a Gujarati phrase for ‘I have cut’ used when one cuts the kite of someone. The title couldn’t be 3 mistakes because there is no 3rd mistake committed by the protagonist to reminisce about.
Based on Chetan Bhagat’s third novel ‘3 mistakes of my life’, which I rate worst of all Bhagat’s work owing to its uncanny climax, where Ali and Ishaan make the riot and irate environment into their cricket field.
Although the novel was a bestseller, and did receive some polite reviews in some department, and I did learn about the so-called and implicitly understood ‘Bro code’ from this story for the first time, when Omi warns Govind of his ill-adventures with Ishaan’s sister Vidya; Chetan is currently on 1-1(Hello: a flop, no one said hello & 3 idiots: currently an epitome of bro-hood) and will be hoping to have the odds to himself. And it will not be a surprise if the trio of Sushant, Amit Sadh and Raj Kumar Yadav steal the limelight from upcoming releases. They inhabit the characters wholly and have done full justice to their roles.
The portrayals, especially by Sushant and Raj Kumar really make you glue to the screen. While this chemistry does wonders for the movie, Raj Kumar also succeed in making the awkward chemistry between Govi and Vidya look believable and at times gives the only string to hold on for the romantic.
The story, as expected imbibes beautifully, the 2001 earthquake in Gujarat, the Godhra Kand, and the communal riots between Hindus and Muslims, while relating their after-effects on the three protagonists’ lives.
The ending does gives the audience a surprise, but it doesn’t seem inept considering the history of our bollywood movies. Abhishek Kapoor deserves his part of credit, especially after he was initially snubbed by the big names of Bollywood.
In all fairness, a one-time watch, a pure entertainer and another portrayal exemplifying friendship….I watched it with friends and I hope you do too. 

 

Black Swan

I saw this movie last week, directed by  Darren Aronofsky, starring Natalie Portman as Nina, the prime ballet dancer.
The movie commences slowly, but as Nina unfolds the fight with herself, it takes movie to a whole new level. Some of the scenes in the movie are very well enacted and executed with perfection. 


Nina is chosen as the ‘Swan Queen’, comprising of the fragile and innocent White Swan and the sensuous Black Swan. Nina is perfect for the  role of White Swan but not as a Black Swan. She is chosen to be the ‘Swan Queen’, on the promise that she will perfect the role of Black Swan too. As the director of her ballet says she is very controlled, and needs to lose some control on herself and she needs to let go for herself to perfectly depict the Black Swan. She thinks that Lily(a character) wants to steal her role…..but as the movie progresses its interesting to note down her realizations
The movie shows the trauma of working in an over competitive environment, where everyone wanted to be the Swan Queen. In the end, she transforms herself into a black swan, which is when she realises that the biggest competition for her is herself.


It won many critics praises.


I have embedded a trailer courtesy- You Tube.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jaI1XOB-bs&w=640&h=390]



I would say its a must watch.
Go for it, if you haven’t still!