Issaq

Manish Tiwary’s previous movie was an offbeat one called Dil Dosti etc.  It was a decent flick.  Worth watching once.  What he got right there was the casting.  What he gets wrong out with Isaaq is one casting error that ensures that the entire movie goes downhill pretty much from frame one.  There is nothing that can save it from absolute deterioration once this person comes onto the screen – PRATEIK BABBAR.

Nasha

How many of us boys have had this fantasy in our school days that involved a sexy teacher? Anyone who would answer this question in the negative has to be a liar or has serious problems with you know what.  The bigger and more important question though is how many of those fantasies have actually turned into a reality or at least come close to it. Very few could probably claim that.

D-Day (Hindi) (2013)

Nikhil Advani’s rap sheet in Bollywood is not the most attractive to begin with.  Salaam E Ishq was too long, Chandni Chowk to China was horrible, Delhi Safari was an animation disaster.  He was tolerable in Patiala House.  But with D-Day he seems to have learnt the fine art of Bollywood cinema – doesn’t say too much about him though. Because it is still B Town.  Not H Town.

Ramaiya Vastavaiya

I wonder what gave me the impression that Ramaiya Vastavaiya was to be the debut film of Chiranjeevi’s son – Ram Charan.  But that was the remake of Zanjeer.  With Ramaiya Vastavaiya, we are definitely in for a tight contest for the most disastrous debut of 2013.  Within a few seconds of Ram (Girish Kumar) entering the movie, you know that the only way he could be present in a movie is if his father has put in the money.

The Heat (2013)

A lot was said about Paul Feig and his previous movie – Bridesmaids.  Most of the world was swooning over but this author was quite surprised and has always wondered why.  I really didn’t see any reason for an Academy Award nomination for screenplay.  But what Bridesmaids couldn’t expose, The Heat does quite convincingly.  Proves that the Paul Feig is currently average at best.

Hummingbird / Redemption (2013)

Run an imdb search on Hummingbird and you will not find the movie that I will be writing about over this page.  Apparently the movie was released earlier under the name – Redemption.  It will be well worth it to find out what prompted the change.  Unfortunately I could not find the bandwidth over the past few days to research this interesting bit of trivia.

Woh Kaun Thi (1964)

A few days back during my stint in hospital for my back problems, I had an opportunity to wake up in the morning to a movie on cable that I have not seen in a really long time.  Raj Khosla’s alleged adaptation of that Alfred Hitchcock super hit called Vertigo is anything but an adaptation.  Other than a few scenes that may be called as “inspired” there is very little or nothing similar to Vertigo.

Policegiri

Lets start off with some simple questions.  Did you enjoy Singam? The Ajay Devgn remake of the Tamil Super Hit of the same name? Did you wish through the movie that if only it was Sanjay Dutt playing the role of Ajay Devgn.  If you fall into the segment that has answered yes to both questions then you will love Policegiri like very few movies in the recent past.

Sixteen (2013) (Hindi)

“Sixteen is a tough place to be in.  High School, Hormones, Exams, Bullies.  I don’t want to go through that phase again” – Vikram, author of the Booker Prize nominated book – Sixteen.  Just one of the deep lines from the movie.  So deep that I almost drowned in it (notice the sarcasm).  Coincidentally, one of the few lines of the movie that I agreed with.

Pacific Rim

Lets begin by picking out what was right about Pacific Rim.  Quite a few things actually.  Loads of refreshing angles.  For one, The aliens have invaded all of earth and not just the United States of America.  In fact, the final show down of the movie happens off the coast of Hong Kong and not in Los Angeles or New York as the case is usually.

Ghanchakkar

Remember that guy from Khosla Ka Ghosla – Munjal? Khurana’s (Boman Irani) sidekick / Secretary.  The guy who does the dirty work for Khurana.  For those who aren’t aware of who played that character (and I am quite certain that most people in India wouldn’t know his name) it is a guy called Rajesh Sharma – one of the finest supporting actors in India currently.  This time around he plays Pandit.

Lootera

O Henry’s stories have been an inspiration for many a story on screen.  Closer to home, Raincoat (Aishwarya Rai, Ajay Devgn) was an adaptation of “Gift of the Magi”.  Only a matter of time before another one was used as inspiration.  This time around it is the turn of “The Last Leaf”.  Vikramaditya Motwane pays homage to O Henry with his adaptation of this classic short – with a little bit of Indian spice thrown in for taste.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

If there was any doubt about whether Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s family had a long-standing feud with that of Milkha Singh then it cannot be more obvious.  I say this because of the several methods available for revenge, ROM has resorted to the one that is cheapest, meanest and downright scumbaggish.  He has successfully destroyed the legacy of who “was” probably India’s best athlete to date.