tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39597071605954399962024-03-21T20:59:43.571+05:30Shivom OzaShivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-6222491347751035832013-06-22T02:00:00.000+05:302013-07-15T02:28:06.200+05:30Bawarchi (1972) Review by Shivom Oza – This Cook Did Not Spoil The Broth!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">3.5/5
Stars</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Bawarchi, inspired by the Bengali film,
Galpa Holeo Satyi (1966), by Tapan Sinha, revolves around the disgruntled
Sharma household, who cannot retain a cook for more than a while, owing to
their rude behaviour. And then, the affable Raghu enters, and overstays his
welcome!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYxVHez-ZY6vb_jRBRcBhX2x4NUnMBzMYE029lmPwl3V_XT3Q1bJfebUwU4mlcjoys8v7ThLaaqeUxl1aV4p3wCd2UD1yRU_MHVv04rMK-frA2qW2h6I-k0Mw-8SGaDpxiTNcfZGwt04-/s1600/220px-Bawarchi1972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYxVHez-ZY6vb_jRBRcBhX2x4NUnMBzMYE029lmPwl3V_XT3Q1bJfebUwU4mlcjoys8v7ThLaaqeUxl1aV4p3wCd2UD1yRU_MHVv04rMK-frA2qW2h6I-k0Mw-8SGaDpxiTNcfZGwt04-/s1600/220px-Bawarchi1972.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The Hrishikesh Mukherjee film can be
described in two words - Simply charming. In fact, any of the legendary
filmmaker's films could be given the same description. Bawarchi belongs to a
genre that so many filmmakers in today's day and age are trying to recapture.
Any story which does not abandon the Indian-ness despite being embedded with
western influences, works for us. Bawarchi is a story that reminds us of
ourselves. And mind you, so many elements put forward in the film are still
very relevant, even four decades later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">No person wants to take up the cook's job
at the chaotic Sharma household. Their Shanti Nivas is riddled with ashanti,
and no member in the family is leading a peaceful life. All of them carry their
problems to work/school/nowhere and back home, and vent out all their
frustrations at each other, which leads to much negativity. Add to that, the
absence of a cook only increases the tension, leading to much irritation and
blame-game!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Enter Raghu (Rajesh Khanna)! Within a few
days, Raghu mixes up nicely with everybody in the household. He's absolutely
impeccable at his work. Moreover, he takes that extra effort to solve
everyone's problems at home. He even sorts out differences between estranged family
members, and acts as an agent of change in the Sharma household.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">But, how could a cook be so knowledgable,
one wonders! Is there more to it than what meets the eye?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">There is no dull moment in the film. It has
everything that the regular cinema viewer in you would want to watch in a
movie. It has got drama and comedy in abundance; music is nicely tailored in,
and the suspense element towards the end takes the film to another level.
Performances by Khanna, Jaya Bachchan, Usha Kiran, A. K. Hangal and Asrani,
stand out. Meanwhile, Amitabh Bachchan's voice works wonders for the narration
in the film. Music by Madan Mohan has its 'old-world charm', which may never be
created again. Gulzar's dialogues form the perfect foil to Hrishikesh's
perfectly-conceived scenes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">More than anything, the film manages to be
very witty, despite going down the 'preachy' path, more often than not. Rajesh
Khanna's monologues, if listened to intently, will leave you with a melancholic
smile on several occasions. There's a certain sense of overwhelming quality in
these underdog-films, where you cheer on as those who have for long suffered,
decide to stand up for themselves. There's a certain sense of relief in such
films, when you see good things happen to good people. Such films give us hope
to fight back against all that's negative in our lives. 'Goodness' always wins.
While we may not see it happen around us often, it is important that we believe
in it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">This cook did not spoil the broth!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">Shivom
Oza</span></b> </div>
</div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-58348186186410528772013-06-20T10:00:00.000+05:302014-10-10T14:30:26.376+05:30Enemmy (2013) Review by Shivom Oza – Not Very Viewer-'friendly'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJU6Uf5YhJMhue05NuJP8vMaGoZ1G8r3nQp9weTIuC8br5-gh0KgairLuvzxqZkSmIri1QjtXbPeU2ZIZ0iGPSeLij2bEoxxvd_CiXSxZCnG39A74UwGoo88JNZqDV17mFDYf6DcpeR_HR/s1600/Enemmy-Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJU6Uf5YhJMhue05NuJP8vMaGoZ1G8r3nQp9weTIuC8br5-gh0KgairLuvzxqZkSmIri1QjtXbPeU2ZIZ0iGPSeLij2bEoxxvd_CiXSxZCnG39A74UwGoo88JNZqDV17mFDYf6DcpeR_HR/s1600/Enemmy-Poster.jpg" height="320" width="221" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;">1.5/5 Stars</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><br /><span style="background: white;">'Enemmy' is a film about four buddies (do you sense irony here?). Suniel Shetty and Kay</span> <span style="background: white;">Kay Menon play foster brothers in this crime-drama, which revolves around</span></span> <span style="background: white;">the police-underworld-politics nexus. Mithun Chakraborty plays a senior</span> <span style="background: white;">investigator, who is looking into a robbery case.</span><br /><br /><span style="background: white;">There are moments in the second half, when you do notice a semblance of a</span> <span style="background: white;">good script. There is a clever story hidden in the film, and it shows,</span> <span style="background: white;">albeit occasionally. However, most technical elements, such as</span> <span style="background: white;">dubbing, editing, music, screenplay among others, fail to make the</span> <span style="background: white;">cut.</span><br /><br /><span style="background: white;">An innocuous robbery takes place in broad daylight. A lot of money is</span> <span style="background: white;">involved, which should apparently reach a dreaded gang lord Mukhtar Menon</span> <span style="background: white;">(Zakir Hussain), but is stolen by four mercenaries. No one knows who the</span> <span style="background: white;">four mercenaries are!</span><br /><br /><span style="background: white;">Four police offers begin hunting for these apparent fugitives – Eklavya</span> <span style="background: white;">Karmarkar (Suniel Shetty), Eric Colaco (Johnny Lever), Madhav Sinha</span> <span style="background: white;">(Mahakshay Chakraborty) and Naeem Shaikh (Kay Kay Menon).</span><br /><br /><span style="background: white;">But, the real story begins to unravel when Yugantar Sharma (Mithun Chakraborty) enters</span> <span style="background: white;">the picture, and turns the entire investigation on its head.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;">The way in which the equation between the police</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="background: white;">department and the criminals, has been portrayed, is quite engaging. However, the production</span></span> <span style="background: white;">values, the unnecessary songs, needless characters, over-the-top,</span> <span style="background: white;">gravity-defying stunts and the occasional hamming does mar the film a </span><span style="background: white;">trifle!</span><br /><br /><span style="background: white;">Mithun Chakraborty and Kay Kay Menon have got the best dialogues and</span> <span style="background: white;">scenes, and both the seasoned actors live up to their billing. Suniel</span> <span style="background: white;">delivers a decent performance as the ‘Bhau’ of the gang.</span><br /><br /><span style="background: white;">The film fails to impress, mostly owing to poor editing and misplaced</span> <span style="background: white;">scenes. Overall, the film is a half-baked affair!</span><br /><br /><span style="background: white;">'Enemmy' is promising in some parts. However, these parts are too few,</span> <span style="background: white;">and far in between.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;">Shivom Oza</span></b></span></div>
</div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-14156037135616852492013-06-14T01:51:00.000+05:302013-07-15T02:27:47.169+05:30Man Of Steel (2013) Review by Shivom Oza – Just Falls Short Of ‘Super’<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">3/5
Stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Every superhero franchise has gotten an
overhaul ever since Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy (Batman Begins, The Dark
Knight and The Dark Knight Rises) tasted success. This time, it's Superman's
turn. 300 and Watchmen director Zack Snyder is at the helm of this story,
co-written by David S. Goyer and Nolan. The trailer of Man Of Steel has
generated a lot of hype among the audiences. Let's see if the film is worth all
of it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Man Of Steel gets a lot of things right. It
mixes up the dark elements (which we associate with the recent Batman films)
within the commercial space wonderfully. The screenplay and the dialogues are
also a good mix of cheesy and hard-hitting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Where the film falters is the length, the
casting of the principal villain Zod and the never-ending, repetitive final
face-off between Superman and his nemeses. However, it is a fine film. Trailer
flattered to deceive a little bit, but then you all are going to watch it
anyway. So, I must stop the ranting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">As planet Krypton is nearing destruction,
Jor-El (Russell Crowe) and Lara Lor-Van (Ayelet Zurer), send their biological
son, Kal-El (Henry Cavill), to Earth to carry their race forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">While Jor-El and Lara Lor-Van do face
resistance from Krypton's military commander, General Zod (Michael Shannon)
(who has now turned hostile, and planned a coup against the establishment),
Kal-El does get transported to Earth eventually.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Zod, along with his team of mercenaries, is
caught, and is sentenced to spend all eternity in the Phantom Zone, an eternal
living void.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgEplC5sGISIX15kH-MFjsUvromFUG0nY8dlbPgCAlSEmR0I82JS7zPf8fUhY22JCYaoxOuCEOvNWg4PJH6hi7YxFAG5L2KaJ8dHf2x5KWO-XPKj1iZlFZ7lfVna2WG1oOH5yKTYAfAOD/s1600/Man-of-Steel_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgEplC5sGISIX15kH-MFjsUvromFUG0nY8dlbPgCAlSEmR0I82JS7zPf8fUhY22JCYaoxOuCEOvNWg4PJH6hi7YxFAG5L2KaJ8dHf2x5KWO-XPKj1iZlFZ7lfVna2WG1oOH5yKTYAfAOD/s1600/Man-of-Steel_01.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Kal-El, who finds himself in a different
environment altogether, struggles to adapt to the human world during his
childhood. However, while growing up (with the name given by his adopted
parents Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner) and Martha Kent (Diane Lane), Clark
Kent), he realizes the significance of the superpowers that he has been
bequeathed from his place of origin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Kal-El/Clark Kent is rechristened once more
(SUPERMAN!), when he puts on his suit, and readies to wage a battle against
Zod, who successfully managed to escape the Phantom Zone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The first-half of the film (setting of the
basic premise, the marvellous special effects in the Krypton sequence, Kal-El
inadvertently showing-off his superpowers, the wonderful conversations between
him and his adopted father, the introduction of Amy Adams, and to top-it-up Hans
Zimmer's enchanting score) is terrific.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The film, especially in the first
hour-and-a-half, wonderfully balances out the quirkiness of a commercial
superhero film and the seriousness of a coming-of-age story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">It is in the latter half, when the film
really begins to drag. The final face-off, involving a lot of hand-to-hand
combat and innumerable explosions, between Superman and his nemeses lasts for
almost an hour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">While the action and the special effects
are brilliant, the repetitiveness of this never-ending last act does mar the
impact, a trifle!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The dialogues of the film, especially the
ones involving Kal-El and his two fathers (biological and adopted), are
well-written and performed. Watch out for those scenes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The highlight of the film is our
superhero's bravado! There's a scene in which Zod is threatening Kal-El's
adopted mother Martha. At this point, the man in the blue suit swoops in and
beats the evil commander up to smithereens, while warning him to not threaten
his mother. For the lack of a better word, such scenes are absolutely filmy,
and manage to keep your interest alive!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The one major downside to the film is the
runtime. With a shorter duration, the film could have been much better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Not bereft of flaws, but entertaining
enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Shivom
Oza<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-43996523176381405962013-06-07T09:44:00.000+05:302014-10-10T14:31:59.438+05:30Yamla Pagla Deewana 2 (2013) Review by Shivom Oza - Quite A Mixed Bag! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfpJVdMRtCLIVzMt-LuGNxt5FMAHXFnt8KfS2Xhn9C_uzOeWtzEb7G8jfOR92OjLdJFaWxcmJgRwslI-Hdx4K7vUqvU-KC_AhWwdxtHpKpvJPW3ix0mfOfAEIQsqsuRGs_FEt53yZ9n59/s1600/ob9ljig6cx0r5sb8.D.0.Yamla-Pagla-Deewana-2-Movie-First-Look-Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfpJVdMRtCLIVzMt-LuGNxt5FMAHXFnt8KfS2Xhn9C_uzOeWtzEb7G8jfOR92OjLdJFaWxcmJgRwslI-Hdx4K7vUqvU-KC_AhWwdxtHpKpvJPW3ix0mfOfAEIQsqsuRGs_FEt53yZ9n59/s1600/ob9ljig6cx0r5sb8.D.0.Yamla-Pagla-Deewana-2-Movie-First-Look-Poster.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;">2/5 Stars</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Deols
(Dharmendra, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol) are back with the sequel to their 2011
hit '</span><span style="background: white;">Yamla Pagla Deewana', '</span><span style="background: white;">Yamla Pagla <br />Deewana 2'.
This time, the conning game will get bigger, with the conniving father-son duo
(Dharam and Gajodhar) trying to pull off a heist in UK. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Notwithstanding
the magnificent screen presence of the Deols, '</span><span style="background: white;">Yamla Pagla Deewana 2' does
leave a lot to be desired as far as the 'entertainment' quotient is concerned.
Several gags and one-liners, albeit funny on paper, do not transcend well on
screen. However, the superb soundtrack and the camaraderie between the Deols,
does salvage the film to a large extent. It should work for audiences that do
not mind slapstick humour. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">This
film is not a continuation to '</span><span style="background: white;">Yamla Pagla Deewana'.
Barring the three principal characters, Dharam (Dharmendra), Paramveer (Sunny
Deol) and Gajodhar (Bobby Deol), '</span><span style="background: white;">Yamla Pagla Deewana 2'
begins on a completely different note. Dharam and Gajodhar lead extremely
comfortable (and dishonest) lives in Benaras, by duping people. Paramveer,
meanwhile, is a recovery officer working for a bank in U.K. The conning duo
never let the righteous Paramveer know about their misdeeds, and pretend that
they are running a flower business in India. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Dharam
and Gajodhar come across a wealthy NRI businessman from U.K., Sir Yograj Khanna
(Annu Kapoor), in Benaras, and decide to make him their next target. Dharam
persuades Gajodhar to impress Yograj's daughter, Suman (Neha Sharma), and
convince her for marriage so that they can acquire all his money. Everything
goes as planned till the father-son duo land up in U.K., for the marriage!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Dharam
and Gajodhar have to face a few uncomfortable truths during their stay over
there, which sets the premise of the film. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Story-wise,
'</span><span style="background: white;">Yamla Pagla Deeqana 2'
offers something different from the usual fare that is meted out in the
'commercial' cinema space. The screenplay, somehow, manages to do justice to
the plot as well. The various twists in the film are well-placed, and move the
story along wonderfully. However, the humour, more often than not, lacks the
punch. The principal villain Dudeji (Anupam Kher), and his<span class="apple-converted-space"> two</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span><span style="background: white;">sidekicks
Bunty-Babli (Johnny Lever and Sucheta Khanna), may get overtly slapstick for
your comfort. Their side-plot involves the making of a virtual mall (which will
consequently become the eighth wonder of the world). In order to acquire land
for this mall, Dudeji sends Bunty and Babli to take control of Yograj Khanna's
nightclub. Bunty-Babli choose to get into unusual disguises (while taking inspiration
from Shah Rukh Khan's 'Don', Sardars, Samurai and the likes) so that nobody
recognizes them. There's also an orangutan, Einstein, who befriends Dharam and
Gajodhar, and goes on to play a very important part in the story.
Johnny-Sucheta's characters, the orang-utan’s antics, and the inclusion of Sumo
wrestlers and Ninja fighters, do provide this film with a quirky flavour.
However, none of these sequences manage to invoke more than a guffaw.</span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The
action in the film is all 'Sunny Deol'. Deol can move beyond 'Gadar', but
'Gadar refuses to leave the man. The action is very much similar to what we've
been accustomed to see in his films, over the years.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">These
aforementioned instances do seem like fillers in what was potentially a very
good dra-medy! A few of these gags could have been done away with, since they
unnecessarily lengthen the duration of the film. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The
film's primary USP is the music (Sharib-Toshi and Sachin Gupta). Songs such as
the title track, 'Changli Hai Changli Hai', 'Main Taan Aidaan Hi Nachna' and
'Suit Tera Laal Rang Da', and their excellently-shot-and-<wbr style="line-height: normal;"></wbr>choreographed
videos, infuse a lot of life and colour into the film. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The
Deols, as expected, deliver exceptional performances in the film. While the
hilarious duo of Dharmendra and Bobby Deol have the best dialogues, Sunny pulls
off a coup of sorts, managing to perform comedy, action, romance and drama with
élan. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Australian
model-turned-actress Kristina Akheeva is extremely impressive for someone who
is acting in her first Hindi film. Neha too, impresses with her whole 'Salman
Khan-die-hard-fan' act. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">Director
Sangeeth Sivan and writer Jasvinder Singh Bath had a great concept at hand.
Doing away with a few unneeded gags would have worked wonders for the film. Overall,
the film is a half-baked affair, and only die-hard Deol fans will enjoy it!<span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Shivom Oza</span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-11675844113177238082013-06-06T01:25:00.000+05:302013-07-15T02:26:56.724+05:30Mere Haule Dost (2013) Review by Shivom Oza – Such A Howler!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">1/5
Stars</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I had found the premise of Mere Haule Dost
was quite interesting, which is why I thought that I should review the film. It
revolves around 5 friends, Mota, Bong, Dada, Bheja and Paisa (all nicknames,
presumably), who want to go on a bike rally in the Himalayas but do not have
the resources.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgeAH9yN_RfmwAwz7Cpj9aLFMhNxGJmB7i3nhFpGGgpsZae2x1KBWDthbUlYg07x_PNtDAE-y2CTP9OlC32G-_HpmHhFE54N1FVY67pjFsHLFMVM51BPcJ-la4Ap7vuepBNF4CJjW8Jkr/s1600/Mere-Haule-Dost-Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgeAH9yN_RfmwAwz7Cpj9aLFMhNxGJmB7i3nhFpGGgpsZae2x1KBWDthbUlYg07x_PNtDAE-y2CTP9OlC32G-_HpmHhFE54N1FVY67pjFsHLFMVM51BPcJ-la4Ap7vuepBNF4CJjW8Jkr/s1600/Mere-Haule-Dost-Poster.jpg" height="117" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">However, a good concept has to be executed
in the same manner. Mere Haule Dost fails to transcend a decent premise into a
passable screenplay. Most aspects about this film, from the dialogues to the
camerawork to the screenplay to the performances, are amateurish.
Notwithstanding the poor production values, the film, which encompasses
elements like friendship, trust and love, fails to connect with the viewer at
any level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The basic plot has been already given
above. Beyond that, the film focuses on the problems that the five friends face
in their personal lives (matters of money, heart etc.).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">None of the performances leave a mark.
Writer-director Nitin Raghunath tries to capture real situations out of the
lives of ordinary college-going students. However, it gets too much into
detail, hence making the end-result very cringe-worthy. The basic story had a
fair bit of potential, the only positive from the film.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">This one’s a
howler! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Shivom
Oza</span></b></div>
</div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-25491702252623105412013-06-06T01:16:00.000+05:302013-07-15T01:21:52.757+05:30Now You See Me (2013) Review by Shivom Oza – Just Not ‘Magical’ Enough<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">2.5/5
Stars</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Director Louis Leterrier (of ‘Transporter’,
‘Transporter 2’, ‘Clash Of The Titans’ and ‘The Incredible Hulk’ fame) brings
together distinguished actors (Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Mark Ruffalo,
Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Jesse Eisenberg) for this film, which revolves
around the world of magic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8atCQ-JWfViooxHm2sEYVEdUAkZHgJoxMkUq8Sl2v7G20gVEScAtrl8Exl0f6Y8oAn0VJxZTQ9JKB0zda-zJKemHCppekVfZquRMJMF2eI2sDfGQP9pc0I9tgdsk8vov68RQrZwdWumxz/s1600/now_you_see_me_ver3_xlg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8atCQ-JWfViooxHm2sEYVEdUAkZHgJoxMkUq8Sl2v7G20gVEScAtrl8Exl0f6Y8oAn0VJxZTQ9JKB0zda-zJKemHCppekVfZquRMJMF2eI2sDfGQP9pc0I9tgdsk8vov68RQrZwdWumxz/s1600/now_you_see_me_ver3_xlg.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The screenplay is crisp and fast-paced, and
the performances are brilliant. However, the climax (with the supposedly
unfathomable twist in the end) leaves a lot to be desired. However, ‘Now You
See Me’ is very much watchable. It will keep you engaged through its duration
of two hours, and the premise is quite interesting. Clichéd, but interesting
enough! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Four street-magicians, J. Daniel Atlas
(Jesse Eisenberg), Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson), Henley Reeves (Isla
Fisher) and Jack Wilder (Dave Franco), receive mysterious invitations from an
entity named 'The Eye'. Four of them, who happen to vaguely know about each
other, land up at the given address only to be greeted with an empty house
laden with a few surreal objects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">A year later, these four street-magicians
turn into big-time stage illusionists in Las Vegas. Referred to as 'The Four
Horsemen', the team is sponsored by Arthus Tressler (Michael Caine), who is an
insurance magnate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The magicians decide to end this show by
pulling off their biggest trick – a bank robbery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">So, their volunteer is apparently tele-ported
to a bank in Paris, where he activates an air-duct, which sucks up the money
and transports it to the show in Las Vegas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">FBI agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) and
Interpol Agent Alma Vargas (Melanie Laurent) are called upon to investigate
into the theft. We are also introduced to Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman), an
ex-magician who makes money by revealing the secrets behind other magicians'
tricks. Thaddeus goes on to play an important part in the film's story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">What follows is a cat-and-mouse game between
the law enforcement and 'The Four Horsemen'!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The element of suspense is inherent through
the film, as you can never figure out who the 'bad guys' are till the climactic
moments. The magic tricks, pulled off in this film, are clichéd but presented
in a lavish manner. Visually, the film is brilliant and credit for that should
go to the people behind the production design, and the director. The dialogues,
especially, deserve special mention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Concept-wise, the film had the potential to
be way better than what it was. It falters at the moments where it matters the
most. In films of other genres, if the climax of a brilliant film is a bit
underwhelming, it is still forgivable. However, in a film like this, where a
viewer's perspective can be overturned just by the ending, ‘Now You See Me’
leaves a lot to be desired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">‘Now You See Me’ is fairly entertaining.
However, with a better-written climax, it could have been way superior. It's
quite watchable though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Shivom
Oza<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-50749092263120556212013-06-03T09:31:00.001+05:302013-06-03T09:31:38.678+05:30Monsoon Wedding (2001) Review by Shivom Oza - Join The Celebrations!<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">3.5/5 Stars</span></b><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
<br />
Indian weddings are, more often than not, known to be dramatic. If it's a
Punjabi wedding happening in Delhi, the drama multiplies. Moreover, if it's an arranged
marriage interspersed with ego clashes, financial troubles, bitter memories and
incessant delays, there's chaos! Welcome to Mira Nair's 'Monsoon Wedding'!<br />
<br />
The film is a complete entertainer, filled with drama, emotion, romance, lust,
song-and-dance, deceit, betrayal, breach of trust and loads of laughter. At no
point, do the aforementioned elements hijack one another, and that is what
makes the film an engaging watch.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
Lalit Verma (Naseeruddin Shah) is a worried man. Having taken up the
responsibility of taking care of his daughter Aditi's (Vasundhara Das) marriage
with an NRI, Hemant Rai (Parvin Dabbas), Lalit finds himself troubled by
financial, family-related, work-related and organizational problems.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aBZUYNUq3NQZr-guFMs49yed_s3nySXVe6mwuOEKrO9qesuhl4RX337OA0lU3lWQktf3iSqwOB8IEQNcKOZfAHMDdyWbxiCxO3HUZDzknIasqM1gieDqUg5k7Nhnr-n9orrETIbdgBhQ/s1600/Monsoon_Wedding_Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aBZUYNUq3NQZr-guFMs49yed_s3nySXVe6mwuOEKrO9qesuhl4RX337OA0lU3lWQktf3iSqwOB8IEQNcKOZfAHMDdyWbxiCxO3HUZDzknIasqM1gieDqUg5k7Nhnr-n9orrETIbdgBhQ/s1600/Monsoon_Wedding_Poster.jpg" height="400" width="276" /></a></div>
In addition, his wife Pimmi (Lilette Dubey) keeps nagging him, his elder
daughter Ria (Shefali Shah) is yet to come to terms with a traumatic childhood
incident, the 'contractor' 'P.K' Dubey (Vijay Raaz) keeps demanding money
without producing results, his elder brother Tej (Rajat Kapoor) burdens him
furthermore by insisting on providing more funds and the no-good Rahul (Randeep
Hooda) keeps bugging him with his inefficiency. Lalit is a troubled man. Will
he be able to pull off the 'Monsoon Wedding'?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
The film treads the fine line between subtle and over-the-top. To imagine an
actual marriage (in real life) to be as dramatic as this one, would be a bit
far-fetched. The marriage in the film lasts for four days, and within this
limited time period, Mira excellently captures relationships. Be it Lalit's
changing equations with his wife owing to his growing responsibilities, Ria's
moment of vindication and her family's acceptance, P.K Dubey's harmless
flirting with the house-help Alice (Tillotama Shome), Hemant and Aditi's
acceptance of each other among so many other instances, all of them incorporate
realistic settings, dialogues and performances.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
The music of the film (Mychael Danna) is fantastic, and goes well with the
'dhoom-dhaam waali shaadi' concept. Sabrina Dhawan has penned an excellent
screenplay, showing the more liberal side of Indians living in metropolitan
cities. The only other film to do the same was 'Dil Chahta Hai', which released
during the same year. As far as performances go, not a single cast member
disappoints. Notable efforts by Naseeruddin Shah, Vijay Raaz, Shefali Shah and
Tillotama Shome, lift this film to another level. The final 30 minutes of the
film are absolutely delightful. Yes, all the dots do join, and in the most
celebratory manner!<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
Join the celebrations!<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Shivom
Oza</span></b><span lang="EN-GB"><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-23705555474418477292013-06-01T12:17:00.000+05:302013-06-01T12:17:24.367+05:30Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) Review by Shivom Oza – Kuch Zyaada Hi ‘Lambi’ Kahaani! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">2.5/5
Stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Ayan Mukerji made a scintillating debut with
the coming-of-age drama ‘Wake Up Sid’ in 2009. With ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’,
the writer-director sticks to the ‘coming-of-age’ theme. The film revolves
around how four fairly different individuals (Bunny, Avi, Aditi and Naina) deal
with friendship, love, success, failure and consequently, life!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFb9ErZs4edRZ8kmNDdxc4yJUDwn5G8J8yiSj_WHIGsaJ3xJZLY-1ZDLPuJUceAkjHa3apufy-FzqXC8_9sd0NppYqaarTxhg3fvMhYFss-0uEVMOyihrEDhI5-fq9Zk8o_jbES4YsO3cZ/s1600/yjhd-2013-4b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFb9ErZs4edRZ8kmNDdxc4yJUDwn5G8J8yiSj_WHIGsaJ3xJZLY-1ZDLPuJUceAkjHa3apufy-FzqXC8_9sd0NppYqaarTxhg3fvMhYFss-0uEVMOyihrEDhI5-fq9Zk8o_jbES4YsO3cZ/s320/yjhd-2013-4b.jpg" width="220" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Buddy comedy, coming-of-age
drama, travel adventure, marriage extravaganza, familial melodrama and multiple
love triangles - 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani' mixes up too many elements. There
are quite a few sparkling moments in the film. The equations between several characters
have been showcased brilliantly. However, owing to some implausible side-plots
and the never-ending-length, the film leaves a lot to be desired. </span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">3 friends Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor), Avi (Aditya
Roy Kapur) and Aditi (Kalki Koechlin) set off on a trip to Manali, expecting a
life-changing experience. Bunny is a middle-class boy who doesn’t want to lead
his life in the conventional way. In his words, ‘Main daudna chahta hoon, udna
chaahta hoon, girna chahta hoon’. The effervescent Bunny wants to travel the
world, and wants every day in his life to be dramatic and eventful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Avi is a sentimental (and temperamental) guy,
who depends too much on his best friend Bunny. The guy has no focus in life,
and cannot handle either alcohol or money. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Aditi is a tomboy. Unabashed, brave and gutsy
on the outside, but very emotional deep-within!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">So yes, these three individuals are quite
different, but that’s what works in their friendship. The three are joined on
this trip by Naina, an introverted medical student, who wants to break free. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">What transpires in this trip, which
drastically changes the lives of these four characters, and how they come to
terms with its repercussions eight years later, is what ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai
Deewani’ is all about. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Several elements don’t work for this film. It
could have done away with at least three dance numbers. A big chunk of the film
(close to 40 minutes) involves a marriage, and so, all kinds of song-and-dance
sequences have been thrown in. Yes, the soundtrack of the film is very good,
but the lip-syncing and the over-the-top choreography are reminiscent of dance
numbers in Karan Johar’s (the producer) ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ and ‘Kabhi
Alvida Naa Kehna’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Secondly, the screenplay is very inconsistent.
It seems too slow at some places (the aforementioned marriage sequence, the
entire Manali trip) and too rushed at some (climax, patch-up between bickering
friends). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Thirdly, the film is long. 160-odd minutes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">There are good points as well. The dialogues
are wonderful. Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Farooq Shaikh (who plays
Bunny’s father) and Kunaal Roy Kapur (delightful cameo) deliver exceptional
performances. The music, as already mentioned, is wonderful. The locations are
absolutely magnificent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Ayan is absolutely terrific at capturing
relationships. The scenes involving Bunny and his father strike a chord. Even
scenes wherein Bunny defends his lifestyle are well written, directed and
performed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The film is quite a mixed-bag. That’s why am
sitting on the fence with 2.5 stars. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Shivom Oza<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-46233575717868281282013-05-24T16:03:00.001+05:302013-05-24T16:03:34.169+05:30Fast & Furious 6 (2013) Review by Shivom Oza – Crashes And Burns! <div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">1.5/5
Stars<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">In this film, all the members of the crew,
who had given up the ‘fast and furious’ life post their Rio heist, come
together to bring down a mercenary organization, led by British Special Forces
soldier Owen Shaw. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The SIXTH film in the ‘Fast & Furious’
series, ‘Fast & Furious 6’ is another example of how the makers are running
out of stories to tell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The only good element about this film was
the dialogue. Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris, who play Roman Pearce and Tej Parker
respectively, share wonderful camaraderie. The rest of the film is tepid, to
put it mildly. Even the car-chase and fight sequences leave a lot to be
desired. Not that one should look for logic in a ‘Fast & Furious’ film, but
this one is devoid of entertainment as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XYgNZP-lERg0wQQWgDhRj_So5D1MvdX8NFN82DeTEyQbufd3_eYvbdC9fBI3mSRN77SOcCdaDGumNHBxleUdREmNbLk0dTocX-Q5SshNtMkkWmBQ4IkmUrSrqvICLxsVWsZ0L-j4IeQt/s1600/Fast-and-furious-6-movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XYgNZP-lERg0wQQWgDhRj_So5D1MvdX8NFN82DeTEyQbufd3_eYvbdC9fBI3mSRN77SOcCdaDGumNHBxleUdREmNbLk0dTocX-Q5SshNtMkkWmBQ4IkmUrSrqvICLxsVWsZ0L-j4IeQt/s1600/Fast-and-furious-6-movie.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">As we had learnt in the end credits of the
last film in this franchise, Dominic Toretto’s (Vin Diesel) former girlfriend
Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez), presumably dead, turns out to be alive. In
this film, we learn that she has lost all her memory and is now a part of Owen
Shaw’s (Luke Ewans) gang. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Owen Shaw, a former British Special Forces
soldier, now leads a deadly gang which is causing much trouble for Diplomatic
Security Service (DSS) agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Hobbs convinces Toretto to join this
mission of nabbing Shaw and his gang, by letting him know that Letty’s still
alive. Toretto convinces his now-retired friends to take part in this mission
and so, they begin their quest to get Letty back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Although the premise of the film is quite
promising, the screenplay is just not gripping enough. There are a couple 7-8
minute car-chase sequences, which really begin to test your patience, as you’ve
seen them all before. The action is ridiculously over-the-top (Yes, even for a
‘Fast & Furious’). There’s a scene in which Toretto gets catapulted at
least 40-50 metres from his car and he manages to get hold of Letty, who gets
thrown out of a speeding vehicle (a TANK, for God’s sake!), mid-air! Of course,
both of them conveniently fall atop a bonnet of another car and end up
absolutely bruise-free. Such moments were hilarious, rather than thrilling. The
one thing that you always look forward to in such a film, which is the
soundtrack, also turned out to be a dampener. The movie falls short on all
counts. The only saving grace was the final scene, which is the prelude to the
next film. There’s a big surprise in store, but it’s too little and too late.
Not worth sitting through two hours of the film itself, certainly! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Avoid the film. You’ve seen it all before.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Shivom
Oza</span></b>Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-81741966830046097112013-05-17T15:46:00.000+05:302013-05-17T15:46:36.989+05:30Aurangzeb (2013) Review by Shivom Oza – Mughlai Mash-up! <b><span lang="EN-GB">2.5/5
Stars</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Arya, an honest Gurgaon-based police
officer, sets up a coup in which he replaces a pivotal member of a gang with a
look-alike. However, the coup goes kaput!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Although the cast members (Arjun Kapoor,
Prithviraj, Jackie Shroff, Rishi Kapoor, Sikander Kher and Amrita Singh among
others) have delivered stupendous performances and the cinematography is
first-rate, the film falls flat owing to its convoluted screenplay. The writer
tries to mix up too many sub-plots and twists, making the film a very complex
and an exhausting affair. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeV3zuNUcLBOK7wIuEWK6M5QA1cTBMXsBGYbNgZreeQ6nixoULhV1DPpYRlRNbMDwX5qpE-w-JmZ_0ZRQpnMG7O2Gnvqejqjg4iIymgoHdPvG7AVZp7dYKdUeY_z1w42IegD0MKma_QlLA/s1600/aurangzeb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeV3zuNUcLBOK7wIuEWK6M5QA1cTBMXsBGYbNgZreeQ6nixoULhV1DPpYRlRNbMDwX5qpE-w-JmZ_0ZRQpnMG7O2Gnvqejqjg4iIymgoHdPvG7AVZp7dYKdUeY_z1w42IegD0MKma_QlLA/s1600/aurangzeb2.jpg" height="400" width="250" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">Gurgaon-based police officer Arya
(Prithviraj) has to choose between following his late father’s (Anupam Kher), who
was an honest policeman till fate did him in, ideals and his uncle Ravikant’s,
who is an opportunistic head of the police department, crooked ways. Arya
chooses the middle path and ends up facing terrible consequences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Vishal (Arjun Kapoor) is a simpleton living
with his widowed mother (Tanvi Azmi) in a far-off town in North India. The
mother has faced a lot of troubles in trying to get away from her turbulent
marriage, leave one of her children behind, and bring Vishal up for so many years.
Vishal joins hands with Arya and his uncle to help eliminate a very powerful
gang reigning in Gurgaon. This gang, led by Yashvardhan (Jackie Shroff), is
running havoc with multiple corporate deals and abundant money laundering.
Yashvardhan has an errant son Ajay (Arjun Kapoor), who happens to look exactly
like Vishal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">How the stories of all these characters intertwine
is what ‘Aurangzeb’ is all about!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The characters in this film are very well-etched.
Arjun Kapoor effortlessly plays an irresponsible and a conniving ruffian (Ajay)
with élan, just like he did in his debut film ‘Ishaqzaade’. However, he
surprises with his charming performance as the innocent, harmless man caught
amongst rogues (Vishal). The man displays great range playing these two diametrically-opposite
characters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The veterans Jackie Shroff, Rishi Kapoor
and Amrita Singh too, deliver top-notch performances. Sasha Aagha delivers a
passable performance, playing Arjun Kapoor’s love interest. Her real moment of
reckoning, though, is when she belts out the foot-tapping ‘Barbadiyaan’. She is
an amazing singer, and should definitely sing more often in the future. As far
as performances go, the pick of the lot is Prithviraj. Be it the body language,
dialogue delivery or the acting, the South actor enthrals and how! His
character is the least-complex among the entire cast, and perhaps that helped
the way it transcended on to the big screen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">It is the story that lets the film down. ‘Aurangzeb’
has too many plots, sub-plots, characters and side-characters. The action
scenes have been very well-executed, and the premise of the film, based on the
real estate-police nexus, is extremely interesting. However, when logic goes
out of the window, no amount of slickness can salvage the product. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Director Atul Sabbharwal directs well, but
his writing leaves a lot to be desired. ‘Aurangzeb’ is full of crests and
troughs. However, the latter outnumber the former. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Shivom
Oza<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-20643690103263373832013-05-16T16:28:00.002+05:302013-05-16T17:09:54.318+05:30The Great Gatsby (2013) Review by Shivom Oza – ‘Great’ In The Film’s Title Is Justified!<b><span lang="EN-GB">3.5/5
Stars</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">An adaption of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925
novel of the same name, Baz Luhrmann’s ‘The Great Gatsby’ revolves around the
equation between a mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and his neighbour Nick
Carraway.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Although the 3D was quite needless, everything
else about the film (visuals, music, performances, subject, dialogues, and
screenplay among other notable aspects) is absolutely terrific. The most
awesome part about ‘The Great Gatsby’ is that it encapsulates so many elements
– love, betrayal, friendship, greed, selflessness, trust, conceit and ambition, in one story.
The length may seem a bit long at 2hours 23minutes, but the emphatic climax is
worth the wait.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The film starts with a dishevelled-looking
Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire), assumed to be an alcoholic, narrating Gatsby’s
(Leonardo DiCaprio) story to his psychiatrist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBx23xgjO-n3jU7n-7nIWP6SMwB8PKyjzs0xlNJAZAWmjKzaQzwflOMP-UZb32QxgViri1dgoIGkXX_LFuBWgDRedJeT9WImfrQx4W-zF6G4P1CJWHlZLqUaGhg8xbsEySzL-ao0OKyn5W/s1600/the-great-gatsby-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBx23xgjO-n3jU7n-7nIWP6SMwB8PKyjzs0xlNJAZAWmjKzaQzwflOMP-UZb32QxgViri1dgoIGkXX_LFuBWgDRedJeT9WImfrQx4W-zF6G4P1CJWHlZLqUaGhg8xbsEySzL-ao0OKyn5W/s1600/the-great-gatsby-2013.jpg" height="183" width="400" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">According to Nick, Gatsby was the most hopeful
man that he had ever met. He reminisces about the summer of 1922, when he had
recently moved to New York City, and started working as a bond salesman. Nick
says that he got himself a small house on Long Island, right next to the grand
mansion owned by a certain Mister Gatsby. Having been a witness to his grand
and wild parties at his palatial residence, Nick finds himself enamoured by
this faceless, mysterious person called Gatsby.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">After finally coming face-to-face with him
(with a little help from the petite common friend Jordan Baker (Elizabeth
Debicki)), Nick can’t help but get carried away by Gatsby’s infectious smile
and energy. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB">Inevitably, both of them become good friends in no time. Nick,
often, wonders about how Gatsby collected such enormous amount of wealth, but
as time passes, his trust in the man grows stronger. One day, Nick learns that
his cousin Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan) had been Gatsby’s lover, and that the
latter wants her back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">This leads to a roller-coaster ride for
everyone involved – including Daisy’s temperamental husband Tom Buchanan (Joel
Edgerton).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">How Nick manages to sort this situation out, and
eventually lands up at a shrink’s is what the film is all about!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The biggest positive about the film was the
way it tackled rights, wrongs and relationships. Through the course of the
film, you will find several real-life connections with its principal
characters. Daisy, Tom, Gatsby and Tom’s mistress Myrtle Wilson (Isla Fisher)
play complex characters. They’ve all made errors in judgement and eventually,
do face the repercussions. However, you can understand everyone’s predicament
at the end of it all. Relationships are about give-and-take, but the truth is
that ‘give’ and ‘take’ never attain a stable equilibrium. ‘The Great Gatsby’ is
about how much are you willing to give and how much can you let go, in a
relationship (be it in friendship or love).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The film also talks about ‘hope’. There’s a
famous quote from the 1997 film ‘Good Will Hunting’ – “I'm just going to put my
money on the table and see what kind of cards I get.” Yes, sometimes one just
needs to give a relationship his/her all, and just wait for how it all ends up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The film’s climax will leave you a bit
overwhelmed. Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire deliver astounding
performances. The film is primarily about the equation between these two
principal characters, and the actors do a marvellous job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Amitabh Bachchan, who plays Gatsby’s business
partner Meyer Wolfsheim, has superb screen presence. The Bollywood megastar shines
in this two-minute role.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Another aspect that shines out in the movie –
the visuals (the 3D, albeit unrequired, is really, really good); comprising
wonderful production design, cinematography and special effects. Craig
Armstrong’s enchanting musical score wonderfully tailors into the screenplay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The only downside to the film is the length.
At two-and-half-hours, ‘The Great Gatsby’ may leave you exhausted. However,
it’s a stupendous effort and a must-watch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The ‘great’ in the film’s title is justified.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Shivom
Oza<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-46276823509172272162013-05-13T16:29:00.001+05:302013-05-14T09:38:55.658+05:30The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2013) Review by Shivom Oza – Revenge Is No Solution! <b><span lang="EN-GB">3.5/5
Stars</span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The film, ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’,
is an adaptation of a 2007 novel of the same name by Pakistani author Mohsin
Hamid. The film is unlike most ‘post-9/11’ films that you’ve seen before. It
revolves around a young Pakistani man, Changez Khan, who dares to live the
American dream but is faced with a bitter reality check, post the catastrophic
9/11 attacks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXA19EYSi1QNdPu1ZQYBPcM_X-cSigHQBnY3O08vz_t16uqgU9YzezL0vfI0Z-Hwz872vn5y3mz7urqNO-M3L_bOcAGeJBuCpmrZiXRTrPzRNgi2oGqUpt6YQ-qhg9xuWPBIFhhRBbd0h/s1600/the-reluctant-fundamentalist-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXA19EYSi1QNdPu1ZQYBPcM_X-cSigHQBnY3O08vz_t16uqgU9YzezL0vfI0Z-Hwz872vn5y3mz7urqNO-M3L_bOcAGeJBuCpmrZiXRTrPzRNgi2oGqUpt6YQ-qhg9xuWPBIFhhRBbd0h/s1600/the-reluctant-fundamentalist-poster.jpg" height="400" width="271" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Without getting technical, let me put it as
simply as I possibly can – ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ is a ‘realistic’
portrayal of an average Pakistani, who must have had to face the repercussions
of living in the United States of America prior/during/after 9/11. The issue of
racism has been touched upon in a very subtle manner. In addition, the
protagonist does not undergo sudden bouts of extremism, owing to the treatment
that he is meted out by suspecting Americans because of his religion. Not all
those who have been wronged, end up with weapons and blood on their hands. This
is the film’s core principle. And yes, it is the right way to go about it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">An 18-year-old Changez Khan (Riz Ahmed)
moves out of Lahore and goes to study in America, as he doesn’t want to be
financially inept like his poet father (Om Puri). Changez wants to live the
American dream and make it big in life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">And he does that, at least initially. In
his early 20s, he lands up a job as a financial analyst at a big firm, where
the Managing Director Jim Cross (Kiefer Sutherland) takes him under his wing. Changez
shows his mettle very early into the job and impresses his colleagues and his
head Jim. The man even manages to find a great partner in Erica (Kate Hudson),
a creative, independent woman coping up with the loss of her boyfriend. Back
home, even though his father isn’t too impressed with the kind of work that
Changez does, things get a lot better – financially. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Changez’s situation begins to go wrong as
the twin towers go down in New York City (September 11, 2001 attacks).
Suddenly, he is at the centre of it all – only because of his colour,
nationality and religion. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">While he is at the job, not once is he
looked down upon or judged owing to his religion before/after 9/11. However,
one incident at the workplace and one while he is working outdoors, really
changes his perspective and makes him take an extreme decision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">How it gets him face-to-face with an
American authority Bobby Lincoln (Liev Schreiber) at a coffee shop in Lahore in
2011, is what ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ is about! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The film seems a bit long at 130-odd
minutes, but the story is immensely gripping. Changez’s politics defies
anything else portrayed in films made on similar subjects. There are a few
moments in the second-half, when one feels that the story is digressing from
the main issue. The climax is a bit half-baked, the only genuine complaint that
I have with the movie. However, the monologue at the end will make you forgive
every infirmity within the film. The best things about ‘The Reluctant
Fundamentalist’ are – it doesn’t celebrate America, it doesn’t offer terrorism
as an unresolvable issue, it doesn’t justify extremism in any manner, it doesn’t
offer any sympathy to those who pick up weapons after being wronged by society,
or any other ‘cliché’. The film offers change! The lead character speaks on
several occasions about how the weak would have to become more self-reliant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Music plays a very important role in the
film’s screenplay. The lyrics (which are mostly in Urdu but aided by
well-translated English subtitles) are absolutely out-of-this-world. Even the
poetry had so much to say between-the-lines. If you do end up watching the film,
listen to the poetry and the lyrics/ keep a close watch on the subtitles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Another notable aspect about this film was
the selection of the locations. Here, Pakistan looked like Pakistan, Turkey
looked like Turkey and USA looked like USA. Thankfully, there was no
make-believe stuff here! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The lead actor Riz Ahmed has done a
brilliant job as Changez. The other actors in the ensemble, including Om Puri,
Shabana Azmi, Kate Hudson, Kiefer Sutherland, Liev Schreiber and Imaad Shah, deliver
amazing performances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Don’t want to get too technical – but the
people behind the music (Michael Andrews), cinematography (Declan Quinn),
editing (Shimit Amin), casting (Cindy Tolan) and production design (Michael
Carlin) must be lauded. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Director Mira Nair is back in form, and
how! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">If you’re not into history/current affairs,
you might find this film slow and uninteresting But, I’d suggest that you
watch it anyway! Revenge is no solution, friends. Let’s work towards making our
own lives better and ignoring negativity! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">Shivom
Oza<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-71397804227946420452013-05-10T14:12:00.001+05:302014-05-26T12:25:04.010+05:30Garm Hava (1973) Review by Shivom Oza – Whose Country Is It Anyway?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">4/5 Stars</span></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">M.S. Sathyu’s ‘Garm Hava’, which roughly
translates to ‘Scorching Winds’, is based on an unpublished Urdu short story by
Ismat Chughtai. It was adapted for the big screen by Kaifi Azmi (Shabana Azmi’s
father) and Shama Zaidi (director M.S. Sathyu’s wife). The film revolves around
how a Muslim family, living in Agra, copes up with the repercussions of the
India-Pakistan partition. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The movie is an absolute must-watch. Any Hindi
film, which borders on religion and communalism, doesn’t come close. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">‘Garm Hava’ is about how the Mirza family,
based in Agra, India, comes to terms with the after-effects of the India-Pakistan
partition. The family, headed by two brothers; Salim (Balraj Sahni) and Halim (Dinanath
Zutshi), takes care of its livelihood by running a shoe-manufacturing business
in the city. However, post the partition, things start to get difficult for
this relatively modernist Muslim family. Even though the Mirzas are keen to
stay back in India, circumstances in the country make it difficult for them to
lead a peaceful life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, Halim, </span><span lang="EN-GB">who is a major leader of the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>All
India Muslim League, backs out and leaves for Pakistan, along with his wife and
son Kazim (<span style="background: white;">Jamal Hashmi</span>)</span>, after
pledging initially that he would stay back in India to look after its Muslims.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">This results in a lot of troubles
for Salim, who doesn’t want to leave his home country to settle elsewhere.
Moreover, his ageing mother (<span style="background: white;">Badar Begum</span>)</span>
doesn’t want to leave the place where the family’s forefathers have been
buried. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCEL1_R2ivYWj-FlrClFrgDP4XR-sjH_vLhVo1eEdzYuSRe1RDOb6e9UYsDjzlV4HCI9shzCCxkGlG0tNxOniJD_HW1_zctE3N1QywAdWnYKBXfsDGdMMD5P908Bi1Ke9IjpF1ikqlSIS/s1600/354px-Garm_Hava.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCEL1_R2ivYWj-FlrClFrgDP4XR-sjH_vLhVo1eEdzYuSRe1RDOb6e9UYsDjzlV4HCI9shzCCxkGlG0tNxOniJD_HW1_zctE3N1QywAdWnYKBXfsDGdMMD5P908Bi1Ke9IjpF1ikqlSIS/s1600/354px-Garm_Hava.jpg" height="400" width="236" /></span></a><span lang="EN-GB">One shouldn’t think of Salim as
egoistic. He loved his country (India) and always hoped for everything to get back
to normal. However, Salim and his elder son Baqar Mirza (Abu Siwani) cannot get
a loan, or retain employees or win their clients’ trust. This situation makes
it next-to-impossible for them to run their shoe-manufacturing business.
Moreover, the house that they lived in belonged to Halim, who fled to Pakistan.
So, the Indian government had every right to take away their mansion, which it does eventually. Salim’s other son, Sikander Mirza (Farooq Shaikh) can’t get
a job, because of his religion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Salim has a young daughter, Amina
Mirza (Gita Siddharth), who falls in love with Kazim, but is left heart-broken
after Halim’s family moves back. That’s one of the other important side-plots
of the film. ‘Garm Hava’ realistically portrays the condition of a normal,
peace-loving, nationalistic Muslim family. Although the circumstances have
changed a lot since the painful divide, the film remains very relevant, even
today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">To talk about ‘Garam Hava’, one
can go thousands of years back in history. A particular community settles in
our country over a thousand years ago. For hundreds of years, they adopt and
adapt to, the culture of the natives, and give it their own touch at the same
time. The two leading communities live peacefully on the same land for eons,
until a foreign nation squanders it all away. Yes, pre-partition India equally
belonged to the Hindus and the Muslims. It was politics that led to the
creation of a separate nation, Pakistan. However, just because a few people
want a separate country and government, do you impose it on everyone? Sure, all
Muslims did not want to go to Pakistan. They have every reason to call India
their ‘home’, as much as people belonging to any other religion do. When you live in the same place for years, it’s
really difficult to move on. That’s why; it’s difficult to understand the
predicament of the Muslims at that time. Pakistan offered an alien land but a
new opportunity; whereas India was always ‘home’ but it had turned hostile. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Imagine a family, which has been living in a
country since time immemorial and has its roots, culture, lifestyle imbibed
within the nation, suddenly being asked to move to a foreign land?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">That’s the Mirza family. The politics of the
film is very clear, especially from Salim Mirza’s point-of-view. Your heart
goes out to every character in the story, which gets judged just because of his/her
religion. There is no negative character in the story. Everybody is just a
victim of circumstance, which makes the film look and seem very real. At some
point, the film may make you ponder if anything has changed at all in the way
that we look at minorities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">We may call ourselves a secular and a democratic
country, but the truth of the matter is that there are prejudices even today.
It takes a lot of gumption to stand up to the system, and while watching the
film, I was glad that Salim Mirza stuck to his guns and did not relent to the
political pressure. Along with the millions of other Salim Mirza’s living in
India! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">There are several elements in ‘Garm Hawa’ –
love, nationalism, religion, betrayal, hate, greed and politics among others,
and each one of them has been dealt with, finely. The cast of the film is
absolutely terrific. Balraj Sahni is the pick of the lot, but everyone’s done a
great job. The music of the film deserves special mention. You will fall in
love with the instrumental pieces, composed by <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Aziz Ahmed</span></span>, <span style="background: #F9F9F9;">Bahadur Khan and Khan Warsi.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">What else to
write? The film is sheer genius, and you must watch it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Shivom Oza<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-28218849388873958132013-05-10T09:08:00.001+05:302013-05-10T12:50:26.300+05:30Gippi (2013) Review by Shivom Oza - Over-the-top, Yet Delightful!<b><span lang="EN-GB">3/5
Stars</span></b><br />
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<b><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">'Gippi' is about
Gippi (real name - Gurpreet Kaur), played by Riya Vij, a 14-year-old overweight,
ordinary-looking, clumsy, poor-in-sports, poor-in-studies, unpopular girl, who
lives with her divorced mother, Pappi (Divya Dutt), and her adorable brother
Booboo (Arbaz Kadwani) in Simla. Gippi's life revolves around her family,
friends and her collection of old Hindi film songs. Being a huge fan of Shammi
Kapoor, Gippi lets her hair down whenever/wherever his songs start playing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The only time
she starts to get insecure is when she attends school. Having to deal with the
constant bullying by the most 'popular' girl in school, Shamira Chauhan (Jayati
Modi), and her gang of girls, Gippi goes into a shell and starts thinking of
herself as inferior to the other students. Moreover, having to deal with the
physical, emotional and social changes that accompany a growing teenage girl;
Gippi only gets more cranky and introverted. In order to impress everyone in
school, Gippi befriends a much-older high school student, Arjun (Taaha Shah),
and tells everyone that he is her boyfriend. But, the truth comes out when Arjun
publicly tells Gippi that he always thought of her as a friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvmmscbnMz9zNXrRVLxwOd8zDmD6W5QC41GHiEVsrfvf5AnFGD3d2MTjuJGLvFzsEHUueep5qoPAWicGX2W_BaDGDHS81OQspi5nlWKaT0waqy9ndVevIr541wJ492wyjn7zr2yQL_BQa/s1600/GIPPI_POSTER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvmmscbnMz9zNXrRVLxwOd8zDmD6W5QC41GHiEVsrfvf5AnFGD3d2MTjuJGLvFzsEHUueep5qoPAWicGX2W_BaDGDHS81OQspi5nlWKaT0waqy9ndVevIr541wJ492wyjn7zr2yQL_BQa/s1600/GIPPI_POSTER.jpg" height="400" width="278" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">This gives
Shamira and her friends one more reason to belittle their favourite target. The
clash reaches such a level that Shamira challenges Gippi to stand against her in
the student elections for the position of the head girl. So, the battle lines
are drawn. Our much-troubled girl's brother, Booboo, and friends, Anchal and
Ashish (Aditya Deshpande), who is terrific as the nerd besotted with Gippi,
help her out in marking certain goals (Hot Body, Popularity, Boyfriend and the
likes) that would make her win the elections. The film is about how Gippi
overcomes the odds at school, in addition to helping her mother cope up with
her father's (Pankaj Dheer) second marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Another
important part in the film is Kabir's (Mrinal Chawla), the most popular boy in
the college. Watch out for what he does in the film!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The film
showcases several delightful moments - Gippi and Anchal talking about puberty,
Gippi's inspirational speech during the student elections, her equation with
Pappi and Booboo, Gippi’s makeover among others. The actors, who play the school
students, have done a brilliant job. These teenagers have been given the best
scenes and lines, and they charm you with their effortless performances. Among
the adults, it's only the formidable Divya Dutta who impresses. The rest of the
cast, comprising Taaha Shah, Pankaj Dheer, actors playing the school professors
among others, have poorly-written roles and so, don't quite leave an impact.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">There are
various outrageously over-the-top sequences in the plot. One of them involves
an apparently-introverted Gippi, who assumedly gets stage fright, suddenly breaking into a dance in a bizarre costume, while giving her
student election speech. While it may evoke a guffaw or two from the viewers,
the scene does seem terribly out-of-place and isn't in line with what Gippi's
character is supposed to be. Another low for the film is the underwhelming
climax.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">For films such
as this one, which deal with the coming-of-age of an underdog, you would expect
a cracker of an ending. However, what you get is a very tepid version. Even the
music, composed by Vishal-Shekhar, doesn't quite stay with you. The only
hummable number in the soundtrack is 'We're Like This Only', sung by Dadlani.
The rest of the songs do not go well with the theme of the movie. Leaving these
aforementioned drawbacks aside, 'Gippi' does pack in several feel-good moments
and considering that it's been made by a debutante director Sonam Nair, the
film is a decent effort. The best thing about this teenage movie was that it
ENTIRELY revolved around a girl, which seldom happens in our part of the world.
Obviously, we love 'Gattu', 'Stanley Ka Dabba' among other children-based
films, but it's good to know that someone has made a 'Gippi'!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">For those of us
who've passed out of school and college, 'Gippi' is a fairly good nostalgic
ride. Those of you who are still studying, you may watch and learn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The film teaches
you to get rid of your own insecurities and accept other people's weaknesses. And,
one must add, it does a good job of doing that!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB">Shivom Oza<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-58874682731924239822013-04-30T15:23:00.002+05:302013-04-30T15:28:26.146+05:30Mud (2013) Review by Shivom Oza – Muddled Up! <b><span style="background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2/5 Stars</span></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew
McConaughey is a fine actor. He pulls off these understated, brooding
characters really effortlessly. However, is he engaging enough for the
audiences? Not quite!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
the film, ‘Mud’, the actor plays a lost-in-thought, lonely, distressed man,
Mud. The story revolves around his equation with two unsuspecting 14-year-olds,
who come to his rescue.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvZS6J7Cbcx9LrwiK0CqhIpL3GftDOuPlOakNszEHaG86es5bbNP3h7vNLWlBT6CjDph705ifjBRHmtAXq6UZGSPXBTyyKAfsxgpkhE3QeR4Z6vISK7DCehJeNtFqV2p10d7hsVWrb5pf/s1600/mud-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvZS6J7Cbcx9LrwiK0CqhIpL3GftDOuPlOakNszEHaG86es5bbNP3h7vNLWlBT6CjDph705ifjBRHmtAXq6UZGSPXBTyyKAfsxgpkhE3QeR4Z6vISK7DCehJeNtFqV2p10d7hsVWrb5pf/s1600/mud-poster.jpg" height="400" width="270" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Everybody
has acted well in this film. The actors, who play the two kids, deliver
delightful performances. McConaughey too, is fine. However, what really brings
the film down is its awful pace, lack of a proper conflict and the terrible
climactic sequences. There are several sparkling moments in the second half,
but overall, the film is below-par.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Two
adventurous 14-year-old kids, Ellis (Tye Sheridan) and Neckbone (Jacob
Lofland), set out to an island on the Mississippi River, where the latter has
found a boat, suspended atop a tree. Here, they meet Mud (Matthew McConaughey),
who is on the run after having committed a murder.<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew
wants to reconnect with his ladylove, Juniper (Reese Witherspoon) and so, he
approached the two kids to help him elope with her!<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
story is quite simple, right? NO!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
are needless characters that enter the plot – the track involving Ellis’
parents, Neckbone’s uncle, Ellis’ crush, Mud’s nemeses, Mud’s father-figure
etc.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not
that, it’s not alright to have so many characters in one film, but their
presence should be justified. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
film scores in two departments – the kids – their characters, dialogues and
performances are absolutely brilliant, and so is the music. The actor, who
plays Ellis’ friend, Jacob, is amazing as Neckbone. Watch out for this
character, if you do end up watching the film.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘Mud’,
on the outset, comprises one element – the concept of love. There’s hardly
anything happening in the awfully slow first-half. It’s in the latter part,
when the film actually picks up. Ellis’ character strives hard to find the true
definition of ‘love’. While it’s not clear if he eventually manages to figure
it out, we, the viewers, do end up getting our own interpretations dented.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Totally
muddled up! Pun intended! </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<b>Shivom Oza</b></div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-74157426750427949682013-04-26T14:33:00.000+05:302013-04-26T17:08:06.456+05:30Iron Man 3 (2013) Review by Shivom Oza – ‘Stark’ly Delightful!<b><span lang="EN-GB">3/5
Stars</span></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">The
third installment in the ‘Iron Man’ series, ‘Iron Man 3’ revolves
around how Tony Stark battles the dreaded Mandarin, and tries to prevent him
from causing havoc.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Even
for someone who is not a big fan of superhero/adventure/science-fiction movies
(me!), ‘Iron Man 3’ is immensely enjoyable. The film is all – Robert Downey,
Jr., as expected. His one-liners and his affable charm, which works wonders for
the franchise, have been utilized to their fullest yet again. While it is a
visual spectacle, the 3D once again dilutes the impact (a trifle!).</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The
plot continues from where ‘The Avengers’ ended. A much-troubled Tony Stark
(Robert Downey, Jr.) has been going through a rough time with his girlfriend,
Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), owing to his unrequited obsession with his Iron
Man suits.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Stark
recollects an incident from 1999 in Bern, Switzerland, when he, along with a
scientist Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall), ignores feelers from the crippled Aldrich
Killian (Guy Pearce) about creating Advanced Idea Mechanics (a terrorist
organization), which in turn will manufacture viruses.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">As it
turns out, Killian joins hands with a dreaded terrorist Mandarin (Ben
Kingsley), over a decade later. In one of the bombings orchestrated by the duo,
Happy Hogan, the security chief of Stark Industries, goes comatose. This
enrages Stark, who issues a televised threat to the perpetrators and even lets
out his address in the media so that the terrorists could get him!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">If I
tell you more about the film, you’ll cry ‘spoiler’! So, let’s cut this short
and get down to how the film fares. There are a couple of jaw-dropping twists
in the plot, which manage to make the film engaging enough over its
130-minute-duration.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The
action scenes are very well choreographed and Tony, along with War Machine
(James Rupert "Rhodey" Rhodes), do a great job pulling them off. The
entire team behind the visuals (cinematography, VFX, editing etc.) has done an
awesome job. Some of the scenes, especially the one in which Mandarin attacks
Iron Man’s Malibu mansion, are absolutely breath-taking (despite the irritating
3D).</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Robert
Downey, Jr. plays Robert Downey Jr., and the rest of the cast members do well in their
limited parts. Director Shane Black and Drew Pearce reinvent the audacious
character of Tony Stark with this film. The entire track between Stark and Harley (12-year-old Ty Sympkins) is absolutely delightful! Watch out for the little
boy, who does a wonderful job in this small role.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">There’s
a small funny bit after the end credits roll. The problem is that the credits
roll for about 5-6 minutes. So, you’ll have to wait for that long. Besides the
fact that you should go for the film anyway!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">Shivom Oza</span></b></div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-65216936817377681152013-04-25T10:07:00.001+05:302013-04-25T10:13:55.653+05:30Deewaar (1975) Review by Shivom Oza – Must Watch For Its Performances And Dialogues!<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3/5 Stars</span></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘Deewaar’,
the Yash Chopra film made in 1975, is a classic tale about two brothers, who
get caught on either side of the law. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
principal characters of the film, labour union leader Anand Verma (Satyendra
Kapoor), his wife Sumitra Devi (Nirupa Roy), elder son Vijay Verma
(Amitabh Bachchan), younger son Ravi Verma (Shashi Kapoor) and Vijay’s love
interest Anita (Parveen Babi), are essentially victims of circumstances.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anand
Verma is an upright labourer who stands up for his colleagues. However,
circumstances force him to go against his principles, and wrong the people that
he once stood for. The consequences of Anand’s actions are faced by his family.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOiZuWnWOKGbknUx3ij9jGuQbOmdVE1-dSWJ8lxZKuv_W8iY6oTFMJmbsnbkCcwbv-C05AUyT66p3tMttBlREYqt-e3CrxZQQGsfB2F2Et70Z9ZmybS62JkrzVadIDBTcWizljUPd6uHm/s1600/deewar13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOiZuWnWOKGbknUx3ij9jGuQbOmdVE1-dSWJ8lxZKuv_W8iY6oTFMJmbsnbkCcwbv-C05AUyT66p3tMttBlREYqt-e3CrxZQQGsfB2F2Et70Z9ZmybS62JkrzVadIDBTcWizljUPd6uHm/s1600/deewar13.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Troubled
by the constant taunts and humiliation from Anand’s (who eventually runs away)
nemeses, wife Sumitra Devi is forced to move from their hometown to Bombay
city. Here too, she finds it difficult to earn enough to bring her two children
up. So much so, that Sumitra and Vijay have to go on about their menial jobs,
just so that they can earn enough to send Ravi to school.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Vijay,
who goes through the turbulent experience of having ‘mera baap chor hai’ (My
father is a thief) inked on his forearm, gets deeply disturbed by all that
happened to his family, and starts holding their poverty responsible for their
family’s condition. He even refuses to go to the temple, as he has lost all
faith in God!</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
two sons grow up and while Ravi ends up becoming a police inspector, Vijay,
owing to fate, gets on the wrong side of the law. ‘Deewaar’ is about how the
drama unfolds between the two siblings!</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
film captures several realities that we associate with the 1970s – the real
estate boom, labour strikes, clout of the underworld, victimization of the poor
etc. However, the basic essence of the film is about how there is no clear
‘wrong’ or ‘right’ on show. We may think of Vijay Verma as the villain of the
story, but the crux lies in what forced him to do what he did!</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
dialogues and the one-liners in the film are the scene-stealers. Who can forget
the iconic ‘mere paas maa hai’ dialogue? The confrontation scenes between the
Verma brothers are ‘power-packed’, not just for Salim-Javed’s writing but also
owing to Bachchan and Kapoor’s performances.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Amitabh
Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor and Nirupa Roy are terrific in their respective roles.
Neetu Singh does a good job in her limited part. Parveen Babi, who plays
Amitabh’s love interest, is shown as a liberated Indian woman who smokes,
drinks, gets into relationships and is modern-in-thought and spirit.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Watch
out for A.K. Hangal’s cameo in the film. The minor sequence, involving him,
leaves a huge impact on the viewer’s mind.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
songs of the film are good, but certainly not extraordinary. ‘Keh Doon
Tumhein’, sung by Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle, is a nice, peppy track and the
pick of the lot! The plot may seem a bit bizarre at some portions, but
considering that the film was made in 1975 and has been a reference point for
so many screenplays written since then, ‘Deewaar’ should be watched!</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘Deewaar’
is not Yash Chopra’s best film. However, there are a couple of elements in it
which should not be missed – performances and dialogues!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shivom Oza<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-38126441721816396262013-04-18T11:05:00.004+05:302013-04-18T11:05:54.027+05:30Lessons In Forgetting (2013) Review by Shivom Oza – The Good Kind Of Different!<b><span lang="EN-GB">3/5
Stars</span></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Based on Anita Nair’s book of the same
name, ‘Lessons In Forgetting’ revolves around a middle-aged, divorced man, J.A.
Krishnamurthy, trying to discover the truth behind a fatal accident involving
his estranged 19-year-old daughter, Smriti. In the process, the father
encounters several inconvenient truths about his daughter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The story of the film, a portion of which
deals with the issue of female foeticide, is very relevant and poignant. Adil
Hussain (we’ve seen him before in ‘Agent Vinod’, ‘English Vinglish’ and ‘Life
Of Pi’) delivers a strong performance as the beleaguered father, who is trying
to come to terms with his daughter’s rebellious past and tumultuous present.
The rest of the cast, comprising Maya Tideman, Roshni Achreja, Raaghav Chanana
among others, do a fine job. While the film has its share of flaws, it is socially
relevant and offers a very different kind of treatment to the story. ‘Lessons
In Forgetting’ is different (of the good kind!).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">A middle-aged, divorced man, J.A
Krishnamurthy (Adil Hussain) comes to know that his estranged daughter, Smriti
(Maya Tideman), has been found severely injured near the beach at a small town
in Tamil Nadu. The 19-year-old girl, found in a near-dead-state, is almost
paralyzed and thus, bedridden and taken care of by a full-time nurse. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">J.A. Krishnamurthy, who is devastated after
finding about his daughter’s fatal accident and her present medical condition,
wants to find out the truth. So, he starts looking for clues that will lead him
to find out what actually happened to his daughter. In the meantime, he crosses
paths with a middle-aged woman, Meera, who has been going through a tumultuous
time herself after being abandoned by her husband, and left behind to take care
of her two children and her mother and grandmother all by herself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The film also comprises a touch of the
‘Save the Girl Child’ issue. The social issue has been excellently tailored
into the plot of the movie. There’s not a single moment, when you may find the
film overtly educative/preachy! ‘Lessons In Forgetting’ is about several more
aspects; parent-child relationships, life after separation, abandonment,
teenage angst etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEzSwDX35q2-GYnX1UfMb7zZdZjrSjTmRuCBoq5nOhGTLRA074MLv1b4eONH9XHyKV6brr6MUNA5F9CIVMfE7vN9SWhUL6Xixep9OS4lTvLiQz2tlK0t9J4RS63l-v3rJpFHOmiFwU0UM/s1600/522666_436701839749198_1995472021_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEzSwDX35q2-GYnX1UfMb7zZdZjrSjTmRuCBoq5nOhGTLRA074MLv1b4eONH9XHyKV6brr6MUNA5F9CIVMfE7vN9SWhUL6Xixep9OS4lTvLiQz2tlK0t9J4RS63l-v3rJpFHOmiFwU0UM/s1600/522666_436701839749198_1995472021_n.jpg" height="147" width="400" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">All the characters have been well-written,
with the exception of Meera. Her backstory was not necessary at all. Although
the actress playing this character (Roshni) has done a great job, Meera wasn’t
required in the film at all. Her side of the story has been introduced in an
elaborate manner, but left untouched thereafter. </span>A few scenes in the film do make you
introspect about certain things. You may reconsider the way you behave with
your parents/children after watching the film. It strikes a chord there! Other
notable aspects about the film are; the absolutely terrific opening credits of
the film and the excellent background score (Kumaresh Ganesh). The dialogue
delivery of the actors was very good, which is a rarity for English-language
films made in India! However, subtitles could have been compiled in a better
manner (as there are a few portions in Tamil).</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">‘Lessons In Forgetting’, ultimately, is
about how you strive so hard to know the truth, but once you know it; you
desperately want to forget it (makes sense?). Anyway, watch the film! Take a
bow, director Unni Vijayan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">Shivom
Oza<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-931792082177192972013-04-17T11:14:00.002+05:302013-04-17T11:14:33.904+05:30The Croods (2013) Review by Shivom Oza – Clichéd, But Entertaining! <b><span lang="EN-GB">3/5
Stars</span></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">The Croods are a good mix of ‘The
Flintstones’ and the recently-released film, ‘Hotel Transylvania’. The film is
about how the ‘world’s first family’ had to give up on their trusted shelter
(the caves) to look for a new roof on their heads. In the process, they end up
discovering the ‘new world’, which they had been hiding away from since time
immemorial. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRkadkt0-VF5YHicqFAUEWSMCRShLjHiukjWSuYUL9YDEpA_8Fb5M20-UY4ZlKHCTSJBmRxp7bAheTWsmNH9Kj69MZdjFfBlXgt8KzGUxiWuzPj_1PPrjqoa2ISIQTLH3svNb-DiDok_b/s1600/ea_croods_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRkadkt0-VF5YHicqFAUEWSMCRShLjHiukjWSuYUL9YDEpA_8Fb5M20-UY4ZlKHCTSJBmRxp7bAheTWsmNH9Kj69MZdjFfBlXgt8KzGUxiWuzPj_1PPrjqoa2ISIQTLH3svNb-DiDok_b/s1600/ea_croods_poster.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The film has a clichéd storyline. The plot
has oft been used for several animated movies in the past. Although the concept
works yet again, it makes the story a bit predictable. Also, the 3D was a big
let-down. However, despite these two ‘big’ drawbacks, the film emerges as a
thoroughly entertaining watch!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Armed with old-world sensibilities, the
father Grug (Nicolas Cage) does not allow his daughter Eep (Emma Stone), to
venture out into the open, fearing that she could be harmed. The daughter,
whose rebelliousness increases with the number of restrictions imposed on her,
ends up going out anyway. She discovers a new world, much different from what
her ‘orthodox’ father had imagined. She meets and falls for the mysterious
young boy, called Guy (Ryan Reynolds), from the new world. Trouble ensues when
the caves are on the verge of destruction and the family has to look for a new home!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The animation is terrific, but the 3D is
disappointing. The characters and their dialogues are well-written. Watch out
for the banter between Grug and Guy, Grug and his mother-in-law and the
camaraderie amongst ‘The Croods’! Although the first half moves along at a
sluggish pace, the second half picks up pace and manages to keep you engaged.
The kids will love these terrific characters and the over-simplified story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">It’s a clichéd story, but it entertains! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">Shivom
Oza</span></b></div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-26249738590321477632013-04-17T10:38:00.000+05:302013-04-17T10:38:17.012+05:30Scary Movie 5 (2013) Review by Shivom Oza – WATCH, Only If You Prefer This Genre! <b><span lang="EN-GB">3/5 Stars</span></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">‘Scary Movie 5’ is the fifth film in the ‘Scary
Movie’ series. Presenting its brand of unbridled crass humour, the film spoofs renowned
names such as ‘Paranormal Activity’, ‘Mama’, ‘The Cabin In The Woods’, ‘Evil
Dead’, ‘Inception’, ‘Sinister’, ‘Black Swan’, ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’,
‘Insidious’ and ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">I frankly believe that the ‘Scary Movie’
series is not supposed to be taken seriously. So, those looking for cinematic
brilliance, go watch something else. The film encompasses innumerable
cringe-worthy scenes, abundant toilet humour, fair amount of obscenity and the
lamest of gags. However, they do manage to entertain. So, the purpose is
served. You will find this film immensely funny, if you have a fair idea about
the aforementioned sources, which have been parodied. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04-Xsd1kzA1zlFknhpfo7rU9aWwiRb3Bee2Ez7OtYGebhV4Nr_DwnpJaiqmc1b-p8gOcioqm16BW4EUoJCR51kg8bJObeG3GK1CU7ivV01MRjfJeKUQANp9EIsQUH-QWhx0YRglbBmqSX/s1600/scary-movie-5-poster01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04-Xsd1kzA1zlFknhpfo7rU9aWwiRb3Bee2Ez7OtYGebhV4Nr_DwnpJaiqmc1b-p8gOcioqm16BW4EUoJCR51kg8bJObeG3GK1CU7ivV01MRjfJeKUQANp9EIsQUH-QWhx0YRglbBmqSX/s1600/scary-movie-5-poster01.jpg" height="400" width="253" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB">There’s a small gag at the beginning of the
film, involving Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan. This is a fairly silly, yet
funny, rip-off of the ‘Paranormal Activity’ series. Lohan gets possessed and
ends up killing Charlie. The couple’s 3 children are trapped inside the
dingy-looking ‘Cabin in the Woods’. They are encountered by Snoop Dogg and Mac
Miller, who initially visit the Cabin hoping to score some fine weed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The kids, who have grown to become a bit
animal-like and eerie in their mannerisms under the influence of their ‘Mama’,
are taken in by their uncle Dan Sanders (Simon Rex) and his partner Jody
Sanders (Ashley Tisdale). Thereafter, most of the film is a take-off on the
Jessica Chastain horror film, with the occasional tribute (?) thrown in to
films such as ‘Inception’, ‘Black Swan’ etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">This film is what you would call ‘time pass’
in colloquial terms. Certainly, this film would be a better bet than watching a
big-budget drag of a sci-fi film or a listless, meandering, meaningful
(self-proclaimed) motion picture. Watch out for the rip-roaring sequences
involving the couple’s Hispanic house-help, Maria (Lidia Porto). The lead
actress of the film, Ashley Tisdale looks stunning and is absolutely hilarious.
The take-offs on ‘Black Swan’ are also certain to evoke guffaws from the audiences.
The special appearances (Snoop Dogg, Mike Tyson, Usher, Bow Wow among others)
perfectly get tailored into the insane plot. There’s humour involving sex,
dope, faeces, ghosts, amputated body parts, the works! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">This film was unabashedly, and unapologetically,
silly. Yet, it was funny. Plus, it’s
only 86 minutes! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">Shivom
Oza<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-66301337180607407992013-04-12T10:24:00.000+05:302013-04-12T10:24:19.209+05:30Commando (2013) Review by Shivom Oza – Lights, Camera and ACTION!<b><span lang="EN-GB">2.5/5
Stars</span></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Commando, produced by Vipul Shah, projects
itself as an out-and-out action film, with unbelievable stunt sequences
performed by Vidyut Jammwal of Force fame. The makers have also maintained that
while it is an action film, there is a lot of emotion (in the form of romance,
music, song-and-dance etc.) inherent in the screenplay. The film keeps its
promises on most counts. To put it briefly, the plot revolves around how
Captain Karanvir Dogra, a commando, rescues Simrit from the stranglehold of the
local goon, Amrit Kanwal Singh (colloquially referred to as AK74, since he was
born in the year 1974!), and his men.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Your opinion of the film will depend a lot
on your expectations. So to lay it out for you, here's what you should expect
from Commando - unbelievable action (never-seen-before in Hindi cinema), Vidyut
Jammwal's electrifying screen presence, Pooja Chopra's decent acting
performance on debut, hummable music, corny (most of them being cringe-worthy)
dialogues, a villain with clownish tendencies, bizarre plot points, wonderful
cinematography and one abominable, sleazy, unwanted item number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR71l_YyCDBns7cCqqVnsXvs_OKUN4NiIrArNRPwcxkCrIgZ1W8DSsWMz7BUrjPuQ1cAZYSYYl1s7L2C2Zyz_NY00SykvBuDvWndBFB0MAZ6iGU_4jWc_2sR7IYSMs-U8b-oseSLWEZOXr/s1600/031613_1713_COMMANDOMov1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR71l_YyCDBns7cCqqVnsXvs_OKUN4NiIrArNRPwcxkCrIgZ1W8DSsWMz7BUrjPuQ1cAZYSYYl1s7L2C2Zyz_NY00SykvBuDvWndBFB0MAZ6iGU_4jWc_2sR7IYSMs-U8b-oseSLWEZOXr/s1600/031613_1713_COMMANDOMov1.jpg" height="400" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">Commando is a complete 'masala' film. There
will be several moments during the film, when you will look around wondering,
'Who came up with that?'. So, expect all the aforementioned aspects and you
might just end up liking it. Luckily, action remains a very dominant part of
the film, and doesn't get overshadowed by other embellishments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Commando of the Indian army, Karanvir Dogra
(Vidyut Jammwal) escapes from China (where he was in the custody of the Chinese
army after being falsely implicated as an Indian spy and mercilessly tortured
thereafter) to India (albeit in miraculous circumstances). Here, at a small
town close to the Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border, he bumps into Simrit (Pooja
Chopra), who has run away from her home after facing a lot of harassment from
the eccentric and much-feared local politician, AK74 (Jaideep Ahlawat). Thus begins
the action extravaganza!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">We get to see Vidyut perform innumerable
and breathtaking stunt sequences, and mouth rip-roaring one-liners. The actor
is sublime when it comes to flaunting his brawny side. The perfectly toned
physique and the charming dialogue delivery, works wonders for the young
actor's screen presence. Pooja performs very well, for someone who is making
her acting debut. One wishes that her character had been written in a better
manner (perhaps toned down its effervescence a trifle), but Pooja does well
with what she had to do. Jaideep Ahlawat, who plays the villain, is absolutely
marvelous. The actor plays the comical villain to the hilt and evokes chills
and guffaws in equal measure. Jaideep is a real find, and should definitely be
seen in more films. The supporting cast members deliver passable performances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Mannan Shaah's music is pleasant and
hummable. The song 'Saawan Bairi', sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, is as
beautiful as its video, which features Vidyut and Pooja. Sejal Shah's
cinematography is at its best during the shoot of this particular song. Sejal's
camerawork is one of the highlights of the film. There's an unwanted item
number in the film. This dance number screams 'sleazy' and almost withers away
a fairly enjoyable movie-watching experience. Vidyut and Pooja have got
terrific screen presence and are fine dancers as well. Hence, the songs,
barring that apology of an item number, don't really slow the film down or
spoil the screenplay. The dialogues of the film are outright corny. At times,
one does wonder if this is really how people, or on a more widespread level,
army people talk! The lines have been written in order to bring in the
whistles, but sadly, not all of them work! Dilip Ghosh's attempt to make a
movie like this, which seems like a good amalgamation of the realistic and the
commercial, almost succeeds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">However, as already mentioned before,
Commando is not everybody's cup of tea. Although the makers have moderated
their sensibilities considerably for this film, Commando remains a 'masala'
potboiler and only those who enjoy this genre will like it. Prasad Sasthe's
background score deserves special mention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">If you're a fan of action films, go for
Commando. However, remember that the film comprises many more elements, which
one usually associates with 'masala' potboilers. So, keep that thought in mind!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">Shivom
Oza</span></b></div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-72220885935196881422013-04-11T11:48:00.001+05:302013-04-11T11:48:16.434+05:30The Place Beyond The Pines (2013) Review by Shivom Oza – Beyond Brilliant! <b><span lang="EN-GB">3.5/5
Stars</span></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Crime-thrillers often make for fascinating
movies; more so, when the screenplay of the film is spruced with innocuous mind
games and dichotomous characters. ‘The Place Beyond The Pines’, starring
Bradley Cooper, Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes, is an intriguing three-part film
which revolves around how decisions made by a stunt motorcyclist and a dutiful police
officer, affect the lives of their families. It is directed by Derek Cianfrance
of ‘Blue Valentine’ fame.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RI-43IzXzm-xUb2jCKub642XCLR6Y9CwHMWUWKYopjXmSRUEw3H2CUhxOYG2gW7ex1l-yLfFcAwpp4gMcGTR0MnhrIyBziKpK8561z9NXLr9Ui4CD_Sbjm0vgTgUGJuvBZePZxkwM_Bg/s1600/the-place-beyond-the-pines-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0RI-43IzXzm-xUb2jCKub642XCLR6Y9CwHMWUWKYopjXmSRUEw3H2CUhxOYG2gW7ex1l-yLfFcAwpp4gMcGTR0MnhrIyBziKpK8561z9NXLr9Ui4CD_Sbjm0vgTgUGJuvBZePZxkwM_Bg/s1600/the-place-beyond-the-pines-poster.jpg" height="640" width="412" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Its wonderful story and screenplay, backed
with awesome performances, make ‘The Place Beyond The Pines’ one of the better
crime-thrillers to have come out in recent times. The multi-layered characters
(and by layered, I mean sometimes greedy and sometimes selfless, sometimes
bound by duty and sometimes by fate, sometimes white and mostly black),
performed by the cast with much aplomb, make the film very real and relatable.
An absolutely brilliant story about relationships, revenge and forgiveness, ‘The
Place Beyond The Pines’ is ‘edge-of-the-seat’ stuff. Clocking in at 2 hours 20
minutes, the film doesn’t seem long at all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A stunt motorcyclist, Luke
Glanton (Ryan Gosling), is trying very hard to reconnect with his former
girlfriend and the mother of his new-born child, Romina (Eva Mendes). In order
to provide for her and his child Jason, Luke quits motorcycle racing and starts
robbing banks. Being a rider, Luke lives life on the edge and is absolutely
unapologetic about his actions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Police officer Avery Cross
(Bradley Cooper) is looking for growth at his workplace, but is pulled back by
the rampant corruption in the department. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Two boys, studying in high
school, Jason (Luke’s son) and AJ Cross (Avery’s son), fall into trouble with
drugs, which leads to a lot of drama and some bloodshed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The film is about how the
lives of the aforementioned characters entwine. The film tackles relationships
very well. Be it Luke’s and Romina’s romantic liaison, Avery’s turbulent
relationship with his wife and son, Jason’s equation with AJ Cross, and Avery’s
fabulous camaraderie with his father, the highs and lows of any normal relationship
have been encapsulated brilliantly by the writers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It even deals with the dichotomy
that most of us often find ourselves in – ‘whose side to take?’. It’s true that
if you stand for something right/wrong, you have to bear the consequences
eventually. The characters are etched in such a meticulous manner, that you may
find yourself sympathizing with the criminal at some points and cursing the
righteous individual at others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On the technical front, the
film excels purely on its writing (Derek Cianfrance, Ben Coccio and Darius
Marder). The score, composed by Mike Patton, is eerily delightful. In addition,
the camerawork (Sean Bobbitt) wonderfully compliments the dark, gritty theme of
the film. As a viewer, I connected with this film on several grounds –
forgiveness, righteousness, ambition and compassion. The story is bound to
strike a chord with you at some level or the other. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The film, just like its
title, is open to several interpretations. It stays with you for a long time
after you’ve watched it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Shivom Oza</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-83800074935853566982013-04-10T11:27:00.000+05:302013-04-10T12:41:44.746+05:30Oblivion (2013) Review by Shivom Oza - The Title Says It All!<b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2/5 Stars</span></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">'Oblivion'
is a science fiction film based on an unpublished graphic novel of the same
name by writer-director Joseph Kosinski. Drone mechanic Jack Harper has been
assigned to extract Earth's remaining resources (after its surface has been
devastated following an alien invasion 60 years earlier). In the process, Jack
discovers a crashed spacecraft, wherein he discovers a female stranger trapped
inside a space-coffin. Post this incident, he begins questioning everything
that he knows about the invasion and its repercussions.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Nhh0KPs85yBmW0EChEogeYUcAKSOoxr_NFH6SnFQ7Ye6yz0e6f_qTDL7hqjiFxdTBM07wf9LkxFemiCGOeyq17qNUAvw9BEDiGTH6LpT7L7mkrzmpb1GWECqeWx51FINiKB6iU8NiaY1/s1600/OblivionPoster_0134623897623875259875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Nhh0KPs85yBmW0EChEogeYUcAKSOoxr_NFH6SnFQ7Ye6yz0e6f_qTDL7hqjiFxdTBM07wf9LkxFemiCGOeyq17qNUAvw9BEDiGTH6LpT7L7mkrzmpb1GWECqeWx51FINiKB6iU8NiaY1/s1600/OblivionPoster_0134623897623875259875.jpg" height="400" width="275" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
title, 'Oblivion', means 'state of being forgotten'. And yes, the movie is
quite forgettable. Too many sci-fi films have been made on the 'dystopian'
theme, so even the concept isn't novel. The lone good thing about the film was
the background score. The half-baked climax added insult to injury. The
120-million-dollar-worth project is a criminal waste of resources.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According
to the film's premise, planet Earth was invaded by the aliens in 2017, which
left its surface nearly destroyed. 60 years later, former Marine commander Jack
Harper (Tom Cruise) is one of the last few mechanics stationed on the planet.
Jack repairs the drones, which patrol the skies and protect the planet from
warring aliens.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He
and his colleague Victoria Olsen (Andrea Riseborough) are a part of the
operation to clean up the remaining forces of the invasion and extract the
planet's remaining resources. Almost reaching the culmination of the mission,
Jack rescues a female stranger, Julia Rusakova (</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Olga Kurylenko), from a space-coffin
inside a crashed spaceship. Following this incident, he comes in contact with
the mysterious Malcolm Beech (Morgan Freeman) and is forced to question
everything that he knows about the alien invasion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
film takes too long to establish its plot and premise. Most sci-films made in
2012 focused on the 'dystopian'/post-end-of-the-world theme and a majority of
them were major disappointments. While this film makes a hash of the subject
with its long-drawn and inconsequential screenplay, most makers should question
the feasibility of the concept as well. The '2050/2060/2100 etc.' films do not
intrigue the audiences anymore. So, no matter what the star-cast, budget, story
or maker, there are more chances that the film will carry a strong
'been-there-seen-that' undertone.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
'Oblivion', the plot moves on sluggishly for the first 90 minutes, until the
makers realize that they have to give the 120-million-dollars spending some
sort of justification. The writers have tried to incorporate several twists in
the climax, but the damage is done and the sudden developments purely add to
the viewer's chagrin. Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman are completely wasted in
the film. The background score by Anthony Gonzalez and Joseph Trapanese is quite
nice, but that's about it.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
title says it all!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shivom Oza</span></b><b><span style="color: #222222; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-29216396464098633932013-04-04T11:26:00.000+05:302013-04-04T11:51:32.247+05:30Chashme Buddoor (1981) Review by Shivom Oza – Don’t Call It ‘OLD’!<b><span lang="EN-GB">4/5 Stars</span></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">“The word <i>classic</i> means something that is a
perfect example of a particular style, something of lasting worth or with a
timeless quality”, says the dictionary. We often mistake most old films to be
‘classics’. However, the ‘something of lasting worth or with a timeless
quality’ prerequisite seldom gets fulfilled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Sai Paranjpye’s ‘Chashme Buddoor’ (1981) is
one such film, which satisfies all the aforementioned parameters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The film, which kind of embodied all genres –
romance, comedy, drama, tragedy, satire and a bit of action, is what you would
call in today’s lingo a ‘full-blown masala entertainer’. Although the songs do
slow it down a trifle, the dialogues, performances and the writing make ‘Chashme
Buddoor’ a must, must watch!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBf8hwqTU_tYzbhyvfjQ-wzPYcnyJ49lWVCbWTe70DXLDFUS9ILIyV3AdDWDwapOMavB5dwSiAPtcv1k4dCjagFiQILMK5txRdg3Xu2_igHtPB0TkpuWbAUCNUg8yONrRY-4ydtM4pUAa/s1600/BGv9bEsCQAABPTI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBf8hwqTU_tYzbhyvfjQ-wzPYcnyJ49lWVCbWTe70DXLDFUS9ILIyV3AdDWDwapOMavB5dwSiAPtcv1k4dCjagFiQILMK5txRdg3Xu2_igHtPB0TkpuWbAUCNUg8yONrRY-4ydtM4pUAa/s1600/BGv9bEsCQAABPTI.jpg" height="262" width="400" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">Siddharth (Farooq Shaikh), Omi (Rakesh Bedi)
and Jai (Ravi Baswani) are three Delhi University students, staying together in
a rented flat. While Siddharth is the studious one and spends most of his time
reading books, Omi and Jai are absolutely ‘good-for-nothing’. They spend all
their time chasing girls and fooling around! However, the three friends share
one common interest – smoking cigarettes! They <strike>buy</strike> borrow their cigarette stock
from a local shopkeeper, Lallan Miyan (Saeed Jaffrey) and never pay up, much to
the old man’s chagrin!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">This ‘uncomfortable’ camaraderie goes on until
the three friends end up falling for the same girl – Neha Rajan (Deepti Naval)
aka ‘Miss Chamko’!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The film encapsulates everything that was
‘cool’ about India during the 80s. Right from the language to the lifestyle to
the behaviour, there was a good mix of the innocent and the liberal (and
sometimes, the rebellious). The three main characters, played by Shaikh, Bedi
and Baswani, are witty and wicked in equal measure. All the three actors manage
to hold their own. While Baswani plays the foolish, crooked Jai to the hilt,
Bedi shows that he is a genius when it comes to comic timing. Farooq, despite
not getting to play one of the ‘funny’ guys, ends up creating his own niche of
humour with his wide range of expressions and reactions. Deepti Naval had to
play ‘hard-to-get’, ‘madly-in-love’, ‘damsel-in-distress’, ‘plain-Jane’,
‘glam-doll’ and what not, in the same film, and she brings out her best for
this (still-memorable) character of ‘Miss Chamko’. Some of the sequences in the
film are beyond brilliant, right from the opening credits to Omi and Jai’s
futile wooing to Miss Chamko’s detergent powder demonstration to the
light-hearted banter between the leads and Lallan Miyaan. Leena Mishra’s cameo
as the grandmother is absolutely delightful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The best part about the film is that it’s not
the nostalgia which will make you smile. The humour is such that it would have
worked even in 2013. So, you wouldn’t necessarily laugh because you got
reminded of a certain era. You would laugh because you found the scene really
funny!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The music of the film by Raj Kamal is the only
aspect which may not work for today’s audience. Most songs do slow down the
film. The songs are good, but in isolation and not within the screenplay. One
song that really goes with the theme of the film is ‘Pyar Lagawat’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Other notable aspects of the film include the
terrific parody featuring Baswani and Naval, Amitabh Bachchan-Rekha cameo and
the amazing restoration work done on the film.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Sai Paranjpye’s genius is written all over
‘Chashme Buddoor’. It’s a must watch (on the BIG screen)!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">Shivom Oza</span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3959707160595439996.post-54495258029845423682013-04-03T11:22:00.001+05:302013-04-03T11:22:10.942+05:30Jurassic Park (3D) Review by Shivom Oza – Timeless!<b><span lang="EN-GB">4/5
Stars</span></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">‘Jurassic Park’, directed by Steven
Spielberg, grossed over $900 million worldwide when it released in the year
1993. It became the highest-grossing film of all time, until it was surpassed
four years later by ‘Titanic’. 20 years later, the film is back albeit in 3D.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">You may have heard of the adage, ‘Form is
temporary, class is permanent’. Films, which use computer-generated imagery
(CGI) extensively, come out in dozens and scores in this day and age. Most of
them rely purely on technology and often neglect the ‘writing’. ‘Jurassic Park
3D’ even after 20 years looks as stunning as ever. Moreover, the well-etched
characters and the immaculate screenplay only add to this picture-perfect
‘nostalgia’ trip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), a
billionaire entrepreneur, has built Jurassic Park, a theme park on a tropical
island near Costa Rica, populated with cloned dinosaurs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQT0M30lGAd9pTyJHGJTXcyaT8WeBBkkvC_dsibSO2gGOukUdrPi0RnQhztHPXrux4R-chWjMLMMMM5R6AWPqI3WmaXDsQywo9LuOiKqGLeDfWD-LpIvPlzFG1IWC1DdGZ_H2G7lGUC6i/s1600/16t78.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbQT0M30lGAd9pTyJHGJTXcyaT8WeBBkkvC_dsibSO2gGOukUdrPi0RnQhztHPXrux4R-chWjMLMMMM5R6AWPqI3WmaXDsQywo9LuOiKqGLeDfWD-LpIvPlzFG1IWC1DdGZ_H2G7lGUC6i/s1600/16t78.jpg" height="400" width="252" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">Hammond invites ‘experts’, palaeontologist
Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and botanist Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) to
certify whether the park is safe. Attorney Donald Genarro (Martin Ferrero), who
represents Hammond’s investors, invites mathematician Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff
Goldblum), on his part, to recce the site. The three experts along with the
lawyer and Hammond’s two grandchildren embark upon their tour of this
exquisite, yet eerie, theme park. One of the employees at the park attempts to
steal dinosaur embryos in return for a huge sum of money. In the process, he
shuts down all the electricity in the park. This mishap, which allows with the
menacing, and thankfully extinct, beasts to venture out of their cages, spells
BIG trouble!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Jurassic Park won the Academy Award for
Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Visual Effects. It was hailed
by viewers and critics as a path-breaking film, in terms of using technology.
20 years later, it still strikes you with its delightful imagery. Certain
clichés mostly associated with the 90s will definitely make you reminisce about
the good, old (sans internet, mobile phone) days. The film, with/without 3D,
remains a must-watch! ‘Jurassic Park 3D’ is way better than most
action/sci-fi/fantasy fare that is dished out these days. Some of the scenes,
notably 'Raptors in the Kitchen', 'Nerdy's Plans Go Awry', 'Tyrannosaurus Rex',
'They're Flocking This Way' and 'When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth', post 3D, remain
as spine-chilling as ever! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">For those who were lucky enough to catch
the film on the big screen way back in 93/94, why not do an encore! And for
those who’ve only experience this legendary film on their television sets, don’t
miss this opportunity!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB">Shivom
Oza<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Shivom Ozahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00281618701258261353noreply@blogger.com2