KICK – ALIVE & KICKING…!

Cast:  Mithun Chakraborthy, Archana Puran Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Salman Khan, Jacquline Fernandez & Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
Director: Sajid Nadiadwala.
Producer: Sajid Nadiadwala.

Duration: 146 Minutes

Devi Lal Singh (Salman) a nerd/techie is looking for this Adrenaline Rush which he calls KICK in things he does.In his quest for KICK he does many things which might be inconvenient to others but in the end it turns up for a good cause. In short it’s a movie about a “Bad boy but with a golden heart”.

With out reveling much about the story (Which you should see in theaters) it is inspired from a Telugu Movie named KICK. Rather I don’t comment on the script but what is commendable is the way Sajid Nadiadwala has treated it. But still around 20 minutes of length could have been avoided.

Salman Khan knows what his fans want and he has delivered it with bang. But for me revelation has been Jacquline who has completely re-invented when compared to her last flicks. Her small dance sequence in Jumme Ki raath is astounding. The one person who will steal your breath is Nawazuddin Siddiqui watch out for him.

Ayanka Bose has done fabulosly with cinematography especially scenes in Warsaw. Himesh gave few fine tunes. Jumme Ki raath & Hangover might have mass appeal but just look out for Tu Hi Tu.   

The film is flawed technically, Salmans Body double is clearly seen almost in all fight sequences the same I referred to in Ek Tha Tiger. The Police office set up is similar to that of M’s office setup in last James Bond movie. Even the telephone booth sequence is lapsed as the actor is not covered in hoody in the actual scene.

In-spite all this glitches KICK is a perfect weekend entertainer. It is a perfect Eidi for this Eid.

Rating: 2.5/5

Note Pic Courtesy : Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment         

Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania – The Lead pair Does the trick !

Cast:  Alia Bhatt & Varun Dhawan.
Director: Shashank Khaitan.
Producer: Karan Johar.

Duration: 132 Minutes

Dilli Boy "Humpty" Sharma (Varun Dhawan) meets the Ambala Girl Kavya Pratap Singh (Alia Bhatt) who is on her wedding shopping to Delhi. Both connect over varied spurious events and fall in love.

But the task in hand for Humpty is to convince Kavyas father for this marriage. Will Humpty and gang succeed in it is to watch out for.

Coming to the movie, to be honest there’s nothing new in story line. You must have seen the same story more or less in different versions. But, the trick that worked for this movie is freshness which comes from the lead pair, that makes this movie appealing. Alia Bhatt & Varun Dhawan just gives a superb performance. The dialogues add on their chemistry that makes it even more endearing.

There's nothing much to comment on other aspects of movie even the songs find very average except for one “Mein tenu samjhawa ki”.

Watch this movie just for Alia & Varun it’s a good weekend watch.

Rating: 3/5

Maleficent– A Tale of Good & Grey

Cast:  Angelina Jolie, Sharlto Copley, Sam Riley & Elle Fanning.
Director: Robert Stromberg.
Producer: Joe Roth.

Duration: 97 Minutes

Adopted from 1957 classic “Sleeping Beauty” Maleficent is a story of a good fairy turned into a fearing witch. Maleficent once a handsome young fairy with black wings cheated in love for power by her young lover stefan. Threatened by her magic stefan throws her into further suffering by taking away her wings.  

In rage of betrayal Maleficent raises her dark army unleashing fire on stefan, now the king. Stefans new born aurora falls prey to Maleficent revenge only to be cursed for a long sleep once pricked by a spinning needle as she turns 16.

Stefan sends aurora away from into woods accompanied by 3 angels. Maleficent finds aurora and keeps guard on her only to fall for her innocent love. Aurora thinks Maleficent as her god mother until she comes to know the reality.

How does this tale unfolds is to watch for.

Robert Stromberg first directorial venture is worth many ways. The action scenes and the exotic location in 3D are to die for. The only thing that can be commented is the fast unfolding of characters from bad to good …….vice versa.

Angelina Jolie is excellent in role switching of from good to grey shades. Ella fanning as aurora does her role quite well. But personally it was Sam Rileys cameo which I liked most.

On the whole Maleficent is a good weekend watch which is crisp and sharp

Rating: 3/5

2 States – A Romcom to watch !

Cast:  Alia Bhatt, Arjun Kapoor, Revathi, Amrita Singh, Ronit Roy & Shiv Kumar.
Director: Abhishek Varman.
Producer: Karan Johar & Sajid Nadiadwala.

Duration: 149 Minutes

A Punjabi boy Krish (Arjun) & a Tamil Girl Ananya (Alia) meet, fall in love, want to get married. Here start’s the plot, how does a Punjabi boy fit in to conservative Tamil house hold and a conservative Tamil girl fits in to over the top Punjabi Family. 2 states is just about this.

To be honest there’s nothing new in the story of 2 states, as expected both protagonists convince their in laws scoring browny points by helping them and finally get married. But what’s to watch out is for Abhishek Varman’s fresh taking of story followed by some amazing performances and some superb music.

Arjun Kapoor acted well as sublime lover who is caught between the devil and the dark sea. But, stealing the thunder is Alia Bhatt, she does fantastically well as Ananya.  Personally, for me Ronit Roy’s small role as stressed father & husband stands out.

Lastly, credits to Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy for some amazing tunes.

The only thing that can be criticized about the movie is its length. For some time you feel movie is been dragged in some portions especially the second half.

To end it up, I guess there’s nothing that should hold you back from watching this easy-breezy movie for this perfect Easter weekend.

Rating: 3/5

Darr @ the Mall– So Not Darrrr!

Cast:  Jimmy Shergill & Nushrat Bharucha
Director: Pavan Kirpalani
Producer: Abhimanyu Singh, MSM Motion Pictures

Duration: 125 Minutes

A Mall, almost on verge of a closure due to some super natural presence. The management tries to revive it and hires a new supervisor Vishnu (Jimmy Shergill). At the backdrop of mall opening one by one the people from management are killed. Who are behind these killings? Is there any history behind the Mall? These can be answered at the movie.

Coming to the merits of the movie, this one falls back to the typical stereotype horror genre. Sudden sound effects, chilling back ground score and you name it. Except for Jimmy Shergill there is nothing much to mention about. Shankar Ehsaan Loy fails to create any impact with music, except for pinacolada which can be a potential party number it the list.

On the whole Darr can be avoided, as this flick has nothing new to offer.

Rating: 1/5

Highway– This Journey is worth it !

Cast:  Randeep Hooda & Alia Bhatt.
Director: Imtiaz Ali.
Producer: Imtiaz Ali & Sajid Nadiadwala.

Duration: 133 Minutes

Highway is all about how two disturbed people meet under strange circumstances. How their lives intervene and how they find solace in each other is the plot.

Veera Tripathi (Alia) a rich girl from an affluent family gets kidnapped by Mahabir Bhati (Randeep Hooda). To escape from police Mahabir sets on highway with Veera. How this journey becomes a life changing one for both kidnapper and victim is to watch for. The film loosely harps on Stockholm syndrome.

Coming to other aspects, have to specially mention Alia Bhatt who is just doing her second film and has done exceedingly well. This can be rated as one of the best performance off late. The scenes where in she explains her traumatic childhood or the one on the rock where in her emotions flow and the climax scene just shows her potential as an actor. Randeep Hooda the best, just lived in the role of a Thug equally mesmerizes you.

Imtiaz Ali, has just produced another gem of a movie. He made sure all his trademark aspects are imbibed in, be it his Sufi touch, complex characterization, outstanding locations and some meaningful liners. “Jab Ek Goli Chalthi Hain Tho Do Log Marthe Hain, Ek Jis par Chali aur doosra who chalane wala” and also liners from Alia in the climax are just outstanding. Imtiaz has done a good job my limiting the movie to 133 minutes or else it would have been a disaster.

Special note for the Cinematographer Anil Mehta who has done an outstanding camera work showing all the six states like never before.

Personally the let down for me is music, except for Mahive all the other numbers fail to connect.

On the whole Highway is good movie to watch, especially for Alia Bhatt who has done a great job.

Rating: 4/5

DHOOM 3 - Lacks The Punch

Cast:  Aamir Khan, Jackie Shroff, Abhishek Bachan, Uday Chopra & Katrina Kaif.
Director: Vijay Krishna Acharya.
Producer: Aditya Chopra

Duration: 172 Minutes

Dhoom-3 for me personally has been the biggest let down in the Dhoom franchise. Heavily inspired from the movie The Prestige, coupled with some illogical plot and laid back performances, this one just misses the bus. Contrary to Dhoom franchise, this one lacks the style and whoomph quotient and relies mostly on melodrama.

Without revealing much about the plot, Dhoom 3 is about Samar (Aamir Khan) who is set to bring down the most happening bank in Chicago for the reasons (Please watch the movie) and how Jay Dixit (Abhishek) & Ali (Uday) counter him is the plot.

Vijay Acharya has done some fabulous job with his camera & taking. Especially the first introduction sequence of Aamir khan, Malang Song & the way Chicago has been run down is amazing. But in spite of these magic moments due to its weak script Dhoom 3 just doesn’t make it.

Coming to the performances except of Aamir Khan, hardly others impress you. Uday with his comic timing gives in a breezer of relief. Abhishek Bachan has been below power and Katrina Kaif is hardly put to use by the director. Even the music when compared to later has been below power.

All in all, in spite of all the flaws Dhoom 3 is good one time watch.  

Rating: 2/5