danzs Reviews

Interstellar (2014)

A Super Sci Fi

[9/10 · 7 November 2014]

Some Sci-Fi movies put you to sleep and others come encrypted or packed with nonsensical action but once in a galaxy far far away comes a gem like 'Interstellar' that grows on you.

A NASA pilot turned farmer going into space to find a way to save his family and mankind - sounds a bit clichéd and absurd? Only brilliant performances including an award winning one by McConaughey, a haunting music score by Zimmer and brilliant outer space footages with a Nolan to put it all together could make a convincing argument for it and it sure works!

It is a movie that should be watched a second time to understand the dynamics and plot nuances after it reaches a feverish climax. People were waiting in the hope to be amazed some more even after the final credits rolled by. Cheers to the entire production team for showcasing an extraordinary journey where we lost track of time.

Halla Bol (2008)

Watch Halla Bol for Pankaj Kapur

[7/10 · 15 January 2008]

Raj Kumar Santoshi as director is at his element while handling a script that demands its pound of action and strong dialogues. With Halla Bol he gets those occasional moments and on their basis the movie is worth a watch.

Movie star Ajay Devgan (Sameer Khan) knows the ropes of how the industry works and does his bit as a member of the film fraternity who bitches behind the back of colleagues, acts in umpteen commercials or turns sycophant, dramatic, romantic as the situation in reel or real life may demand. But when he becomes an eye witness to murder at a party (Jessica Lal episode revisited) his conscience is at a crossword.

With the aid of his theatre guru Pankaj Kapur (Sidhu) he declares Halla Bol on the nexus of politicians and important businessman who believe they can protect their guilty sons since they control the reins of 'Power' 'Paisa' and 'Public' in the country.

The plot dips and loses audience interest at times since its a script that has been done in different variants before but then you can trust the director to deliver a few moments that draw a clap from the audience.

The dialogues between Ajay Devgan and the Politician along with those few minutes when Pankaj Kapur reacts to a bribe are strong points and raise the movie above the ordinary.

Ajay Devgan puts in a spirited performance but the movie belongs to Pankaj Kapur who lights up the screen every time (reminiscent of Sunny Deol doing his bit with Damini).

For his portrayal as Sidhu - a reformed dacoit - and a bit of Ajay Devgan each time he hits out at the political big wig makes Halla Bol a movie to watch and get, shall we say… a bit inspired.

Like Stars on Earth (2007)

Oxygen to Revive the Soul

[9/10 · 22 December 2007]

A good film on children has always been much needed for Indian film-goers. And when in this moment of dearth one gets treated to a movie that simply touches the soul - needless to say - Taare Zameen Par - does just that.

Aamir Khan proves his mettle as a director. As an actor he is fabulous. The story captures a look at a middle class family who feel the younger kid (Darsheel Safary) is not a patch on the elder one who is a topper at class. The younger one is always struggling with his ABCs and spends more time out of his class rather than inside.

Its only when he is sent to boarding school with the hope that an iron fist will help him improve that he comes across art teacher (Aamir Khan) who correctly identities his problem of suffering from dyslexia and decides to unleash his creativity and make him an achiever.

To know more one should watch this movie since it has elements that everyone could relate towards while at school or boarding, and brings into focus the need for underprivileged and slow learning children to be given the chance to prove themselves with patience and love that would help them merge with mainstream education and become worthwhile contributors.

Brilliant job Aamir and your team for treating the subject with respect, honesty and flair. Darsheel Safary as the struggling kid has done total justice to his role and puts in a performance that will always be remembered.

The movie will make you cry, make you laugh, make you rejoice and come out feeling that there are some people out there who take Indian cinema several notches higher.

Marigold (2007)

Soggy Marigold biscuit in Indian Chai

[6/10 · 17 August 2007]

OK, its basically our very own commonplace script of videshi girl falling for prince charming Indian boy, and predictable outcomes.

More was expected keeping in mind that the production is a foreign outlook to Bollywood but the end product is very insipid, boring and common. Nothing to look forward to and even Salman looks very lost at times.

Thank goodness it comes with a runtime of under 2 hours cause it makes the viewer feel minute tick.

Come on, most of our scripts of late have shown that they can be innovative and a bit bold, but Marigold is simply like the biscuit which gets soggy in your cup of chai rather than 'THE FLOWER'

Apne (2007)

Identifies with the Plight of Sportsmen in the Country

[7/10 · 30 June 2007]

Stars never die… the simply fade away. Once in a while they shine with brilliance, just as a reminder that they are very much around. That's Dharmendra for you as ex-boxer Baldev Singh who struggles to meet life after being banned from the sport despite winning a silver medal for India in the Olympics.

Its Dharmendra's show all over as he puts up a sensitive portrayal of trying to win back his honour by coaching the first prospective heavy weight boxing champion for the country. At one end is his strained relationship with the elder son Angad (Sunny Deol) who quits boxing since the sport does not support a family and goes for greener pastures, at the other is his rockstar son Karan (Bobby) who aspires to fulfill his fathers dreams.

The plot weaves a script around these family relationships which at times are tedious but do have their strong moments.

The movie is a break from regular romance and love triangles. Shilpa Shetty as the Bahu plays her part OK, Kiron Kher as the wife is good as always and Katrina is subdued and around. Always good to have a Victor Banarjee there. Few of the songs are catchy but on the whole it's a Deol family show and the family bonds show on screen as it does off screen.

"Play Cricket or Tennis in this Country, cause boxing has no future," says Dharmendra and echoes well the pathos of this country when it comes to encouraging people who pursue sports.

Its not a 'Rocky,' but Apne combines Indian family tradition to deliver a strong message about the plight of sportsmen who are struggling today with the lack of encouragement coming their way.

And though it does have its moments of absurdity, on the whole it's a movie that has a feel good factor and should serve as a reminder for those in the Sporting Authority to fund more than just cricketers.

Live Free or Die Hard (2007)

Lights Camera . ACTION

[8/10 · 30 June 2007]

John Mclane is back to kick the ass of all the bad guys, taking the body blows, shooting numerous rounds from his revolver and bringing down everything, including a chopper if it comes in his way.

Its Die Hard after all and one goes to expect action which explodes on screen 15 minutes into the movie and never simmers down. This time around he finds himself lost in cyber age, with a criminal who wants to shut down the country online.

Good to see Bruce Wills do what he does best and play the tough guy role once again. Though not in the league of the first part, Die Hard 4.0 does pack a heavy punch with a package full of amazing stunts, effects, CG and wrecking action.

Critics might say that its all action and no substance and on that count the movie does suffer a bit or-else it sure would have surpassed the first part.

Die Hard fans though wont be disappointed as their hero goes 'Yippee Ki Yay Mo…. in a digital age.

Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007)

Light & Entertaining

[7/10 · 16 June 2007]

Mid-way through the first half of this movie I was totally lost and dismayed. I could not believe that after all the hype, this movie was dishing out something that was just not going down well… or making sense.

The second half though lights it up and the movie becomes what it set out to be… fun, romance and comedy.

The plot revolves around two strangers who meet at the railway station and fall in love despite their so called commitments. Saying anything more would spill the beans so lets keep it to that.

Having taken the back seat in Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Abhishek and Preity get to share the limelight and put in good performances. Bobby Deol is better with his supporting role and Lara definitely comes out looking hotter. Amitabh stamps his presence well with strong cameo performances.

This is a movie to sit back and enjoy without having any preset notions. Take it as it comes cause it gets better as the movie progresses with its script, pace, and smooches.

Though the songs are not something which one would hum the next day, they all come as a visual treat. The title track however delivers a lot of punch and it's a good adrenaline performance to have the main characters compete on it.

All good things come with patience… and so it applies to the audience who should take the first half with a pinch of salt.

Jhoom Barabar is definitely no path breaking film or one that would be termed as a classic. In essence its just a fun filled entertaining ride that will divert your mind from the traffic commotion outside.

Ocean's Thirteen (2007)

Yawn !

[6/10 · 9 June 2007]

Its time now to end the series NOW before it causes any more embarrassment. Even an entire troupe of stars cannot save a movie if it lacks a soul.

Oceans 13 is all about a star studded cast doing their own thing. Not one manages to create a connection with the audience. Even the great Al Pacino has his limitations when the script does not allow any scope for character development.

This time around the pack wants to settle the score with sly and hardboiled Willie Bank (Al Pacino) for duping their colleague Reuben (Elliot Gould). The plan is simple. Willie Bank has to go bankrupt on the opening night of his casino.

To narrate how they go about it, the movie drags through the first half, and then drags some more during the second. There are just too many characters around and many more angles to think your way through.

I give this movie a 6/10 just for giving the audience the likes of Pacino, Clooney, Pitt, Matt, Don Cheadle and Garcia to feast their eyes upon.

Chill out on your bean bag and wait for the DVD release to watch this flick. Cause it just ain't worth your ticket money. Yawn!

Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007)

Not for the Faint Hearted

[7/10 · 28 May 2007]

By its very definition, a rumour is termed as hearsay or gossip. Shootout at Lokhandwala goes with the tag line - based on true rumours - which is quite humorous to begin with.

But the humour ends here, since the plot revolves around the ATS (Anti Terrorist Squad) of Mumbai Police, headed by Shamsher Khan (Sanjay Dutt) and his lieutenants Kaviraj (Sunil Shetty) and Javed Shaikh (Arbaaz Khan).

Their philosophy is simple: get rid of all the hoodlums in the Mumbai underworld and made it a safer place. They prefer to put a bullet in their brain rather than get involved with paperwork that follows an arrest.

Their nemesis comes with the name Maya Bhai (Vivek Oberoi) and his cohorts Buva (Tusshar Kapoor), RC (Shabbir Ahluwalia), Fattu (Ronit Roy), and 2 others who I am not familiar with.

So you could guess the rest with cops v/s robbers battling each other. Till finally the gang gets cornered at a flat in Lokhandwala and good prevails over evil.

You have heard all this before than why watch the flick? To its credit, the movie spins a common script with slick editing, camera-work and pulsating background score. Sanjay Dutt puts in an honest performance while Vivek Oberoi plays the bad guy well. There is nothing else to write home about the rest. Songs are OK, and the 'Arre Ganpat,' with its catchy rap beat will definitely find its followers.

What the movie lacks in soul, it makes up with its pace. For those who liked gangster flicks like Satya and Company, should watch this one since it will definitely appeal.

For the rest who prefer drama, romance and comedy, steer away since the gore might make you lose your appetite.

Life in a Metro (2007)

Watch 'The Apartment' instead!

[5/10 · 12 May 2007]

Well…. What's life in a Metro all about? Its all about survival; a race to win at any cost and not a morning walk. There are extra-marital affairs, bride and bridegroom hunters, wives who sacrifice their future for family welfare, struggling artists, just to name a few, and the movie provides a taste of these experiences with its star cast..

The main essence of the movie is a direct lift from the 1960 classic movie 'The Apartment.' Here a Jack Lemmon gets replaced by Sharman Joshi, and his boss Fred MacMurray is played by Kay Kay Menon. Rest of the sub plots get drowned with regular bollywood masala and never get in sync with the message the movie is trying to deliver.

The movie lacks the finesse and treatment of 'The Apartment,' which even today is rated among the best adult comedy made for its time.

On this count, Life in a Metro fails miserably since it treats a mature subject with an amateur outlook. At times its difficult to classify the movie as a romance, drama or a screwball comedy. For teasers: How about riding your wedding horse on a crowded Mumbai railway platform where humans cannot get by without a snug fit.

Performances by Kay Kay Menon, Sharman Joshi, Irfan Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma stand out, the rest… including celebrity big brother star Shilpa Shetty simply fade as the movie progresses. Dharmendra chooses the wrong vehicle to make his comeback, since he waltzes to a role of which he has no inkling. Cant blame him for having that 'lost look,' while playing his part.

The movie is relevant to its times and showcases the change in Indian cinema, but the portrayal could have been much better. The soundtrack provides a refreshing change with guitar strings complimenting a few soulful numbers. But after a while, the repeated presence of the singers turns from… innovative to frustrating… and its better to enjoy the music keeping your eyes shut.

The movie might appeal to those who have not seen the original, but for those who wish to watch meaningful cinema … rent a DVD of 'The Apartment,' to watch at home instead.

Bhagam Bhag (2006)

A Chase Worth Missing out on

[5/10 · 28 December 2006]

This movie is crazy. Now that's acceptable for a comedy but what is Priyadarshan trying to do.

Though he is quite innovative in creating a few scenes - on the whole he fails miserably in delivering a well packaged ride. I saw this movie albeit after a delay and expected a lot. After all getting to see Govinda join the fun-fare and great promos of the movie were very promising.

But it turned out to be a damp squib. The director fails miserably to conjure up the magic of 'Hera Pheri,' and this time around he seems to have totally lost the plot.

Govinda is wasted since even the best actor requires a script, Akshay Kumar is passable and does what's necessary, Paresh Rawal is nowhere half as humorous as he was portraying Baburao Ganpatrao Apte (Hera Pheri- 2000), the females are there to be forgotten.

The plot or what little there is to it, revolves around the desi stage troupe of Champak Chaturvedi (Paresh Rawal). His lead pair is Bunty (Akshay) and Babla (Govinda). The troupe gets its best break when Asrani offers them a chance to tour London for a month. Alas the heroine (Tanushree Datta) runs away having had enough of these two who keep coming on strong.

So the troupe reaches London and the chase begins to find a leading lady. Akshay meets up and enlists Lara Dutta despite her suicidal tendencies and affinity to fling herself before speeding cars…. Crazy enough… hold on.

It gets crazier with these two getting all mixed up with criminals thinking them to be the police and vice-versa … plus there are a few local goons headed by Shakti Kapoor who is also after them to extract revenge for his fractured limbs. Rajpal Yadav is good as a taxi driver and Jackie Shroff struts along occasionally as the local police chief.

Hold on… there is still something more, this chase gets now real complicated with a murder mystery attached to it. This comes across as a real spoiler... and I need not say more.

Left the way it is… a crazy senseless chase with all the misconceptions, the movie shows promise with funny moments to tickle the audience and dialogues to boot. But this mystery angle comes along and simply spoils everything.

Sanjay Dutt is supposed to have a guest appearance so watch the first 30 minutes closely.. I for one sure missed out on him. And for some reason the climax seems inspired from - It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)

Once done with, I am confused whether to call it a comedy or a tragic comedy. Watch it in the theatre if you really have nothing better to do. Or else wait for the DVD release and watch it at home… better still… borrow it … cause though this chase is humorous on occasions … most of the time it gets to you with its unnecessary complexities and simply not worth spending much on.

Kabul Express (2006)

Different and Worth a Watch

[7/10 · 16 December 2006]

Different… Humorous… Poignant … that's what this ride called 'Kabul Express,' is about and a good experimental effort by the production house of Adi Chopra known more for his romantic tear-jerker's. This time he breaks away from the regular mould and delivers something that is more realistic.

It has it flaws, like two reporters Suhel (John) and Jai (Arshad) who have gone to Afghanistan on their rookie assignment but seem to be surprised at the scenario and way of life there. Come on guys, didn't anyone back at office brief you on what's happening in a war torn country or don't you watch the news. Any Johnny today knows from the news and literature available how life in Afghanistan stands. Knows enough than to be taken aback by a kid without a leg or a hotel in ruins.

John at times seems a bit out of sorts but Arshad makes hay while the Afghan sun shines and draws a chuckle from the audience. With his spontaneity and natural comic timing he delivers his dialogues to maximum effect :) Linda Arsenio as a Reuter's reporter is quite wasted. Anyone could have done that role which requires a bare minimum display of acting talents. But she sure does serve her purpose of eye candy amidst the dilapidated Afghan countryside.

The cinematography of the barren landscape and rugged terrain is quite breathtaking and so is the background music. Comes as a relief that there are no song and dance items included which have no place in the script from the beginning.

A few more slickly edited action sequences would have added positively to the 'thriller,' element in the movie cause at times it leaves you with an empty feeling with nothing to look forward to in the next scene. Towards the end of it one could sum this one up as a drama with comic relief moments.

And for some reason I am quite confused about the message the movie tried to deliver. Was it about Indo-Afghan friendship, or the difference between Indian and Pakistani mindset. Perhaps it's about drawing parallels across a cross section of culturally different nations.

Feel free to draw your own conclusion but after you have seen this one……… cause its different and worth a watch.

Dhoom 2 (2006)

Double omelette with extra cheese BUT a single toast!

[8/10 · 25 November 2006]

Let's cut to the chase and first get the basics done away with. Saw this movie today, and these are a few points that I feel should be answered first.

1. As a sequel to 'Dhoom,' is this movie better than the first one? Yes!

2. Is it worth watching? If you liked 'Dhoom,' this one is a must see!

3. Avoid it if you expect any drama, or food for intellectual thought. This is all about living life in the fast and furious lane.

Coming to the nittty-gritty of it… Before you watch this movie, spare a moment and find out why you want to watch this flick. If it's for the hype or the curiosity value the first offering delivered AND you liked the first one, then I highly recommend it, since it delivers more than you expected… Bike aficionados might be a bit disappointed as you will find only one bike chase sequence here… and if it reminds you of the one in MI-2, kindly take no offence. The director here is creative enough to come out with his own version.

D2 is a movie that revolves around mastermind thief 'A' (Hrithik) who makes robbery into art and has earned international acclaim for the same. Next on his list is to commit the crime in the city of Mumbai where he shall meet Inspector Jai (Abhishek) and his sidekick Ali (Uday) to foil all attempts. Now this is a criminal who like Val Kilmer in the… 'Saint'… keeps changing his appearance. So no one really knows how this chappy looks.

But our desi version of Tango (Jai) aided by Cash (Ali), are quick enough to understand his mindset and identify the next place in Mumbai this international artist-thief wants to add to his kitty.

Despite their best efforts which include Inspector SHOW (Bipasha- No pun intended) this thief manages to take home his prize. What follows next is a roller coaster ride of twists and turns which I better omit since it will steal the thunder of watching the movie. For real added incentive is our desi Catwoman (Aishwarya)

What works for D2 is slick editing, a better script than the first one, getting to watch Bipasha and Ash who look beautiful, especially in skimpy clothes which look great on them, exotic international locales (beaches / waterfalls included) And a Hrithik who carries the entire show to perfection. He suits the pace and style of this movie to the square inch and makes for some sizzling chemistry with Ash on screen for the first time. Hey! even the songs are quite foot-tapping.

Also watching Abby Baby and him sharing the same screen space in a few shots is awesome. As expected, Uday gets the best one-liners and carries on from where he left off in 'Dhoom.' Great cinematography that the movie showcases setting the tempo with its opening sequence of a running train (though the scene did bring back memories for the opening sequence to 'Bad Day at Black Rock -1955')

That the movie missed out on a 10/10 from me was only for the reason that though the heist sequences are quite innovative and the stunts quite good… they simply leave a lot of questions unanswered??? Rimi Sen purely serves the purpose of a hanger and is soon forgotten.

Rest of the cast is simply there… their characters float along, hardly given a chance for development. One walks out of the theatre only remembering it to be a movie about Hrithik and Ash supported by 'OTHERS.' Some of the scenes are simply hard to digest... since I have no intention to spoil your appetite my only hint goes for keeping a close eye on the first FEMALE :-)who comes on screen. That should give you a preview of how CORNY few of other scenes are likely to get.

But all said and done, a viewer should keep all that aside and watch this movie for its pure entertainment value.

So keep your analytical brain out of the equation and watch this movie to add some 'extra Dhoom' to a mundane day.

Casino Royale (2006)

The Name is Bond... Raw & Pulse Racing!

[8/10 · 19 November 2006]

I tried to watch this movie on its first day of release but due to prior commitments had to wait till Sunday. However, to watch the new Bond turned out to be the best thing to get the blood racing in my lazy Sunday morning veins.

The movie is terrific for its edge of the seat action sequences, slick editing and moreover presenting a bond who often gets bruised, bleeds and keeps falling in and out of trouble. Hey! even his heart stops beating for a few seconds. But in true Ian Fleming style, he keeps coming back to ask for more.

No fancy gadgets here… a move I welcome, since it gets replaced by in-the-face punches, crazy jumps and even crazier stunts. Add to it a couple of pretty bond females, exotic locales, and an Aston Martin DB 9 that makes space for a defibrillator machine! What more can one wish for?

Can't say much for those who did not enjoy this effort. Perhaps they prefer a tailor made James Bond who plays more with gadgets & gizmos like an infatuated schoolboy rather than a hard core 007 who makes no bones about what he is. Simply in your face… Take it or leave it.

As for me... I recommend this flick for anyone who likes Bond... raw and pulse racing.

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006)

Regular Bandwagon at Public Expense

[6/10 · 12 August 2006]

Dear Karan,

When one goes for your movie, by now he knows what to expect. There are emotions and more emotions coming his way, vibrant and colourful songs with skimpy clad foreign models… good songs though, especially the title track… and the final tsunami of emotion to leave the handkerchief without a square dry inch. Those have been your success mantra till date, but please Karan, give us a break from your regular bandwagon at public expense.

Here's a story of Dev (Shah Rukh) and Maya (Rani Mukherjee). The movie starts out with these two strangers meeting on a bench where the would-be bride Maya is biding her time before tying the knot with childhood pal Rishi (Abhishek). Follows next is a dialogue where Dev raises a question: 'What if a person fell in love after marriage?' After uttering this portent line around which the movie revolves, our promising footballer, married to an ambitious Rhea (Preiti Zinta) is still on the high of getting his team to the next round on a penalty kick and being offered a $5 million contract, till he meets with an accident outside the bride's house. Sure comes across as a promising start. But the rest simply leaves an unfinished taste in the mouth.

The plot thickens as we cut across to the scenario after 4 years… Dev, the frustrated husband with a permanent limp living off his wife's earnings due to his accident injury; Maya a cold turkey in a marriage with Rishi that has borne neither kids nor mental and emotional satisfaction at her end.

So when Dev and Maya meet again, an extra marital affair is on the cards with Amitabh Bachchan as playboy Sam dropping in between scenes to add a shot of adrenaline to dull proceedings and remind the audience of his presence in the script as Dad for Rishi and foster Dad for Maya.

The movie drags on then for its entire runtime of close to three and half hours. However on the positive side the movie showcases: 1)The director's courage to deal with a theme on an extra marital affair for a traditional mindset back home. 2)Good performances by Amitabh, Rani, Preity, Kiron Kher (playing Mom for Dev), and Abhishek who thrives in his role of a faithful and caring husband. He sure has earned his award for 'Best Supporting Actor.' Purely for the performances extracted, this movie gets a 6 out of 10 from me. 3)Handling with flair the emotive moments. 4)Catchy musical numbers especially the title track that should make for good listening while driving down in your car.

Alas, the negatives outweigh the positives, them namely being:

1)A plot that tastes like gum after losing its flavour in the first 20 minutes but one is forced to chew on it for the next 3 hours. 2)Shahrukh who is the main actor but gets on the viewers nerve with an extra effort at his end which an actor of his talent does not require. 3)We could do without your clichés: including your lucky mascot Kajol for a 10 sec cameo. That has become quite commonplace. Now you add insult to injury by giving a cameo to John Abraham and Arjun Rampal. -Getting Amitabh again to lie down on the hospital bed in a critical condition; -Making Abhishek wear the famous lapel coat worn by his dad Amitabh for the movie Silsila and trying to titillate an educated movie audience of the 80s. -Your camera focus which should start showing something else besides Rani's eyes, Preiti's dimples and exhibiting your preference for mini skirts, chiffon saris and miniscule cholis. 4)Please Karan … Give us a break! Why do you have to include these phirang models dressed to the bare minimum in all your dance and party songs? We Indians are not that starved after the adequate doses you and your ilk have fed us over the past. 5)How hypocritical to portray Amitabh as a flamboyant playboy and then have him deliver a speech on the virtues of a good marriage and his love for his expired wife. 6)Making a movie that caters more for an urban educated class that visits the multiplexes but would leave the masses at towns and villages with a movie that is hard to identify with.

Well Karan, perhaps you are under the impression that you can use all your usual ingredients and come up with a winner. You sure do deserve credit for coming up once again with a theme that is different for Indian cinema since you talk of falling in love after marriage.

But why give it a 'Tea Break Treatment' while shooting for 'Koffee with Karan.'

Yours faithfully, A Disappointed Fan.

Corporate (2006)

Are we talking about the Corporate World or the Mafia!

[5/10 · 10 July 2006]

'Corporate,' as the name suggests promises of conjuring images from the lives of office goers, get a peek into corporate practices or malpractices, internal politics, perhaps even the role that whistle blowers play.

But don't expect any of that since all this yarn talks about is the tussle of power between the Saigal (Rajat Kapoor) and Marwah (Raj Babbar) family to reach the zenith of corporate power. And all this movie shows is the nexus of corporate leaders with politicians, stock brokers, et al. Highlighting one side of the coin – namely all that is bad about the corporate sector - is what this movie is about.

Bipasha Basu as a hardworking executive comes across as a bit lost concerning her role to portray. The only hard work she is doing in the movie revolves around trading corporate secrets in hotels, boutiques or resort the stealing if need be, all that if she is not going all doe-eyed over her lover Kay Kay who sleepwalks through his role only to wake up at times with a strong emotional expression or verbal outburst.

Minnisha Lamba as the young ambitious executive is wasted in a role that merely demands of her to smile into the lens without showcasing any efforts on her part to scale the corporate ladder. Much the same could be said about most of the cast with the exception of a few entertaining dialogues by the corrupt state finance minister or the office peons and their version of corporate jargon – a cue the director continues after portraying a similar setup and verbal exchanges among car drivers for the glitterati in his movie 'Page 3.' In this Corporate World as shown by the director, all hell breaks loose when the Saigal group gets caught up with a scandal concerning its soft drink with all the hints pointing towards the pesticide controversy that shook Pepsi. Here one could have expected this talented director to give the sleepy audience a shot in the arm having finally woven the movie around some kind of a plot. But he disappoints yet again since the controversy is treated with all the ingredients that could have made it subject matter for a soap opera. None of the characters are given space to develop an individual personality.

Call it trading corporate secrets, rigging share prices, or even throwing a guy of the balcony, this movie portrays the Corporate World as the Mafia rather than an profitable industry and here lies its fall. While the director's earlier movies like 'Chandni Bar,' and 'Page 3,' gave a good insight into the subject and landed a stinging punch, this time around there is something amiss and ends up making the viewer squirm in his seat and wish for the whole ordeal to get over with quickly.

The only saving grace this movie offers is that it breaks away from the regular romantic scripts dished out on a regular frequency. A trait the director is good at; only this time around his effort comes across something done while he is still under the hangover of his 'Page 3' success.

It simply lacks any conviction and does little to add any new dimensions for a knowledgeable audience.

Superman Returns (2006)

Superman is Around!

[7/10 · 30 June 2006]

Initially I was a bit skeptical if 'Superman Returns,' would recreate the magic of 1978, especially after its sequels always fell a bit short.

However this movie scores well on effects (which had to be expected) and what adds to the allure is a human touch that makes superman a better hero to connect with.

After a break, the man in blue is back to his office as the clumsy Clark Kent while one looks forward to him converting the elevator into his changing room before he takes to the sky.

Brandon Routh as the man of steel foots the bill and brings back nostalgic memories of Christopher Reeve. Kevin Spacy as Lex Luther is great to watch, (as always his plots for destruction are unique and his dialogues with Kitty bring a smile) while Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane captures the frame as the ideal foil to her superhero with moments of substance exchanged between the two.

After watching the movie the viewer gets the feeling that his old friend is back and tends to forgive him for his absence. The movie has its captivating moments that have one gripping the edge of the seat.

Perhaps the movie could do with some slick editing at places where it drags at times and makes one look at the watch. But all said and done, it's Superman in his new avatar for the 21st century so grab the popcorn, take those few long drawn moments with a pinch of salt and enjoy our original superhero doing his breathtaking sequences as he goes about saving the world.