The Divergent Series - Allegiant Movie Review

CAST:Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, 

           Jeff Daniels, Zoë Kravitz, Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller, Bill Skarsgård
DIRECTION:Robert Schwentke
GENRE:Sci-Fi
DURATION:2 hours

STORY: Continuing where Insurgent left off, Allegiant sees Tris (Woodley) making a break from Chicago along with Four (James) and friends to try and find out the truth behind their lives as well as the real story about the factions. The truth however, might not be all that Tris had bargained for.

REVIEW: While the previous film in this series set the stage for a hopefully interesting follow up, Allegiant turns out to be a bit of a letdown. Diehard fans might also find this movie a stretch or rather, a two hour stretch of a film that gets cheesier every ten minutes or so. The resultant product is something that isn't quite unlike a B-movie where everything from the costumes and character styling (incidentally, how did Tris' hair grow out so soon?) to the weapons (which look like they're put together by a 10-year-old) to their dialogues, will make you cringe.


So, Tris and Theo and their gang jump the wall and head out to the great beyond, only to find that they're not quite as free as birds. The Bureau of Genetic Welfare is headed by David (Jeff Daniels) who along with Theo and Tris, compete for who gets the corniest lines in the movie. Fashioned as a villain of sorts, David has some kind of mumbo jumbo theory about their genetic structures and damaged genes. At one point in the movie, Tris wonders aloud about what really is going on. You might find yourself empathizing with her. Clad in a white jumpsuit with hair perfectly in place and Four faithfully panting after, Tris now has a new mission - to rescue the brainwashed and the tainted.

Miles Teller gets barely any lines but nonetheless, he does steal the show whenever he is in a scene. But this is a given, as he is by far the most talented of the cast anyways. A plus point though is the set design, a curious mix of ultra-futuristic-meets-retro. But while the underlying concept of the series is the examination of a big social experiment, this gets lost in the film. Extremely lackluster fare, overall.

Kung Fu Panda 3 Movie Review

CAST:[Voices] Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie,

             JK Simmons, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, 

             Kate Hudson, James Hong, Randall Duk Kim
DIRECTION:Alessandro Carloni, Jennifer Yuh Nelson
GENRE:Animation
DURATION:1 hour 35 minutes

STORY: Po (Black) is in for some more surprises this time around. Not only is he reunited with his father Li (Cranston) after more than two decades, but he also finds out that he has a unique calling in life. Before Po fulfills his true destiny though, he must vanquish the evil Kai (Simmons), who is on a rampage to steal the 'qi' of every kung fu master in the land.

REVIEW: Kung Fu Panda 3 by and large hits the right notes by serving up everything that fans of this franchise have loved, while adding some new elements too. And it's all buoyed up with a fun storyline.


When he finds out the identity of his real dad - despite the fact that Mr Ping (Hong), who raised Po from the time he was a baby, has suspicions about Li - Po also begins to wonder about who he really is. Is he really the Dragon Warrior? And will he be able to reach higher ground? Before all of that, he must learn to embrace all aspects of being a panda, and live in a secret village inhabited only by pandas.

The animation is top notch, and the colours vivid, without being saturated. The editing too has been deftly done, thus ensuring that the movie never drags. In fact, the attention to detail here is truly impressive. For example, the creak of footsteps on a wooden walkway or the clink of nunchuks during a fight sequence and so on.

While Po's friends Master Shifu (Hoffman), Tigress (Jolie), Monkey (Chan), Viper (Liu), Mantis (Rogen) and Crane (Cross) are all a delight to watch, the new entrants are the village pandas. So you get to see baby pandas, dancing pandas and even a bear who loves to give bone-crunching hugs. Thankfully, the abundant humour and various witty asides also steers things clear of a sucrose overdose. While the voice casting is spot on, there are perhaps, a larger number of characters than necessary. Although a slightly over-dramatic ending holds the film back from greater heights, this is on the whole, quite enjoyable for kids as well as adults.

Ki & Ka Movie Review

CAST:Kareena Kapoor Khan, Arjun Kapoor, 

           Swaroop Sampat, Rajit Kapur
DIRECTION:R Balki
GENRE:Romantic Comedy
DURATION:2 hours 6 minutes

STORY: Kia (Kareena) is an ambitious career woman in New Delhi who doesn't want marriage to come in the way of her dream. Kabir (Arjun) prefers to stay away from the stress of a working professional. The foundation stone of their relationship is laid on this arrangement.

REVIEW: In the Hollywood comedy The Intern, Anne Hathaway heads her own ecommerce fashion company, while her husband Anders Holm is content with being a stay-at-home father. Similarly, in Balki's Ki and Ka; the role of the woman and the man are refreshingly reversed. Right at the start, you're told through a convoluted monologue that Kia doesn't want to be a man's `support system.' So when she meets the sentimental Kabir, who doesn't aspire to be like his billionaire-builder father, instead wants to be like his homemaker-mother, you're ready for the sparks. Kia downs expensive scotch with Kabir who is three years her junior. Soon, he proposes marriage and even agrees to wear the mangalsutra!

Her mother (Swaroop Sampat) is in tandem with their thought process, his father (Rajit Kapur) is aghast. He wants his son to do a "chaddi check'' to find out if he is `alright.' After all, which man wants to stay home and live-off his wife, the boorish dad asks. But Ki and Ka are blissful. Post marriage, they're happy canoodling. He cleans, cooks and cares for her; she earns, yearns and yells at him.

Over time, the role reversal puts the spotlight on Kabir. Though many continue to view him as an aberration, few also want to emulate him. Kabir becomes fodder for gossip, the hero for commercials and women's-day seminars. He even finds admirers in the Abhimaan couple Jaya and Amitabh, who show up in a cute cameo!

Kareena is terrific, Arjun, endearing. But Balki's writing is inconsistent. A few scenes leave you misty-eyed, but for the most part, the stock situations are banal. Yet, Ki and Ka is worth a ticket because it shows how there is nothing wrong with the man wearing the apron and the women wearing her ambition.

Movie Review: Ambarsariya

Cast: Diljit Dosanjh, Navneet Kaur Dhillon, Monica Gill, 

          Lauren Gottlieb, Gul Panag, Gurpreet Ghuggi

Direction: Mandeep Kumar
Genre: Comedy Thriller
Duration: 2 hours 20 minutes
Critic's rating: 4/5

'Thanda khana, tatta nhona, te kudiyan di gallan ch na aunaa, aehi ten cheejan bachai firdiyan ne jatt Ambarsariye nu' (Cold food, hot showers and not being fooled by girls, these are the three things, which have been guarding Jatt Ambarsariya), announces a supremely confident Diljit Dosanjh aka Jatt Ambarsariya (as he likes to call himself in the film) in one of the initial scenes of the film. And with that, Dosanjh already has all our attention.

Playing an insurance agent, who lives a dual life as a RAW agent, Diljit's character essentially survives on sarcasm and mockery of almost every other character in the film, very much like the characters he has essayed in the past. But guess when you have a comic timing as flawless as Dosanjh's combined with the innocence of his eyes and that playfully mischievous smile, the 'funny Punjabi boy' stint never gets old. And our Jatt Ambarsariya (JA) seems to be acing it to the effect that when he is in the frame, everything else seems inconsequential.

The story revolves around JA, who being the best at everything he does, is now put on a mission to save the honest and idealistic Home Minister of Punjab from a drug mafia who is plotting the minister's murder. From the cues he has received from his boss (Gul Panag), Gurpreet Ghuggi, Rana Ranbir and Lauren Gottlieb turn out to be his suspects. During the course of the mission, JA also meets Navneet Kaur Dhillon (his boss at the insurance company) and Monica Gill (his landlord) and as is expected of him, he manages to impress both the ladies.

Though it wouldn't be wrong to say that 'Ambarsariya' is an out and out Diljit film, Dheeraj Rattan's beautifully penned script seems to have done justice to every character. What further works in the film's favour is the fact that it has on board talented actors like Gul, Ghuggi and Rana who make their strong presence felt, despite the limited screen time they have. The dialogues are amazingly funny and you could only expect a Diljit Dosanjh to deliver them with such ease.

Mandeep Kumar's direction keeps you on the edge of your seat constantly wondering whom will Diljit romance or which of the three suspects is the actual culprit. Leave it to Mandeep to milk the best out of all his actors. While he keeps the spotlight on Diljit, he also makes sure that no other character gets overshadowed by his presence. Diljit's scenes with a child actor, the jewelry shop scene between Diljit and Navneet Kaur Dhillon and the climax scene is a display of Kumar's sheer talent.

Adding to the visual charm (apart, of course, from the handsome Mr Dosanjh) are the beautifully captured locales of the holy city of Amritsar. The aerial shots of the Golden Temple are definitely a treat to watch.

The only weak link here is Lauren Gottlieb, whose character seems a bit forced. Her struggle with Punjabi is visible throughout the film, which also deprives her of some good, witty dialogues. Other than that, 'Ambarsariya' is the perfect dose of entertainment you would love to have this weekend.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Movie Review

CAST:Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane,

           Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Gal Gadot, Holly Hunter
DIRECTION:Zack Snyder
GENRE:Action
DURATION:2 hours 33 minutes

STORY: While Superman's actions are undoubtedly heroic, Batman begins to feel that if Superman isn't made to deal with his own mortality and put in his place, he will assume himself to be a god, an authority unto himself. As the action in Metropolis unfolds and these two icons of the superhero universe battle it out, Superman's nemesis Lex Luthor creates a monster called Doomsday to destroy Metropolis. It's only Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman who have a chance at stopping Luthor and Doomsday.

REVIEW: It's important to know that while all the usual elements of a superhero flick are in place, this is a somewhat different kind of superhero film. It's also pretty dark (given that the Dark Knight series and Man of Steel were intense enough by themselves), and gradually builds up to a climactic conclusion.

Bruce Wayne (Affleck) might have a somewhat inexplicable grudge against Clark Kent (Cavill), and in his anger, he has to be reminded by Alfred (Irons, superb) that taking on Superman would be suicide. After all, how does one defeat a man who cannot be harmed by anything - except kryptonite, of course. So Wayne dons his cowl, a considerably up-armored suit and levels the playing field a bit, with the help of an array of special gadgets and materials.

Those aware about comic lore would know that these two have faced each other off before. But on the big screen, the fight sequences are furious. It's also about a clash of their ideologies. It's pretty heavy and this will put some off. However, Jesse Eisenberg's Luthor is terrific - from his look, to his mannerisms; a psychotic, conniving villain straight out of hell, who quotes Nabokov. Gal Gadot, as smokin' hot Wonder Woman is absolutely kickass. Affleck is good, but you'll definitely miss Bale's Batman.

Characters are briefly introduced and there are certain scenes that might look random (Batman's nightmares, for example) but all reference the DC Universe. The movie is packed with references - both visual and dialogue-wise - to classic comic lore. Underpinning everything is Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL's score. An artillery barrage of action.

Rocky Handsome Movie Review

CAST:John Abraham, Diya Chalwad,

          Shruti Haasan, Nishikant Kamat
DIRECTION:Nishikant Kamat
GENRE:Action
DURATION:2 hours 4 minutes

STORY: Two bruised hearts, 8-year-old Naomi (Diya) and Kabir (John) find solace in each other. They are both lonely and nursing psychological scars and mysterious tragedy. Naomi's mother is a drug addict-peddler and Kabir loses the only person he loves. The talkative kid-next-door becomes the reclusive pawn shop owner's only reason to live. When her life is endangered, his soul is awakened once again.

REVIEW: Set in Goa, Rocky Handsome seems promising and atmospheric in the beginning. The setting works. Non-linear narration evokes curiosity around the protagonist. But things go downhill as soon as conversation between Diya and John kicks in. Their rapport seems meaningless and forced. You don't feel for either of them.

Nishikant Kamat's urge to utilise John Abraham's ripped physique and expertise at combat scenes for an action thriller is evident. He does a spectacular job at that as expected. He moves and kills with conviction. However, one cannot solely depend on it, assuming it will make up for the lack of effective storytelling. Barring John's past, nothing evokes sympathy for the lead characters or disdain for the villains. The director's desperation to portray every bad guy as psychotic seems pointless. Casting is a major issue as actors don't look or speak like they belong to Goa.

Nishikant's decision to play the mafia ganglord Kevin Pereira doesn't help the film either. You miss the presence of a strong antagonist, who can stand up against the invincible John.

Barring the fast-paced fist and knife fights, the movie fails on various grounds. It is a classic case of style over substance. And sadly, it doesn't look stylish either. The Hindi remake of a Korean film struggles to blend action and emotion. Its need to infuse drama kills the thrill of its sleek and ruthless action. Also, the whole patriotic backstory for Kabir further spoils the aura of his mysterious hoodie sporting character. The climax is stretched for way too long.

Shruti Haasan looks pretty in her special appearance, adding life to the lovely song Rehnuma. John Abraham as the lean, mean, killing machine is perfect for the role of Kabir. It's the execution and poor dialogue that makes this film a damp squib.

Bus 657 Movie Review

CAST:Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Gina Carano, Robert D Niro,

           Dave Bautista, Kate Bosworth, Morris Chestnut

DIRECTION:Scott Mann
GENRE:Action
DURATION:1 hour 32 minutes

STORY: Luke Vaughn (Morgan) doesn't have the cash to pay for the cancer treatment that his little daughter has to undergo. And being a devoted dad, he is willing to go the distance in order to get the funds. This means teaming up with Cox (Bautista) to rob a casino owned by Pope (De Niro) that he used to work in. But predictably enough, things go awry and they have to hijack a bus in order to make their getaway from both a team of cops, led by Officer Kris (Carano) and Pope.


REVIEW: Bus 657 (also titled as Heist in some countries) is a fairly fast paced cat-and-mouse chase involving the said casino thieves trying to outrun both the mob as well as the cops, who are in hot pursuit. Played out mostly on a bus containing a motley crew of hostages, the entire premise of the film is itself telegraphed early on, before the chase begins, and you do get an inkling of how most of the film will play out.

Vaughn is the good father who has turned to crime for apparently noble reasons while Pope is a sort of godfather whose role is admirably essayed by De Niro, his famous scowl firmly in place. But it's not like you haven't seen him play this kind of role before, to greater effect. Mann attempts to add an element of pathos to De Niro's character in a scene where he visits Sydney (Bosworth), his estranged daughter whose career couldn't be more different than his, with a confession and an offer that she most definitely refuses.

Bautista, who looks like he's genuinely having a very bad day, is the brawn but definitely not the brains of this operation. What is interesting is the friction between Vaughn and Cox even though it is often diluted by a script that could have been a notch better. Nonetheless, Morgan looks suitably harrowed, given his hard circumstances.

Working in this film's favor is the aforementioned brisk pace and the taut editing. It somehow adds to the sense of desperation and urgency that the lead pair feels. Overall, a passable action potboiler.

Kapoor & Sons (Since 1921) Movie Review

CAST:Rishi Kapoor, Fawad Khan, Siddharth Malhotra,

           Alia Bhatt, Ratna Pathak Shah, Rajat Kapoor
DIRECTION:Shakun Batra
GENRE:Drama
DURATION:2 hours 20 minutes

STORY: Rahul and Arjun visit home - but with family secrets tumbling out, is their reunion a happy one? And what happens when pretty Tia joins the Kapoors and sons?

REVIEW: So, Kapoor & Sons remixes Bollywood's family drama in a bold new-age avataar. Forever bickering Harsh (Rajat) and Sunita (Ratna) have two sons, successful Rahul (Fawad) and confused Arjun (Sidharth). Suddenly, Tia (Alia) enters the Kapoors' lives, kissing Rahul - but dating Arjun. How does this triangle square up - and does grandad Kapoor (Rishi) get the family photo he desires?

Kapoor & Sons' star is its story. This is an entirely real family, full of uncomfortable secrets, awkward jealousies and sharp pain, where brothers steal, parents cheat, siblings suspect and 'perfect bachchas' don't have perfect love-lives. This is a family with its make-up off, screaming through hilarious situations - a sequence involving a plumber is side-splittingly good.

There are subtle touches - Sunita making bhindi which Rahul loves, Arjun hates - bizarre cameos (aspiring 'Mr. Ooty', whose bosom jiggles on command) and cinematography that captures lush Coonor with frames where you can, well, almost smell the plentiful grass.

The acting shines. In a wheelchair, Rishi Kapoor runs away with the film, smashing it with hilarious lines - an 'apology' goes, "Sorry, bhains" - and his dirty old man portrayal, lusting after Mandakini's wet sari and using his grandson's 'I-Papad' for porn. Fawad and Sidharth make terrific contrasts, Sidharth vulnerable, yet loving, Fawad, slick, yet asking with pain, "Aap ko mere jhoot bolne ka gham hai - ya meri asliyat ka?"

And Ratna Pathak Shah seals it with a fabulous performance that evolves from angry edginess to calm grief. Alongside, small, silken touches - the shoes of someone who's gone, the chemistry of Alia and Sidharth, an old-world small town, a new world where children and parents comfort and confront - make Kapoor & Sons special.

On the downside, the music's forgettable and Alia plays yet another boho-chick, with chic but predictable charm. However, the direction, frequently evoking Monsoon Wedding, keeps things family-focused, with a moving camera and characters in meltdown. Wicked, witty and wise, Kapoor & Sons does Karan Johar proud.Because it's about loving your family - sharp edges and all.

Bollywood girls