ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA (2011) - HINDI

           ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA directed and written by ZOYA AKHTAR was one of the most anticipated movie of the year. The film starred HRITHIK ROSHAN and KATRINA KAIF in the lead along with FARHAN AKHTAR and ABHAY DEOL who played prominent roles in the film.

          ABHAY DEOL(KABIR) is about to get married. KABIR's friends are FARHAN(IMRAN) and HRITHIK(ARJUN). The trio had planned that if any of them is getting married, they would go for a bachelor's trip to where they will visit three different places with each having a surprise for the rest in one location. So the three musketeers ARJUN, KABIR and IMRAN visit SPAIN for KABIR's bachelor trip. It is in this trip, the trio befriends KATRINA KAIF (Laila) and they together explore the beauty of SPAIN with some romances and various other drama happening to the trio in the trip.

         HRITHIK plays the role of a stock broker(ARJUN) who has a great thirst for money. Arjun is not so good at relationships as he sees money as his first goal and his job as the only means to earn so much money by the age of 40 and retire by age of 40. But FARHAN's character is completely different from arjun. Farhan(Imran) is a painter cum writer who seeks to meet his dad who left him and his mom some 20 years ago. Imran does not have a great deal for money, but he is very much interested in women. He is so good at enchanting women such that in the past he made the girl who was about to marry Arjun to become his girlfriend. Thus Arjun and Imran dont do well with each other because of this issue. ABHAY(KABIR) plays the role of a calm, cool guy who tries to please his Fiance who doesnt trust him and thinks that he is weak at women. Katrina plays the role of Laila, a trainer who trains people in deep sea diving as her summer vaccation job and spends her vaccation in spain to enjoy the beauty of SPAIN.

        The shots taken in spain were really awesome. Everything you would like to know about spain is shown in the film like Bull Fight, TOMATINA festival, etc. The funny fights between IMRAN and ARJUN added flavour to the film. The scenic beauty along with the romance of HRITHIK and KATRINA was a treat. I loved this film. Its a good film to pass time. To sum it up the film depicts the problems of the three friends have in their life and provides you a panoramic view on whether are they capable of overcoming it to achieve the goals of their life and lead a successful life.

MY RATING - 7.3/10

The Last Samurai (2003)

 Director: Edward Zwick

Writers: John Logan (story), John Logan (screenplay)

Stars: Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe and Billy Connolly

My Review:

            This film is one of my favorite films which starred Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe. The Last Samurai is one of the few American films that portray the beauty of the Japanese culture. The plot of the film happens in 1870’s when the long American civil war had just got over. Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) is an American civil war veteran who is hired by some Americans who wish to sell gun powders to the Japanese Emperor. But this westernization of the Imperial army has been condemned by the Samurai Warriors who are devoted to the sacred dynasty. Nathan Algren is hired to train the first set of combat soldiers in firearms and lead them in the attack against the Samurai Warriors. Samurai Warriors are led by Samurai Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe), a legend who is feared by everyone in Japan. Algren admires the Samurai tradition and their skills in fighting. The film narrates a story similar to that of 300 but in a different style.

            The performance of Ken Watanabe as Katsumoto was outstanding and it fetched him an Oscar Nomination. Tom Cruise also delivered a good performance as a lonely American in the midst of a number of Japanese. The drama in the film was beautifully portrayed by Edward Zwick. The background score composed by the legendary Hans Zimmer, added flavor to the film. The sounds and the scenarios were really awesome. The way the story was narrated and the climax sequences were the best. To sum it up, a good film from the bag of Edward Zwick with Ken Watanabe gaining prominence in the Hollywood.

My Rating: 7.9/10

The Last Legion (2007)

Director: Doug Lefler

Writers: Jez Butterworth (screenplay), Tom Butterworth (screenplay)

Stars: Colin Firth, Ben Kingsley and Aishwarya Rai

My Review:

            The Last Legion is one of the few Hollywood films which starred Aishwarya Rai(Mira), an Indian actress who was crowned the miss world in the year 1994. This film also starred Colin Firth in the lead as Aurelius and Ben Kingsley as Merlin. The story of the film happens in circa 460 A.D. in Constantinople. Mira, an Indian born fighter is recruited to assist the Roman Commander Aurelius to plan the escape of 12-year old Romulus Augustus Caesar from a prison in Capri. Aurelius, Mira and Merlin team up along with some soldiers to work out the escape and hand over Aurelius to Roman Senator Nestor. The things that unravelled then made the three to protect Romulus from there too and the film goes like this. This film is just an Entertainment film. The story and screenplay was only average. Aish, Kingsley and Firth gave average performances. The good things in the film were the stunts and the scenario in which the story take place.

My Rating: 5.7/10

Recommendation: Its an entertainment film with lots of action and stunts in an Historic setting

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Director: Lee Unkrich

Writers: John Lasseter (story), Andrew Stanton (story)

Stars: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack

My Review:

                Toy Story 3 is the film third and final instalment of the Toy Story series. This film is the best of the three. It has the perfect plot and good characterization. Now the time for the toys with Andy is over as he is about to go to the college. Thus the toys end up at a day-care where a bear called Lotso rules the place. How do the toys encounter the troubles caused by Lotso is the rest of the film.

                The idea behind the film was excellent. The film was released in 3-D which boosted the revenues dramatically. This film bombarded the Box-office by achieving all time 6^th spot in the Domestic collections.

                The film has all the action, comedy and Drama sequences in it. It was the drama in the story that attracted me more to the film. The role of Lotso was excellently portrayed and turned out to be a great animated villain. Do watch all the three films to witness one of the finest series ever in the history of Animation film making.

This film got a great reputation from the film critics which earned a score of 92/100 from the critics.

My Rating: 8.4/10

Recommendation: Watch it!!! Enjoy the characterization and screenplay...

Toy Story 2 (1999)

Directors: John Lasseter, Ash Brannon 

Writers: John Lasseter (story), Pete Docter (story)

Stars: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack

My Review:

            This film was the second instalment of the famous Toy Story trilogy released in the year 1999 produced by Pixar-Walt Disney Productions. In this sequel, the life of Woody is threatened when he is taken by proprietor of “Al’s Toy Barn” to be sold with two other toys of his kind for an Antique collection museum in Japan. Buzz and the rest of the friends of Woody team up and act into a plan to save Woody from ending up in a collection. A major character called Jessie the Cowgirl is an important addition in the character list of the Toy Story.

            This film was a blockbuster hit and was also appreciated by the critics. Although the film was not as good as the first one, it was a good sequel. The scenes involving the three antique toys- Woody, Jessie and the Prospector were quite draggy and boring. Buzz would be my pick from the characters that performed well in this sequel.

My Rating: 7.6/10

Recommendation: Watch it!!!

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part I(2010)

Director: David Yates

Writers: Steve Kloves (screenplay), J.K. Rowling (novel)

Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint

My Review:

                The film "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I" is the seventh film of the Harry Potter series. This is the third Harry Potter film directed by David Yates. David Yates, not the best director in the Big Screen has provided a quality movie to watch this time. The long awaited Dual between Voldemort and Harry Potter is closing in on. No more Albus Dumbledore, but Yates has given the best of the series.

                This film which depicts only one half of the book of the same name, which is the seventh book of the Harry Potter series, hence the adapted screenplay is good. The film was also very dragging, slow and boring at some parts. Overall the film was good to watch. The original score in the film was good.

                The audio and visual effect in the film were really rocking. The face offs between Voldemort and Potter were excellent. As far as the acting goes, Ralph Fiennes as voldemort has delivered to my satisfation. Daniel Radcliffe who started the role of potter as a 13 year old boy has also done well, but my personel feeling is that the 13 year old potter was the best.

                To sum it up, the film could have been more interesting, many dragging unwanted scenes could have been edited and would have been a treat to the viewers. Still its worth the money to watch the movie as the most anticipated stand off between Voldemort and Potter is expected in the forthcoming movie, this is a good perquel to keep all the fans at the toes.

My Rating: 7.2/10

Recommendation: Watch it to get the flow to watch the dramatic finale of the series!!!

The A-Team(2010)

Director: Joe Carnahan

Writers: Joe Carnahan, Brian Bloom

Stars: Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper and Sharlto Copley

My Review:

         Joe Carnahan who has directed films like Smokin Aces, Narc and BGBO, is a crime-drama specialist. All his films before this one has been in the genre crime-drama. But this time he has pulled off a stunner by writing a cent percent action story and has directed it. The plot of this film goes like this- The A-Team, a group of four american soldiers with Col. Hannibal Smith(Liam Neeson) as their team leader, are arrested for commited a crime for which they were framed. Can they prove to the world that they were framed? is the rest of the film.
       The thing that I like the most from the film was the creativity from Carahan both in his direction and the screenplay. The film is filled with heated action scenes and cool comedy scenes beautifully. Both Bradley Cooper and Sharlto Copley were very good at comedies.
       Liam Neeson playing the role of Col.Hannibal Smith was the experienced bloke of the four and has delivered a perfect Col. Smith. The combo of all these made this film a cool one for entertainment. I had very little expectations from this movie, but to my astonishment it surpassed my expectations by a mile.
      So Dont miss the funny comedies of The A-Team and the real Hardcore action film of Carnahan.

My Rating: 7.0/10

Recommendation: Watch it.. just for entertainment...