Mission: Impossible – III is a film directed by J.J. Abrams. After the dismal second instalment, I wanted something that could revamp the series and bring new energy that the series deserves. This film exactly did that.

Plot: Ethan Hunt is called out of retirement when one of his trainees is captured by black market arms dealer, Owen Davian.

Story and direction: This film is the debut of J.J. Abrams as a feature film director. He had a huge responsibility of bringing the franchise back on track and he delivers. The writing team (Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Orci) do know what the franchise needs, gives the fans (like me) satisfying moments that was longed for in the second part. Abrams being into spy thrillers (Alias) was the perfect choice. For the only time in the series, we do see the IMF office, which was a wonderful take. Also shown very beautifully is what happens when the professional life overtakes the personal. The characters that are newly introduced just go with the flow of the film in addition to leaving their own impression. Some of the action scenes too are just powerful and full of adrenaline. The music by Michael Giacchino is suspenseful and adds to the wonder this film has. I did like the colour palette that the film used which gave the film a very gritty and dark look. The main issue with the film is regarding the cinematography. There are certain scenes where there are close-ups for very long time and also there was a lot of shaky-cam which interrupted my viewing a couple of times. Also, there were certain scenes where some explanation or even a small description would do justice.

Performances: It was good to see Tom Cruise back into action after his tireless romantic attempt in the previous instalment. Ving Rhames provides good support to Tom’s character. Simon Pegg does a wonderful job as Benji. So does Michelle Monaghan as Julia. Laurence Fishburne and Billy Crudup are great in their performances. Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Maggie Q are awesome as IMF agents. And finally, Philip Seymour Hoffman is probably the best villain the M: I series had. He is ruthless and cunning. Philip nailed his role perfectly.

Favourite Scene: It would be the one where Ethan tries to exact information from Owen by threatening him to throw him out of the plane. Without any fear, Owen replies that he will find every loved one of Ethan’s and kill them right in front of him. This scene showed the devilish side of Owen and I was impressed.

Verdict: Even with its flaws, Mission: Impossible – III serves as a good film with loads of suspense and action scenes and ample of entertainment.

I am going with an 8/10.

Mission: Impossible - 2 is a film directed by John Woo. Many people have cited this to be the worst entry in the M: I series. I can also say the very same thing after I saw it again.

Plot: Ethan and his IMF team have to retrieve a biological weapon called Chimer from rogue IMF agent Sean Ambrose, who intends to make a profit out of it.

Story and direction: After loving the film Face/Off (again by John Woo and by far his best Hollywood attempt) I would say that I had high expectations from this film. First, let us get on with the positives. The set design and scenery of Australia is very beautifully utilized. I feel in love with Australia after watching this film. The cinematography of the film is what enhanced the scenery. Hans Zimmer’s score is also awesome. The scenes had an additional layer of tension thanks to the BGM. Most of the action scenes too worked for me. Now, for the negatives of the film. The plot itself is very boring. I was invested in the first 15 minutes or so of the film and towards the end, the film gets interesting. It is the middle half/45 minutes that are so badly written. It is also full of unnecessary drama that the film didn’t need. The villain I felt was set up very nicely and provided nice characterization. But he was underplayed as the makers wanted to focus on Nyah and Ethan’s romance, which was dull and drab. Even for a moment I wasn’t invested in that part of the story. And sometimes, the action scenes did have a lot of slo-mo. I understand that slo-mo is a technique that is used to enhance a particular scene. But in this film, it is used in almost every scene. And that finished its effect that it tried to create and irritated me after some time.
Performances: Tom Cruise and Ving Rhames were just spot on and gave charismatic performances. Thandie Newton was also good, it is just her character felt unnecessary to the plot. Dougray Scott did give an effective performance but it would have well appreciated if he was given more importance. Richard Roxburgh and Brendan Gleeson did provide good supporting roles. And finally, Anthony Hopkins. Although his role was more of a cameo, it was good to see him.

Favorite Scene: It was where Hunt and his team decide to infiltrate Biocyte and destroy Chimera while Sean and his team decode the steps Ethan will take to destroy the Chimera. This scene for once displayed the capabilities of Sean as a capable villain giving a toigh competition to our hero, Ethan Hunt.

Verdict: The film could have been better if it would have stuck to the tension and thrill that any spy film needs instead of focusing on the romance. It felt like a romantic drama instead of a spy thriller film. This film felt like a detour from the previous instalment. I would say this film as more of a time pass and can be avoided. Only watch it for the stunts and the charismatic Tom Cruise.

I am going with a 6/10.

Mission: Impossible is a film directed by Brian de Palma. I have seen this film one time before. But I again decided to see it since I wanted to go into the intricacies of this venture. And I was stunned.

Plot: Ethan Hunt, an IMF agent is on the run from his superiors for killing his team and stealing a NOC list.

Story and direction: This film is more of a thriller film than an action one, which was very rare at the time at which it released. This is what impressed me the most. The story is very intriguing and for every second of the film you feel the tension mounting. The complaint heard mostly from this film is that you can’t move away from the screen even onece as you may miss something. But I genuinely don’t see that as a flaw. Don’t the people who invest in the movies want the audience to put their whole focus on the movie itself? The characters and their story are also very interesting. In the initial scenes itself, you care for Ethan Hunt. He worries about the safety of his agents and his country and that was very beautifully shown. The score by Danny Elfman works wonders. In some scenes, there is total silence as the director wants to tap on the tension. This shows that Brian de Palma is in love with his work. The action scenes are minimal in this one, but they are great. They feel real even 22 years later. But the film had one minor flaw for me. It was the VFX in the climactic battle. It looked like blue/green screen work in the background which made me cringe a bit.

Performances: Tom Cruise’s image changed overnight just because of his character, Ethan Hunt. I just loved him. He lived each and every moment in the film. Who could have tought of a big bald, plumpy black guy like Ving Rhames as a hacker? Not me. He just was great and did provide some comic relief in the film. Jon Voight is awesome. So were Vanessa Redgrave and Jean Reno. Henry Czerny is the kind of boss that just doesn’t have a clue as to what’s going on and I loved that. I had a small issue with Emmanuelle Beart’s casting. She still happens to retain her French accent, which is never explained in the film.

Favorite Scene: It would be the scene where Luther, Krieger, Claire and Ethan are on a train to the US and Ethan explains as to what they are about to do. The tension is what gave me goosebumps as it just happens to explain the following scene. Also, the thing done well was showing Ethan’s confidence and Luther’s doubt in the mission.

Verdict: This film marked the beginning of a great franchise which boasted not only goo stunts but also good character development and things that are still remembered even 20 years after. I applaud Brian de Palma and team for bringing such a film to the screens.

I am going with an 8.5/10.

The Iron Giant is a film co-written and directed by Brad Bird. This film was on my radar for quite some time since it is directed by Brad Bird. Finally, I decided to watch the film and I can say that it was definitely great.

Plot: Hogarth befriends a giant robot but also has to defend the robot from a ruthless government official.

Story and direction: This film was in the traditional animation form which incorporated little CGI. At a time when CGI films were on the rise, bringing out such a film is a risk. With Brad Bird as the captain of the ship, what is to go wrong?? Nothing. Director’s like Brad Bird is why I love animated films. Not only do they have such a good story but a message that is relevant and should be applied too in real life. This film deals with themes that no one at the time dealt with and is still relevant even in this world where technology has dominated every aspect of our lives. The film also very beautifully shows that it is not necessary to be human to have feelings. Everyone has feelings. Brad Bird and his team were able to grasp my attention in this 87 minute film. But it is quite sad to know that this film didn’t work wonders at the time of its release. Some things quite notable are the designs for the town and the robot. They are impeccable and beautiful. Even the characterization work in the film is just spot-on. The bond formed between Hogarth and the robot seems real. Kent’s character has been beautifully portrayed in the film. Even the voice work of this film is excellent and I couldn’t fault it for even a second. There are some jokes in this film that I laughed and also some scenes which made me very emotional. The music by Michael Kamen also does wonders and goes with the flow of the film. If I had to nit-pick this film for any flaw, I would say it was the story. Many movies have shown such stories and the subject I would say was nothing new.

Favorite Scene: It would be the one where Hogarth decides to tell a bed-time story to the robot so that he could fall asleep. He has different books with him and tells them the gist of two of them. This scene just resonated with the main theme the film deals with and very correctly justifies the difference between good and evil.

Verdict: As a first timer director, Brad Bird just hit a bulls eye. I was impressed with almost every aspect of the film. This film proves that medium is not necessary to bring across your point. If the message is correct and properly shown, then the medium doesn’t matter that much. Even after the film ended, I was thinking about the film. And thank god, the film wasn’t made into a musical (which was actually the original plan of the makers). For those who have loved Brad Bird animated films and think that he is one the great animators at present, I urge you to watch this film. It is a beautiful and thought provoking feature. I was highly impressed by it and sure that you will be too.

I am going with a 9/10.

Ant Man and the Wasp is a film directed by Peyton Reed. Every MCU film excites me and I look forward to the films. Since I loved the first film, I would say that I expected a lot from this film. Surprisingly, the film does deliver.

Plot: Scott Lang teams up with Hank and Hope to retrieve Janet van Dyne from the quantum realm.

Story and direction: This film actually relies much on humor to carry forward the story (if that’s what it is called). It does a good work of working on the Scott-Cassie bond. This film further strengthens their bond. Also something good here is the de-aging procedure.the actors actually looked very young. The VFX and action scenes of the film were also good. For a film that had a tight budget (atleast smaller than what its contemporaries were investing), it never felt artificial. And the 3D was an added gem to the film that enhanced the beauty of the film. But the film doesn’t go without complaints. As with the first film, this film doesn’t do justice to the villains. With the MCU having some good villains in its recent ventures, the villains here feel very disposable. They have no reason to exist. Sonny Burch felt more like a joker than a villain. As for Ghost, I wouldn’t call her a villain. But still her character could have been developed. Many people have been complaining of Hope van Dyne’s storyline. But I did feel fine with it.

Performances: Paul Rudd is great as Ant-Man. He perfectly embodies the character. Evangeline Lily was good as the Wasp. As usual, Michael Pena was great. He shined through his so called monologue. Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer delivered some compelling performances. As I mentioned before, Walton Goggins was very much disposable. Hannah John Kamen did a good job but would have liked to see more of her. It is always a treat to watch Laurence Fishburne. The other supporting characters do a good job in moving the film forward.

Favorite Scene: Scott and Cssie have a little talk where Scott says that his family is paying the price for whatever he is doing. But Cassie then cheers him up by saying that he is doing the right thing. This scene just showed how important a driving force is Cassie in Scott’s life.

Verdict: After a film that is grand like Infinity War, this film does feel short scaled. But removing that and certain flaws that this film had, I would say that I was surely entertained. I can’t wait to see what else this character and this universe has more to offer us. The mid-credits scene is very important to the future films, but I thought the post-credit one felt unimportant.

I am going with a 7.5/10.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is a film directed by David Yates. This film just firmed up my belief that however good or bad the start is the ending of any story should be shockingly awesome.

Plot: Harry Potter and his friends decide to stop Voldemort and the Death Eaters once and for all.

Story and direction: This film is much shorter in comparison to the other parts (130 minutes). And this is actually justified because all of the setting up was done in the past 7 movies. Here we jump straight into the action. I would like to commend on the action sequences. They felt every real and each and every time I felt scared for the characters in that particular scene. The film is fast paced and not much time is wasted. The set design and cinematography is just awesome. I can just go on about the wonderful score by Alexandre Desplat. Also, the VFX is just the best of the entire series. I was just gobsmacked by the improvement the series hads shown in the VFX department. The level of maturity these characters have is very well defined in certain scenes. There are certain scenes in the film that make sense in this final part that are explained very well without deviating from the tension in the film. And I have to commend the makers on splitting up the novel into 2 parts. This was needed as many storylines and plot arcs have to be wrapped up. This film just brings the storyline to an end so beautifully that I couldn’t fault the film for one moment.

Performances: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as usual are great. Maggie Smith has some scenes in which she was great. Ralph Fiennes was in his best form as Voldemort. The same can be said for Helena Bonham Carter and Micheal Gambon. It was also good to have certain actors back for this one epic battle.

Favorite Scene: It would be the one where Snape orders the students to give up anything they know about Harry Potter’s whereabouts. Then Harry steps up and challenges Snape and Minerva comes to the rescue. This scene was just amazing on another level as I saw a battle that I may have been waiting for since the last instalment.

Verdict: This film is just great on so many levels. I honestly can say that in each and every scene I had goosebumps. This film series ends on a great note and delivers a very satisfying finale. This film series should be a lesson to some people on how greatness, novelty and creativity when mixed together provide an art that just cannot be forgotten and is just relished by the person watching it. My heartiest congratulations to the team of Harry Potter on celebrating our favourite characters in the best way possible.

I am going with a perfect 10.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is a film directed by David Yates. Since this was the second last instalment, my anticipation for this one was sky high. And after watching the film, I can say that that film exceeded all my expectations.

Plot: Harry, Ron and Hermione team up to destroy the secret to his immortality – Horcruxes.

Story and direction: This film started the trend of the last part being split up to two films. But I can say without doubt that none have achieved the level of greatness that this film achieved. As I have stressed in the previous instalments, the character work in this film is just like no other film series. The makers know what the audience expects and just taps on to that. From the very first scene you know that the stakes are real and the setting itself made me worry for the safety of the characters. We have some amazing action sequences in the film which are very beautifully shot and nicely edited. The film mostly takes place between the 3 main characters of the film. And it never feels boring just to watch them doing what they are great at. Alexandre Desplat’s score is just amazing. The sets and camera work for the film is beautiful. The VFX is the best the series has to offer. Some characters do suffer consequences and you do feel sad for them. The film does end in a cliffhanger but that will not disappoint as it is known the film will continue.

Performances: Daniel Radcliffe was great as Harry Potter. The emotional depth this character has is deep and you feel for him. Emma Watson as Hermione Granger is just great. For the first time in the series, I felt the emotional side of this character. Rupert Grint successfully portrays a different side of Ronald Weasley. This film does introduce Bill Nighy as Rufus Scrimgeour. The role is small but good enough to leave an impression. Also introduced here is Rhys Ifans as Xenophilius Lovegood. I did feel the role was good but a bit unnecessary.

Favorite Scene: It would be a scene when Harry decides to cheer Hermione when she is sad by having a small dance with her. This scene showed the maturity and understanding these characters have for each other. I came to know from somewhere that this scene was nowhere in the book. So it is a big pat on the makers’ back for innovating something new and presenting us in a good way.

Verdict: For a second last film in a franchise, this film does justice. It sets up scenes for what is about to come and makes us ready for some consequences that might not just be in our favour. Thanks again to David Yates, Steve Kloves and the entire team of Harry Potter for bringing us a franchise that knows how to treat a particular story with respect. I can’t just wait for the final instalment.

I am going with a 10.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a film directed by David Yates. I was quite excited to watch this chapter of the film as it was the one that was closer to the final 2 chapters. And I can say it was an entertaining venture.

Plot: Harry Potter stumbles upon an old potions textbook belonging to the Half Blood Prince.

Story and direction: This film marked the return of Steve Kloves as screenwriter after Goblet of Fire. And he had again a daunting task of matching with David Yates’ vision. But I can say they really did it. The film on a story basis has nothing much to offer. But the character work is so awesome that you can even forget the story part for some time. The characters progress has been shown over the years and that is one aspect this film is to be noted for. We see the characters having realized what love is and also whether or not they are on the good side or bad side. The conflicts are very well written and portrayed by the actors. Also very much noticeable is the photography used. I was just instantly attracted to it. The dull kind of palette suited the environment in which the film is set in. No wonder it was nominated for an Academy Award. Also the VFX are commendable especially in the Quidditch Sequence. That was just wonderful. Even Nicholas Hooper’s score does wonders. My other problem with the film was the main title itself. The Half-Blood Prince as the title suggests has very little importance in the film. As the film progresses I did feel the makers just forgot the title they kept.

Performances: The cast of the film is just awesome and pin-pointing out their performance would be equal to a sin. I would although like to mention Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy. He was a character that was quite much different in tone to the other films. And I commend Tom for justifying Draco’s character beautifully. This film introduces Jim Broadbent as Horace Slughorn. His character was very nicely portrayed by Broadbent. Also introduced is Helen McCrory as Narcissa Malfoy. Although the role was small but it was emoted perfectly.

Favorite Scene: It would be the one where Ron is lying in the hospital and Lavender Brown comes to see him. Standing beside Ron is Hermione. And Ron utter Hermione’s name to Lavender’s disappointment. The smile on Hermione’s face was very evident and it showed the future that lies ahead of these two characters. In addition to that, I felt happy for these two characters.

Verdict: Although a bit weaker in terms of plot in comparison to the previous instalments, I cannot deny from the fact that I had a good time while watching the film. Never for a moment I felt I was watching a bad movie.

I am going with an 8.5/10.

Sanju is a film co-written and directed by Rajkumar Hirani. Having watched the trailers I knew I was in for a blast. And finally after a delay in watching thefilm, I came out of the hall happy as ever.

Plot: The film chronicles the life of Sanjay Dutt from 1980s till his release from jail in 2016.

Story and direction: With a film like Sanju, Rajkumar Hirani had a big responsibility in his hands. Firstly, to be able to present the story of Sanjay Dutt to the audience in a way that is not cringe-worthy and secondly, not to disappoint his audience with a different kind of film that he was making. But Raju Hirani just did it again and he yet again just proved why he is the most sought after director in recent times. Hirani and Abhijat Joshi (co-writer of the film) have crafted a wonderful story that encompasses the varied life of actor Sajnay Dutt. Nevre for a second does the film meander around. Hirani just knows what emotions of the audience to tap. From scene one, you feel invested in this story. Although this film is not as light-hearted as his previous ventures, but he insert some scenes that do generate some laughs and they don’t feel forced. Also the themes of friendship and parenthood are so correctly justified in this film that I just couldnn’t complain. Since Hirani does edit his films himself, so he just knows what is necessary in the film. I would like to commend on the make-up team who have just made the actors look so real. Also the VFX team does a great job at merging the Sanjay Dutt’s film scenes with this film. But I did have one small little problem with the film. But I would say this is me being nit-picky. There is a particular scene where the timelines don’t match and a small little conversation that made no sense.

Performances: Never in a film I have seen where everyone was either great or extraordinary. Ranbir Kapoor so beautifully embodied Sanjay Dutt that I felt I was watching Sanajy on the screen. Paresh Rawal was also good as Sunil Dutt. Manisha Koriala also gave life to Nargis beautifully. Vicky Kaushal mastered the Gujurati accent with ease in addition to giving a compelling performance. Anushka Sharma, Jim Sarbh, Diya Mirza and Sonam Kapoor did deliver some good performances.

Music; Raju Hirani just gives the perfect music to his films whci I do like. He relates his songs to the particular scene. My favorite song was ‘Kar Har Maidaan Fateh’.

Favoriet Scene: It would be the scene where Sanju gives a speech of thanking his father. That scene depicted how special is the father-son bond.

Verdict: With his fifth film, Raju Hirani just proved that he is a hit machine unlike any other.

I am going with a 9/10.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a film directed by David Yates. I remember watching this film back in 2007 since my school took me and not understanding a single word of it. But finally after watching it so many years later, I enjoyed the film.

Plot: The Ministry of magic goes to every extent in order to hide Lord Voldemort’s return.

Story and direction: This is the first film directed by David Yates who went on to direct the rest of the parts and first not to be written by Steve Kloves but by Michael Goldenberg. I could understand the pressure on these two people but in spite of that they deliver. This instalment is the one that has the Ministry of Magic play out its politics. And that is something quite different the series has never tackled before. Also introduced in this film is Harry Potter forming the Dumbledore Army and the anti-Voldemort organisation the Order of the Phoenix. The film has progressed from Harry becoming just a little boy to one where he is fighting Death Eaters. Each character has an added layer of information to itself that made me care for them so much. And it was so beautifully handled. The makers know the importance of these characters and give them the respect and care that they deserve. Also featured inin this film is the biggest action scene ever where stakes are very high. I remember very well enjoying the scene at that time but now knowing all the characters and their motivations, I enjoyed the scene even more. The music in this film is awesome too. But I did have one little issue. And that is the VFX. After so good VFX in the previous parts, here in some scenes the VFX were cringe-worthy.

Performances: The regular cast does so well in their parts that it is very hard to fault them. Imelda Stauton does one hell of a job as Dolores Umbridge. If you thought that ypou have seen enough of evil characters in this series, you are wrong. She is definitely the worst. Helena Bonham Carter also nails it as Bellatrix Lestrange. Although her role is quite short, but it is very effective. And finally, Evanna Lynch is awesome as Luna Lovegood. The way she alliances herself with Harry and the gang is awesome.

Favorite Scene: It would be the one where Fred and George trouble Dolores Umbridge during the OWL exam. That scene was just awesome and I laughed so hard during this scene. It always feels good when an evil character faces such a situation.

Verdict: This franchise knows what it is doing and it is good at it. With every instalment, the anxiety increases as to what will happen next. I had a good time watching this film and can’t wait to see as to what is next. I applaud David Yates and team for bringing another part of so wonderful series.

I am going with a 9/10.