Bhavesh Joshi Superhero is a film co-written and directed by Vikramaditya Motwane. The film had caught my attention immediately and I was waiting to watch the film. Finally, after the watching it I can say that team Phantom did it yet again.

Plot: Sikandar and Bhavesh form an internet video channel called ‘Insaaf’ that deals with the different rule breakers of Indian society. But when matters get out of hands, it is Sikandar who has to save the day.

Story and direction: From the trailers itself, it felt like this is going to be different (as the Phantom people normally do). The setting of the film offers a lot of promise. I did like the cinematography. It used natural light which is seen very rare in recent films. Also something quite good is the sound design. The sounds used resemble to actual sounds in real life which do make them believeable. The action sequences (for the most part) were nicely done and edited properly. It felt believable. Where the film actually falters for some reasons is the writing. The themes actually dealt with in the film are beautifully written. But with that being said, some scenes actually felt very unreal. I mean I racked my brain for a few minutes as to how that was possible. Then there is an unnecessary love story that is put into the picture. When will Bollywood understand that if you have to throw a love story give it some solid ground to stand on. While most of the characters on screen actually worked, it was the villains that caused problems. They were the usual bad guys that would just give orders and have some stupid ulterior motive. Also for some reason the pace of the film dragged at places.

Performances: I don’t know what problem did critics have but Harshvardhan Kapoor did justice do the role. He fit the role perfectly and was just fabulous. Priyanshu Painyuli who was lauded provided a great support to the film. Ashish Verma and Pratap Phad also were good in their roles.

Music: The film is scored by Amit Trivedi and he does have some wonderful songs to provide to the film (which actually I didn’t expect). The film does have some meaningful (unlike most) tracks in its belly. Although ‘Chavanprash’ was unique and a full massy song, it was ‘Qasam Kha Li’ that stole my heart.

Favorite Scene: It would be where Bhavesh and Siku have a fight over what’s right and what’s wrong and Bhavesh keeps his point while Siku records it on his phone. This scene brought out some arguments which were actually right and I could’nt side with any one of them.

Verdict: Even with its flaws and runtime, this film deserves some recognition for its brave attempt.

I am going with a 8/10.

Blackmail is a film directed by Abhinay Deo. The film’s trailer had me hooking and finally I watched it yesterday night. I can say that this experiment was partially successful.

Plot: When Dev finds out that his wife Reena has been cheating on him he decides to blackmail her boyfriend Ranjit for money.

Story and direction: None other than Abhinay Deo could have done justice to the film. His expertise in dark comic thrillers is well known. The film has some excellent dialogues thanks to Pradhuman Singh Mall (who we know as Paddi from BIN LADEN Series and playing Anand in this film). Abhinay has a good way of using certain symbols in his films that depict the state of the characters. Also good are the characterization and the setting that this film uses. The blackmail itself had a very unique approach to it since the lead character had some loans and bills to pay off and him being short on money. But where the film actually lacks is the writing (story and screenplay). Praveez Shaikh (writer) has an interesting premise and characters with him. He also starts off on a great note. But after an hour or so, the film starts to get weird and twisted in not such a good way. Some subplots are introduced that have no bearing to the main story of the film. Towards the climax the film regains itself. But then the film has a kind of anti-climatic ending which was at least not understood by me.

Performances: Irrfan is a gem that Bollywood has and he brings life to the character that he plays and the film he is in. He just is beyond any words. Kirti Kulhari was another great artist in the film. Arunoday Singh and Divya Dutta were good in their roles. Pradhuman Singh is just awesome. Anuja Sathe and Gajraj Rao did justice to what was given to them. And finally, a special mention to Omi Vaidya who was just funny and outstanding in his role.

Music: The film’s music sits perfectly with the scenes and didn’t obstruct my viewing of the movie (Although I still would say that Guru Randhawa’s Patola seemed absolutely unnecessary). The track I liked was ‘Satasat’. Amit Trivedi’s mesmerizing voice and Amitabh Bhattacharya’s lyrics are things that made this song worth listening.

Favorite Scene: It would be the one where Dev has his first face to face meeting with his boss in his office. That scene was just hilarious and having Irrfan and Omi act in that scene was just awesome.

Verdict: I would not term it as a bad film, but had the story been more concrete I would have appreciated it more. Watch the film for some amazing performances and jokes that actually make you laugh.

I am going with a 7.5/10.

102 Not Out is a film directed by Umesh Shukla. The trailers of the film impressed me and I was looking forward to watch this film. Finally, I watched this film and was totally impressed.

Plot: Dattatraya Vakharia decides to send his son Babulal to an old age home if he doesn’t fulfill some of his conditions.

Story and direction: The film’s strong point is its writing. Saumya Joshi (who adapted it from his own Gujurati play) has proved to be a very nice writer as his voice is heard in almost every scene. The film knows how to balance its light-hearted and dramatic moments. I laughed hard durimg the funny moments and became emotional during the dramatic ones. And that comes when the writer and director are on the same page (that was the very case in this film). In each and every condition that Dattatraya keeps, an important life lesson is learnt that is applicable in real life too. There was never a dull moment in its 102 minute runtime. The characters are so awesome and real, that you feel the emotions they are going through in a particular scene. A department that deserves full credit is the make-up department. The actors did look convincing as 102 and 75 year olds. However, the film does have its flaws. There are many scenes which felt like product placement. It felt very annoying. Also, the climax of the film felt clichéd and guessed from a mile away.

Performances: This film is filled with award winning performances. Starting with the evergreen, Amitabh Bachchan. This man just goes on to defy every norm and rule of acting and delivers a great performance in each film. He also nailed the Gujurati accent. Rishi Kapoor in the couple of years has redefined himself in his career and this film will go down as one of his gems in his illustrious career. Complementing these 2 stars is a mammoth task which Jimit Trivedi did fantastically. He was awesome and one of the shining elements of this film.

Music: The film has 3 music directors composing for 6 songs. But each of the songs sits comfortably in the scenes. My favourite was ‘Kulfi’by Sonu Nigam. That song was just awesome.

Favorite Scene: I won’t say much but this is the one where all the 3 central characters are involved and the song ‘Waqt ne Kiya’ plays. After that, there is dialogue that made me emotional and struck my heart with a lighning bolt.

Verdict: Do watch this film not for some amazing performances, but a heartfelt story.

I am going with an 8/5/10.

Jumanji – Welcome to the Jungle is a film directed by Jake Kasdan. I am not particularly a fan of the 1995 film but I would still say that I had a good time watching the film. The announcement of this film quite astonished me and the trailers for the film seemed OK. I was actually surprised as to how much I liked the film.

Plot: Spencer, Martha, Bethany and Anthony are all sucked into the video game Jumanji where their only way to survive is to finish the game.

Story and direction: Sony is mostly famous for taking something that is famous and turning it so commercial that the profit is earned but the quality is very bad. But this film understands that it has to deliver, quality wise. I wouldn’t say the story has groundbreaking elements or things that we haven’t seen before, but the film manages to entertain. I liked the way we have troubled characters that are sucked into one situation and their only way out is if they work with one another. Also very nicely incorporated is the video game aspect of Jumanji. WE have a life bar, character strengths and weaknesses, non player characters, exposition that helps us understand what the game is. This entire world of Jumanji seems very much believable (because of it being a video game world). The action sequences were good and nicely done. However, there were one or two places where horrible VFX (or green screen) has been used to execute the action sequences. The score by Henry Jackman also adapts to the situation and adds something refreshing to the film. My other problem with the film is that certain scenes are not explained very properly. They seemed to have just let that go for the sake of it.

Performances: Dwayne Johnson is good what he does. Kevin Hart did add his touch of comedy to the film. Karen Gillian’s character was different and I liked it. I didn’t understand the casting of Nick Jonas since he wasn’t acting at all. Jack Black was the surprise package. I know he is good, but in here he is the highlight of the film. Rhys Darby, Rohan Chand and Bobby Cannavale did provide good supporting roles. Even the teenagers in the real world delivered compelling performances.

Favorite Scene: It would be the one where Bethany (in Sheldon Oberon’s body) teaches Martha (in Ruby Roundhouse’s body) how to flirt with someone. I can seriously say that I laughed so hard in the scene because of its awkwardness and absurdity.

Verdict: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE is a good follow-up to the 1995 film. I was highly entertained by the film and had a very good time. I don’t know what the sequel in 2019 will consist of as no room was left for a third instalment.

I am going with an 8/10.

Jurassic World – Fallen Kingdom is a film directed by J.A. Bayona. The trailers of the film looked quite good and with me liking the first part (Jurassic World), I was quite excited for this one. But alas, it mostly disappointed me.

Plot: Owen and Claire travel to Jurassic World to rescue the remaining dinosaurs in Jurasic World from a volcano that would explode any minute.

Story and direction: This film series boasts mainly for its special effects and visuals. That box is ticked with every instalment in this series and it never fails to impress me. The action sequences are spot on and have been directed very nicely. The character designs for the dinosaurs also surprised me. The music of the film is also wonderful (partial thanks to John Williams who did the main JP theme). The technical department work on this film is accurate and wonderful and never for a moment did I feel it was superficial. The main problem this film posed was the story itself. The story was just a normal action-adventure movie when I expected something more out of the film. While JURASSIC WORLD had its small character moments, this film fails in that aspect. Where the first half of the film felt justified, the second half is where the film goes downhill. The plot turns absurd and I was cringing almost every minute and waited for the film to finish. Even the characters (especially the villains) were poorly written. The film does have a post credit scene too, which was totally unnecessary.

Performances: Chris Pratt was good at his role and did provide some comedy in the film. Bryce Dallas Howard also complemented Chris’ character. James Cromwell gave a good performance. Justice Smith’s character was very poorly etched and was very disappointing. Same can be said for Rafe Spall and Toby Jones. Finally, it was great to see Jeff Goldblum reprise his role from the previous instalments. Even though it was roughly a role of 10 minutes, it was a treat to watch him.

Favorite Scene: It would be the one where Own watches a video of him training Bue and the others raptors. This scene very well depicted the bond that Owen shares with Blue and how much he cares for him. If this theme was stretched a bit then the film would have worked wonderfully.

Verdict: FALLEN KINGDOM felt more like a filler film which was just needed to make a trilogy. The scenes basically make no sense and were full of absurdity. This felt more like a money making vehicle. I do hope the third instalment (and the final one, hopefully) brings back a good story and throws back some sense into this series, that has just run out of ideas.

I am going with a 6/10.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a film directed by John Madden. Since the film was with me in my DVR, I decided to give this a watch with no hopes. But at the end of it, I felt very satisfied.

Plot: A group of British pensioners moving to a retirement hotel in India, run by the young and eager Sonny.

Story and direction: If I do watch it from a story point of view, it isn’t ground-breaking in any way. The film has the most predictable story ever. We have a couple facing issues, an old man finding a perfect mate for himself, a woman who is fearful of almost everything, etc.. These themes have been dealt with in ample number of films. But what attracted me to this film more is the setting and the characters. The characters of the film make the story so believable that you can forget the story for some time and enjoy the flow of the movie. India is shown in the best way possible. I being an Indian was happy in the ay India was depicted here. It showed me the real India. The atmosphere and climate of the film instantly attracted me. Ben Davis has done a wonderful job of capturing the very essence of India. Thomas Newman’s score also adds to the beauty of the film. He scores the film the way A R Rahman would have scored it.

Performances: This film is filled with wonderful performances. Judi Dench just lives her role and it is always a treat to watch her perform. The same can be said for Maggie Smith. Bill Nighy and Penelope Wilton play the most realistic husband-wife with ease. Ronald Pickup and Celia Imrie also complemented the film. Diana Hardcastle gave a compelling performance. Tom Wilkinson made us believe in his character by his incredible performance. Dev Patel and Tina Desae gave earnest performances. It was good to see Lilette Dubey too. The other local Indian actor added to the beauty of this film.

Favorite Scene: It would be the one where Douglas comforts Evelyn much to the chagrin of his wife, Jean. It showed the bond that formed between the characters Douglas and Evelyn very nicely.

Verdict: With its stellar performances and its premise, if the film would have worked on the story going rather an unconventional route rather than the route that has been taken several times, the film would have worked wonders. Nevertheless, I had a good time watching the film.

I am going with an 8/10.

Mission: Impossible – Fallout is a film written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie. Having watched the trailers and being a fan of the series, I was very excited to watch the film. And once again, the M: I series did the impossible.

Plot: Ethan and his IMF Team are tasked to work with CIA Agent August Walker to recover 3 plutonium cores that could be used for nuclear fallout.

Story and direction: This series doesn’t fail to surprise me. Each time I wonder what new they will bring to a franchise. Because by the time a sixth film does come in there is franchise exhaustion. But McQuarrie (who also directed ROGUE NATION) very well understood what he is dealing with and gave us and enthralling and memorable action film to watch. The story may not be ground-breaking in any way, but it was engaging enough to keep me glued to my seat and relish 147 minutes of pure fun. I was not bored for a single scene. The film is quite darker and mellowed down than the previous films, which I very well appreciate. The cinematography is just wonderful and captures the essence and beauty of the captivating locations perfectly. The action scenes and VFX are top-notch. The makers really upped the ante in terms of both the story and action aspect. Even the score is just awesome. Lorne Balfe has really done a good job and I can also term it the best score of the series.

Performances: Tom Cruise is as usual the main star of the series and it is quiet a sin to fault him for a role he has excelled at doing for 22 years. Same goes to the eccentric Ving Rhames. Simon Pegg never fails to impress me even in the scenes that don’t require comedy. Henry Cavill gave a compelling performance. Where it was felt in ROGUE NATION that Solomon Lane was not justified, Sean Harris just nails the role here. Rebecca Ferguson also added her charm and charisma to the screen. Vanessa Kirby, Angela Basset and Michelle Monaghan were good additions to the film.

Favorite Scene: Not spoiling anything, the scene was kind of an epilogue between Ethan and Julia. It was beautiful and poignant to see these two characters on screen together after a very long time. Also the dialogues in that scene were very beautiful, which instantly attracted me to the scene. In addition to this scene, the final action sequence of the helicopter chase was jaw-dropping. Each time I was on the edge of my seat.

Verdict: FALLOUT would be the best the M: I Series has yet to offer. I feel that for a sixth film they did justice and lived up to the name. I walked out of the hall satisfied both as a fan and a movie-goer. If there will be a seventh instalment, it better be in par with this one or above this (which I think is very difficult to top).

A Perfect 10 from my side for this film.

Million Dollar baby is a film directed by Clint Eastwood. I wanted to watch the film but circumstances didn’t allow me to do so. Finally, Last night I decided to watch it and was blown away.

Plot: Follows Frankie Dunn, an old boxing trainer who decides to train an aspiring female boxer, a thing Frankie has never done in life.

Story and direction: The film is just not about boxing (as I thought it would be). It is about the bonding and emotions formed between characters in the film. This is very well crafted by writer, Paul Haggis and director Eastwood. I was actually quite shocked of the themes the film dealt with. I was just fascinated by each and every scene of the film. The dialogue felt so real and struck a lightning bolt in my heart. I could relate to each and every scene in the film. The cinematography in the film is awesome. The boxing scenes were shot in a beautiful way. What added to the intensity of the boxing is the razor sharp editing. In addition to directing and producing the film, Eastwood also scores the film. Although the score is very minimal (which was apt considering the storyline the film was going for) and employs mostly pianos and guitars, it was very effective. My only flaw of the film was the sudden change of tone. It felt the first half was one film and second was another. If the flow would have been even, thw film would have been a notch higher.

Performances: Clint Eastwood is a multi-talented personality. He acts perfectly. The grumpiness and mellowed version of his character was balanced perfectly by him. Hilary Swank was believable in every scene of the film. The hard work gone through by her is visible clearly. Morgan Freeman, who does serve as narrator too, does a wonderful job in supporting our main characters as well as guiding the audience through this emotional and soulful journey.

Favorite Scene: It would be the scene where Maggie faces her first match with Sally as her manager and Frankie and Scrap watch from the other side of the hall. Frankie repeatedly tells Maggie to keep her left up. But when Frankie realises that Sally is making the match go his way for his own benefit; Frankie steps up to help Maggie. This scene showed the bond formed between Frankie and Maggie and how much Frankie cared for Maggie even if Frankie wants to hide it.

Verdict: No wonder this film won big at the Academy Awards the subsequent year. Filled with earnest performances and a heart-filling emotional story and set-up, the film is definitely as must watch for those who feel that emotions surpass everything.

I am going with a 9/10.

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is a film directed by Brad Bird. After the third one, I was eagerly waiting to watch this one. And one again, the M: I series didn’t fail to surprise me.

Plot: Ethan and his IMF team, now disavowed, must stop a Russian strategist who wants to start a war between the US and Russia.

Story and direction: Knowing that Brad Bird (his first live-action film) was going to direct the film, I had huge expectations from it. The story is takes the basic idea of US vs. USSR and spuns it into a complex and diversifying one. The film has so many layers and interesting characters because of which there were no dull moments. The new characters introduced have such interesting back stories that it is interesting to watch them. Each scene is just full of tension and suspense. This film very nicely balances the action and thriller aspect of the film. Full credit goes to Brad Bird on proving that he can give a good film whether animated or live-action. The action scenes and VFX are just spot-on especially the one in Dubai where my heart just skipped a beat several times. The cinematography is just awesome. Since IMAX cameras were used in some scenes, it feels quite good. There are many wide-angle shots that do enhance the beauty of the film. The editing of the film is wonderful. Michael Giacchino has again done wonders with the BGM of the film. My only issue with the film is just the villain. He has no such motivation or arc. He is just a guy who wants to destroy the world. I can very safely say that he is the least impressive villain of the entire series.

Performances: Tom Cruise has just synonymised himself with Ethan Hunt. It is juts difficult to imagine this series without him. Jeremy Renner delivers a great performance. So does Paula Patton. Simon Pegg returns in this film with a much meatier role as compared to the previous venture and he just impresses. Michael Nyquist was good on the acting department but nothing the story did to move his character forward. Ving Rhames and Michelle Monaghan do return in smaller roles but it is always good to see them both.

Favorite Scene: Apart from the Dubai Sequence (which is almost everyone’s favorite scene in this film), I would say the film ending was quite good. Ethan says that however difficult the mission be, it is the team that makes it successful. I liked the fact that the scene stressed on the importance of a team and teamwork.

Verdict: This series never fails to impress me. I can’t thank the makers enough for raising the stakes of the film in terms of action and storyline in each and every film a notch higher. Can’t wait for ROGUE NATION.

I am going with a 9/10.

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation is a film co-written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie. After the exciting 4th instalment, I was pumped up for this one. And it again just delivers spot-on.

Plot: Ethan Hunt and his IMF team are against a rogue organisation, termed as the Syndicate who would wipe anyone out of their way to achieve their objective.

Story and direction: Chris McQuarrie and Drew Pearce (co-writer) infuse their new and vibrant energy into this franchise because of which it never feels old or run out of fuel. The story is very impressive and I liked the way the film covered the previous 4 installments. I would not be wrong saying that this film was teased during the last moments of the last part. I think the makers were going in for an arc spanning 2-3 films. But that doesn’t mean the film doesn’t stand on its own. It does and very beautifully. There are certain characters that are stretched and explored more which I liked. Even the new characters don’t seem disposable and bring a lot to the film. The action scenes are just great and never feel over the top (especially the car and bike chase set in Morocco). The VFX of the film also does wonders and adds to the beauty of the film. The music by Joe Kraemer impresses on various levels. The cinematography and editing are top-notch. The film faltered only on one aspect: the climax. Normally, I do expect the M;I finale to be a big blast and full of tension creating adrenaline moments. But here I felt the film was going the expected way and I wasn’t surprised. It felt very ordinary. Maybe FALLOUT will explain those events.

Performances: Tom Cruise is as usual in his best and gives a great performance. His dedication to his work and especially towards the action scenes is always felt. Jeremy Renner contributes to the film in his own special way. I liked Simon Pegg’s character being more dramatic than of a comic relief. Rebecca Ferguson brings in new energy to the films and I can’t wait to see her in FALLOUT. So does Alec Baldwin. Sean Harris’s portrayal of Solomon Lane was kind of different and I liked the way he was characterized.

Favorite Scene: It would be the one where Benji confronts Ethan about Ethan sending him back to DC and Benji saying that he should be with Ethan since they are a team. This has an effect on me as it showed a different side of Benji which I never expected. Also, shown so beautifully is Ethan’s concern for others.

Verdict: ROGUE NATION has added another fun-filled, action-thriller ride to the M: I Series. I had a fun time with the entire series. Just waiting for FALLOUT to come. Can’t wait for it.

I am going with a 9/10.