VIBE works due to Kunal Kemmu’s command over humour, one-liners and performances Movie Review: VIBE works due to Kunal Kemmu’s strong command over humour

Star Cast: Kunal Kemmu, Preity G Zinta, Sparsh Srivastava, Vanshika Dhir

Director: Kunal Kemmu

Vibe Movie Review Synopsis: VIBE is the story of two friends who land in serious trouble. Bhagirath aka Bugs (Sparsh Srivastava) works as a software developer at a company called Next Phase Technologies in Mumbai. His best friend, Hardik Sharma (Kunal Kemmu), is quite sharp but has just been released from drug rehab. Bugs requests his boss to hire Hardik, and the latter joins the company’s marketing department. Here, he meets Kareena (Vanshika Dhir), and sparks fly between the two. All is going well until one day, all hell breaks loose for Hardik and Bugs. A fiery national security agent, Madam H (Preity G Zinta), and her team abduct the duo and compel them to work on a top-secret mission. They can’t back out as it’s a matter of national security. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Vibe Movie Story Review: Kunal Kemmu's story is a bit clichéd but works well within the zone of the film.  Kunal Kemmu's screenplay is simplistic and peppered with hilarious dialogues and moments that keep the interest going. However, the writing falters whenever the film gets serious. Kunal Kemmu's dialogues are one of the high points. The one-liners land effectively, and a few of them will be lapped up big time by viewers. Some of the one-liners are adult in nature, which explains the film's 'A' rating.

Kunal Kemmu's direction is functional. He is a pro when it comes to humour and he proved it with MADGAON EXPRESS [2024]. The film is a bit in the zone of GO GOA GONE [2013] and a few Hollywood films where two simpletons are forced to fight the baddies. However, since it is set in Mumbai and also has a terrorism act, it works well for the Indian audiences. The circumstances under which Hardik and Bugs come into contact with Madam H are hilarious and also quite unexpected. The dinner scene involving Kareena and her father (Mark Bennington) is also very funny, while the intermission point is equally shocking.

On the flipside, the film falters in the second half once humour takes a backseat. The twist involving the villain is just about okay and makes VIBE feel somewhat routine. The makers raise intriguing questions about how a suspicious individual could change her identity and gain access to a prominent tech company, whether an insider was involved, and whether there is a leak within the team. However, the film conveniently leaves these intriguing threads unresolved, making one wonder why they were introduced in the first place. Moreover, the film’s title and overall tone are such that it is likely to appeal primarily to urban audiences.

Vibe Movie Review Performances: Kunal Kemmu is great not just as a writer-director but also as an actor. Playing such goofy roles comes naturally to him and even in VIBE, he essays it with full conviction. Many scenes turn funnier than what was written on paper because of his act. Preity G Zinta looks stunning and performance-wise, she’s first-rate. Her action scene is memorable. Sparsh Srivastava shines and ensures that he doesn’t get dominated by Kunal and Preity. He also gets to show his acting and humour prowess effectively and makes good use of it. Vanshika Dhir is not merely eye candy and has a crucial role. Performance-wise, she’s satisfactory. Dinesh Lal Yadav aka Nirahua (Bansi) and Yashpal Sharma (Rawal) are very convincing and also entertaining. Salem Kali (Abid) is just okay, while Mark Bennington leaves a mark. Rajesh Krishnan (Bug's Boss) is funny. Uorfi Javed (Chanchal Screwvala) and Aaditya Kulshreshth aka Kullu (Hardik's colleague) do well in cameo appearances.

Vibe movie music and other technical aspects: Amit Trviedi's music is just okay. 'Raaton Mein Aana' is memorable for its whistle theme and picturization. This is followed by 'Aisi Meri Vibe', 'Rafta Rafta' and 'Sipahi Ek'. John Stewart Eduri's background score is in sync with the film’s happenings.

Kaushal Shah's cinematography is neat. Prachi Deshpande's production design is classy, while Rick Roy's costumes are glamorous. Parvez Shaikh's action and Brahm Chab's stunt design are devoid of gore and entertaining. But it could have been better. Anand Subaya and Sanjay Shrirang Ingle's editing is functional.

Vibe Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, VIBE works due to Kunal Kemmu’s strong command over humour, several hilarious one-liners and entertaining performances. Though the film loses steam in the second half and the villain track feels routine, it has enough madcap moments to keep viewers amused. At the box office, its urban appeal and youth-friendly humour should help it find its target audience.

from Movie Review | Bollywood Movie Reviews | Latest Hindi Movies Reviews - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/izlYdeH
via IFTTT

RESIDENT EVIL works due to Zach Cregger’s fresh video game-like treatment, Austin Abrams’ engaging performance and several well-executed scares Movie Review: RESIDENT EVIL works

Star Cast: Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Kali Reis

Director: Zach Cregger

Resident Evil Movie Review Synopsis: RESIDENT EVIL is the story of a man's crazy night. Bryan (Austin Abrams) is a medical courier who reaches a hospital with a parcel. He wants to finish his job and return to his girlfriend Michelle to have an important discussion. However, Dr Maria Stokes (Emily Piggford) tempts him with double the fee to make a high-priority delivery to Raccoon City General Hospital. Bryan agrees and leaves immediately. The highway to Raccoon City is deserted and slippery from heavy snowfall. All of a sudden, he begins encountering strange creatures who initially appear to need help but instead try to attack him. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Resident Evil Movie Story Review: Zach Cregger and Shay Hatten's story is impressive as it remains in the zone of the RESIDENT EVIL series and at the same time, provides a novel touch. Zach Cregger and Shay Hatten's screenplay is gripping and the inclusion of jumpscares at regular intervals adds to the fun. However, the writing is slightly underwhelming in the second half. The dialogues add a dash of humour to the proceedings.

Zach Cregger's direction is exemplary. He had proved his worth with WEAPONS [2025] and he brings his creative directorial skills once again in this film. RESIDENT EVIL began as a video game and this film is treated like one. As a result, there's a shift in tonality from the rest of the films, but ardent fans won't mind it, as Zach has handled it well. Also, one is aware that the zombies will attack. But when and how they'll attack is what keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. This is especially during the madness that occurs on the highway and in the caravan. The climax is also quite arresting and the film ends on a decisive note.

On the flipside, a bit of repetition sets in during the second half. The events of the first half are so nicely done that the second half pales in comparison. The entire underground drain sequence is interesting, but it needlessly drags the narrative and doesn’t add much to the scare quotient. Moreover, despite the makers’ best efforts, some fans may miss the legacy characters. None of them are present, as the makers this time focus on new, original characters. Even the humour, at times, overpowers the scare element. Those watching the film in India may also be disappointed by the anti-alcohol and anti-smoking ticker at the bottom right of the screen, which is quite large and often distracts from the happenings on screen. A smaller ticker would have helped. Lastly, the series does not have a huge following in India.

Resident Evil Movie Review Performances: Austin Abrams dominates maximum screen time and delivers a smashing and entertaining performance. He’s not playing a typical hero. He’s a young lad, confused about his future with his girlfriend, who is now forced to survive amid all the madness and chaos. Hence, his ‘average Joe’ look and approach makes him very relatable. Zach Cherry (Carl) lends able support and Kali Reis (Maxine) is quite good. Paul Walter Hauser (Paul; scientist) is there for just a few minutes but shines. Johnno Wilson (Wilson; sheriff) is fair. Andrea Miltnerová (first zombie that Bryan encounters) rocks the show with her performance and expressions.

Resident Evil movie music and other technical aspects: Hays Holladay and Ryan Holladay's music, along with Dariusz Wolski's cinematography, enhances the eeriness. Special mention must also be made of the stunning locations, which have been captured beautifully by the lensman. Caroline Fahrer's costumes are realistic. Tom Hammock's production design is well-researched. The action is gory but its crucial to the narrative and not added for the heck of it. The VFX is top-class. Joe Murphy's editing is overall satisfactory but could have been crisper in a few parts in the second half.

Resident Evil Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, RESIDENT EVIL works due to Zach Cregger’s fresh video game-like treatment, Austin Abrams’ engaging performance and several well-executed scares. At the box office, its prospects in India may initially be limited by the franchise’s limited following, but it has the potential to spring a surprise if the target audience turns up in large numbers.

from Movie Review | Bollywood Movie Reviews | Latest Hindi Movies Reviews - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/s9xil1j
via IFTTT

DAAYRA impresses with its premise and performances but falters in the second half and climax Movie Review: DAAYRA falters in its second half and climax

Star Cast: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Prithviraj Sukumaran

Director: Meghna Gulzar

Daayra Movie Review Synopsis: DAAYRA is the story of two cops with contrasting styles of working. A young girl, Ragini (Pragati Mishra), disappears from a highway. Her mother, Parvati (Kshitee Jog), and brother Kabir (Bhavesh Babbani) approach the cops, but they don't take her case seriously. The next day, her burnt body is found on a deserted stretch. The case dominates headlines in the media, adding pressure on the Teerthana police. DCP Raman Kumar (Prithviraj Sukumaran) is given the charge of nabbing the culprits. Within a few days, he and his team arrest four men. Before they can be produced in court, they are shot dead. DCP Raman and his team claim that they tried to escape and even fired at the cops. When the police returned fire, the accused lost their lives. While the country celebrates their deaths, a section of society alleges that it was a staged encounter. The pressure from the Human Rights Department is immense and hence, DCP Ajooni Kohli (Kareena Kapoor Khan) of the Internal Vigilance Unit is asked to head an SIT and find out the truth. As a result, she heads to Suryapur, the scene of the crime. Ajooni has a no-nonsense and zero-prejudice approach to her work and is determined to find out what exactly happened and whether DCP Raman and his team are guilty. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Daayra Movie Story Review: Yash Keswani, Sima Agarwal and Meghna Gulzar's story is inspired by a particular real-life incident, while the makers have also drawn from other similar episodes to spin a largely interesting tale. Yash Keswani, Sima Agarwal and Meghna Gulzar's screenplay is captivating and peppered with some memorable dramatic moments. However, it gets confusing in a few places and loses steam completely in the climax. Yash Keswani, Sima Agarwal and Meghna Gulzar's dialogues add to the drama, though a few more hard-hitting and sharp lines could have elevated the impact.

Meghna Gulzar's direction is decent. The filmmaker goes back to her TALVAR [2015] zone with this one and approaches the subject in a similar manner. She doesn’t waste any time and comes straight to the point from the very first scene. The intercuts between the conversations of the two teams are smartly done, and viewers are gradually acquainted with what exactly happened. Meghna also attempts to shatter preconceived notions in the second half. Viewers expect the film to go a certain way, especially with the track involving the accused, but it takes an unexpected turn. A few scenes are memorable, like Ajooni recreating the scene of the crime and finding discrepancies, Parvati being made to wait at the police station and the press conference after the encounter. The intermission point is also memorable.

On the flipside, the film gets a bit stretched in the post-interval portions. In a few places, viewers may briefly get confused as it becomes difficult to ascertain whether the narrative is in flashback mode or unfolding in the present day. The circumstances under which Ragini is fooled are also difficult to digest, especially since a truck is involved. But the biggest issue with the film is that there’s no climax as such. The film ends rather abruptly. One expects fireworks and a confrontation between the two leads, but nothing of that sort happens. Viewers may be stunned when the end credits suddenly start rolling, as the film does not provide the kind of dramatic payoff one expects. This impacts the film heavily.

Daayra Movie Review Performances: Kareena Kapoor Khan keeps her act subtle and yet, delivers an effective performance. Unlike other female cop characters in recent past, she’s not depressed or alcoholic and hence, it makes for a novel watch. Prithviraj Sukumaran is terrific. His dialogue delivery is superb, but watch out for how he communicates merely through his eyes. Kshitee Jog shines, especially in the first half. Bhavesh Babbani, too, puts his best foot forward. Biswapati Sarkar (Commissioner Prakash Anand) does well, but his comic image is so strong that it becomes difficult to imagine him as a Commissioner and Prithviraj’s boss. Jitendra Joshi (Inspector Karad), as always, is dependable. Brij Bhushan Shukla (Inspector Bala; who refuses to file an FIR) leaves a huge mark. Upendra Chauhan (Vishal Mishra; team Ajooni), Ipshita Singh (Aarti; team Ajooni) and the actor playing Gopal lend able support. Trupti Khamkar (SI Jyoti; team DCP) is memorable in the chase sequence. Sandesh Kulkarni (Head constable Vasu; team DCP), Saksham Dayma (Inspector Daya; team DCP), Manoj Sharma (Constable Prasad Nayar and driver; team DCP), Ram Diwakar (Raju), Ashutosh Kumar Gupta (Bablu), Abdul Mani (Mani) and Aditya Kumar (Mastan) are fair. Achint Kaur (Gomti Pujari) and Kanwaljit Singh (Judge Kohli) are impressive in the cameo appearances.

Daayra movie music and other technical aspects: The lone song (by Amit Trivedi) – the title track – is forgettable. However, Ketan Sodha's background score is very impactful and enhances the impact in several scenes.

Saurabh Goswami's cinematography is praiseworthy, especially the use of close shots.Parvez Shaikh's action is minimal and not gory or violent. Subrata Chakraborty, Amit Ray's production design and Karishma Sharma's costumes are straight out of life. Charu Shree Roy and Meghna Gulzar's editing is smart, especially the intercuts. But it could have been sharper post-interval.

Daayra Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, DAAYRA rests on an intriguing premise and strong performances by Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran. However, the stretched second half and, more importantly, the absence of a satisfying climax heavily dilute the overall impact. At the box office, the buzz around the film is limited and it will need strong word of mouth from the multiplex audience to make a mark.

from Movie Review | Bollywood Movie Reviews | Latest Hindi Movies Reviews - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/SVFsLka
via IFTTT

HAIWAAN rests on strong performances and engaging face-offs, but its disjointed screenplay, weak songs and underwhelming climax dilute the impact Movie Review: Disjointed screenplay, weak songs and underwhelming climax dilute HAIWAAN’s impact

Star Cast: Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan

Director: Priyadarshan

Haiwaan Movie Review Synopsis: HAIWAAN is the story of a blind man fighting a notorious man. Shyam (Saif Ali Khan) is a young, blind man who works as a maintenance manager in an upscale society of Mumbai. His family is based in Devgad; his sister Shraddha (Yamini Joshi) is about to get married and Shyam needs to raise money for it and also to pay off a loan. Shyam is very close to Judge Pradhan (Boman Irani), the ex-chief justice of India, a resident of the same society where Shyam works. Pradhan confides to Shyam about a guilt that he's carrying since a long time and it is associated with a man called Parshuram (Akshay Kumar). Pradhan is trying to find him but is unable to do so. Unknown to Pradhan, Parshuram has set his eyes on him and is waiting for the right opportunity to attack the former. What Parshuram doesn't realize is that a blind man will wreak havoc for him. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Haiwaan Movie Story Review: HAIWAAN is adapted from the Malayalam film OPPAM [2016]. Priyadarshan's story has immense potential. However, Priyadarshan, Abilash Nair and Rohan Shankar's screenplay is weak, stretched and disjointed. Rohan Shankar's dialogues are fine. Some funny one-liners are in trademark Priyadarshan style but don’t have the same impact as his previous films.

Priyadarshan's direction has its moments. To give credit where it’s due, a few scenes are interesting, especially the ones involving Shyam and Parshuram. Whenever the two face off, the interest levels automatically go up. A massy scene involving Shyam at the police station is clapworthy, though it comes too late in the day. The phone booth sequence also takes one by surprise. The work of the technical team is first-rate and helps enhance the tension in several scenes.

On the flipside, the first half is disjointed and it takes a while to understand how the various characters are connected. The numerous songs further make the proceedings tedious. A few aspects are also never properly explained. Shyam is a maintenance manager employed by the society, yet he frequently takes leave to accompany Judge Pradhan to the hills and even to meet Nandini (Pahal Ashok Choudhary). It is also bewildering how Parshuram managed to amass so much wealth. Another major issue is that the film has too many subplots, and most of them are not tied up satisfactorily. The culmination of the Devgad track is abrupt, while the female characters don't get their proper due towards the end. The climax fight is meant to be nail-biting but ends up being unintentionally funny.

Haiwaan Movie Review Performances: Akshay Kumar gets his act right, and the way he lets his silence do the talking is impressive. However, his dialogue delivery is a bit over-the-top. Moreover, his screen time is limited, especially in the first half. Saif Ali Khan has the maximum screen time and delivers an effective performance. His portrayal of a visually impaired man is convincing, and he also impresses in the action scenes where he takes on the baddies. Boman Irani is dependable as always. Saiyami Kher (Inspector Varsha) is decent, though her role seems too similar to JAAT [2025]. Shriya Pilgaonkar (Naina) is fair but is let down by the writing. The same goes for Sharib Hashmi (Senior Inspector Ashok Shinde), while a few of his jokes fail to land. Late Asrani (Security Guard Hussein) is adorable. Rajesh Sharma (SP Rohit Vardhan) is okay, while Pahal Ashok Choudhary is cute. Yamini Joshi, Manoj Joshi (Pandurang) and Suchitra Pillai (Catherine D'Souza; Principal) are good in small roles.

Haiwaan movie music and other technical aspects: Pritam's music is forgettable. 'Rangiyara', 'Mere Hero Hai Woh' and the marriage song don’t work as intended. Ronnie Raphael's background score enhances the tension.

Divakar Mani's cinematography is superior and the silhouette shots especially stand out. Stunt Silva and Ravi Thyagarajan's action is realistic. Sabu Cyril's production design is superior, and Komal Shahani Mohan & V Sai Babu's costumes are convincing. Aiyappan Nair M S's editing is weak; the film should have been shorter by 30 minutes.

Haiwaan Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, HAIWAAN rests on Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar’s performances, a few engaging face-offs and strong technical values. However, the disjointed screenplay, excessive subplots, weak songs and an underwhelming climax limit its impact. With the hype around the film also being quite low, its box-office prospects appear dim.

from Movie Review | Bollywood Movie Reviews | Latest Hindi Movies Reviews - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/2eLMWA9
via IFTTT

LAST MAN IN TOWER rests on a relatable premise and is elevated by sincere performances Movie Review: LAST MAN IN TOWER rests on a highly relatable premise

Star Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Divya Dutta, Boman Irani

Director: Ben Rekhi

Last Man In Tower Movie Review Synopsis: LAST MAN IN TOWER is the story of a man and his principles. The year is 2010. Yogesh Mishra (Manoj Bajpayee) lives alone in a 2BHK flat in Vishram Society in Vakola, Mumbai. The building, built in 1961, is dilapidated, and renovation work has stalled because some members, struggling to make ends meet, cannot contribute to the expenses. At this juncture, builder Dharmen Shah (Boman Irani) of Determination Group enters their lives. He realizes that Vishram Society enjoys a prime location, being in close proximity to the airport, BKC and Dharavi, the latter of which is expected to emerge as a major financial centre in the future. Hence, he plans to demolish Vishram Society and build a residential complex called Shanghai in its place. In return, he offers the residents 2.5 times the market value of their flats. In other words, the residents are promised Rs. 25,000 per sq ft for their homes. Most of them are overjoyed by the seemingly too-good-to-be-true offer. Yogesh, however, refuses to accept it due to a past experience and also because the flat holds cherished memories of his late wife. A few elderly residents initially stand by him as well. His refusal soon creates friction among the residents and turns the once-harmonious society into a divided house. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Last Man In Tower Movie Story Review: LAST MAN IN TOWER is based on the book of the same name by Aravind Adiga. The story is very relevant in today's times. Sooni Taraporevala's screenplay is simple and captivating. But it loses steam in the third act. Juhi Chaturvedi's dialogues are realistic and also a bit dramatic as required.

Ben Rekhi's direction is decent. The characters are presented in a very realistic and relatable manner. Moreover, with the redevelopment boom at an all-time high in urban areas, one can easily connect with the goings-on. Many of us have witnessed similar conflicts around us – a section of residents, especially the younger ones, are more than willing to give up their flats in return for a handsome sum, a bigger residence and modern amenities in a plush new building. On the other hand, the older residents are often reluctant to give up their homes, thereby leading to friction. In LAST MAN IN TOWER, this conflict turns the best of friends into sworn enemies, with a few residents going to insane lengths to get their way. Some scenes that work well in this regard are the ones where the secretary, Kothari (Harish Khanna), forges Yogesh's signature and when thieves break into Yogesh's flat.

On the flipside, the film gets a bit abstract after a point. The scene where Yogesh suddenly starts talking to birds seems out of place and forced. Interestingly, a few scenes shown in the trailer are missing from the final film; their inclusion could have possibly enhanced the impact. The climax is shocking and is likely to leave viewers divided. Lastly, the buzz around the film is minimal, which could prove detrimental to its box-office prospects.

Last Man In Tower Movie Review Performances: Manoj Bajpayee delivers a very heartfelt and heroic performance of a man who doesn’t flinch even when the world is against him. The character is not without flaws and even that is subtly presented by the talented actor. Boman Irani gets his act right as a greedy builder who can go to any lengths. However, his illness angle is barely utilized; the film would have worked without focusing on it as well. Divya Dutta (Sangeeta Puri) has a crucial character and as always, she comes out with flying colours. Playing Sangeeta is a challenge as she’s complicated, but Divya makes her act effortless. Among the other residents, Chandan Roy Sanyal (Ramesh Ajwani) leaves the maximum mark followed by Uday Chandra (Mr Pinto), Madhuri Bhatia (Mrs Pinto), Harish Khanna and Swaroopa Ghosh (Mrs Rego; single mother). Sukant Goel (Gaurav Mishra; Yogesh's son) leaves a huge mark. Sarika Singh (Sonal Mishra; Yogesh's daughter-in-law) and Srikant Yadav (Shanmugham; Dharmen's aide) are fair.

Last Man In Tower movie music and other technical aspects: Govind Vasantha's music gets no scope. Govind Vasantha's background score is in sync with the film's mood. Rangarajan Ramabadran's cinematography has a cinematic appeal. Sachin Lovalekar's costumes are very realistic, while Rakesh Kumar Yadav's production design is straight out of life. Meghna Manchanda Sen and Akshara Prabhakar's editing is appropriate.

Last Man In Tower Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, LAST MAN IN TOWER rests on a highly relatable premise and is elevated by sincere performances, especially by Manoj Bajpayee and Divya Dutta. However, the uneven third act, abstract treatment in portions and a divisive climax dilute its overall impact. At the box office, the film will need strong word of mouth to overcome its low buzz and make a mark.

from Movie Review | Bollywood Movie Reviews | Latest Hindi Movies Reviews - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/2lBhsen
via IFTTT

Powered by powerhouse performances, whistle-worthy dialogues, massy moments and a rousing finale MIRZAPUR THE MOVIE is a paisa-vasool big-screen entertainer Movie Review: MIRZAPUR THE MOVIE is a paisa vasool big-screen entertainer

Star Cast: Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi, Divyenndu, Jitendra Kumar

Director: Gurmmeet Singh

Mirzapur The Movie Review Synopsis: MIRZAPUR THE MOVIE is the story of power and ambition. Akhandanand Tripathi aka Kaleen Bhaiyya (Pankaj Tripathi) is the undisputed king, or ‘baahubali’, of Mirzapur. He has little faith in his son, Phoolchand Tripathi aka Munna (Divyenndu), and is far more impressed by the abilities of Govind Pandit aka Guddu (Ali Fazal) and Vinay Pandit aka Bablu (Jitendra Kumar). Meanwhile, J P Yadav (Pramod Pathak) puts pressure on Kaleen Bhaiyya to arrange funds for his upcoming election campaign. In order to raise the money, Kaleen begins looking for a new supplier. This is when Bablu gets a tip about Babban Yadav (Ravi Kishan), a Jaisalmer-based businessman who is looking to sell seven truckloads of drugs. However, Babban has an ulterior motive – he intends to eliminate Kaleen Bhaiyya. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Mirzapur The Movie Story Review: Puneet Krishna's story is impressive and organically fits into the MIRZAPUR universe. Puneet Krishna's screenplay is very captivating and peppered with strong confrontational and action sequences. However, the writing in the middle of the second half leaves a lot to be desired. Puneet Krishna's dialogues are one of the highlights. A few one-liners are sure to be lapped up by the masses and could also go viral on social media.

Gurmmeet Singh's direction is mass-appealing. MIRZAPUR THE MOVIE is a unique experiment as it takes a popular web-series universe to the big screen. Moreover, it is not a continuation of the most recent season that dropped digitally. Instead, its story is set between Episodes 6 and 7 of the first season. This is a challenging proposition since the developments in the film cannot contradict or affect what happens subsequently in the series. In this regard, the writer emerges victorious, while Gurmmeet Singh also ensures that the continuity and essence of the MIRZAPUR universe remain intact. The film has a runtime of more than three hours, and yet, one doesn't get bored even for a moment. The action sequences may not be in abundance, but the film compensates with several powerful dramatic face-offs that elevate the impact. Some of the scenes that leave a mark are Guddu’s tu-tu main-main with his father while his mother tries on the woollen clothes, Guddu and Munna’s encounter at the salon, Babban’s argument with Vasudha Pandit (Sheeba Chaddha) and Guddu’s first meeting with Babban. However, the scene that takes the cake is the one in which Munna admonishes J P Yadav. It is sure to create a frenzy among the masses. The finale, too, is bound to get a roaring response in cinemas.

On the flipside, the film gets a bit stretched in the post-interval portions, while the romantic sequences feel forced. In fact, except for Beena Tripathi (Rasika Dugal) and Mumtaz Bibi (Sonal Chauhan), the rest of the actresses don’t have much to do. Babban’s decision to eliminate Kaleen Bhaiyya also seems unconvincing, as he doesn’t have a strong enough motive to take such an extreme step. Moreover, the film is predictable because, as mentioned earlier, it is set in the middle of the first season. Hence, one is already aware of the fate of several characters. As a result, a crucial scene in which a character’s heart stops beating has limited impact since the viewer knows that the character will survive.

Mirzapur The Movie Review Performances: Pankaj Tripathi delivers a supreme performance. Right from the first sequence, he ensures one forgets his light-hearted and comic avatars and sees him as the King of Mirzapur. Ali Fazal is terrific in his massiest performance to date. He plays to the gallery perfectly without going overboard. Divyenndu, too, puts his best foot forward and ensures that viewers get their money’s worth. Apart from his massy scenes, his emotional portion in the beginning also stands out. Jitendra Kumar had a big responsibility as he’s replacing Vikrant Massey. But he manages to effortlessly slip into the character. Ravi Kishan is too good. His fan following has gone through the roof lately and thankfully, the makers here have done full justice to his character, especially in the finale. Pramod Pathak, Sheeba Chaddha and Rasika Dugal have limited screen time, but they leave a tremendous mark. Sonal Chauhan looks stunning and delivers a fair performance; an actress who deserves to be seen more. Abhishek Banerjee (Subodh aka Compunder), Kulbhushan Kharbanda (Satyanand Tripathi), Shaji Choudhary (Maqbool) and Anangsha Biswas (Zarina) lend able support. Shweta Tripathi (Golu) and Shriya Pilgaonkar (Sweety) are impressive. Sadly, they don’t have much to do. Harshita Gaur (Dimpy) is wasted. Sushant Singh (Bhairav Singh Karnawat) and Rajesh Tailang (Ramakant Pandit) are dependable. Mohitt Maalik (Birju Lohar) delivers a decent performance. Satendra Soni (Chandu Puncture) is entertaining and the surprise of the film.

Mirzapur The Movie music and other technical aspects: The songs don’t register at all. 'Ghoom Ghoom' is the best of the lot, more due to the picturization and placement. 'Vaaroon Forever', 'Do Numbari', 'Sanson Ki Mala' and 'Vindhyvasini Ki Jao Ho' are average. John Stewart Eduri's background score is much better and enhances the impact of several scenes.

Sanjay Kapoor's cinematography is top-notch and lends the film a grandeur that surpasses the web series, giving it the much-needed cinematic feel. Amin Khatib's action is gory, and it works well for the film in this zone. Sonam Singh and Abhijit Gaonkar's production design is classy, while Darshan Jalan and Neelanchal Ghosh's costumes are realistic yet stylish. Manan Ashwin Mehta's editing is functional but could have been sharper in some scenes.

Mirzapur The Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, MIRZAPUR THE MOVIE is a paisa-vasool big-screen entertainer that successfully transports the much-loved world of MIRZAPUR from OTT to cinemas. The powerhouse performances, whistle-worthy dialogues, gripping confrontations, massy moments and a rousing finale compensate for the stretched portions and predictable nature of the narrative. The film has opened strongly at the box office and is on course to enter the Rs. 100 crore club over the opening weekend. With Rs. 200 crore well within reach, its strong audience response and franchise value could translate into a major theatrical success.

from Movie Review | Bollywood Movie Reviews | Latest Hindi Movies Reviews - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/z3M1CmY
via IFTTT

GANDHARI is a below-average drama salvaged to an extent by Taapsee Pannu’s act Movie Review: GANDHARI is a below average revenge drama

Star Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Ishwak Singh, Mita Vashisht

Director: Devashish Makhija

Gandhari Movie Review Synopsis: GANDHARI is the story of a brave mother. Bani (Taapsee Pannu) is married to Gokul (Ishwak Singh), and they have a daughter, Mishty (Myrah Shivan). While on a holiday, they pass through Joypurra. At the railway station, Mishty is kidnapped. Bani runs after the kidnapper but gets injured in the process, causing her to lose her eyesight. Bani and Gokul immediately approach the cops. Though the police assure them that they’ll find Mishty, they don't seem to take the case seriously. However, they are forced into action when AHTU sends a tough officer, Kabir (Jatin Sarna), to investigate the rising number of kidnappings of girls from Joypurra. Meanwhile, Bani bumps into Jhunu Amba (Mita Vashisht), with whom she shares a connection from the past. Jhunu motivates Bani to toughen up and take on the gang responsible for Mishty’s kidnapping. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Gandhari Movie Story Review: Kanika Kapoor's story is promising. Kanika Kapoor's screenplay is a mixed bag. While a few aspects are novel, there are places where the writing falters as well. Kanika Kapoor's dialogues heighten the drama.

Devashish Makhija's direction is commercial. The manner in which Bani’s blindness track is handled is unexpected and unlike anything one has seen in films featuring protagonists who have lost their eyesight. Even the Bahrupi community of Joypurra adds to the intrigue. The town, the community and the Chaumukhi festival are depicted so realistically that viewers might assume they actually exist and are not fictional. The film is less than two hours long, and the makers don’t waste any time, keeping the focus firmly on the principal plot of a mother seeking revenge.

On the flipside, there are far too many cinematic liberties. In some scenes, it is difficult to believe that Bani could have pulled off certain acts without anyone getting a whiff of her true intentions. The whole kidnapping and missing girls’ angle gets a bit confusing. A few characters, such as Uma (Chhaya Kadam) and Somesh (Chandan Roy), are also introduced rather abruptly into the narrative. However, where the film falters the most is in its depiction of the bond between Bani and Gokul. The manner in which things unfold between them in the climax is highly unconvincing. One can even argue that it was not even needed in the first place. Lastly, it is bewildering and even unintentionally amusing that Bani doesn’t remember her past or the fact that she had gone through a similar ordeal earlier.

Gandhari Movie Review Performances: Taapsee Pannu, as expected, delivers a fabulous performance. She’s apt for such roles and impresses not just in action but also in the emotional scenes. Ishwak Singh puts up a sincere act but is let down a bit by the writing. Jatin Sarna leaves a tremendous mark. Mita Vashisht gets to play a badass role and performs ably. Chhaya Kadam is great and one wishes she had more screen time. The same goes for Chandan Roy. Myrah Shivan is cute. Prashant Narayanan (Dada) and Swastika Mukherjee (Churni) do well in small roles. Priti Shroff (ASI Sanjukta) is a great find, while Vishwanath Chatterjee (Inspector Saha) is fair.

Gandhari movie music and other technical aspects: Shor Police's music is well-woven into the narrative. However, none of the songs register. Shor Police's background score is better, especially in the action scenes.

Amit Roy's cinematography is satisfactory. Brahim Achhabake, Riyaz Shaikh, Habib Sayed and Anis Shaikh's action is exciting and not too gory, though there was scope to make it more violent. Nikhil Kovale and Apurva Bhagat's production design is authentic, and Prashant Sawant's costumes are realistic. Naman Arora's editing is too slick in some places but overall, fine.

Gandhari Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, GANDHARI is a below-average revenge drama that is salvaged to an extent by Taapsee Pannu’s powerful performance, an interesting setting and a few engaging moments. However, the impact is heavily diluted by excessive cinematic liberties, confusing portions and weak writing, particularly in the third act.

from Movie Review | Bollywood Movie Reviews | Latest Hindi Movies Reviews - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/IrouE1D
via IFTTT

TOXIC impresses with scale, action and Yash’s swagger but is let down by an uneven screenplay, sluggish pacing and weak emotional connect Movie Review: TOXIC leans on style and swagger but lacks story and depth

Star Cast: Yash, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth, Huma Qureshi

Director: Geetu Mohandas

Toxic Movie Review Synopsis: TOXIC is the story of a man and the various women in his life. The year is 1947. India achieves independence, but Goa is still under Portuguese rule. Yet, it is Salvador (Darrell D'Silva) who's calling the shots. Raya (Yash) and his sister Ganga (Nayanthara) join Salvador's gang and soon rise through the ranks thanks to their wit and bravado. Raya bumps into Salvador's rebellious daughter Rebecca (Tara Sutaria) and the two have a fling. Rebecca falls completely in love with Raya but Raya gets smitten by Nadia (Kiara Advani), the owner of a circus and also its star performer. Nadia's entry brings a lot of excitement but also pain and anguish for Raya. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Toxic Movie Story Review: Yash and Geetu Mohandas's story must have sounded exciting on paper. However, Yash and Geetu Mohandas's screenplay is bizarre and neither in the commercial nor in the artistic zone. Yash and Geetu Mohandas's dialogues are sharp at several places. At the same time, a few one-liners are forced and over-the-top.

Geetu Mohandas's direction is weak. To give credit where it’s due, she handles the scale of the film well. The film is mounted spectacularly, and she ensures that the final product feels worthy of the big screen. A few scenes stand out, including Raya’s entry, Raya’s track with Ganga, and Raya and Nadia’s dinner date and what follows thereafter. The interval block – comprising the marriage scene and the sequence at the fort – also makes for an interesting watch.

On the flipside, the portions depicting Raya and Ganga’s childhood are a bit confusing. Raya’s entry into Salvador’s gang is also never explained properly. The track of Mellisa (Rukmini Vasanth) is very weak and childish. Until a certain point, there’s not much movement in the story and one wonders where the narrative is heading. The entry of Ticket (Yash) initially brings some energy. However, the fight between the characters once again pulls down the film. But it’s the twist in the climax that seals the fate of the film. It might have seemed interesting had TOXIC been a film festival offering. But adding such a twist to a commercial film backfires, as it is likely to go bouncer for the masses. The other major issue is that the slow-motion scenes and Raya’s characterization give a strong KGF and even ANIMAL hangover.

Toxic Movie Review Performances: Yash puts in a lot of effort and it shows. He looks dashing while doing action and serenading the ladies. At the same time, he also ends up hamming in some scenes. Kiara Advani is the best performer in the film; her track is quite interesting. Nayanthara comes next. She looks stunning and performance-wise, she’s terrific. Tara Sutaria is a surprise and leaves a huge mark. Huma Qureshi, as always, is dependable and the same goes for Akshay Oberoi. Rukmini Vasanth is okay and her track comes at a time when the audience has lost interest in the film. Darrell D'Silva, Sudev Nair (Karmadi) and others are fair.

Toxic movie music and other technical aspects: Songs are okay. 'Tabaahi' is the best song of the lot and works due to its melody and picturization. 'Madhosh' and 'Waqt' are just okay. Ravi Basrur's background score elevates the impact.

Rajeev Ravi's cinematography gives the film a grand, cinematic look. J J Perry, Anbariv, Kecha Khamphakdee and Amrit Singh's action is gory, as per the times. T P Abid's production design is classy. Saniya Sardhariya's costumes for Yash are stylish while Neha R Bajaj's costumes for the others are glamorous. DNEG's VFX is top-class. Ujwal Kulkarni's editing is fine but could have been sharper especially in the Macau scenes.

Toxic Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, TOXIC relies far too heavily on style, swagger and the familiar KGF-esque aura of Yash, while falling short on a compelling story and emotional connect. The performances, scale, action and technical finesse provide occasional highs, but the uneven screenplay, sluggish portions and a climax twist that is unlikely to resonate with the mass audience prove to be major deterrents. At the box office, TOXIC is expected to take a very good opening, driven by Yash’s immense popularity, strong pre-release buzz and the film’s event-scale presentation. However, unless audience word of mouth is significantly stronger than the film merits, collections could witness a noticeable drop over the weekend itself or, at the latest, from Monday.

from Movie Review | Bollywood Movie Reviews | Latest Hindi Movies Reviews - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/USvW7El
via IFTTT

PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE benefits from fun dinosaur setting, cute characters and engaging climax Movie Review: PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE benefits from a fun dinosaur setting

Star Cast: Henry Bolan, Ron Pardo, Carter Young, Hayden Chamberlain

Director: Cal Brunker

Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie Review Synopsis: PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE is the story of the mighty dogs befriending dinosaurs. The Paw Patrol goes to sea to rescue a yacht that catches fire. While returning to Adventure City, they get caught in a storm. Their boat veers towards a mysterious island that is nowhere to be seen on the map. Ryder (Henry Bolan), the leader of the patrol, decides to explore the island along with his dog squad, comprising Marshall (Carter Young), Chase (Rain Janjua), Skye (McKenna Grace), Rubble (Lucien Duncan-Reid), Rocky (William Desrosiers) and Zuma (Nylan Parthipan). They get the shock of their lives when they realize that the island is populated by gigantic but friendly dinosaurs. They also bump into a dog, Rex (Hayden Chamberlain), who has been stranded on the island for years and has befriended the creatures. Ryder and the squad return to Adventure City and inform the world about the presence of dinosaurs on ‘Dino Island’. As a result, experts from all over the world descend on the island to study the dinosaurs. Humdinger (Ron Pardo) also lands there, but with ulterior motives. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie Story Review: Cal Brunker and Bob Barlen's story is much more interesting this time. Cal Brunker and Bob Barlen's screenplay is breezy and fast-paced, though like the previous parts, the writing suffers at some places. The dialogues add to the humour quotient.

Cal Brunker's direction is simple and kid-friendly. The previous parts also appealed to the kids more than the adults, unlike the other animated films that target the whole family. However, this part goes a notch above the first two installments as this time, the action shifts from Adventure City to an island full of dinosaurs. And these prehistoric creatures are not on a killing spree and are quite adorable. Rhubarb especially is very cute. While Chase and Skye faced trauma in the earlier films, this time, it’s Marshall who goes through a phase of self-doubt, which adds to the emotional impact. The climax is quite nail-biting and helps take the series several notches higher.

On the flipside, the film gets too illogical and senseless in places. Agreed, one doesn’t necessarily look for logic in a kiddie film, but a Disney-Pixar or DreamWorks production would have probably taken greater care of such loose ends. For instance, initially, it appears that entry to Dino Island is restricted. However, it later becomes clear that there’s no one actually monitoring access, as Humdinger manages to sneak in quite easily. If that’s the case, wouldn’t tourists and social media influencers have descended on the island in hordes to shoot videos and Reels with the dinosaurs? The character of Rex, a paraplegic dog, is a nice touch, but surprisingly, no backstory is provided about how he lost the use of his legs. Also, the much-loved Liberty simply disappears from the squad in this instalment, without any explanation. The much-publicized cameo voiceovers by Snoop Dogg, Jennifer Hudson and others are blink-and-you-miss appearances. Lastly, the PAW PATROL franchise doesn’t enjoy the same level of popularity in India as it does in several international markets.

Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie Review Performances: Speaking of the voiceovers, Carter Young gets the maximum prominence and does very well. Hayden Chamberlain, Henry Bolan and Ron Pardo also make a strong impression. Rain Janjua, McKenna Grace, Lucien Duncan-Reid and Nylan Parthipan lend able support. Terry Crews (Alistair Stonewall; dynamite expert) and Meredith MacNeill (Harper Cutlass; hunter) leave a mark.

Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie music and other technical aspects: Pinar Toprak’s music is peppy. Peter Chan’s production design is vibrant. The animation is at par with global standards. Ed Fuller’s editing is razor-sharp.

Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE benefits from a fun dinosaur setting, cute characters, and an engaging climax. However, the film is also quite illogical in places and suffers from loose ends. Moreover, the PAW PATROL series is not very popular in India, which could prove detrimental to its box office prospects.

from Movie Review | Bollywood Movie Reviews | Latest Hindi Movies Reviews - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/TIcu0SY
via IFTTT

THE END OF OAK STREET is a gripping, visually striking and entertaining creature thriller Movie Review: THE END OF OAK STREET is an entertaining creature thriller.

Star Cast: Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella, Christian Convery

Director: David Robert Mitchell

The End Of Oak Street Movie Review Synopsis: THE END OF OAK STREET is the story of a family caught in an unusual and terrifying situation. The year is 1982. Denise Platt (Anne Hathaway) lives on Oak Street in the suburb of Flowervale with her husband Greg (Ewan McGregor), daughter Audrey (Maisy Stella) and son Brian (Christian Convery). Denise and Greg's marriage is on the rocks. Greg works as a delivery man for Pete's Pizza, and Denise has reservations about his job as she wants him to find more regular employment. Meanwhile, strange things begin occurring on Oak Street. A mysterious plant appears in the backyard of Denise's elderly neighbour. A huge pile of what looks like cow excrement mysteriously turns up in the yard of their neighbour, Mel (P J Byrne). One night, a huge white light suddenly engulfs Oak Street, followed by a loud noise and a power cut. The next morning, the Platts wake up and realize that the electricity has still not been restored. When they step outside, they get the shock of their lives as they see dinosaurs roaming around the neighbourhood. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

The End Of Oak Street Movie Story Review: David Robert Mitchell's story is novel and fascinating. David Robert Mitchell's screenplay is gripping from the very first scene and keeps viewers hooked until the very end. The dialogues are conversational and a few one-liners are funny.

David Robert Mitchell's direction is splendid. He gives the film a distinct retro touch; hence, the colour tone, the execution and even the background score carry an old-world stamp. The plot is a winner. We have seen films about aliens attacking cities or dinosaurs wreaking havoc in parks specifically created for them. In THE END OF OAK STREET, however, dinosaurs are unleashed in an ordinary American suburb, which gives the premise a fresh spin. How the Platt family attempts to survive and battle these creatures makes for a thrilling watch. A few jump scares are sure to evoke screams in cinemas, while certain mass-appealing moments are likely to be greeted with applause.

On the flipside, the actions of a few characters seem illogical. This is especially evident around the mid-point, when both Audrey and Brian leave the house without informing their parents despite knowing that it is dangerous to be outside. The sub-plot involving Jeannette (Jordan Alexa Davis) and Kaden Tucker (Hudson Meek) seems forced and does not add much to the principal plot. Certain questions remain unanswered till the very end, which may not be liked by some sections of the audience. Lastly, the comic moments help ease the tension, but a few of them feel unwarranted.

The End Of Oak Street Movie Review Performances: Anne Hathaway delivers a solid performance that enhances the impact of the film. She is impressive in the action sequences, but truly shines in the emotional moments. Another scene where she stands out is when she clicks a picture of Greg with two dinosaurs in the background. The actress is on a roll. Earlier this year, she was seen in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 and THE ODYSSEY, and her roles in all three films are vastly different from one another, proving her versatility yet again. Ewan McGregor also makes his presence felt and dominates some key scenes. Maisy Stella and Christian Convery also put their best foot forward. Jordan Alexa Davis and Hudson Meek do well but are let down by the writing. P J Byrne is okay. Anne Gee Byrd (Mrs Huddleston) leaves a huge mark in a small role. Emily Kuroda (Mrs Valcourt; librarian) is fair.

The End Of Oak Street movie music and other technical aspects: Michael Giacchino's music has a retro touch and is perfectly in sync with the film’s mood. Michael Gioulakis's cinematography is praiseworthy. In certain shots, a split-diopter lens appears to have been used, allowing a character or object in the extreme foreground and another element in the distant background to remain in sharp focus simultaneously. It lends a distinctive visual touch to the film.

The action is realistic as well as gory. The VFX is top-class. Erin Benach's costumes and Maya Shimoguchi's production design effectively recreate the bygone era. John Axelrad's editing is sharp and unhurried.

The End Of Oak Street Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, THE END OF OAK STREET is a gripping, visually striking and entertaining creature thriller that scores with its novel premise, retro treatment, thrilling dinosaur sequences and strong performances by Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor. The film has managed to register decent advance bookings despite the clash with AWARAPAN 2 and BATWARA 1947. As a result, it has the potential to surprise at the ticket windows.

from Movie Review | Bollywood Movie Reviews | Latest Hindi Movies Reviews - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/DuI9itl
via IFTTT

AWARAPAN 2 is a mass-appealing action entertainer, powered by Emraan Hashmi, nostalgia, emotion and whistle-worthy moments Movie Review: AWARAPAN 2 is a mass-appealing action entertainer

Star Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Disha Patani, Shabana Azmi

Director: Nitin Kakkar

Awarapan 2 Movie Review Synopsis: AWARAPAN 2 is the story of a man on a mission. Nineteen years have passed since the events of the first part. Shivam Pandit (Emraan Hashmi) has survived and continues to mourn the untimely demise of Aaliyah Hamid (Shriya Saran). He forms a bond with an abandoned child, whom he names Aaliyah (Myrah Shivan). When the girl finds herself in trouble, Shivam brings back his old, brave and fearless avatar. He travels to Bangkok and takes on members of a dangerous gang to save Aaliyah. Amid the chaos, he finds solace in Zara (Disha Patani). What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Awarapan 2 Movie Story Review: Vishesh Bhatt's story carries the essence of the first part. Bilal Siddiqi and Vishesh Bhatt's screenplay is engaging and peppered with engaging and emotional moments. However, the writing could have been tighter and less predictable. Bilal Siddiqi and Vishesh Bhatt's dialogues (additional dialogues by Sanjay Masoom) are in sync with the zone of the film.

Nitin Kakkar's direction is mass appealing. He nicely plays on the nostalgia factor and moreover, presents the protagonist in an extremely likeable avatar. Hence, one roots for Shivam from start to finish. The antagonist's track and his equation with his siblings is another riveting track that will be lapped up by the audience. There's abundance of action which will find patronage from the mass audience and single screen patrons. Certain scenes will lead to lots of claps and whistles.

On the flipside, despite the best efforts, the film falls short of the greatness of AWARAPAN [2007], which has become a cult classic. The romantic track between Shivam and Zara doesn't work as intended. A few twists are predictable and one can guess from a mile away. A few scenes are silly like the villain allowing the protagonist to survive and not killing. It makes no sense considering that he's shown to be quite ruthless. Lastly, the final scene will leave the audience divided.

Awarapan 2 Movie Review Performances: Emraan Hashmi is presented in a mass appealing avatar and will be loved. There's been a huge demand to see him in such a character but he had not done a role of this kind in a long time. Hence, masses and his fans will be in for a treat. Disha Patani looks stunning and gives a first-rate performance. Shabana Azmi (Nafisa Nawaz) is lovely and one wishes she had more screen time. Puran Gabbi (Zorawar) is a great find and is a big surprise. Aniruddh Rawal (Sikandar) is another actor that will be appreciated. Suvinder Vicky (Jaideep), Vijayant Kohli (Mehmood) and Atul Kumar (Samarth) lend able support. Myrah Shivan delivers a confident performance. Shriya Saran and Shaad Randhawa's cameos are fair.

Awarapan 2 movie music and other technical aspects: The music is decent and again, no match to the soundtrack of the original. 'Tera Mera Rishta Continues' and 'Toh Phir Aao' are the best of the lot followed by 'Yeh Awarapan' and 'Ve Junoon'. 'Tumhare Liye', 'Piya Ghar Aaya' and 'Laado' fail to entice. Raju Singh's background score is much better.

Vishnu Rao's cinematography is stunning. The locales of Rajasthan and Bangkok are spectacularly shot. Aejaz Gulab and Kawee Sirikhanaerut's action is a bit gory. Shiraz Siddique and Maxima Basu's costumes are stylish while Sunayana Sabherwal and Tarpan Shrivastavaa's production design is classy. Devendra Murdeshwar's editing is sharp and could have been better in beginning of the second half.

Awarapan 2 Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, AWARAPAN 2 works as a mass-appealing action entertainer powered by Emraan Hashmi’s likeable performance, nostalgia, emotion and whistle-worthy moments. At the box office, the film is all set for a smashing opening and a strong weekend, and this will prove to be one of the biggest hits of the year.

from Movie Review | Bollywood Movie Reviews | Latest Hindi Movies Reviews - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/vcbFXMz
via IFTTT

OHH MY DOG is an endearing entertainer that scores with its adorable canine hero Movie Review: OHH MY DOG is an endearing and unusual entertainer

Star Cast: Mahi Rai, Pankaj Tripathi, Pavan Malhotra

Director: Amit Rai

Ohh My Dog Movie Review Synopsis: OHH MY DOG is the story of two dogs and their devoted masters. In Dibrugarh, Assam, a dog named Momo is adopted by a young boy, Apu (Mahi Rai), and his parents (Geeta Agarwal and Prashant Kashyap). One day, Momo suddenly disappears from outside their house. Apu and his mother approach the local police station for help. However, the SHO, Mohd Yusuf Hazari (Vijay Mishra), refuses to take action. He informs them that Momo may have been abducted by a gang involved in smuggling dogs for their meat and advises them not to harbour much hope. However, Apu refuses to accept defeat and decides to track down Momo on his own. Meanwhile, in Patna, Bihar, the situation is reversed. Oscar’s master, Prince (Nikhil Kumar), an underage construction worker, is kidnapped. It is Oscar who raises an alarm over Prince’s disappearance, prompting the others at the construction site to take the matter seriously. They approach Prince’s teacher (Pankaj Tripathi) for help. Here, too, the police officer (Rajesh Kumar) is reluctant to assist them. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Ohh My Dog Movie Story Review: Amit Rai's story is unconventional as the story centres around dogs. Amit Rai's screenplay is gripping and peppered with thrilling as well as clapworthy moments. However, the writing gets stretched in some places. Amit Rai's dialogues are conversational and, in some places, he has also cleverly infused some funny one-liners.

Amit Rai’s direction is praiseworthy. It is no cakewalk to helm a film in which a dog is one of the principal characters. In this regard, Amit deserves brownie points for getting the animal to perform convincingly and even execute action sequences. Moreover, Oscar’s actions are so adorable and heroic that children are sure to lap them up. Bollywood rarely makes films primarily for young audiences, and OHH MY DOG comes as a breath of fresh air in this space. Meanwhile, the parallel track involving the child in Assam is equally immersive. A particular sequence in which Apu traces his missing dog’s movements from a nullah to a riverbank stands out. The entry of the RTO officer (Pavan Malhotra) further adds to the madness.

On the flipside, at 150 minutes, the film is a little too long and could easily have been shorter by around 15 minutes. A few portions are needlessly stretched, while the writing becomes unconvincing in places. The behaviour of the SHO in Dibrugarh is difficult to digest. Apu uses illegal apps to track down the kidnappers in the presence of the police, and the officer should ideally have objected to it. Also, considering his ulterior motive, it seems unlikely that he would openly inform Apu’s mother about the gang involved in kidnapping dogs. The sequence featuring 250 dogs is visually appealing and is sure to wow viewers, but it also takes away from the film’s realism. Lastly, the music fails to make an impact.

Ohh My Dog Movie Review Performances: The human actors put their best foot forward, but it is the dog Bruno, who plays Oscar, who takes the cake with his cuteness and bravery. Mahi Rai comes next. He puts up a confident performance and dominates the other actors. Pankaj Tripathi is adorable in what could be called a supporting role. Pavan Malhotra has a late entry and makes up for it with his arresting screen presence. Geeta Agarwal gets into the skin of her character. Vijay Mishra and Rajesh Kumar leave a huge mark. Nikhil Kumar is aptly cast. Sulakhyana Baruah (Krishna; Apu's teacher) is a great find. Bulloo Kumar (Kidnapper) puts up a fine act.

Ohh My Dog movie music and other technical aspects: Aman Pant's music doesn’t entice. However, Mangesh Dhakde's background score is much better and in sync with the film’s happenings.

Mate Herbai's cinematography is terrific. Bihar and Assam have never been captured before in this manner in a Hindi film. Some shots are captured from the point of view of the dog and it adds to the tension. Ashwini Shrivastav's production design is realistic while Isaac Hamon and Sunil Rodrigues' action is entertaining. White Apple's VFX is satisfactory. Suvir Nath's editing could have been crisper.

Ohh My Dog Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, OHH MY DOG is an endearing and unusual entertainer that scores with its adorable canine hero, engaging performances and several thrilling, clapworthy moments. However, the low pre-release buzz and the arrival of strong competition next week could restrict its box-office prospects. It will therefore need positive word of mouth to draw audiences to cinemas and sustain at the ticket window.

from Movie Review | Bollywood Movie Reviews | Latest Hindi Movies Reviews - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/fNVFj7w
via IFTTT

BHAI TERA STAR HAI is an unfunny comedy that fails to make the most of its premise Movie Review: BHAI TERA STAR HAI is a chaotic and unfunny comedy

Star Cast: Raghav Juyal, Sanjay Kapoor, Niharika NM

Director: Vivek B Agrawal

Bhai Tera Star Hai Movie Review Synopsis: BHAI TERA STAR HAI is the story of a man in trouble. Ajay Singh (Raghav Juyal) is a struggling actor living in London. He owes £10,000 to Fatty (Sanjay Kapoor), a dreaded don and pub owner. Fed up with the repeated delays, Fatty gives Ajay 90 minutes to repay the money. Ajay leaves the pub and meets his girlfriend, Roshni (Niharika NM), asking her for financial help. He lies that his sister, Natasha (Parvathy Omanakuttan), is pregnant and urgently needs money. At the same time, he tells Natasha that Roshni is expecting a child and, therefore, requires money urgently. Meanwhile, Roshni asks her brother, Sid (Vivan Bhatena), to arrange the cash. Sid has lent money to several women and goes around the city trying to recover it from them. One of these women is his former girlfriend, Natasha, who also happens to be Ajay’s sister. Soon, several other characters become embroiled in the madness that unfolds over the course of one night. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Bhai Tera Star Hai Movie Story Review: Sudipto Sarkar and Vivek B Agrawal's story may have sounded very exciting and novel on paper. Sudipto Sarkar and Vivek B Agrawal's screenplay is witty in the sense that it has multiple one take shots. However, the goings-on are bizarre and not funny at all. Sudipto Sarkar and Vivek B Agrawal's dialogues (additional dialogues by Vanika Sangtani, Puneet Sheth, Kamya Mehra) are just okay. Only a few one-liners are funny.

Vivek B Agrawal’s direction is poor. To give credit where it is due, the film features several five- to ten-minute-long takes. It is commendable how the makers manage to pack so much action into scenes filmed in a single take. Moreover, these sequences are not restricted to one location or a static frame; some even unfold on the streets, adding to the chaos. The idea of the protagonist separately lying to his sister and girlfriend about the other being pregnant in order to raise money is clever and could have generated considerable entertainment. The character of Fatty is also amusing – a dreaded don in front of the world who is, ironically, terrified of his wife, Mandy (Niki Walia).

Yet, the film simply fails to impress, as there is hardly anything genuinely funny in it. Despite being just 105 minutes long, it becomes a chore to sit through. The lengthy single-take sequences cease to impress after the first few minutes, while the proceedings become increasingly bizarre as the film progresses. A crucial plot point involves a character being shot in the neck or shoulder. At times, he appears to be in immense pain, but in other scenes, he behaves as though he has suffered only a minor scratch. He does not receive any treatment for his serious injury until the very end and simply goes home! The finale is highly convenient. While most of the tracks are neatly wrapped up, one major subplot is left unresolved.

Bhai Tera Star Hai Movie Review Performances: Raghav Juyal is amusing in a few scenes, but overall, his performance is too loud, possibly due to the requirement of the script. Niharika NM has an arresting screen presence and delivers a subtle and effective performance. Sanjay Kapoor is aptly cast and tries his best to enhance the impact. Tina Desai (Chandani) is lovely in what could be called her comeback role. Barkha Singh (Laila), Parvathy Omanakuttan and Vivan Bhatena are sincere. Vikalp Mehta (JD) is fine but is let down by his character. Niki Walia and Dev Agarwal (Jackie; younger brother) are just okay. Chandan Roy Sanyal (Officer Hamid) tries his best, but his character just doesn’t entice. Naser Al Azzeh (Harry) and Vineeth Kumar (Sandy) are forced into the narrative.

Bhai Tera Star Hai movie music and other technical aspects: Amit Trivedi’s music is not up to the mark. The title track plays during the opening credits. Meanwhile, believe it or not, but as many as three songs – ‘Aankhon Se Tune 2.0’, ‘Nach De Lalariya’ and ‘Rang Barse’ – are played back-to-back during the end credits. ‘Aankhon Se Tune 2.0’ stands out due to its picturization, though it is rather forcefully incorporated into the narrative. Shivam-Anuj’s background score is also excessively loud, while the intermittent use of ‘Reel’-style sound effects is a put-off.

Tribhuvan Babu Sadineni’s cinematography is commendable, particularly in the way the lengthy single-take sequences have been executed. The production design is decent. Rick Roy's costumes are rich. Avantika Hari's editing is smart.

Bhai Tera Star Hai Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, BHAI TERA STAR HAI is a chaotic and unfunny comedy that fails to make the most of its interesting premise and single-take sequences. With limited buzz and the film clashing with the monstrous SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY, it is likely to struggle to attract audiences at the box office.

from Movie Review | Bollywood Movie Reviews | Latest Hindi Movies Reviews - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/qu2vV7i
via IFTTT