PREM KEETANU is a decent entertainer but suffers from a weak second half Movie Review: PREM KEETANU is a decent entertainer https://ift.tt/Yo0DBVl

Star Cast: Veer Pahariya, Aafiya Sayed, Aparshakti Khurana

Director: Apoorv Singh Karki

Prem Keetanu Movie Review Synopsis: PREM KEETANU is the story of a good-for-nothing guy. Vishal (Veer Pahariya) meets Suhani Sharma (Aafiya Sayed) on the first day of college at Banaras Institute of Science and Technology. The two get into a fight and end up cursing each other that they won’t find a partner during their four years in college. At the last minute, Suhani takes admission to the more prestigious SIT in Delhi. Their personal lives follow a similar trajectory as neither manages to find a partner. Academically, however, their journeys are poles apart. Suhani excels in her studies and lands a job at AFL Software Pvt Ltd through campus placement. Her boss, Ranjit (Aparshakti Khurana), is smitten by her and constantly tries to impress her. Meanwhile, Vishal fails to land a job due to his poor grades. He shifts to Delhi and applies for GRE and TOEFL, with the eventual plan of studying in the USA. He needs Rs. 5 lakhs in his bank account to be eligible for a visa and hence starts looking for a job. Meanwhile, he bumps into Suhani again, and this time, they hit it off very well. But Ranjit has reservations about Vishal. He tries to belittle him out of fear that Vishal might successfully woo Suhani. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Prem Keetanu Movie Story Review: PREM KEETANU is adapted from the 2024 Malayalam film, PREMALU. Deepak Kingrani's story is simple and relatable. Deepak Kingrani's screenplay is breezy, though it falters in the post-interval sequences. Deepak Kingrani's dialogues are straight out of life, and a few one-liners raise laughs.

Apoorv Singh Karki's direction is uncomplicated. The biggest strength of the film is that the characters come across as real and relatable, almost like people one encounters in everyday life. Their joys, struggles and insecurities also strike a chord. The makers have made several changes compared to the original and ensured that the story fits organically into the milieu of Delhi, Banaras and Lucknow. The scenes between Vishal and Ranjit are quite memorable, as are Vishal's interactions with his pal, Magan Arora (Nikhil Vijay).

On the flipside, the film loses steam in the second half. Vishal goes overboard during the proposal and the fight sequence, and these portions dent the impact. At times, audiences might also find Vishal childish and may struggle to root for him. The same issue crops up in the interval block, which doesn't work as intended. After a point, the proceedings become such that they may appeal only to a certain section of the moviegoing audience, while viewers seeking more sophisticated or nuanced content may not connect with it as much. The film also feels stretched in places, and the frequent songs end up acting as roadblocks to the narrative.

Prem Keetanu Movie Review Performances: Veer Pahariya is in much better form here than SKY FORCE [2025]. His performance is decent, but it could have been better in the emotional scenes. Aafiya Sayed is a great find. She looks stunning and delivers a first-rate performance. Nikhil Vijay steals the show with his presence and performance. Aparshakti Khurana, too, puts his best foot forward and gets his act right as the man who is too full of himself. At the same time, he doesn’t let his act go overboard. Rakesh Bedi (Suhani's father) has limited presence in the first half but makes up for it in the post-interval sequences. Sachin Kathuria (Vishal's father) is fair, while Preeti Aggarwal (Suhani's mother) doesn’t get much scope.

Prem Keetanu movie music and other technical aspects: The songs are okay, and there are too many of them. A film of this kind also needed a chartbuster or two. 'Undi Bundi' is the most memorable of the lot, followed by 'Ishq Ka Ghulaam'. The visuals of the latter give a déjà vu of 'Tere Ishq Mein Naachenge' from RAJA HINDUSTANI [1996], and feel slightly unsettling as the film turns heavy at this point. The rest of the songs fail to register. Ketan Sodha's background score is functional.

Arjun Kukreti's cinematography is satisfactory. Veera Kapur Ee's costumes are stylish while also staying true to the setting and characters. Ambika Acharya's production design and Amin Khatib's action are realistic. Ritesh Soni's editing is decent, though it could have been sharper.

Prem Keetanu Movie Review Conclusion On the whole, PREM KEETANU is a decent entertainer with some good performances and entertaining moments. However, the film suffers due to a weak second half and stretched portions. With the film releasing amid minimal buzz and, more importantly, alongside the juggernaut DRISHYAM THE CONCLUSION, it is likely to get completely overshadowed at the box office.

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PRIMETIME is stylish and intriguing, with a terrific Pattinson performance, but uneven writing limits its impact. Movie Review: PRIMETIME impresses but uneven writing holds it back. https://ift.tt/AE7vxGX

Star Cast: Robert Pattinson, Skyler Gisondo

Director: Lance Oppenheim

Primetime Movie Review Synopsis: PRIMETIME is the story of an ambitious television personality. The year is 2006. Chris Hansen (Robert Pattinson) is a television journalist working for NBC and the host of the show ‘To Catch A Predator’. With the help of producer Andie Bender (Merritt Wever) and Xavier Von Erck (Matthew Maher), the eccentric leader of the online civilian vigilante group ‘Perverted-Justice’, Chris introduces a new format on television, in which suspected online child predators are lured to suburban decoy homes rigged with hidden surveillance cameras. The operation also requires an adult who can convincingly pass off as a minor. Twenty-three-year-old Dan Plumb (Skyler Gisondo) fits the bill and joins the team. The bosses at NBC are impressed by the show’s ratings and decide to give it a coveted primetime slot. Chris is on cloud nine, but his joy is short-lived as the show’s growing popularity also brings increased pressure and scrutiny. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Primetime Movie Story Review: PRIMETIME is adapted from the 2007 Esquire article 'Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die' by Luke Dittrich. Ajon Singh's story is inspired by real-life events and is quite fascinating. Ajon Singh's screenplay is a mixed bag. While some scenes are exceptional, several sequences fail to make the mark. The dialogues are okay. As it happens with most films released by PVR Inox Pictures, there are no subtitles and hence, some dialogues might not be easy to comprehend.

Lance Oppenheim’s direction is stylish. What stands out about the storytelling is the manner in which several scenes are presented like an investigative television show from the 2000s. Hence, expect harsh CRT monitor blues, bleeding VHS tones, surveillance-camera footage and extreme close-ups. The narrow 1.50:1 aspect ratio also works well in this regard. The manner in which the team goes about exposing the predators makes for an interesting watch. Dan Plumb’s character and his dilemmas are also presented effectively.

On the flipside, the interest levels dip at several points. The track involving Chris’ personal life fails to engage. Moreover, the narrative style is quite niche and, hence, may not be everyone’s cup of tea. The finale is intriguing but also feels a bit abrupt.

Primetime Movie Review Performances: Robert Pattinson rises about the shortcomings of the writing and delivers a performance that is nuanced and effective. Chris's cold narcissism and an insatiable lust for ratings comes across very well on screen thanks to Robert's performance. Skyler Gisondo has a crucial part and delivers a fantastic performance. Merritt Wever and Matthew Maher leave a huge mark. Phoebe Bridgers (Del Harvey) is okay and doesn't get much scope. The same goes for Anna Faris (Mary; Chris's wife). The actor playing the Murphy police chief and child predators do well.

Primetime movie music and other technical aspects: Ari Balouzian's music is sinister, as per the film's mood. David Bolen's cinematography is one of a kind. Alex DiGerlando's production design and Alex Bovaird's costumes are realistic. Daniel Garber's editing is functional and could have been sharper.

Primetime Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, PRIMETIME boasts of a fascinating premise, stylish treatment and a terrific performance by Robert Pattinson. But the uneven writing, niche narrative and lack of consistent engagement restrict its impact.

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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 https://ift.tt/InS9O8V

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.

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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 https://ift.tt/IU271eV

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.

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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 https://ift.tt/SK4uVRY

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.

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SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY swings high on heart, humour and action, making for one of the franchise's strongest outings Movie Review: High on emotion, humour and heroism SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY is less multiverse, more heart. https://ift.tt/sw2TQxH

Marvel has spent the last few years chasing bigger worlds, bigger stakes and bigger crossovers. But after the emotionally devastating finale of SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME, the franchise didn't need another multiverse headache, it needed Peter Parker. SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY understands exactly that. Instead of trying to outdo its predecessor with endless cameos and universe-hopping madness, the film strips things back to what made Spider-Man a global favourite in the first place: a young man trying to do the right thing even when life refuses to cut him a break. The result is a refreshing, emotionally grounded and thoroughly entertaining superhero film that reminds us why the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man still reigns supreme.

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY Review Synopsis With the world having forgotten Peter Parker's existence, Spider-Man is now truly on his own. Juggling responsibility and relentless crime-fighting, Peter has accepted that saving the city often comes at the cost of having a life of his own. But when a dangerous new enemy emerges and old wounds begin resurfacing, Peter is forced to confront challenges that test not just his powers, but his resilience. As New York becomes the battlefield once again, Spider-Man discovers that every new beginning comes with a price.

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY Movie Review The smartest decision SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY makes is refusing to become SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME 2.0. This isn't a film obsessed with nostalgia. It's interested in something far more compelling, watching Peter Parker rebuild his life from scratch. The screenplay keeps its focus firmly on character. Peter's loneliness isn't milked for sympathy; it's woven naturally into the story, making every victory feel earned and every setback sting just a little more. The humour lands, the emotional beats feel genuine and, thankfully, the film knows when to slow down instead of sprinting from one explosion to the next.

What truly works is the balance. The film delivers enough laughs to keep things breezy, enough action to satisfy Marvel fans and enough emotional depth to make you care about the man beneath the mask. Even the quieter scenes carry weight because the audience is invested in Peter, not just Spider-Man. The third act does become a little overcrowded, with a few familiar Marvel tendencies creeping in. Some plot turns arrive a touch conveniently and one or two supporting characters deserved more screen time. But these are minor speed bumps in an otherwise engaging ride.

Most importantly, SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY finally lets Peter grow up and the franchise is all the better for it.

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY Movie Review Performances Tom Holland is, once again, the film's biggest strength. He has now completely owned the role, effortlessly blending awkward charm, self-deprecating humour and emotional vulnerability. This is arguably his most mature performance as Spider-Man, proving he no longer needs bigger spectacles to shine.

Zendaya is likeable and though her screen time is limited, she makes her presence felt.

The supporting cast is equally dependable, bringing warmth, humour and just enough intrigue without stealing the spotlight. Their chemistry keeps the emotional stakes grounded, ensuring the film never loses sight of its human side amid the superhero chaos.

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY Movie, Music and Technical Review Visually, Brand New Day feels sharper and more confident than several recent Marvel outings. The CGI is polished without becoming overwhelming, while the web-swinging sequences are genuinely exhilarating and among the film's biggest crowd-pleasers. The action choreography deserves special mention. Every fight has its own rhythm, making full use of Spider-Man's agility rather than relying on repetitive CGI mayhem. The background score complements the emotional moments beautifully before exploding into full superhero mode during the larger set pieces. Crisp editing and confident direction ensure the film rarely loses momentum.

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY Movie Review Conclusion On the whole, SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY proves that Spider-Man doesn't need a multiverse to be marvellous. All he needs is a strong story, genuine emotion and a hero worth rooting for. Funny, heartfelt and packed with thrilling action, this is one of the most satisfying SPIDER-MAN films in years and a welcome reminder that sometimes the smallest stories leave the biggest impact. At the box office, the film is poised for a thunderous start and has all the ingredients to emerge as the biggest SPIDER-MAN hit ever.

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THE INDIA STORY has a powerful subject, but weak writing and dull courtroom drama blunt its impact. Movie Review: THE INDIA STORY's powerful subject is let down by weak writing. https://ift.tt/j6bEWN9

Star Cast: Shreyas Talpade, Kajal Aggarwal Kitchlu

Director: Chettan D K

The India Story Movie Review Synopsis:

THE INDIA STORY is the story of a man taking on the entire system. Yogesh Patil’s (Shreyas Talpade) daughter, Pari (Trisha Sharda), passes away from cancer at the age of six or seven. Yogesh approaches a police station in his city, Pune, and alleges that she was murdered. The cops find his complaint frivolous and throw him out. He then approaches several lawyers, but they, too, decline to fight his case. Finally, Advocate Archana (Kajal Aggarwal Kitchlu) decides to take it up as her first case. At the Bombay High Court, Archana argues before a two-judge bench comprising Justice M Dave (C P Thakur) and Justice J Prabhakar (Atul Tiwari) that Pari died after consuming fruits, vegetables, milk and other food products contaminated with pesticides and harmful chemicals. She holds the farmers, pesticide companies and the government at large responsible for her death and requests the court to take action against them. The case becomes a major talking point across the country. Farmers, in particular, are aghast, as they consider themselves ‘annadaatas’ but are now being branded as murderers. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

The India Story Movie Story Review: Sagar Shinde's story is hard-hitting and astonishing. However, Sagar Shinde's screenplay fails to do justice to such a promising plot. Very few sequences manage to stand out. Sagar Shinde's dialogues are sharp. However, this courtroom drama doesn’t have a single dialogue that will compel viewers to break into applause. Moreover, due to the censor cuts, some of the one-liners fail to create the desired impact.

Chettan D K’s direction is not up to the mark. To give credit where it is due, he brings to the screen a topic that urgently deserves to be discussed. The timing is also apt, given the recent crackdown in Maharashtra on unhygienic practices at prominent restaurants and eateries. A few scenes stand out. In one such sequence, IG Vijay Rathod (Murli Sharma) is aghast upon learning how certain unscrupulous elements in society produce milk. He recalls savouring a milk-based sweet and encouraging his son to drink milk for better health. Another important scene features Archana’s conversation with a farmer, Rajaram (Rahul Belapurkar), who explains why he separately grows the food consumed by his family. Some portions are deeply moving, especially those depicting the ordeal Pari goes through.

However, as aforementioned, a film which is a courtroom drama and which is tackling such a burning topic should have had exhilarating or clapworthy moments. THE INDIA STORY is devoid of any such moment. The opposition lawyer, Vardhan Agnihotri (Manish Wadhwa), does make strong arguments. But shockingly, he doesn’t get any witness from his side. He merely defends the points raised by Archana. Ideally, when such big corporations are involved, they’ll go all out to save their face in the court. However, their head honchos are just shown discussing in boardrooms that the case will destroy their company and then silently accepting their fate! The other issue with the film is that it’s too disturbing, especially the hospital scenes in the second half. Agreed that it was important to show the hardships. Yet, it gets too heavy and may not be liked by the audience. Lastly, the twist at the intermission point is great, but one wonders why Archana hides the fact from the court and the world at large?

The India Story Movie Review Performances: Shreyas Talpade has a limited contribution in the first half. But he dominates key scenes of the post-interval portions and delivers a heartfelt performance. He makes sure not to go overboard and hence; his act looks very authentic. A few of his scenes will leave viewers teary-eyed. Kajal Aggarwal Kitchlu, meanwhile, is the soul of the first half and looks every inch a lawyer with a motive. Performance-wise, she’s first rate. Child actor Trisha Sharda is cute and plays a difficult role with panache. Murli Sharma and Manish Wadhwa are dependable. C P Thakur and Atul Tiwari are decent. Sachin Parekh (Dr Vikrant) and Kamlesh Sawant (Inspector Jangam) leave a mark in small roles. Alok Kapoor (Yogesh's father) and Anu More (Yogesh's mother) get no scope, while Ganesh Yadav (Opposition leader) is wasted.

The India Story movie music and other technical aspects: Mangesh Dhakade's music is poor. Not a single song stands out. 'Gubbara Chaand Ka' consists of animated scenes; however, it looks out of place. Mangesh Dhakade's background score is just okay.

Nishant Bhagwat's cinematography is functional. Mitesh Zore's production design is authentic. Kirti Jangam's costumes are realistic. The use of AI is tacky. Akash Mhatre's editing is fair but could have been better in scenes involving censor cuts.

The India Story Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, THE INDIA STORY rests on an important and hard-hitting subject, but weak writing and ineffective courtroom drama dilute its impact. It releases with negligible buzz and, therefore, stands virtually no chance of succeeding at the box office.

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JAN NETA is an engaging entertainer powered by Thalapathy Vijay’s electrifying screen presence Movie Review: JAN NETA is a familiar yet engaging mass entertainer https://ift.tt/zWShH2O

Star Cast: Thalapathy Vijay, Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol

Director: H Vinoth

Jan Neta Movie Review Synopsis: JAN NETA is the story of an extraordinary man. The year is 2013. Thalapathy (Thalapathy Vijay) is serving a prison sentence at Madurai Central Jail. Several attempts have been made to kill him behind bars, but he has survived each one due to his courage and fighting prowess. The newly appointed jailer, Srikanth (Gautham Vasudev Menon), is intrigued by Thalapathy and begins looking into his past. Srikanth’s wife is no more, and he is single-handedly raising his daughter, Viji (Mamitha Baiju). Srikanth temporarily allows Thalapathy to leave prison to visit his mother (Revathy), who is on her deathbed. This decision leads to Srikanth’s suspension. After being released from jail, Thalapathy immediately goes to meet Srikanth, as he feels responsible for his predicament. He also forms an instant bond with Viji. When Srikanth dies in a road accident, Thalapathy takes responsibility for Viji and raises her as his own daughter. Meanwhile, John Himler (Bobby Deol), like Thalapathy, is also imprisoned, but in Swasnia, an African nation. He brutally escapes from prison, killing several inmates in the process. He aims to attack India in a manner that the authorities could never have anticipated. He is aided by Roja Rangaswamy (Prakash Raj), an influential politician in Tamil Nadu. How Thalapathy stands in their way and how he, John and Roja are connected forms the rest of the story.

Jan Neta Movie Story Review: H Vinoth's story is partially inspired by the 2023 Telugu film, BHAGAVANATH KESARI. The plot is cliched and routine. H Vinoth's screenplay is captivating and peppered with several moments that would appeal to the masses. However, the writing also falters in some places. H Vinoth's dialogues add to the entertainment quotient.

H Vinoth's direction is simple and easy to apprehend, despite the story being set in different eras. Interestingly, it tells a story which is been told before in Hindi and various South film industries. Moreover, it has a run time of 183 minutes. Yet, the film never feels boring. There’s something or the other happening at every minute and it keeps the viewers firmly invested in the story. Moreover, the film explores themes such as political corruption, secularism, patriotism and women’s safety. A crucial sequence involving a character going on a hunger strike is especially timely and is likely to resonate in light of recent developments in the country.

On the flipside, John Himler’s origin story is silly and difficult to digest. The way the robotic creatures are depicted is substandard. Audiences today are accustomed to watching far superior visual effects in Western films, and JAN NETA falls short on that front. Moreover, certain dialogues and references are likely to appeal primarily to the film’s core audience, that is, the Tamil-speaking moviegoers. Lastly, Vijay does not enjoy the same level of popularity in North India as Allu Arjun or Prabhas, which could further restrict the film’s reach in Hindi-speaking markets.

Jan Neta Movie Review Performances: Thalapathy Vijay delivers a terrific performance. His mere presence is electrifying, and the impact rises several notches whenever he displays his trademark swag or mouths hard-hitting dialogues. He will be remembered as a rare mass superstar with an enviable track record at the box office. Mamitha Baiju has a crucial role and delivers an impactful performance. A few of her scenes would be lapped up by the male and female audiences alike. Pooja Hegde (Kayal) looks gorgeous and lends able support. Bobby Deol is superb as the antagonist, even though the writing lets him down. Prakash Raj goes back to his SINGHAM [2011] and WANTED [2009] avatar and impresses as the baddie. Gautham Vasudev Menon, Priyamani (Leela Devi), Revathy (Thalapathy’s mother), Nassar (Arivudai Nambi; CM), Sunil (Velu; corrupt cop), Narain (Khaleel), Teejay Arunasalam (Karthik) are fair. The actress playing Porkodi makes her presence felt.

Jan Neta movie music and other technical aspects: Anirudh's music is well-woven into the narrative. 'Thalapathy Kacheri' and 'Jiye Tere Hi Sahaare' are the best songs of the lot and foot-tapping. 'Jhilmil Gudiya' and 'Sab Mera Tu' are soulful while 'Khoon Ka Devata' is exhilarating. Anirudh's background score enhances impact. The theme used in Bobby Deol’s scenes is quite cool.

Sathyan Sooryan's cinematography gives the film a cinematic appeal. ANL Arasu's action is a bit gory but not as much as seen in films like DHURANDHAR, ANIMAL, etc. Pallavi Singh's costumes are realistic while V Selvakumar's production design is satisfactory. The VFX could have been better, while the use of AI in the Swasnia scenes is of poor quality. Pradeep E Ragav's editing is slick.

Jan Neta Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, JAN NETA is a familiar yet engaging mass entertainer powered by Thalapathy Vijay’s electrifying screen presence, crowd-pleasing moments and a brisk narrative. Though several references and dialogues may have limited appeal for Hindi-speaking audiences, it is still the most mass-appealing film of the week. Its action, emotions and larger-than-life treatment could help it find an audience, particularly in B and C centres.

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MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING delivers a thrilling and satisfying conclusion Movie Review: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING is a paisa vasool entertainer https://ift.tt/lCwTHLO

Star Cast: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Movie Review Synopsis:

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING is the story of a man trying to save the world. Two months after the events of MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: DEAD RECKONING - PART ONE [2023], Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) gets a message from the President of the United States, Erika Sloane (Angela Bassett). She informs him that he needs to help the US government find the source code of the Entity, with the help of the key which he retrieved on the Orient Express from Gabriel (Esai Morales). The Entity has begun to rear its ugly head, causing unrest across the world and even attacking servers. Erika doesn’t want Ethan to destroy the Entity as she fears that it’ll destroy cyberspace. Hence, she asks Ethan to join hands with her to allow her to control the Entity and thereby save the world. Meanwhile, Luther (Ving Rhames) has created a ‘poison pill’, a thumb drive, which can destroy the Entity. Sadly, the ‘poison pill’ gets stolen and it needs to be retrieved. At the same time, Ethan has to find the exact place where the submarine, Sevastopol, containing the source code of the Entity, sank, and retrieve it. The submarine lies on the ocean bed and even reaching there will be next to impossible. While all this is going on, Ethan and his associates Benji (Simon Pegg), Grace (Hayley Atwell) and Paris (Pom Klementieff) need to find a way to which the Entity can be destroyed without it affecting cyberspace. If all this is not enough, the Entity is slowly seizing control of the nuclear arsenals of the world, thereby threatening human extinction. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Movie Story Review: Christopher McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen's story is nail-biting. Christopher McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen's screenplay is a bit dry in the initial portions but is peppered with enough 'Mission Impossible' missions to keep the interest going. The dialogues are normal but the one between Ethan and the US President stands out.

Christopher McQuarrie's direction is cinematic and commercial. The director maintains a balance – he tells a story in the best possible way and at the same time, he is aware that he needs to serve the fans. A significant scene gives a recap of sorts of Ethan’s extraordinary journey in the IMF. The makers also surprise the audience by bringing the most unexpected characters back in the series; one such character was seen in the first part, way back in 1996! The missions that Ethan undertakes also make for an exciting watch. This time, a lot is at stake and not just Ethan, but his associates also need to make their move and they can’t even be a second late. This adds to the tension levels. In the first half, the scene where Ethan gets attacked on the ship while an action sequence also takes place in Alaska simultaneously is memorable. Post-interval, the underwater scene is quite arresting. The finale, meanwhile, is clapworthy.

On the flipside, the first half is mostly reserved for build-up. Those expecting non-stop action will be dejected. A few scenes are convenient, like Ethan leaving the ‘poison pill’ with Luther. The makers also leave a few questions unanswered about the Entity. The bigger issue is that on paper, all the missions seem exciting. But it also comes at a time when we have already seen Ethan doing enough death-defying stunts several times. As a result, viewers might not get the kick as intended. Moreover, the previous part also set a benchmark and the action scenes in it were more, both in the first and second halves, as compared to this one.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Movie Review Performances: Tom Cruise, yet again, is simply unbelievable. To see him hanging by the plane (and a lot more), that too at this age, is commendable. He also shines in the emotional scenes. Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames are adorable and add to the madness. Hayley Atwell makes her presence felt. Esai Morales is decent as the villain. Pom Klementieff has a crucial part and gives a badass performance. Angela Bassett is apt as the Head of State. Henry Czerny (Eugene Kittridge), Shea Whigham (Jasper Briggs) and Greg Tarzan Davis (Degas) lend able support. Hannah Waddingham (Admiral Neely) and Tramell Tillman (Captain Bledsoe) have small parts but leave a mark. Rolf Saxon (William Donloe) and Lucy Tulugarjuk (Tapeesa, Donloe's wife) are damn good and their track is a surprise.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning movie music and other technical aspects: Max Aruj and Alfie Godfrey's music is exhilarating. Lalo Schifrin's legendary MISSION IMPOSSIBLE theme is played in the beginning and end credits. Fraser Taggart's cinematography is spectacular, especially in the airplane scene. Gary Freeman's production design is top-notch while Jill Taylor's costumes are stylish. The VFX matches global standards. Eddie Hamilton's editing could have been faster.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING delivers a thrilling and satisfying conclusion to one of cinema’s most beloved action franchises. With high-octane sequences, edge-of-the-seat moments, and Tom Cruise once again defying gravity and expectations, this is a true paisa vasool entertainer. At the box office, the film is poised for a thunderous start at the box office and is well on track to cross the Rs. 100 crore mark with ease.

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RAID 2 makes a strong and enduring impact, driven by its gripping drama, culminating in a climactic sequence. Movie Review: RAID 2 makes a strong and enduring impact. https://ift.tt/tFxj6On

Star Cast: Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh

Director: Raj Kumar Gupta

Raid 2 Movie Review Synopsis: RAID 2 is the story of an honest officer and a corrupt-cum-shrewd politician. The year is 1989. Income Tax Officer Amay Patnaik (Ajay Devgn) raids the palace of Raja Kunwar (Govind Namdeo) in Jaipur and confiscates truckloads of black money. Raja’s manager offers a bribe and surprisingly, Amay accepts the offer. He gets caught and is transferred to Bhoj. The town is ruled by Manohar Dhankar aka Dada Bhai (Riteish Deshmukh). He’s also a cabinet minister and is seen as a philanthropist. Hence, the residents of Bhoj worship him and are ready to go to any lengths for him. Amay is surprised to see that he’s unable to find a single clue of money hoarding or corruption against Dada Bhai or any other resident. Realizing that something is fishy, Amay starts looking around and interacts with the local residents to find out more information. Soon, he comes across evidence that makes it clear that Dada Bhai is corrupt. Amay’s senior Anjani Kaul (Rajat Kapoor) approves the raid. Amay and his team of officers at the Income Tax Department, Bhoj commence the raid at Dada Bhai’s residence, office, and a five-star property. Amay is confident that he’ll find a lot of black money hidden in his properties. Sadly, he’s unable to find a single instance of unaccounted money. Amay soon realizes that Dada Bhai is possibly the shrewdest corrupt suspect that he has come across. Amay is compelled to change his strategies so that he can expose Dada Bhai. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Raid 2 Movie Story Review: Ritesh Shah, Raj Kumar Gupta, Jaideep Yadav and Karan Vyas's story is one level up compared to the first part, RAID [2018]. Ritesh Shah, Raj Kumar Gupta, Jaideep Yadav and Karan Vyas's screenplay is captivating and is peppered with some entertaining and dramatic moments. In a few places, however, the writing could have been tighter. Ritesh Shah, Raj Kumar Gupta, Jaideep Yadav, and Karan Vyas's dialogues are witty and add to the humour quotient.

Raj Kumar Gupta's direction is simple. He also makes sure that the film has enough commercial value so that it can reach out to a large section of the audience. He also has a certain sensibility, which he doesn’t compromise on. The balance achieved is praiseworthy. He has chosen an intriguing plot. The challenges Amay faces this time are a lot more, as the antagonist is way more sharp-minded and a genius compared to the villain in the first part. The character of the mother (Supriya Pathak Kapur) and the depiction of Sushma Jankalyan Foundation stand out. The first half is decent and Raj Kumar Gupta reserves the best for the second half. This is where the film shows his true brilliance.

On the flipside, Dada Bhai’s rise in politics seems unconvincing and sudden. One can understand him winning the local election and maybe becoming a minister in the state government. Instead, he is catapulted as a central cabinet minister! The interest levels dip in the first half. Even the investigation of Amay Patnaik in the post-interval portions, though important to the film, doesn’t excite the audience much. The character of Punit Sahni (the Sardar batchmate of Amay; played by Sandeep Kapoor) fails to make a mark. The character of Raja Kunwar is introduced in a dramatic fashion, but hardly has anything to do.

RAID 2 begins on a fine note. Amay’s entry is predictable, but nevertheless, it works well. Dada Bhai’s entry is even more dramatic, and it’s a very unusual intro scene for a villain. The scene where Amay meets the Bhoj office colleagues is interesting. The interest then rises once Amay conducts the raid. The intermission point promises a smashing second half. The second half commences well with an item number. The film then falls and thankfully, gets better with the entry of Lallan Sudheer (Amit Sial). From here, the film remains steady. The climax is the best part of the enterprise and would be greeted with applause.

Raid 2 (Trailer): Ajay Devgn | Riteish Deshmukh | Vaani Kapoor

Raid 2 Movie Review Performances: Ajay Devgn is in his element yet again. He keeps his act restrained and that works for his character. However, in a few scenes, his dialogues are not audible. Riteish Deshmukh is terrific and does complete justice to the part of the antagonist. In several scenes, his eyes do all the talking, which is also quite commendable. After EK VILLAIN [2014], the actor proves yet again that he’s versatile and that filmmakers should see him in roles beyond comedy as well. Vaani Kapoor (Malini) hardly has anything to do. Amit Sial is the surprise package and contributes immensely to the laughter quotient. Performance-wise, he’s first-rate. Another scene stealer in the film is Shruti Pandey (Geeta ji). Supriya Pathak Kapur plays a crucial character and is lovely. Rajat Kapoor lends able support. Saurabh Shukla (Rameshwar Singh aka Tauji) is great. However, his character barely has much to do. The same goes for Govind Namdeo. Yashpal Sharma (Devinder Gehlot) does well, as always. However, one expects more from him because of the way his character was introduced. Pritisha Srivastava (Mini) is cute. Sanjeev Jhori (Ashok), Brijendra Kala (Vinay Bakaya) and Ayushi Neema (Anita) lend able support. Samayar Singh (Vikram Ghadiyal) and Ikram Khan (Kamal Chauhan; IAS officer) are okay. Tamannaah Bhatia is sizzling.

Raid 2 movie music and other technical aspects: 'Kamle' and 'Tumhe Dillagi' fail to impress and act as speed breakers. 'Nasha' is catchy and will be loved by the front benchers. 'Money Money', played during the end credits, is also enticing. Amit Trivedi's background score (additional background score by Amar Mohile) is one of the strong points of the film.

Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary's cinematography is satisfactory. Rita Ghosh's production design is in sync with the bygone era. Naveen Shetty, Mehak Shetty and Priyanka Castelino's costumes are realistic. The same goes for R P Yadav's action. Sandeep Francis's editing could have been sharper in the first half.

Raid 2 Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, RAID 2 makes a strong and enduring impact, driven by its gripping drama, a formidable antagonist, and a second half that strikes an engaging balance between entertainment and intensity - culminating in a climactic sequence that stands out as the film’s crowning achievement. At the box office, the film is well-positioned to capitalize on a four-day weekend and the advantage of minimal competition in the immediate release calendar.

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THUNDERBOLTS is powered by strong performances, sharp humour, tense moments which will create a craze Movie Review: THUNDERBOLTS revives the MCU glory and will create a craze among Marvel fans https://ift.tt/6GcXh0S

Star Cast: Florence Pugh, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Wyatt Russell, Lewis Pullman

Director: Jake Schreier

Thunderbolts Movie Review Synopsis: THUNDERBOLTS is the story of a team of antiheroes. Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) works for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and does her dirty work. She is depressed over the tragic death of her sister and feels quite lonely. Valentina is the director of the CIA and was formerly the head of the OXE Group. She is accused of several human rights violations while working on human trials. Valentina refutes all the allegations. Knowing that she can be in trouble, she asks Yelena to go to a secret vault in a hilly region of the USA and destroy the OXE servers so that she can't be convicted. Yelena reaches the vault and realizes that it’s a trap as she is confronted by John Walker (Wyatt Russell) and Ava (Hannah John-Kamen). They were also sent to the vault for the same reason. Soon, they learn that Valentina wants to finish them all as their existence can also put Valentina in trouble. While trying to find ways to escape, they are also bewildered as they meet Bob (Lewis Pullman). He's no mercenary and is wearing hospital clothes. Moreover, he has no memory of how he landed in the vault. However, he seems to have some extraordinary abilities. All four escape, with the intention of disappearing so that all-powerful Valentina can't trace them. As luck would have it, they are compelled to be a team thanks to Bucky (Sebastian Stan). The team expands as Yelena's father Alexei aka Red Guardian (David Harbour) also gets enlisted. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Thunderbolts Movie Story Review: Eric Pearson's story is exhilarating and different from the recent films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo's screenplay is captivating although the writing slips in some places. The dialogues add to the fun and madness.

Jake Schreier's direction is impressive. He executes the film in Marvel style but also gives the narrative a nice touch. The characters are well fleshed out and he also makes a comment on mental health. While doing so, he maintains a balance and ensures that the film doesn't get too depressing. Meanwhile, the humour is present in abundance. The intro scene is decent and the real fun begins once the antiheroes realize they are sent to the vault to get killed. The manner in which they escape will raise a lot of laughs. The chase sequence at the highway is also hilarious and it ends on a clapworthy note. Post-interval, the madness goes high by many notches. The pre-climax is nail biting. The final scene, however, will lead to hoots and claps as it sets the base for the future films of the MCU. In fact, the ending is very exciting and the craze that it'll generate will remind one of the good old days of MCU. And that's not all. The lengthy post-credit scene further contributes to the film's plusses.

On the flipside, the climax is not a typical one. It works but at the same time, it gets a bit lengthy and even dragging. There might be moments where you'll think where the film is heading. The sudden tonal shift also makes the experience slightly underwhelming.

Thunderbolts Movie Review Performances: Florence Pugh plays the part of the lead actress with panache. The way she got her accent right is admirable. Her struggle with loneliness seems authentic; the scene where she breaks down in the second half is memorable. Julia Louis-Dreyfus delivers a fine performance without going over the top. Wyatt Russell is entertaining but Hannah John-Kamen doesn't have much scope. Lewis Pullman has a crucial part and the way he gets into the skin of his character is seen to be believed. David Harbour is adorable while Sebastian Stan, as expected, is dependable. Wendell Pierce (Congressman Gary) and Geraldine Viswanathan (Mel) lend able support.

Thunderbolts movie music and other technical aspects: Son Lux's background score has the trademark Marvel stamp all over. Andrew Droz Palermo's cinematography does justice to the scale of the film. The action is not disturbing, except for a couple of shots, while the VFX is top-notch, especially in the scenes of The Void. Sanja Milkovic Hays's costumes are stylish yet realistic. Grace Yun's production design is grand. Angela Catanzaro and Harry Yoon's editing is satisfactory in most parts of the film. A few scenes could have been slicker.

Thunderbolts Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, THUNDERBOLTS successfully revives the former glory of the MCU, powered by strong performances, sharp humour, tense moments and a commendable focus on mental health. The film concludes on an exhilarating note, which will create a craze in cinemas, especially among die-hard Marvel fans. As a result, it has the potential to surprise at the box office.

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LOGOUT has a nail-biting first half but the film is affected by a weak second half Movie Review: LOGOUT raises important issue and has a nail-biting first half https://ift.tt/PMtEm5o

Star Cast: Babil Khan, Rasika Dugal

Director: Amit Golani

Logout Movie Review Synopsis: LOGOUT is the story of an influencer and a fan. Pratyush Dua (Babil Khan) stays in Delhi alone, away from his family. He’s a massive phone addict and also a popular influencer who goes by the name ‘Pratman’. His follower count is about to reach the 10 million mark. However, another popular influencer, Ankita (Anisha Victor), is also all as set to cross the coveted mark. The netizens are charged up to see who gets 10 million followers first. Pratyush’s friend and manager JD (Gandharv Dewan) insists that Pratyush should win the race. If that happens, a popular company will sign him up for a tempting deal, that will change things for him. But they would sign Ankita if she manages to get 10 million followers before Pratyush. As part of the strategy of getting more followers, Pratyush meets Bhuvan Bam at an event and shoots a collab video. He gets heavily drunk and goes live on his social media, asking his followers to help him amass 10 million followers. The next day, Pratyush wakes up only to find that his phone is missing. Since he was intoxicated the previous night, he’s unable to remember where he kept his phone. He opens his PC to track his device. This is when he gets an email from a girl whom he had met in Gwalior a year back, Aabha. She claims that she called his number and a cabbie happened to pick the call. She further claimed that Pratyush forgot the phone in the cab and that she’d help him get his phone back. Pratyush is relieved that his phone’s whereabouts are known. She makes him pay an amount to the driver, so that he can come all the way to his residence to deliver the phone. But while transferring the money, the OTP is sent to Pratyush’s phone. With no other option, Pratyush gives his phone password to Aabha, so that the driver can access the OTP. Soon, Pratyush realizes that he didn’t leave the phone in the cab and that Aabha is the one who has his phone. What’s worse is that Aabha is not her real name; she refuses to divulge her identity. She claims to be his biggest fan and wants to spend time with him; or else, she’ll expose him on social media. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Logout Movie Story Review: Biswapati Sarkar's story is terrific and very relevant for today’s times. Biswapati Sarkar's screenplay is very captivating until the middle of the second half. To engage the audience when there’s just one actor on screen 90% of the time and the other character’s voice is heard is not easy. But the writing is very tight and hence, one doesn’t get bored. However, the climax leaves a lot to be desired. Biswapati Sarkar's dialogues are conversational and realistic.

Amit Golani’s direction is supreme. To begin with, the various social media and email accounts shown in the film are all fictitious and inspired by real-life apps and websites. But this bit is depicted in a very authentic manner. Secondly, there are a lot of nail-biting moments in the film and it’s impressive they managed to do that since the setting is very unconventional. Moreover, it looks convincing when Pratyush divulges his phone’s password and he believes the fan. Also interesting is how Pratyush uses his brain to understand who this fan can be.

Sadly, the makers mess up the film in the second half. One of the biggest problems with LOGOUT is that one never comes to know under what circumstances Pratyush loses his phone. The makers chose not to present this crucial aspect at all. They also conveniently forget what happened to Pratyush’s ex-girlfriend Smriti, especially after the caller tried to harm her relationship with her fiancé. The climax tries to raise an important issue but the message doesn’t come across neatly.

Logout Movie Review Performances: Speaking of performances, Babil Khan shines. He’s visible in most of the scenes and he makes good use of the opportunity to prove his worth. The character goes through a lot and Babil’s expressions, body language and his way of emoting are spot-on. Nimisha Nair (caller) has limited screen time and is quite good. She is seen less and heard more and her dialogue delivery is praiseworthy. Rasika Dugal (Pratyush’s sister) is lovely, as always, in a cameo. Gandharv Dewan, Anisha Victor and others are fair.

Logout movie music and other technical aspects: There’s only one song in the film – 'Tipi Tipi Tap' – and it’s forgettable. Haroon & Gavin's background score, however, adds to the tension. Pooja Gupte's cinematography is appropriate. Sukant Panigrahy's production design is cool, especially the interiors of Pratyush’s house. Special mention should go to the VFX team and graphics – the scenes of the computer screen are classy. Pampa Biswas's costumes are straight out of life. Atanu Mukherjee's editing is slick but could have been sharper in a few places.

Logout Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, LOGOUT raises an important issue and features a gripping, nail-biting first half, with Babil Khan’s impactful performance serving as the icing on the cake. However, the weak second half and underwhelming climax dilute some of its overall impact.

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BLACK BAG rests on a talented cast but the film suffers from a confusing narrative Movie Review: BLACK BAG rests on the strength of a talented star cast https://ift.tt/pGBHI1b

Star Cast: Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Black Bag Movie Review Synopsis: BLACK BAG is the story of an intelligent agent and his dangerous game while trying to find a traitor. British intelligence officer George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) investigates the leak of a top-secret software program code-named Severus. The list of possible suspects includes his wife Kathryn (Cate Blanchett), who is also an intelligence officer. He invites the other four suspects, also spies, to his house for dinner. These four suspects are satellite imagery specialist Clarissa (Marisa Abela), agency psychiatrist Zoe (Naomie Harris) and managing agents Freddie (Tom Burke) and James (Regé-Jean Page). Their food is drugged to lower their inhibitions. A lot of secrets tumble out during dinner. George continues to investigate all of them and feels extremely suspicious of his wife, especially when she leaves for Zurich for an undisclosed mission. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Black Bag Movie Story Review: David Koepp has written a story, which is based in the spy world but is unlike the other films made in this space. David Koepp's screenplay is very confusing and also doesn't involve viewers completely. David Koepp's dialogues are conversational.

Steven Soderbergh's direction is not as engaging as intended. To give credit where it's due, he keeps the duration in check (94 minutes) and also assembles a talented star cast. The film begins on an intriguing note. The dinner table scene, interestingly, gives a deja vu of KHEL KHEL MEIN [2024] though soon, things take an unexpected turn.

After this dramatic sequence, the film goes downhill. There's so much happening that if one doesn't pay attention for a second, one will fail to understand the goings-on. The narrative style is also complex and it becomes tedious after a point to join the dots and remember the events and the intentions of the characters. The climax arrests attention but is not impactful enough. Lastly, the release period is also questionable.

Black Bag Movie Review Performances: Michael Fassbender delivers a subtle performance and it goes in favour of his sharp-minded and clinical character. Cate Blanchett, as expected, is very impressive. Marisa Abela is the surprise of the film and she dominates the other veteran actors in several scenes. Tom Burke's performance stands out due to his character. Naomie Harris and Regé-Jean Page lend able support. Gustaf Skarsgård (Meacham) and Pierce Brosnan (Arthur Stieglitz) leave a mark.

Black Bag movie music and other technical aspects: David Holmes' music has a mysterious and dramatic feel and goes well with the theme of the film. Peter Andrews' cinematography is appropriate.

Philip Messina's production design is rich while Ellen Mirojnick's costumes are appealing. Mary Ann Bernard's editing is slick.

Black Bag Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, BLACK BAG rests on the strength of a talented star cast with a respected writer and director at the helm. However, the film suffers considerably due to its confusing narrative, which takes away from its overall impact. While it was released worldwide on March 14, a day-and-date release in India would have been ideal. Releasing it during the SIKANDAR and L2 EMPURAAN week is a miscalculation that will likely dent its box office prospects.

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MY MELBOURNE rests on an interesting idea but fails to entice. It will go unnoticed at the box office Movie Review: MY MELBOURNE rests on an interesting idea but fails to entice. https://ift.tt/0WxAQqh

Star Cast: Arka Das, Arushi Sharma, Ryanna Skye Lawson, Setara Amiri

Director: Onir, Arif Ali, Rima Das, Kabir Khan, Rahul Vohra

MY MELBOURNE consists of four stories exploring themes like LGBT, disability, gender and race. All four stories are inspired by true events.

1. Nandini (Directed by Onir)

The plot: Indraneel (Arka Das) is gay and lives with his boyfriend (Jackson Gallagher). Indraneel's mother passes away in India. His father Mihir (Mouli Ganguly) arrives in Melbourne to be with his son and to conduct the final rites. Mihir had disowned Indraneel due to the latter's sexual orientation. But in times of grief, they come closer, although tensions remain.

Nandini is the best short film of the lot. Gregory Francis and William Duan's screenplay is neat and Onir's execution is appropriate. The film moves at a slow pace but it works and the only piece of background score – the song ‘Nandini’ (by Madhurima Roy) – is haunting.

Arka Das plays the difficult part with aplomb. Mouli Ganguly is convincing as the father who's conservative but trying to come to terms with the reality. Jackson Gallagher lends able support.

2. Jules (Directed by Arif Ali) The plot: Sakshi (Arushi Sharma) is a newly married woman who has moved to Melbourne with her controlling husband. She works in the kitchen of a restaurant. A homeless woman, Jules (Kat Stewart), with an acidic tongue, sits outside her restaurant and Sakshi is traumatized by her. Soon, Sakshi’s marital problems compel her to grow closer to Jules.

Contrary to what the makers claim, Jules is not directed by Imtiaz Ali. He’s the creative director while Arif Ali is the director. The misleading claim was avoidable. Arif Ali, Shivangi Bhowmick and Monique Nair's screenplay is engaging. However, the whole bit of Sakshi’s hubby getting angry over Sakshi’s picture with her male colleagues on social media is unconvincing. Sakshi is shown trying to tell her chef Leon (Jake Ryan) to remove the picture, albeit unsuccessfully. Instead, she could have simply untagged herself. Hence, the makers should have thought of a better idea to explain this rift between the couple. Arif Ali’s direction is fine but he rushes through the narrative in the end needlessly.

Arushi Sharma slips into her character effortlessly. Kat Stewart is damn good and delivers as per the requirement. Jake Ryan is fair.

3. Emma (Directed by Rima Das) The plot: Emma (Ryanna Skye Lawson) is a talented deaf dancer in her early 20s with increasing doubts over her sense of self and her career as a professional dancer.

The concept by Samira Cox is promising. But Samira Cox and Monique Nair’s screenplay is dry and ambiguous. Rima Das’ direction is also weak. What could have been depicted neatly and concisely is told in a confusing manner. Hence, a section of moviegoers will not get a hang of things. A few scenes end and begin rather abruptly too.

Ryanna Skye Lawson delivers a good performance but is let down by the script, execution and editing. Others also do well.

4. Setara (Directed by Kabir Khan, Rahul Vohra) The plot: Setara (Setara Amiri) has moved to Melbourne with her mother Latifa (Sepideh Falleh) and sister Asia (Ella Wilson) after the Taliban took over their country, Afghanistan. Setara is admitted to a reputed school and makes new friends. She is an aspiring cricketer and used to play back in her homeland. Latifa, however, makes it clear that Setara should give up on cricket and focus on studying while in Australia. However, her school coach (Brad Hodge) discovers her talent and insists that she join the school team.

Monique Nair and Nazifa Amir’s screenplay is okay and doesn’t do complete justice to the great idea at hand. Kabir Khan and Rahul Vohra’s direction is cinematic and they try their best to give the plot a big-screen appeal. He also focuses on how running away from one’s country can result in different kinds of traumas for different people. But this story is predictable. The cricket match is not filmed with the same finesse that Kabir directed in ’83 [2021].

Setara Amiri does very well and that it’s based on her own life adds to her performance. Sepideh Falleh and Ella Wilson lend able support. Brad Hodge is lovely.

My Melbourne Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, MY MELBOURNE rests on an interesting idea but fails to entice. At the box office, it’ll go largely unnoticed due to negligible buzz. However, it might find some audience once it releases on OTT due to the association of reputed filmmakers like Imtiaz Ali and Kabir Khan.

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Despite being based on a superb idea FLIGHT RISK is marred by a weak and silly script Movie Review: FLIGHT RISK features a superb idea but a weak script https://ift.tt/SMCQKnA

Star Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Madelyn Harris  Topher Grace

Director: Mel Gibson

Flight Risk Movie Review Synopsis: FLIGHT RISK is a survival thriller. Winston (Topher Grace), an accountant to the gangster Moretti, is hiding in a remote part of Alaska after the gangster gets arrested. Madelyn Harris (Michelle Docker), a deputy US Marshal, locates Winston and nabs him. She is given a small plane and a pilot, Daryl Booth (Mark Wahlberg) to take her and Wiston safely to the city of Anchorage. The plane takes off and soon, Wiston and Madelyn realize that their pilot is actually a hitman sent by Moretti to assassinate the accountant. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Flight Risk Movie Story Review: Jared Rosenberg's story is arresting. But Jared Rosenberg's screenplay is not without its share of blemishes. Jared Rosenberg's dialogues are okay and some of the one-liners uttered by Mark are quite graphic and shocking.

Mel Gibson's direction has the old-world feel. In fact, this genre, too, has been attempted after a long time. Some of the scenes are very nail-biting. The first half is much better and the way Winston realizes that the pilot is not who he claims to be is intriguing. The scene where Madelyn tases the hitman is also a great sequence. Since the run time is just 90 minutes, the film moves at a great pace.

On the flipside, the film gets quite silly after a point. The makers want to show the hitman creating havoc after being tied down. But in order to get to that point, the writer inserts a laughable bit of Madelyn's sunglasses falling on the hitman and he uses it to break free. Moreover, the hit man is literally 5-6 feet away and it's bewildering how Madelyn and Wiston didn't realize what he is upto. The villain doesn't have much to do after a point. Lastly, the buzz is limited and the absence of subtitles makes some dialogues difficult to comprehend.

Flight Risk Movie Review Performances: Mark Wahlberg is damn good in the first negative role of his career. His body language and evil smile further enhance his performance. Michelle Dockery plays the lead role with panache. Topher Grace raises laughs and later on, gets the serious act right. Maaz Ali is great as the voice of Hasan, though a similar track was seen in the 2021 Hindi film FLIGHT.

Flight Risk movie music and other technical aspects: Antônio Pinto's music is well woven into the narrative. Johnny Derango's cinematography is decent and thankfully, not jerky, as it happens in such films. David Meyer's production design and Kristen Kopp's costumes are appropriate. Action is realistic and not gory. Steven Rosenblum's editing is slick.

Flight Risk Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, FLIGHT RISK rests on a superb idea but is marred by a weak and silly script. At the box office, the limited buzz will impact its box office collections.

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SANGEE stands out for Sharib Hashmi's highly entertaining performance Movie Review: SANGEE stands out for Sharib Hashmi's highly entertaining performance https://ift.tt/WDMd02F

Star Cast: Sharib Hashmi, Sanjay Bishnoi, Shyamraj Patil, Vidya Malvade

Director: Sumit Kulkarni

Sangee Movie Review Synopsis: SANGEE is the story of three friends. Baman (Sharib Hashmi), Karan (Sanjay Bishnoi) and Akhil (Shyamraj Patil) are childhood buddies. Baman, a single man, lives in Pune. Karan lives in Mumbai with his wife Mohini (Vidya Malvade) and ailing mother (Farida Patel) while Akhil is settled in Mauritius with his wife Brinda (Mira Jagannath) and son Abhimanyu (Anish Railkar). Both Karan and Akhil have achieved financial success. Baman, however, is still struggling. He took a loan of Rs. 18 lakhs from Akhil and started a tours and travel company. But it got shut down in the pandemic. He now wants to set up a strawberry products factory. He calls Akhil and asks for Rs. 15 lakhs, though he hasn't paid back the earlier loan. Akhil expresses inability to give him the money this time. Hence, Baman heads to Mumbai to meet Karan. Akhil calls Karan and warns him that Baman might come to his place to ask for money. Karan makes it clear that though he's a childhood friend, he'll not lend a single paisa to Baman. Things, however, take a turn for Karan once the jovial Baman arrives at his place and persuades him to loan him the amount. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Sangee Movie Story Review: Thopte Vijaysinh Sarjerao's story is not much. Thopte Vijaysinh Sarjerao's screenplay, however, is engaging and keeps the interest going due to the various funny moments. Thopte Vijaysinh Sarjerao's dialogues are witty and raise a lot of laughs.

Sumit Kulkarni's direction is simplistic. There's not much of a plot and the film mainly relies on various funny moments and situations. And Sumit manages to succeed in this regard. The bond the friends share is heartening. The character of Baman takes the cake without a doubt and his antics will surely put a smile on the faces of the viewers. A few scenes that stand out are Baman pretending to be Karan's servant on the phone while speaking to Akhil, Mohini claiming to start a condom business, Karan lying that he's abroad, etc.

On the flipside, a little bit of confrontation and fights between the friends would have elevated the proceedings. After all, equations change as time passes and moreover, Baman is asking for a huge amount. Secondly, the track of the servant seems too similar to the Kanta Ben sequence in KAL HO NAA HO [2003]. The final scene of the servant, however, is funny. The climax is too convenient, especially Baman's conversation with Shailesh (Rohit Kokate). Lastly, the 'A' rating is unjustified for this film.

Sangee | Official Trailer | Sharib Hashmi | Vidya Malvade | Sanjay Bishnoi | Gaurav More

Sangee Movie Review Performances: Sharib Hashmi is the life of the film and in fact, he dominates everyone. He’s the apt choice for this role as he could nicely play a man who ideally should get on your nerves but at the same time, is too adorable. As expected, the actor nails it. Sanjay Bishnoi delivers a fine performance and compliments Sharib’s timing well. Shyamraj Patil has limited screen time and is fine. Vidya Malvade leaves a huge mark and even she shows her funny side in the condom scene. Mira Jagannath is decent in a cameo. Farida Patel is funny but her track should have had more meat. Anish Railkar and Rohit Kokate are okay. Gaurav More (More; servant) is fair.

Sangee movie music and other technical aspects: There’s only one song in the film, the title track. It's forgettable although it's well-placed in the film. Anurag Godbole's background score is in sync with the film’s mood. Sopan Purandare's cinematography is neat. The production design is a bit theatrical and TV show-like. Gayatri Chakradeo's costumes are straight out of life. Hemant Vansh's editing is appropriate. 

Sangee Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, SANGEE stands out for Sharib Hashmi's highly entertaining performance and its heartfelt commentary on friendship. However, at the box office, the film is likely to go largely unnoticed due to minimal awareness. The unwarranted 'A' certification for a film of this nature further limits its business prospects.

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AZAAD struggles to captivate due to a lacklustre first half, and a weak script Movie Review: AZAAD struggles to captivate https://ift.tt/oQkqUrZ

Star Cast: Ajay Devgn, Aaman Devgan, Rasha Thadani, Diana Penty

Director: Abhishek Kapoor

Azaad Movie Review Synopsis: AZAAD is the story of a young man and a horse. The year is 1920. Govind (Aaman Devgan) lives with his father Braj (Sandeep Shikhar), sister Daani (Jiya Amin), and nani (Natasha Rastogi) in the village of Bhusar in Central Province. Braj works at the stable of the village chieftain Rai Bahadur (Piyush Mishra). He has a son Tej Bahadur (Mohit Malik) and a daughter Janaki (Rasha Thadani). Tej Bahadur, like the father, is evil while Janaki has a sensitive side. One day, Govind accidentally rides the horse of Rai Bahadur while Janaki is doing horse riding in the royal stable. Govind is whipped for his mistake. Govind assumes that Janaki complained about him and despises him. Janaki doesn't celebrate Holi and no one in the village has the guts to apply colour on her. Govind, however, splashes colour on her face. Realizing that Rai Bahadur and Tej Bahadur might kill him, Govind runs away. In the jungles, he comes across a royal, beautiful horse. Govind immediately gets mesmerized. Soon, he realises that the horse's name is Azaad and he belongs to Vikram Singh (Ajay Devgn), a dreaded dacoit. Vikram's army captures Govind, assuming that he’s a cop or a spy. But they let him off when they realize that Govind is not harmful. Vikram gets fond of Govind and he also becomes a part of his army. However, Azaad has no such fondness for Govind. Meanwhile, Vikram's former partner Kesar (Diana Penty) is now the wife of Tej Bahadur. Tej, along with the British, wants to finish Vikram and they can go to any lengths for it. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Azaad Movie Story Review: Ritesh Shah, Suresh Nair and Abhishek Kapoor's story has all the trappings of a mass entertainer. Ritesh Shah and Suresh Nair's screenplay (additional screenplay by Chandan Arora) has its share of riveting and clap-worthy moments but leaves a lot to be desired. Ritesh Shah's dialogues (additional dialogues by Chandan Arora) are memorable.

Abhishek Kapoor's direction is average. On the positive side, he keeps the narrative uncomplicated. The horse and dacoit aspect gives a pleasant déjà vu of the films of the 70s and 80s. Also, one roots for the hero as the villains are shown to be very evil. A few scenes are memorable like Govind meeting Vikram for the first time, Azaad drinking alcohol, Govind sneaking into Janaki’s room, Govind trying to befriend Azaad, etc. The finale is engaging.

On the flipside, the first half might make viewers a bit restless. It's only in the second half that the film becomes worth it to some extent during the climax. The character of Janaki gets a raw deal. The same goes for Kesar. In fact, except for Govind, Vikram Singh and the horse, the other characters are not given prominence. The love story is never established properly and this goes against the film heavily as one would definitely expect romance between the newcomers. The climax is a bit abrupt; ideally, there should have been a scene about what happened to the characters later on to sum up the tale. Moreover, the protagonist resorting to unethical means in the end might not be acceptable to a section of the audience.

Azaad Official Trailer | Ajay Devgn | Aaman Devgan | Rasha Thadani

Azaad Movie Review Performances: Aaman Devgan makes a confident debut and it's clear that he has worked hard. He looks convincing while riding the horse and his dance in the Holi song is mesmerizing. Rasha Thadani commands attention with her captivating screen presence and displays immense potential. Unfortunately, her screen time in the first half is quite limited. Ajay Devgn has a supporting role and as always, he's too good. Diana Penty is sincere but her character lacks meat. Mohit Malik does fine in his debut role. Piyush Mishra is fair. Sandeep Shikhar, Jiya Amin, Natasha Rastogi, Andrew Crouch (James Cummings), Dylan Jones (Lord Cummings), Rakesh Sharma (Jamal), Akshay Anand (Biru) and Neeraj Kadela (Mute Priest) are decent.

Azaad movie music and other technical aspects: Amit Trivedi's music doesn't have the desired effect. 'Uyi Amma' is the only song that is memorable. 'Birangay' works due to the choreography. 'Aazaad Hai Tu' and 'Azaad Hai Tu (Reprise)' are forgettable. 'Ajeeb-O-Gareeb' has a vintage feel.

Hitesh Sonik's background score has a cinematic feel. Setu's cinematography is satisfactory and it's very good in the race sequence in the climax. Akshay Tyagi and Jade By Monica and Karishma's costumes are stylish and yet, in sync with the era. Saini S Johray's production design is authentic. Ian Van Temperly and Aejaz Gulab's action is not too gory. NY VFXWaala's VFX is impressive but gets tacky in the hyena scene. Chandan Arora's editing is functional.

Azaad Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, AZAAD struggles to captivate due to a lacklustre first half, a weak script, and the absence of a romantic angle. At the box office, the limited buzz around the film will pose challenges, though the Cinema Lovers Day offer might provide some relief to an extent on Day 1.

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FATEH rests on an ordinary storyline and also gives a déjà vu of previous films Movie Review: With an ordinary storyline FATEH gives major deja vu feels https://ift.tt/4eTnoNa

Star Cast: Sonu Sood, Jacqueline Fernandez, Naseeruddin Shah

Director: Sonu Sood

Fateh Movie Review Synopsis: FATEH is the story of a man fighting cyber criminals. Fateh Singh (Sonu Sood) resides in Moga, Punjab, and works as a supervisor at a dairy farm. He's well respected in the village and likes to secretly help those in need. His neighbour in the village is Nimrit (Shiv Jyoti Rajput) and they both share a lovely bond. Nimrit runs a mobile shop and she is also an agent of a loan app called ‘Kisht Pe’. Through her, many villagers opt for a quick loan and thus benefit. But later on, they have a hard time paying interest even after paying off the loan. The loan agents threaten the villagers and even resort to sending fake nude pics of their family members in case the money is not paid in time. Sandhu (Binnu Dhillon) is one such harrowed villager who takes a loan and then is unable to pay the interest. With no other option, he ends his life. Meanwhile, Nimrit has disappeared. Fateh decides to track her down. He heads to Delhi and soon, comes face to face with the loan app sharks. Unknown to them, Fateh is no common man. He's a well-trained assassin. Meanwhile, Fateh is not alone. He's helped by ethical hacker, Khushi (Jacqueline Fernandez). What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Fateh Movie Story Review: Sonu Sood's story is just okay. Sonu Sood and Ankur Pajni's screenplay (additional screenplay by Sankalp Rawal, Rudra Anand, Shyam Nirmal) is clichéd though a few moments are well thought out. Sonu Sood and Ankur Pajni's dialogues are ordinary.

Sonu Sood's direction is stylish but suffers due to certain reasons. To give credit where it's due, he intercuts certain scenes with style and that adds to the fun. A few scenes that stand out are Fateh with Chaddha (Akashdeep Sabir) and his men at the theatre, Fateh meeting the cop Nishit Biswas (Dibyendu Bhattacharya) for the first time, a corrupt cop revealing that the password to his laptop is Satyamev Jayate etc. Also, the 140-minute-long flick doesn't bore even for a moment.

On the flipside, the film seems to have borrowed heavily from ANIMAL, JOHN WICK etc. The scene where Fateh fights masked men in a narrow corridor seems very similar to the Ranbir Kapoor starrer. The plot of an assassin who picks up the weapons once again after living a peaceful life has also been beaten to death in many films, including in the recently released BABY JOHN. The backstory of Fateh and even Nimrit is weak and the makers should have invested more time in it. A novel aspect of the story is loan apps and their dangers but it doesn’t get the prominence it deserves. The focus is on Fateh and how he fights the baddies but this aspect has been seen many times. Lastly, the audience will be left confused about Nimrit’s feelings for Fateh. Was she attracted to him or simply saw him as a brother? The makers should have simplified this aspect.

Fateh | Official Trailer l Sonu Sood | Jacqueline Fernandez | In Cinemas 10th January

Fateh Movie Review Performances: Sonu Sood as an actor puts his best foot forward. He keeps his act restrained and looks great while performing action. Jacqueline Fernandez delivers a sincere performance. However, the romantic track is very weak. Naseeruddin Shah’s (Raza) casting adds a lot to the film and he’s dependable as always. Vijay Raaz (Satya Prakash) is seen in a very different role and does fine. Dibyendu Bhattacharya leaves a huge mark. Akashdeep Sabir is there for just one scene and is too good. Shiv Jyoti Rajput, Binnu Dhillon, Prakash Belawadi (Aayappa) and Sheeba Akashdeep (Nirmit's mother) lend able support. Soundous Moufakir (Raza’s assistant) is fair.

Fateh movie music and other technical aspects: The music fails to entice. 'Fateh Kar Fateh' is not well utilized. 'Nindiya' and 'Rona Taqdeer' are good compositions but seem a bit out of place in a film like this. 'Call To Life' is the best of the lot as it’s like the theme song. 'Hitman' is played in the end credits. John Stewart Eduri's background score has a cinematic appeal.

Vincenzo Condorelli's cinematography is slick, especially in the action scenes. Lee Whittaker, Rampyare Ramdhari Yadav, Riyaz Nasir Shaikh and Habib Haji Sayed's action is very gory, as is the norm nowadays. Tariq Umar Khan and Nadiri Tariq Khan's production design and Gopika Gulwadi's costumes are appropriate. Yash Parikh's editing is satisfactory.

Fateh Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, FATEH rests on an ordinary storyline and also gives a déjà vu of films like ANIMAL and JOHN WICK. At the box office, it’ll face a tough time despite limited competition until Republic Day.

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With clapworth moments and energetic performances BABY JOHN is an entertainer which works Movie Review: BABY JOHN is a mass entertainer which works https://ift.tt/FmK2RPw

Star Cast: Varun Dhawan, Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi

Director: Kalees

Baby John Movie Review Synopsis: BABY JOHN is the story of a protective father. John D’Silva (Varun Dhawan), a restaurateur, stays in Alappuzha, Kerala with his daughter Khushi (Zara Zyanna). He dotes on her and is bringing her up with the right values. John forms a bond with Khushi's teacher Tara (Wamiqa Gabbi). Tara takes John's help, without his knowledge, when she rescues a girl and approaches the cops. John is aghast when he learns about Tara’s actions due to his past with the police force. A complaint is filed against a dreaded henchman, Boss (Jaffer Sadiq). Assuming that John complained to the police and that he’s a common man, Boss and his men attack him. But John turns out to be a beast. He finishes them off ruthlessly. Tara sees him attacking the goons and learns that he's none other than Satya Verma, who was once the DCP and the husband of Dr. Meera (Keerthy Suresh). But his confrontation with Nanaji (Jackie Shroff) proves to be a turning point in his life. Hence, he decides to leave the force and live as a common man. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Baby John Movie Story Review: Atlee's story is massy but also a bit outdated. Kalees's screenplay tries to rise above the plot and is infused with mass moments. However, the writing could have been better. Sumit Arora's dialogues add to the mass touch.

Kalees's direction is commercial. The film is mounted on a huge scale and it has been handled appropriately. The bond shared by the father and the daughter is adorable while the romantic track also has its moments. But the best is reserved for the mass elevation scenes. The scenes that are memorable are John attacking the goons at night, Satya and Meera’s first meeting, Satya searching for Amba (Snigddha Suman) and what happens thereafter. The pre-interval block is when the film goes on another level and it’ll be greeted with whistles and claps. Post-interval, Satya’s meeting with the parents and the shootout at his residence stand out. The scene of Bhima Rane (Shrikant Yadav) and the North Eastern kid is well thought out.

On the flipside, BABY JOHN comes too late in the day as it gives a déjà vu of SIMMBA [2018], JAWAN [2023] etc. The execution is overall satisfactory but in some places, it's haphazard. The product placement of Center Fresh and Astral Pipes is quite in-your-face. But the biggest issue is that of the writing. BABY JOHN is a remake of THERI, which arrived 8 years ago. A lot has changed since then in terms of tastes and trends and Atlee should have aligned the script accordingly. Moreover, the hero vs villain equation is not convincing. Usually, the villain needs to be so powerful that the audience should wonder how the hero would defeat him. But in BABY JOHN, the hero becomes all-powerful once he harms Nanaji big time and doesn’t face consequences from the police department or the government. Nana takes revenge much later. But by then, it becomes clear that Satya can finish Nanaji, whenever he wants. This aspect severely impacts the goings-on.

Baby John – Trailer | Atlee | Varun Dhawan, Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, Jackie Shroff

Baby John Movie Review Performances: Varun Dhawan delivers a sincere performance and excels in the action and emotional scenes. However, it’s not convincing to show him as a DCP as he seems young for that position. Ideally, there should have been a reason why he managed to rise through the ranks so early in his life. Keerthy Suresh makes a superb debut in Bollywood and has an arresting screen presence. Wamiqa Gabbi, as expected, rocks the show, albeit in a supporting role. Jackie Shroff looks menacing and does a brilliant job. But he’s let down by the writing. Zara Zyanna is adorable. However, a few of her dialogues are not audible properly. Jaffer Sadiq is apt for the part. Shrikant Yadav lends able support. Rajpal Yadav (Ram Sevak) is seen in a different avatar and would be loved by the audience. Sheeba Chaddha (Madhvi Verma; Satya's mother) is dependable as always. Zakir Hussain (Baldev Patil) and Prakash Belawadi (Yashraj Mukherjee) are strictly okay. Omkar Das Manikpuri (Badrinath) and Mona Ambegaonkar (the doctor who tries to revive Amba) are fair. Lastly, Salman Khan’s cameo is quite entertaining.

Baby John movie music and other technical aspects: Thaman S's music is not of chartbuster variety. The title song is the only song that stands out. 'Nain Matakka' is well picturized while 'Pikley Pom' is passable. 'Bandobast' is too similar to 'Zinda Banda'.  'Hazaar Baar' and 'Gudda Guddi' are forgettable. Thaman S's background score is energetic.

Kiran Koushik's cinematography is satisfactory. Anl Arasu, Stunt Silva, Anbariv, Yannick Ben, Sunil Rodrigues, Kaloyan Vodenicharov, Manohar Verma, and Bronwin October's action is violent but works well in a film like this. T Muthuraj's production design is rich. Sheetal Iqbal Sharma's costumes are appropriate while Shruthi Manjari's costumes for Keerthy Suresh are appealing. NY VFXWaala's VFX is superior. Ruben's editing could have been slicker, especially in the first half.

Baby John Movie Review Conclusion: On the whole, BABY JOHN is a mass entertainer which works due to the clapworthy moments, the message, Varun Dhawan’s energetic performance and the cameo by Salman Khan. At the box office, the film will benefit owing to the long holiday period and no competition until Republic Day.

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AGNI is worth watching for its performances, suspense and heartfelt tribute to firefighters Movie Review: AGNI is worth watching for its performances and suspense https://ift.tt/CTR2stl

Star Cast: Pratik Gandhi, Divyenndu, Saiyami Kher

Director: Rahul Dholakia

Agni Movie Review Synopsis: AGNI is the story of unsung heroes. Vitthalrao Dhonduba Surve (Pratik Gandhi) is the chief of Parel Fire Station, Mumbai. Joseph aka Jazz (Udit Arora), Avni Purohit (Saiyami Kher), Ganpat Shinde and others work under him. Mahadev Nigade (Jitendra Joshi), chief of Byculla Fire Station, is Vitthal's close friend. Vitthal is married to Rukmini (Sai Tamhankar) and her brother and Vitthal's brother-in-law is the corrupt inspector Samit Sawant (Divyenndu). Viithal and Samit don't see eye-to-eye but interestingly, Vitthal's son Amar aka Amya (Kabir Shah) is a fan of Samit. On January 16, 2017, the Parel Fire Station is informed of a fire in an upmarket restaurant. The team tries their best, but the extreme blaze destroys everything in the property. Vitthal is shocked to see the unusual, blue-coloured flame emitting from the restaurant. During the investigation, Avni realizes that though the restaurant had multiple violations, the fire was not accidental and was possibly a case of arson. She also suspects that the recent fire instances at a theatre and a club also had the same pattern. In other words, there's someone out there who's causing these fires and hence, Vitthal and Avni appeal to the cops and BMC to act upon it. But their plea falls on deaf ears. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Agni Movie Story Review: Rahul Dholakia's story is significant and the need of the hour. Rahul Dholakia's screenplay is very engaging. The film just doesn’t focus on the work of the firefighters but also has a whodunit angle. Vijay Maurya's dialogues are conversational while a few one-liners stand out.

Rahul Dholakia's direction is appropriate. He keeps the story as a priority and then focuses on adding commercial elements. He nicely sucks the audience into the world of firefighters and their challenges, be it not being seen as heroes by society or the absence of even a medical insurance. The tussle between the cop and firefighter makes for a great watch, especially the scene at the latter’s home. There’s suspense in the narrative which is sure to shock viewers. The finale is nail-biting. On top of it, there’s also unexpected humour. The madness that ensues at a high-scale restaurant in the second half is very funny.

Agni – Official Trailer | Pratik Gandhi, Divyenndu | Prime Video India

On the flipside, in some places, things are not simplified, and it might confuse the audience. For instance, it takes a while until viewers understand that Mahadev works at a different fire station. The twist is unpredictable, but it also raises certain questions as the intention of the villain is not fully convincing. It’s also not clear how did he aim to make his voice heard through his actions.

Agni Movie Review Performances: Pratik Gandhi, as always, puts in a sincere effort and plays the lead part with aplomb. Divyenndu is the life of the film and enhances impact with his performance and comic timing. Sai Tamhankar puts up a superb act and delivers a confident performance. Saiyami Kher leaves a huge mark as the fiery firefighter. Jitendra Joshi, as expected, rocks the show and has a crucial part to play in the narrative. Udit Arora and Kabir Shah manage to register. Sakhi Gokhale (Sayali; Samit's wife) is a great find. Anant Jog (Deputy CM) is over the top, but it works for his role. Pramod Pathak (Pankaj Mishra) raises a few laughs. Paritosh Tiwari (Torch), Kanchan Pagare (Kamble; cop), Abhishek Khandekar (Tawde; cop) and Aatul (Uday Raj Balsara) also do well.

Agni movie music and other technical aspects: AGNI is a song-less film. John Stewart Eduri's background score adds to the tension and chaos. K U Mohanan's cinematography is top-class and gives the film a big-screen appeal. Darshan Jalan and Neelanchal Ghosh's costumes are straight out of life. Dr K Ravi Verma's action is engaging while the VFX is superior. Acropolis, Sumit Basu, Snigdha Basu and Rajnish Hedao's production design is realistic. Deepa Bhatia's editing is smooth.

Agni Movie Review Conclusion: Overall, AGNI is worth watching for its performances, suspense and heartfelt tribute to firefighters, the unsung heroes of our society. This technically superior film truly deserved a theatrical release.

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