2 Days in Paris

A prequel to 2 Days in New York. Similar in dialog and narration but felt an overdose of 'loose ethics' on Julie's (writer, director, actor, editor, etc.) role. Not sure if these kinds of relationships are common in Paris, but one can relate to the male character's trauma in seeing his girl friend's so-many ex-relationships. Not as enjoyable as the New York version.
Rating: Average

Shuddh Desi Romance

Lots of wedding scenes (although none of them is shown to have any real matrimony!) with most of the weddings having either runaway bride or runaway groom! Lots of scenes in the toilet! In fact, the toilet turns out to be many a 'turning point location' in the movie! A true rom-com movie. Excellent acting by all the protagonists. Characterization of the main leads is very well portrayed - especially Sushant's role of 'Fall for the next Beautiful Girl' attitude and Parineeti's role of 'Modern Indian Girl'. Even the location of the story - Jaipur - is very well captured. It is refreshing to see local typical Indian bustling streets and narrow walkways, after seeing so many Bollywood movies being taken in international locations. Nice, catchy song and dance scenes makes this movie a nice entertainer that doesn't bore the audience.
Rating: Good

Satyagraha

Well, what can I say. I thought this would be another Aarakshan, considering that it was another Amitabh Bachchan - Prakash Jha combo. But it failed me miserably, although it started on a very good note, and a powerful story-line of claims and compensations due from Government. Some scenes were very powerful - like AB talking about corruption, AB challenging the Government and refusing to take the compensation, the mother telling how she lost her claim due to the movement, etc. But all in all, the movie seemed to be going in the wrong direction, very much the way Kareena and Ajay kept drifting away from one another in the movie. The hunger strike, the rock band, the riots and the works. The ending seemed to be improperly edited, as if they just wanted to get it done with.
Rating: Average

Bachelor Party Vegas

Well, the movie started well enough and had lot of promises. And then things started going wrong, which seemed to make it interesting. But then, bad things kept happening over and over again. After some time, it became too much. Kind of 'over-do'. Finally, it ended well enough, which was a saving grace, but the 'Vegas' promise was broken. 'Adultish' movie, though.
Rating: Average

Interstate 60: Episodes of the Road

Excellent movie, superb dialog & quotes. Almost makes one think it is a fantasy movie, but it isn't so. It has got everything in it - romance, light humor, adventure and last few minutes have a bit of a thrill too. Some scenes are awesome - like the one in the court, the restaurant and the hospital. Definitely worth a watch. Wholesome entertainer.

Break Ke Baad

Good one. Refreshing and much needed [After a long time, saw a second movie on the same day. The first one (also an Imran movie) was too poor but this movie made up for it.]! From the time the credits appear creatively at the beginning of the movie, it is evident that it can deliver the goods. Dialog is very catchy. Characterization is good. Humor makes one almost laugh - such as the usage of metaphorical Shah Rukh and Sunita. Although ending is pretty evident, it still leaves a mark. 
Rating: Good.

I Hate Luv Storys

Very thin dialog. Very poor story. When intermission approached, almost thought the movie was over, and was shocked to see it drag on for one more hour. Was seriously waiting for it to get done. There is no suspense, no twist, no wow-factor, no nothing. Only good thing to see was the occupation of the main leads, but that wasn't stressed too much either. 
Rating: Average

Hanuman

Animation movie brought for my daughter. Not as enjoyable as I thought it would be. Anyways, she lost interest very soon, especially because there was so much violence. 
Rating: Average

Yeh Jawaani Hey Diwani

Pretty average flick. No punch. Couple of songs are exceptionally good - the music, the dance, the cinematography and the likes - but otherwise a very mediocre film. Thin dialog, thin direction and thin pretty much everything.
Rating: Average

The Whole Ten Yards

This is a sequel to The Whole Nine Yards, which I enjoyed thoroughly. This movie too I enjoyed but not as much as the first one. However, it has as good direction as the first one - same acting by the four characters, same frequency of musical background and same pace and tone of story-telling. And a final twist at the end of the story. 
Rating: Good

Up in the air

Started off as a very powerful and classy movie. Uncharted territories of filmdom such as frequent flyer membership, being on the move and enjoying, industry of firing professionals, etc. Some extremely powerful dialog and touching scenes. Midway during the movie, it kinda slowed down and at the end, it almost became a so-so movie.
Rating: Good

2 Days in New York

Just chanced upon this movie on the TV and enjoyed thoroughly. Tagged as RomCom but it is more of a movie about families and relationships. This is a movie directed by Julie Delpy herserlf, and it is outstanding in terms of narration, naturality (like the two sisters fighting in the dinner table), spontaneity  (like the two sisters fighting in the restaurant in front of a stranger) and dialog (like when Julie spells her name in both negative and positive manner). Storyline is simple and yet it has nonstop family action! Highly enjoyable!
Rating: Good

The Karate Kid

I remember seeing a Jackie Chan movie where he was the young student and he was being taught by a master. In this movie, his role is changed to the master for a young student. I initially thought it is a simple movie of Jackie Chan teaching and the student winning the tournament (which is obvious) but the uniqueness of his teaching is the essence of the movie. Story seems to be a straight lift from the 1984 movie of the same name. A refreshing Jackie Chan movie in true Jackie Chan style. It seems so much better to see his pure hand fights again as compared to his fights with the gun. But it is heartening to see him old :(

Rating: Good.

Beauty and the Briefcase

A romcom after a long time. Catchy dialog. Predictable plot. Sometimes felt direction was similar to Confessions of a Shopaholic. Refreshing movie for a Friday night.

Rating: Good

Cocktail

Started out well but ended as a pretty average movie. A normal triangle love story but the key differentiator is the unique characterization of each of the three folks. Not a great bunch of great dialog but few are good punch liners. Pretty much nothing happens after the intermission. So I felt it could have ended about one hour earlier!! Also noted that Saif's first and last scenes with Diana have same dialog - good direction but very similar to Aamir's interaction with Preity Zinta in Dil Chahtha Hai.

The Surrogacy Trap

Excellent narration, direction and edge-of-seat thriller (at least the last half of the movie). Makes one think twice before opting for surrogacy...
Rating: Good

Rise of the Guardians

A free movie on the big screen on the green lawn of the Great Park of Irvine - a summer weekend night activity. Totally enjoyed the atmosphere more than the movie. Lying under the stars and kids running all around. But the movie was good too, with a nice concept.
Rating: Good.

English Vinglish

Pretty boring start, and a predictable story line. Of course, the movie was all about Sridevi's return to acting. She seems average, sometimes even overacting. But her acting in the emotional scenes is outstanding, as ever. However full credit to Rama's acting, role, dialect and presence in the movie. Absolutely hilarious. Totally enjoyed the classroom scenes. Reminded me of Mind Your Language.
Rating: Good

Dum Maro Dum

Expected very less from this film but it turned out to be a mild thriller - which made it watchable and interesting. Some scenes even turned out to be brilliant - like the head-on car accident; and the scene when AB is about to commit suicide. Even the story conceptualization is good but, as with most thriller stories, it is sometimes too loopy to think that the 'Good Guys' are spared too loosely when they can be oh-so-easily killed.

Maid in Manhattan

Predictable storyline. Not much of a punch that makes you go wow. Average, timepass movie for a lazy Sunday.

Life of Pi

Wanted to desperately see this movie after having read the novel. Finally got the chance in Cathay Pacific airlines from LA to Hong Kong. As it is rightfully said, this is an unfilmable novel and the fact that this was made into a movie in itself is remarkable. Good thing about the movie is that nothing from the novel is taken out. If any, scenes have been added (I think, because I don’t remember Pi’s girlfriend-story in the novel). Apart from that, movie is exceptionally well taken. If we thought Titanic is the be-all and end-all of sinking ship movies, this was even better. One can feel the storm in the movie, the way ship rocked to and fro, and sunk. One can feel the fear when Pi sees Richard Parker in the life boat. I didn’t feel it when I read the novel but I certainly did when I saw the movie, even though I knew it was there! That’s the magic of movie! Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Ramona and Beezus

A movie hosted in the Tustin Library for children 12 and under with parents. This was kind of the first "theater" experience for Paavani although she still doesnt understand movies and its stories. But the movie itself was very nice, entertaining and filled with feel-good factor although the emotions in the story-line was going down and down three quarters of the movie. A very nice movie from the eyes of a 9 year old.
Rating: Good