Earth (1947)

A good movie about India-Pakistan Partition and how friends of different religions become enemies due to Partition-related communal clashes and bloodshed. Simple yet poignant. A triangular romance in the background fueling the story as well. Good acting by one and all and good direction. Not great but good enough.
Rating: Good

Kai Po Che!

Another 3-male-friends' movie (after Dil Chahta Hai and Zindagi Na Milegi Dubara). This one is set in Ahmedabad and weaves through two real tragedies (Latur earthquake in 2011 and Sabarmathi Train burning in 2012) that change the course of friendship. In-between there is a nice captivating story of budding cricketer's rise to fame and a coach's all-encompassing love for the student. A nice story, good tight direction, good acting. 
Rating: Good

Good Night, And Good Luck

True story of 1950s depicted in a 2005 movie in black and white! The "true story" itself is good (about how one TV journalist brought down a senator) but the movie runs thin and some times even gets yawning-ly bore! This could have been made into a good 30 minute documentary than a 93 minute movie.
Rating: Average

Sixteen

Amores Perros (Love's a Bitch) written all over it but a more Indian version of it where the a multitude of lives interconnect at a given point of time with each of them entangled in Love's different forms. While the intention is to convey a message to sixteen year-old Indians living in India (which is not very different compared to Western nations nowadays), it still has a broader message to the metropolitan India where things has changed so much from what it was before - not just with sixteen year-olds in India but even with their parents. Good direction, good story, good acting, good dialog. Very captivating from start to finish and doesn't bore one bit. Definitely worth a watch.
Rating: Good

Ankhon Dekhi

Well, the movie started well enough and promised a lot. But other than its artistic simplicity and showcasing a low-class almost-below-poverty typical family in a Delhi suburb, there was nothing much in the movie. It was not heading anywhere. And it did not seem to be heading anywhere either. In fact, at interval, I was almost sure the movie was over, only to be surprised that there was one more hour left. Much of the scenes seemed unnecessary. But direction, acting, casting - they were all good. So, other than the story, everything else is good. One wonders what the intent of the movie was - other than to show life in its natural form, and ageing. Its not boring and some scenes are even captivating but at the end of the movie, I was thinking why did I see it. I would still say: Watchable when nothing else is there to watch.
Rating: Good

Tangled

A nice animated movie for the kiddo. Enjoyed seeing the movie with daughter. A nice, captivating story. The Maximus horse character was awesome!
Rating: Good

Rush

Wow - unbelievable true story of the rivalry between Niki Lauda and James Hunt (F1 drivers) between 1970 and 1976, captured exceptionally well on the big screen. Each scene lingers on the viewer's mind after the picture ends. Excellent casting, acting, cinematography, dialog and direction. 

Rating: Must-see

OMG! Oh My God!

Nice, thought-provoking movie with powerful dialog that hits out at the fundamental core of theism. Paresh Rawal at his best but Mithun C and his co-priests are annoying.
Rating: Good

Queen

Fantastic movie! Absolutely fascinating. Great acting, great direction, great casting, simple-yet-powerful story. Wholesome entertainer. Kangana's dance sequences were hilarious and wholly enjoyable! 
Rating: Must-see

42

Wow, what a movie! Its even more bone-chilling because it is a true story. To think what Jackie Robinson has gone through is mind-boggling. What a champion! Same regards to Rickey Branch for being the messiah in going against racism. These characters deserve as much respect as Nelson Mandela! A gem of a movie too - excellent narration, direction, acting and absolutely top-of-the-chart stuff!!
Rating: Must-see

2 States

Enjoyed reading the novel better than watching the movie. The hero was quite a depressing character. The heroine was better although she didn't look very much a Tamilian. The parents' casting was good though. The music was very refreshing and song sequences were good and dancey.
Rating: Average

21 Jump Street

A nice comedy movie, seeing after a long time. Enjoyed it quite a bit, although not as great as Hang-over series. Refreshing and entertaining.
Rating: Good

Caillou's Holiday Movie

Sunday movie time for the kiddo. Nice time-pass movie for adults but enjoyable for pre-schoolers.
Rating: Average

Kahaani

An excellent movie. Great direction, good narration, good acting and awesome story. The last few minutes will almost make you to see the movie again. Most of the plot and direction resembles The Bourne series. Kolkatta is depicted more than necessary but there is a tangential reference to the plot as well. The title is very apt. No loose ends or slack, boring sections in the movie but there are loop-holes, of course, which is expected in thriller movies such as these. Nevertheless, a must-see.

The Dirty Picture

Although it is well known that the film is supposedly based on the life of Silk Smitha, whose life is quite sensational in its own way, this movie is very mediocre in its direction, narration, story-telling, screenplay and to an extent even casting. Did not captivate the attention and made me almost feel why I wasted time on it...
Rating: Average

Tinker Bell

A Disney movie for the daughter. Gave company to have fun with the little one. Movie itself was light-hearted and nice. It is excellent imagination and creativity to think of a fairy that paints the bed bugs, gives light to glow-worms, etc.
Rating: Average

Oggarane

Another Prakash Rai movie. Just as good. Pure and simple. The basis of a love story being the love for food is unique and very well picturized. Illayaraja's music is mesmerizing. Conversation is smooth flowing. Although the movie doesn't disinterest, one wonders why the story of tribal folks was dragged into it in the midst. Nevertheless, a refreshing movie.
Rating: Good

Despicable Me

Movie time for Paavani! But she is still too tiny to understand the nitty-gritties of a movie, I guess. She was just fascinated with minions but other than that, she was not really hooked onto it. A nice time-pass movie though. 
Rating: Good

The Wolf of Wall Street

Had very high expectations after having read the novel. But alas, the movie did not live up to the expectations. There are quite a few variations in the movie and it clearly misses Jordan's true narrative style. Still, for those who cannot endure reading books, this is an easy way of getting a glimpse into the life of Jordan Belfort!
Rating: Good

Before Midnight

Very similar to the initial movies (Before Sunrise and Before Sunset) in terms of dialog, direction - signature being plain simple endless conversation between a guy and a gal. Some scenes are simply mind-boggling - such as the one when Julie and Ethan leave the airport and are talking in the car like how a normal husband and a wife do. That scene goes on and on and on without a 'Cut'...it is quite impossible to fathom that the actors memorized the script or maybe they were just to told to talk normally! Quite an entertainer. 
Rating: Good

Race 2

Story line, direction, acting and pretty much follows the same theme and pattern as Race. Same kind of twists and turns, and lot of unexpected twists. Doesn't bore but sometimes it is rather too much to believe. Some scenes easily look bogus and it kind of looks cheap stunt. But watchable with a yawn.
Rating: Good

Naanu Nanna Kanasu

A very touching Prakash Rai movie, very similar to Father of the Bride but that much more hard-hitting taken right from the day of birth of the daughter till the time she gets married. Me, being the father of a 3-year-old daughter, can absolutely relate to it. Some of the scenes were very powerful and some of the scenes very really humorous. A simple story yet with a powerful message. 
Rating: Good

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

After a long time, went on to see a third movie in the same weekend. This one happened to be the longest and a movie inspired by a true story of one of the finest athletes India has ever produced. It was a nice enough story but at times it becomes too much to take in. Especially how Milkha won an event with both his legs injured. He seems to have lived the life of extremes - almost becoming a dacoit, then a national hero, etc. Anyways, definitely a watchable movie.
Rating: Good

The Lunchbox

Had heard rave reviews about this movie. It started off exceptionally well. In fact, it had the same hall mark of Children of Heaven. But it ended up like A separation. Maybe a little lower than that too. Acting and direction was super and story was captivating but the end kinda fizzed out. It seemed to be going in circles what with 'him' 'starting off', then 'backing out' and again 'wanting'. Some of the side stories seemed irrelevant at the end. In the end, it is just watchable - nothing really great about it. The 'punch' was missing.
Rating: Good

Lifeu Ishtene

After watching Pawan Kumar's Lucia, I had high expectations on this movie. But this is a very simple movie about a young man's life of falling in and out of love with various girls at different points in time. A typical story of current generation. Taken with a light humor and jest all through, it gives various perspectives - both from girl's side and from boy's side. Watchable, not boring. Not too bad, either. 
Rating: Good

Jodhaa Akbar

Was an eye-opener of a movie, in regards to Akbar and Jodha and their stories. Truly fascinating. My admiration for Akbar rose that much more. The last arm-in-arm battle was almost reminiscent of movies such as Troy and Gladiator. A great movie, great acting and great direction.
Rating: Good

Sampaththige Savaal

MIL's recommendation. A nice typical Dr Rajkumar 1970s movie. Excellent dialog especially the arguments between Rajkumar and Manjula.
Rating: Good

Saaransh

Wanted to see this movie for a long time because of excellent reviews I had heard about it as well as Anupam Kher's acting. It pretty much lived up to expectations. The story is captivating. There is always something happening that keeps the audience interested. A simple yet very powerful movie. Excellent acting by all stakeholders. Pure and clean dialog - truly of the 1980s that we miss nowadays.
Rating: Good

Dhoom 3

A James Bond kind of movie with a typical Dhoom-theme of action and adventure with no brains-to-be-used. Good story, good acting by Aamir (as usual) but very thin direction. 
Rating: Average

Parental Guidance

Good dialog, good story and nice humor. The song in the rest room was really hilarious!
Rating: Good

Parijaatha

Pretty poor direction, story, acting. But some comedy scenes were really hilarious.
Rating: Average

Another Cinderella Story

Aptly named as Cinderella Story. But re-fitted into modern teen era. 
Rating: Average

High School Musical - I

Pretty much similar theme as High School Musical - II. Pretty great dance sequences but song sequences were not-so-great. Nice casting. Watchable.
Rating: Average

When Sparks Fly

A simple romantic movie for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Climax predictable within the first 10 minutes of the movie. Nothing great, really, but the story of a rural US girl moving to an urban area and struggling is depicted well.
Rating: Average

Zapped

Nice 'girly' story but very predictable about an app that can control boys. Pretty dubious.
Rating: Average

Daughters of Afghanistan

Documentary about few women of Afghanistan between the years of late 1990 and early 2000. Most of the documentary depicts what most of us already know about the Taliban-ravished streets of Afghanistan. But the story of Dr Samar (widowed) and Lima (orphaned with multiple siblings) squeezes anyone's heart and makes the audience feel so helpless. Here I was thinking the worst happened only during holocaust, but the truth is it is happening even now around the world. And I guess it will keep happening.
Rating: Good

The Greatest Game Ever Played

An amazing true story of 1913 US Open Golf Championship and inspiring story about Francis Ouimet. Even the movie is just about golf, it is as thrilling as any mystery story. Excellently directed and absolutely brilliant cinematography.
Rating: Good

Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure

A simple kiddo movie about value of friendship. Too many things happen in this movie but most of them seem to be futile! Story-line is very simple but means of achieving is way, way long. But good thing about these kiddo animation movies is that they all end happily.
Rating: Average

Spellbound

A real-life documentary on 8 participants of 1999 National Spelling Bee participants and their families, and what they all go through to win this ultimate competition. It is shocking that amongst over 10 million participants, only one person gets the crown. This documentary is as good as any Hollywood thriller movie.
Rating: Good

Nearlyweds

First thing that struck me while watching this movie was the amateurish acting, which is not so obvious to see in any other movies. Story-line is average, some very good dialog and real-life scenarios that can make relationships go sour. Good time pass for a lazy Sunday.
Rating: Average

The Pianist

The unbelievable true story about Szpilman who escaped death by Nazis by sheer luck so many times - it was as if God paves his way of Life through the River of Death wherever he went and lived during World War II. The novel was sometimes hard to understand but the movie makes completes justice to the novel. It is a stunning story that should not be missed. The most touching part for me, as an irony, was the death of the German Officer Captain Wilm Hosenfeld despite seeing so many Jews dying.
Rating: Good

We Bought A Zoo

A remarkable true story about an adventurer Benjamin Mee who decides to buy a zoo, in the hope of owning a dream-come-true-home. A gripping story albeit it being on the family-side. The '20-second insane bravery' theory is very motivational. Good casting, good direction and good acting makes this one almost a must-see.
Rating: Good

ABCD

A very dark movie about the status of American Born Confused Desi (Indian) - Indians being in America not really sure which tradition and custom to follow. By 'dark', I mean both literally and figuratively. The movie could have ended wherever and it still would not have mattered. It neither has a happy ending or a sad ending. Very amateurish, all in all. But, very much the truth of ABCD lives.
Rating: Average

Hachi: A Dog's Tale

A very moving true story about a dog's loyalty to it's owner, that took place in Japan almost a century ago. Despite a thin storyline, the movie is very well picturized. 
Rating: Good

Pancharangi

A comical Kannada movie with good dialog, nice and simple story line. Some scenes really make you laugh, some are ok-ok. Total reality of current times nicely depicted. Setting is very nice - in a quaint village near Mangalore. Although it is still a simple love story, it has a different texture to it. Watchable.
Rating: Good

The Lost Valentine

A nice movie about an old woman and her romance. On similar lines of Titanic but not so grand. Much more simplistic and that much more hard hitting, especially for those who lost their men in the World War. A parallel budding romance story is the only that stops from making it a tearjerker.
Rating: Good

Lucia

UN-BEL-IEV-ABLE!!
This one is a corker of a movie. It has been ages since I had seen a Kannada movie. And then I heard about this movie being one of a kind because of it's funding coming from public. From the start till the finish, it was tightly taut and it had all the right elements - mystery, suspense, romance, humor, with the right touch too. And then, at the end, the movie tipped over and then, I was like, WOW!! Like Barfi, like many other 'WOW' movies I had seen, I started it all over again immediately after it ended to fully soak in each scene with the new understanding. There are some traces of Inception but while Inception gets very complicated, this remains at a human level - and brings joy and sadness and all the emotions out, as should a movie. Then I saw about the director Pawan Kumar and read his blog. The fact that he is a college drop out and that the music director is a software engineer, I was very, very impressed. The music and songs (esp this one) is just mind-blowing! Overall, a FANTASTIC movie, and it made my day!!
Rating: Must-See!!

A Perfect Murder

A weekend with no movie at home. So started searching for some movie available on the cable network given as freebies, and came across this movie. I remember how my friend and I had seen this in a CD about 15 years ago with crappy quality (perhaps copied from a theatre) where we could hardly see nor hear and yet got the content of the movie and how we were impressed by just the story line, and Douglas acting. So just started it again, to experience it and got hooked onto it till the end, although I remembered most of the scenes. The story line and Douglas acting was just as impressive as ever.
Rating: Good

Rangeela

The only movie I have seen twice in a theatre. Wanted to show this movie to wifey. Hence booked the DVD and ended up seeing the movie along with her. As always, enjoyed it thoroughly. This time around though, didn't get that impressed with Urmila's acting but Aamir was as best as the first time I saw him. One of my all time fav Hindi movies.
Rating: Good

The King's Speech

A very good movie about the King and his stuttering problem. The acting is brilliant from the main protagonists. The fact that it was a true story makes it more enthralling. 
Rating: Good

Its a Wonderful Life

Wow! What a movie!
Unbelievable! 2 back-to-back 'must-see' movie weekends! This one is a corker, and I didn't even have to go back and see the movie from the beginning. It is a simple yet profoundly powerful and moving movie about the value of 'being good' and 'leading a valuable life'. A definite must-see!

Talaash

Wow! What a movie! 
Finally, after almost 1.5 years I could say those 4 words! It has been such a long time to have found such a corker of a movie. But I must say it has been a long time since I saw (what seemed to be) a murder mystery movie too. This movie runs on a serious note from the very first scene and it is totally gripping. Aamir's acting is as superb as ever (especially his crying scenes!). Like the last one which made me go like this, even this movie made me see it again (immediately after the first run) from the beginning to fully comprehend the story in its entirety. The dialog is a winner and each of Kareena's words are full of dual meaning that can only be understood if seen the second time around. A winner all-around!

Housefull 2

Considering that the first part had not impressed me much, I had very low expectations from this movie. But it impressed me in few ways. Especially the complicated story line and the catchy dialog going with lies spun all around the story. The movie didn't get boring but the casting could have been better. Some of the scenes were very amateurish and not humorous albeit intended so. The fight scenes could easily be identified that they were staged. Still, a light hearted comedy that can be seen on a light hearted day!
Rating: Good

A Separation

This blog desperately needs a 'Wow! What a movie!' starting line. It has been so long! So, searched for top movies in IMDB and even Oscar winner list. Result? This Persian movie. Alas, it could not provide the 'Wow' factor although it came very close to it. The acting, some of the scenes, the story, the narration, the direction are all supreme but in the end, the audience is left wanting to know more. Becomes more of an anti-climax. A very good movie, though.
Rating: Good

Hasee Toh Phasee

For some reason, I thought this movie to be on similar lines to Shuddh Desi Romance. Unfortunately it was not. It seemed to have a lot of potential at different times throughout the movie but none of them clicked to provide a 'wow' effect. During last stages, it even got to 'When will this end?' thoughts. 
Rating: Average

Grand Masti

"Adult" written all over the movie. Only one (and one only) thing is the main point in the movie. It truly amazes me about Man's creativity and expertise in everything -  in picturization, in 'double-meaning' humor-filled dialog, in 'sizzling' scenes, in acting by the protagonists. Reminded me of the Rani Mukherjee Dreamum song. Worth the watch. Nothing great but nevertheless a no-brainer laugh riot, if seen with the right temperament and ambience.
Rating: Good

Into the Wild

The novel did not evoke much thought in me but the movie really moved me. Much credit goes to Sean Penn's style of direction. He weaves the story from Chris's days in the 'Magic Bus' to how he ended up coming there - back and forth, with sister Carine's further insights in the background. Excellently dramatized, great casting and beautiful cinematography. Much of the movie is based on the novel (which is based on the true story) - sometimes more than what is in the novel (like how he suffered in the bed during his last days) and sometimes lesser than what is documented (like how he hiked through the Yukon territory). Either ways - it is a definite must-see.
Rating: Good

Big Miracle

A true story about rescuing whales from the Arctic Ice in Alaska. Dramatized well enough. The fact that it was a true event makes it all that more interesting.
Rating: Good

Side Note - waiting to see a movie that makes me go 'Wow! What a movie!' It's been so long :-(

The Angrez

An attempted movie of NRIs in India and slapstick Hyderabad comedy that really didn't cause much laughter in me. But it did make me smile at some instances. Watchable, when there is nothing better to do.
Rating: Average

Dasvidaniya

Another Vinay Pathak movie. Another simple yet moving movie about a lower-middle class man trying and wanting to live Life to the fullest. Slow-paced yet not boring. No surprises yet entertaining in it's own innocent way. Very well pictured.
Rating: Good

Chalo Dilli

A mildly entertaining movie. A very short and sweet story-line depicting an ultra-upper class female executive experiencing rural India by chance with a lower-middle class man - taken in a very simple yet effective manner. Vinay Pathak's role and characterization is outstanding and extremely well enacted. The ending is a stunner.
Rating: Good

The Pope's Toilet

A poignant Uruguayan movie about one man's struggle to get rich quick with the entire town competing with him in myriad different ways. Add corruption and his smuggling mentality and a below-poverty way of life - it gets very touching at times. Locations of Brazil-Uruguay border is beautifully picturized.
Rating: Good

Scent of a Woman

Had seen the last "powerful" scene of this movie decades ago. Then had seen some other scenes at odd times during channel surfing. But finally got to see the full movie today. Not an outstanding movie, but definitely has got lot of class and polish. Some hard-hitting dialog, amazing adventures - and that scene in the school auditorium is exceptional.
Rating: Good

Midnight in Paris

A sci-fi-ish movie with time warping between different eras based on the then main protagonist's wishes. Light-hearted humor and easy going. Does not move really fast but does not get boring either. A nice, easy entertainer. 
Rating: Good

Chennai Express

A clean entertainer for the most part. Nice humor-filled dialog. Some scenes are catchy. Like the one when the granpa dies at 99 seeing Sachin get out at 99. Liked scenes where Shah Rukh recited dialog from his own past movies. SRK's and Deepika's acting were mediocre but then maybe the director wanted it that way. The intense scene in Rameshwaram seemed unnecessary. Even more unnecessary was the violence in the last few minutes of the movie. Like in DDLJ. Nevertheless, entertaining for the most part.
Rating: Good

Inception

A sci-fi-ish movie with an amazing imagination, concept and excellently written, directed and beautifully filmed to make it easily comprehensible on the audience. On the likes of Matrix, The Truman Show and Children of Men. Something which seems very likely to occur too. 
Rating: Good

Alive

After having read Nando Parrado's Miracle in the Andes, I desperately wanted to see the movie Alive since I had read so much about it. Finally was able to see the movie on the library DVD. It is a very good interpretation of what occurred in the Andes mountains in 1972 but one really has to read the book to understand the pre and post of what is portrayed in the story. Some events seem not too elaborated even - for example the climbing expedition by Nando and Canessa and Tintin - which is so thrilling in Nando's novel. However, I saw the bonus material in the DVD about how the movie was actually made in the Canadian Rockies amidst real snow with everyone wearing almost wearing 4 layers of clothing, and how they had to make the snow look real despite the entire crew walking over it. One should applaud the making of the movie in a separate wavelength as compared to the applaud to the survivors of this miraculous true story, who stayed alive in the Andes mountain range for 72 days despite wintry conditions and even an avalanche.
Rating: Good

The Hangover Part III

This one is very different as compared to the first two parts. There is no back-tracking of events. There is no event of a memory-loss. The movie moves in current tense all through. It can be even considered as a thriller since some scenes in the movie is almost an edge-of-the-seat - like the one where 2 of the heroes jump from the casino's roof, and almost fall over. But some scenes are too far-fetched and coincidental - like the one when Chow lands right on top of one of the hero's limo. Nevertheless, the movie has enough twists and turns and directorial brilliance to keep it very interested. Worth the watch.
Rating: Good

The Hangover Part II

Pretty much the same story line as The Hangover but setting is changed from Vegas to Bangkok. Worth the watch still, though. 
Rating: Good