Monte Carlo

The title sorta is confusing because the movie starts with Texas, moves to Paris, stays in Monte Carlo for a long time and kinda ends in Machu Pichu, Texas and Romania! Total time pass movie about a mistaken identity. Almost like Bollywoodish! Casting isn't all that great. Scenic beauty of all the above cities are taken well. Characterization is ok-dokey. Costuming is good and apt! I guess it was meant to be a "Romcom" but there is less of Com. You can just sit through this one and go where it takes!
Rating: Average

102 Not Out

A set of apparently serious things in a common man's life made humourous in a unique way. The idea and concept is very innovative - especially adding colorful flavor while bordering grave matters of family concern. Simple yet powerful acting by all stakeholders which isn't much anyways. In fact, the movie itself is small & simple yet touches a chord. Worth a watch.
Rating: Good

Gold (2018)

This movie takes "Hockey" from Chak De India and "India's fight to Independence" from Lagaan and churns out a pretty decent narrative. I believe it also has some shades of a few true stories from here and there but the disclaimer in the movie clearly states it is a work of fiction. Akshay Kumar is excellent as always - and rest of the cast has done a great job too. But the tricky thing for the director would have been the set-up required for the pre-Independence era such as the cars, the attire, etc. as well as the European crew required for the 1936 and 1948 Olympic games portrayed in the movie - all of which has been realistically portrayed. Although it lacks the 'wow' of Lagaan, the movie is still good because of the twists and turns - thanks to India's freedom struggle, success and, of course, the Partition. The Indo-Pak relation has been shown in a very warm & brotherly manner which seems so right & natural considering we were all one nation before someone drew an imaginary line. How did the term "arch rivals" really come from, one wonders...? Apart from the freedom-struggle related twists, there are other turns related to politics within the Hockey federation, feuds between team players, "teamwork vs Individualism", etc. - all of which make the movie definitely watchable.
Rating: Good

Sarkari Hi. Pra. Shaale, Kasaragodu, Koduge: Ramanna Rai

Totally enjoyed the movie. Although the general story is on predictable lines, the direction and screenplay is superior. Add to this a great team of cinematographers, lyricists, music directors, actors and a variety of them - and this is definitely worth a watch! Songs are catchy, music is pleasing, acting by the children is fantastic, locale is perfect, humor is clean and neat. In fact, there is humor throughout the movie. And to top it, some of the scenes are power-packed by stellar performances. Definitely a movie not to be missed.
Rating: Good

Personal milestones: 
- This is our first movie in an Indian theatre since we got back from US on Jan 2017. 
- This is Paavani's first movie in an Indian theatre.
- Our last movie in a theatre was Jungle Book on April 2016.
- Our last movie in an Indian theatre was Anjaana Anjaani on October 2010.

Wheels on Meals

My second time. My first time was over 3 decades ago in a cousin's house where I believe I was first introduced to Jackie Chan via this movie! I was at the ripe age then to absorb martial arts filmography and Jackie Chan fit the bill perfectly - especially with the comical fights. I then went onto see many of his movies but I always remembered this first movie of his which I had seen but I always thought it was titled Meals on Wheels. Anyways. The movie itself isn't that great when I saw it today and thats what the age gap does. When you see a movie when you are 8, it is all awesome and the same movie at age 38 isn't that good!! Still, fights are great, Jackie is superb, story is ok-dokey. 
Rating: Average

Smurfs: The Lost Village

A totally kids movie - filled with wizardry, smurfy, girly, colorfully flying animals and what not. Some superb animation, nice songs and dance moves. Amazing color combinations in every scene, catchy dialog. Watch it only if young at heart and enjoy everything that comes to you!! :-)
Rating: Average

Moana

A kids movie with the daughter on a lazy Sunday. Beautiful animation, a somewhat okey-dokey story, nice characterizations and some hard-to-believe scenes - but keeps kids occupied anyways. So I guess its worthwhile. Neither too good nor too bad.
Rating: Average

The Intern

Robert De Niro is excellent. Role suits him perfectly. Catchy dialog. Great story setup. Nice casting & location. Even the kid's great! Everything about this movie is good. Speaks from a child's point of view, from a retired person's point of view and also from a career-maker's point of view. Definitely worth the watch. 
Rating: Good

Steve Jobs

Boring, boring and boring written all over it. The movie is not entirely about Steve Jobs (or at least that was my expectation of it). It is just about three behind-the-scenes events of the three of Steve Jobs' product launches. Thats it. Jobs is just moving from one place to another and his marketing manager (Kate Winslet) is either walking with him or calling out to him that someone or the other is wanting to talk to him or that its time for the product launch. Although these three behind-the-scenes cover most of his life events, I would have rather preferred an in-depth biographical epic of Jobs and his life, maybe like American Made or War Dogs, showing how and why he came up with such unimaginable Apple products, etc. Maybe some more action and events than just talk and talk. There is far too much of unwanted conversation. Like how he wanted his daughter Lisa to go to school. She comes up during many times and sometimes I felt movie was more about her than Steve and his products. Just felt that the screenplay, storyline, editing and direction could have been far better. Matter of fact, this 16-minute Steve's meeting video with Apple Employees is enthralling more than the 2-hour long movie.
Rating: Average

The Angry Birds Movie

A Sunday movie with the daughter! An okey-dokey picture - not too great nor too bad. Pretty simple storyline favouring why Anger is needed at times to get back what is rightfully ones' own while the baddies take the goodies for granted by decoy. Animation and characterization is great - which is very much expected anyways. Pretty colorful too, what with birds as the main set of characters!
Rating: Average

Secret Superstar

Although the storyline is pretty much fully revealed in the trailer, it still makes a good watch. The acting is good from all participants, except perhaps Aamir's himself but then his characterization is such. The locations are nicely chosen and the innocent romance of the high schoolers is palpable. As, also, is the darker side of domestic violence in middle class families.

Rating: Good

Welcome Back

Seeing the sequel after almost a decade! It is almost as good and almost as bad as the prequel! Watch it for total time-pass.
Rating: Average

Vivah

A very pleasant movie all-round. It consists of all goody goody characters talking goody goody things while the narration goes from an engagement to wedding. No adultish scenes, no body-showing - just pure, unadulterated romantic story of the yesteryears with nice melodious songs. Only one mildly negative character & one untoward incident and that too turns positive at the end - so, all in all, a very pleasing movie. Excellent casting and pleasing setting too! Watch it to feel good!!
Rating: Good

Pad Man

Another true story (or a story inspired by true events). The story itself is great to watch this movie - irrespective of how it is made, so go for it! Nevertheless, Akshay Kumar is the key entity in this movie and he takes it on his shoulders from beginning to finish. Sonam Kapoor's supporting role is good too. Pretty neat and succinct direction, location/setting is ideal for rural India and pretty much rest of the casting looks newbie-ish who have all done a great job.
Rating: Good

Victoria & Abdul

Well, well, well. Whoever would think this could have really happened! Many thanks to the movie-makers for bringing out this little memoir (true story) into the world about how Queen Victoria spent her last few years with Abdul Karim - and how much she enjoyed his company. Excellently enacted by the main protagonists. Directed well enough but the movie seems fairly average all through - such as in screenplay & editing. Nevertheless worth a watch.
Rating: Average

6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain

True story of Eric LeMarque. It sounds downright stupid to see an extremely well qualified athlete to just lose out on the best things of life just because he got into snorting cocaine and thats what this guy went through. And a hard knock on the head was what he needed by Mother Nature to put some sense into him - and give him a second chance of life. Well, indeed a miracle that he survived but also credit to him and his spirits for braving it all through in the bitter cold. Some real good goose-bumpy scenes. Worth a watch.
Rating: Good

American Made

OMG, what a life some people lead! This Barry Seal led a life similar to Jordan Belfort! From smuggling Cigars to helping the CIA with recon pics, and from smuggling cocaine to helping the CIA with ammunition-transfers, and getting caught by DEA, FBI, State Police, etc but for what - to help the US President's anti-drug campaign! What a taut line to walk and with such ease and calm, while stashing all those dollars all over the house! Its absolutely stunning. The true story is so marvelous that it hardly matters how the movie is made - because it is worth every penny to watch this humdinger of a man which by the way is excellently portrayed by Tom Cruise. Great narration & direction too.
Rating: Good

Jungle

True story of Yossi Ghinsberg's adventure in the South American rainforest where he almost died before getting rescued. Not much of a thriller nor an action-packed adventure but akin to a slow moving snake where you know danger lurks and still makes it an edge-of-seat. Well depicted, great casting and acting. Worth a watch.
Rating: Good

The Good Dinosaur

"Movie with the daughter" time! 
It (the movie, not the time!) started well anyways but somehow lost its steam midway. The ending soon becomes pretty apparent - and the rest of the movie is just waiting for it to happen. Nothing great happens to write about - except a few scary scenes to tickle the young ones seeing. So... 
Rating: Average

Sanjog

Saw a 1980s movie (that too Jeetendra's) after a long time. A pretty simple love story that gets complicated due to too much love-attachment with a small boy who also has done very nice acting. Asrani & Smita Irani adds humor at the right moments. Worth a watch. 
Rating: Good

Golmaal Again

Part 4 in the series. As long as you are aware of the series & genre, this is enjoyable. Still, the plot is made very interesting although it needn't've been! Its pretty simple for an 'atma' to do whatever it needs - without needing the help of 5 people! So, enjoy the movie for the dialog, the scenery, the location/setting and some unwanted songs!
Rating: Good

Idolle Ramayana

After having watched couple of Prakash Rai movies, I always wanted to watch this one. But alas, this one was far too slow-moving and annoying at times. While the story itself is not too bad (I wouldn't go so far as to say 'good'), it would have been better if the length of the movie was cut short to maybe 1.5 hours. Too many unnecessary scenes that could and should have been edited and even avoided. The background score is too loud at times. The first five minutes when the credits come itself started the 'sound-irritation'. Watch it with own risk.
Rating: Average

The Holiday

An interesting rom-com tale about two broken hearted female strangers exchanging their houses across the continent to be away from their ex-s. What happens next is predictable for the Europe story - and hence it kinda gets boring. The American story is interesting though but finally winds its way through another predictable ending. Acting is not all that great but the tale is barely interesting enough to vouch for a watch once.
Rating: Average

Finding Dory

After having enjoyed Finding Nemo, I always wanted to watch the sequel. And it is just as good as ever. The movie intertwines with Finding Nemo tale - how Dory was where she was and what she was doing and what she eventually does. In this case, it is about the 'daughter' fish trying to find her 'parents' fish. Very touching yet comical, not to mention beautifully scripted & animated - holds true for this sequel too.
Rating: Good

Going the Distance

A very common problem faced by the Americans depicted very well in this tale as a rom com but the movie itself is not all that great. It gets boring midway, the casting doesn't seem that good too. The humour is very gross at times and totally avoidable. And so is the movie.
Rating: Average

Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana

A quirky turn of events from what starts off as a plain vanilla love story. The title is extremely misleading to what actually happens in the movie - because the bride runs away! The tale is very interesting and the main protagonists have acted their roles very well. The direction is good but there are some scenes which could have been kept clean and tidy. The ending becomes predictable and the story/director had to make something dramatic to make it interesting till the end. So, ending is not all that exciting but it is ok. But, the movie nevertheless is definitely worth a watch especially the middle portion.
Rating: Good

Mera Naam Joker

Saw the movie in passing. Some nice dialogs and great songs. Editing could have been much better. Story is pretty much downhill all the way and not much of an entertainer. Avoidable.
Rating: Average

Tumhari Sulu

A very nice middle-class family story. Pretty much everything is taken very well in terms of film-making: The setting, the family chores, the work tension, the bosses, the children's peer pressure in school, relatives' strangling, songs, etc. Movie goes wave-like from all-joy to all-sadness to joyfulness again. Excellent acting by everyone - from taxi driver to sisters to students to managers. Of course Vidya Balan is the fulcrum and she tops it as usual! Hats off to the director for the wholesome entertainer.
Rating: Good

Qarib Qarib Singlle

Well, I am not sure if it was the movie or the ambience with which I saw it but it didn't impress me much. There were too many disturbances - cable TV cutting off and on, the voice wasn't coming out well, there were guests, etc. which kinda made the movie watching experience a complete turn-off. The story too didn't make much of an impact, at least the part that I understood - unless I misunderstood! Heroine seemed a newbie but excellent in acting. Locations were great. Watch it at your own risk!
Rating: Average

Kwatle Satisa

A quirky title led my wife and me to watch this movie. It started very simply enough but within minutes it turned interesting, and then to humorous to almost like an edge-of-seat-thriller! Very neat and clean acting, good direction with nice set of casting and idyllic middle class setting. The fact that it is a true story jolted me - how can such a thing even happen!
Rating: Good

The November Man

Watched a Pierce Brosnan movie in a Bond-like thriller after a long time. Not all that great since there seemed too many missing links but a good time-pass anyways. Editing seemed poor since there were many scenes that were not really needed. But Brosnan is as good as ever despite his age.
Rating: Average

Shubh Mangala Saavdhaan

A unique storyline which makes this movie definitely worth a watch - like Piku. Rib-tickling humor peppers up the narration all through the tale because the underlying theme is such. The actors have done a good job - portraying middle class family in a middle class setting. The direction is good and so is the casting. 
Rating: Good

College Kumar

A nice family drama movie. The first half is predictable but the second half is an eye-opener since it takes a 180 degree U-turn! Performances are average by all actors but full credit to story and screenplay. Casting is ok. Watchable once.
Rating: Good

Madhwacharya

Story depicted on the life and works of Madhwacharya. Today being Madhwa Navami, it seemed the right day to see this movie to know more about him. The movie wasn't all that great but the life of the great saint is a wonder indeed. Considering the time at which the movie was made (1980s), it is still astounding to see some scenes such as how a flower blooms right from seed to fulfillment, how men walk on the snow barefooted in the Himalayas, some astounding Sanskrit dialog delivery for long durations, etc. Watchable once to know the great saint - and how he single-handedly fought the Advaitha philosophy.
Rating: Average

Lucy

Wow, what a movie! This one was mind-blowing in terms of the philosophical angle that it portrayed. The movie very closely relates to many spiritual leaders thoughts and sayings that I have heard - about how time is the only unit of measure, about how the very source of creation is within each human being (which is what Lord Krishna told Arjuna and showed the Vishwaroopa Darshan), how we can become conscious of every single thing on earth - like feeling blood flowing in our veins, the roots of a tree, rotation of the Earth, etc. Scarlett Johansson is superb in her role. Good story (although too much of violence than what was necessary), excellent direction, awesome screenplay and intelligent dialog (especially Morgan Freeman's script). Saw the movie twice within a span of 3 days. Definitely a must-watch.

Simran

Puh-lease. This movie makes American cops look like nincompoops. Storyline goes from nice to nicer to oho to what, really? to worse and then it is downhill all the way. The only saving grace was Kangana - she is as good as she was in Queen. Otherwise - this one scores poor in story, narration, mindless chase-climax and even the title which has little or no inkling to the character.
Rating: Average