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

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

Barfi!

Wow. What a movie! I could only say this when I saw the movie twice. I had to rewind and forward and rewind and forward the movie several times (on the same day) to truly soak in each scene of the movie, and appreciate the beauty of the direction and story. This is in the class of The English Patient, Life is Beautiful, Sadma and such movies that doesn’t deserve a single viewing. This one has mystery, romance, adventure and tragedy all packed into one solid punch. One really needs to see it on a system where dialogs and scenes can be heard back and forth at the viewer’s pleasure – not just once, like on the Big Screen. Many scenes seen during the first viewing makes complete sense when the movie is seen twice or even thrice. It is a movie (similar to the aforementioned movies) that completely gut-wrenched me and the hangover lasted for most of the next day. Very few movies touch me so much. And this is one of them. Truly top class!

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

A road trip by three friends in Spain. Three major sports chosen by each person. Each sport opens up a pent-up feeling in one of the friends each time. Nothing great about the movie, but not boring or avoidable. Worth a watch.
Rating: Good

Ladies Vs Ricky Behl

A con movie. Not boring. Refreshing set of characters. Middle-class life portrayed well.
Rating: Good

Housefull

A below average movie. Full of cheap jokes that doesn't have much humour. Pretty thin direction. Avoidable.
Rating: Average

Aan Milo Sajna

Another typical old Hindi movie. Nice, clean dialog, simple but complicated romance, one villain and happy-ending climax.
Rating: Average

Chup Chup Ke

Rajpal Yadav and Paresh Rawal. It is for them the movie has to be seen. And Priyadarshan's direction, of course. It is humorous, has good dialogs and interesting story twists.

Rating: Good

High School Musical - 2

Musical teenage movie. Time pass.
Rating: Average

Upkaar

Typical old movie about good son - bad son, and the bad son realizing his mistakes in the end. But this movie has a lot of patriotism thrown in. Also emphasizes the farmers duty to the land. Made me remember The Good Earth.
Rating: Average

Do Raasthe

Family movie. Poverty, issues with joint family, rich girls, etc. Not an entertainer, just another time pass old Hindi movie.
Rating: Average  

Jab Jab Phool Kile

Time pass. Standard love story of a low class man with a high class woman set against Kashmir's beautiful backdrop.
Rating: Average

Aap Ki Kasam

Nothing great but nice in it's simplicity, as in all 1970 movies. First half is all happy-happy but latter half is all sad-sad. Some adulterous dialog in the middle surprised me though.

Rating: Average

Dhoom: 2

Suffice to say there are better movies in the same genre.
Rating: Average

Band, Baaja, Baarath

Very thin. Not much in it. Avoidable.
Rating: Average

Robot

The much hyped-Rajni's movie. Saw the Hindi version.
Heavily Avoidable. Thin dialogs and poor acting. 

Aarakshan

A must-see movie on reservation in education system. Powerful dialogs.

Amar Prem

Avoidable.

Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi

Plot of movie will be clear in first half hour. Its filled with so-called humorous and SRK's over-acting scenes to make it 3 hrs. But a profound movie with good dialogues.
Rating: Good

Kati Patang

Simpleness is written all over the old movies. Makes it watchable. Nothing great though.
Rating: Average

Dil Deewana

Jaya Bhaduri's acting is worth the watch. It is nice to see 'real' middle class families in these 80s movies.
Rating: Average

Namak Halal

The celebrated Amitabh's movie. Typical 80's movie. Nothing great about it.
Rating: Average

Mere Brother Ki Dulhan

Different story-line. The title says it all and pretty much gives away the story in the first 15 minutes. But still its nice to see the entanglements getting un-tangled.
Rating: Good