Rockstar

Starts off grandly but then falls down steeply and never stops at it. Got a headache watching! Although the story made sense that rockstars cannot have a private life of their own (if I got that right!), it could have been made in much better way. The heroine just didn't know how to act. The hero meeting her on a street immediately after landing in Europe is a scene akin to what we were watching in the 1990s Bollywood. I am really?! Made a big mistake watching this movie.
Rating: Average

Sui Dhaaga: Made in India

Literally translating to the Needle and the Thread which is the starting point for stitching, this movie is superlative in terms of direction, story, acting, setting (the small house, the small "cycleable-only" streets, etc.) & local costumes (pleasant to see Anushka in saree all through the movie!). Showcasing of the pain-points usually faced by the majority of the lower class families in India (such as the cold climate, the lack of money during hospitalization, the long commute to the office, etc.) is heartwarming while at the same time the little bit of romance of the newlyweds is heart-melting. Dialog is crisp and to the point. Songs don't spoil the theme but is more of a background. All in all, a time well spent on a movie well made!
Rating: Good

Fool's Gold

What started out as a simple TV channel-surfing led to this movie just as the opening credits were being displayed. Since it was on the Romedy channel - popular for Romcoms - wifey got interested. But soon she got bored and slept off but I totally enjoyed it because - more than a romcom, it was an adventure movie similar to Indiana Jones and the likes. Complete with Treasure Hunting and Mafia and Sunken ships - this one had the works, especially because the Bad Guys were always one step ahead of the Good Guys, until the climax of course. As a teenager, I was fascinated with such kind of novels and this movie rekindled the old joy albeit this time on screen! The movie itself is excellently depicted, directed and created. Spectacular off-Florida clear water seas & reefs made all the more beautiful with superb cinematography. The start itself is great and it keeps getting better. The romance is more like a spin-off, and it adds flavor to the story. At one point, just like all adventure and thriller movies, the tale starts getting too complicated and hard to follow. Thats when novels are better to understand but nevertheless, this one's a wholesome entertainer!
Rating: Good

Padmaavat

Typical to Sanjay Leela Bhansali's movies - this has grandeur written all over it. Story in itself is captivating - which some say is true and some say is not. Nevertheless, if it is true, it is indeed remarkable. Dialog are short and to the point - worthy of the royalty. Acting by all counterparts are commendable - Deepika has a stern expression most of the screen time and teary-eyed although not crying, not sure why! Watchable but only once. And that too for the historical epic that it is. Of course, thanks to SLB for bringing history books to screen, and in what fashion!
Rating: Good

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