12th Fail

Heard elaborate appreciations about this movie wherever I went/saw - relatives, friends, whatsapp groups, etc.. So I guess I had set myself up with some very great expectations. Waited for a long time to watch it (much like RRR). Unlike RRR, though, this one did not buoy my feelings while the movie unfolded itself. It went from ok to well, alright to so? to fine to then and so on. I guess I have seen too many True stories with similar motivation/insiration and seen it made really good that my mind starts making comparisons very soon on same genre. 

Not to belittle the tale itself - it is truly fascinating how Mr Manoj became an IPS officer, full kudos to him. But the movie-making definitely could have been better, editing was definitely needed with lot of repeated dialogs, scenes, etc. Free-flowing camera movement is ok and trending now but not sure if it was really needed. Acting by pretty much new cast is great and they have all done really well. Shraddha's scenes were very well captured and clean, definitely the highlight of the movie. Also I thought I detected couple of directional miss too but, overall thanks to Vidhu Vinod Chopra for bringing this story to the masses although could have done better.

Rating: Good

Language: Hindi

A Bad Moms Christmas

This one is more intense than the prequel. Again, not much of a ROFL but funny enough. Very raunchy indeed to be categorized as A. Just goes to show how low human consciousness has dipped if this is how mainstream life is in US. Sad indeed. Some scenes are really good especially when moms are unable to handle their own moms. While the prequel was about handling kids, this one is about handling (or getting handled still by) moms - so a good concept, and Christmas adds good color to it. Again, full marks to acting, casting, etc.. I guess Dialog too. 

Rating: Good

Bad Moms

Thought this will be a ROFL but it was not. Simple concept which is made with an A rating for no good reason. Could have been made as a family entertainer so easily. Dialog is witty at times, characterization is good and some scenes bring a cheer to the face but on the whole, it is pretty average movie. Typical American Hollywood comedy flick, I guess. Time-pass. Had been a really, really long time since I had seen such a movie.

Dasavarenya Sri Vijayadasaru

After Jagannatha Dasaru, had high expectations for this movie considering it was pretty much same film crew - casting, direction, production, etc.. However, this one fell flat. Not very compelling, and seemed very mediocre although narration is altered to weave across years and lifetimes. Story sparkles at times but then that is the miracle of Sri Vijayadasaru's life itself. Felt like we would not have repented if we had not watched this.

Rating: Average

Language: Kannada

Sant Tukaram

True Story about Saint Tukaram, a great devotee of Panduranga Vittala of Pandharpur, like Purandara Dasaru. This movie is made in 1963. The dialog of Tukaram's wife is simply awesome and well scripted with a touch of humor. Throughout the movie, Dr Raj Kumar is in a state of equilibrium and has acted very well. Sometimes, I feel such movies of the yesteryears simply cannot be made in this era - with that clarity, language, style, poise, prose, elegance, etc.. Of course, some of the scenes are like 'did that really happen', like when Shivaji was about to be killed in the temple, the Abhang books that got submerged came back up, etc.. Miracles or not, worth a watch for the Saint himself.

Rating: Good

Language: Kannada

Thutta Mutta

Couple of people had spoken about this movie about how they were sandwiched between wife and mother and this prompted me to watch it. Indeed, the movie is well-made, with the right set of dialog from each of the main participants - the mother, the son and the daughter. Many people in real life can relate to these roles and the dialogues. Acting is great - Ramesh plays the role with such ease and so does Prema. Direction and narration is good. Although I felt some scenes could not be seen with the family. And it brought back memories of 1990s Kannada movies, because this is how most of them were made. Those ridiculous dances on hill stations, change of dresses within same scene, songs all of a sudden, not much of violence, etc.. Watchable if you are either a son or a wife or a mother!

Rating: Good

Language: Kannada

Sri Purandara Dasaru

For a movie made in 1967, it is indeed well-made. Saw this movie on Purandara Dasa Aradhane day, and it was much much better than the soap/episode that was telecasted in 2022. Movie starts off with that nose-ring which was pivotal in Purandara Dasaru's life whereas in the soap, it starts off with his parents. All the actors have done a remarkable job, and it is still a wonder how Narasimharaju climbed on Rama devi several times and even Balakrishna!! Does not bore much although it is a wonder why even such a great saint underwent so much troubles in his life time. So, yes, there are sad scenes. Thankfully, on the net, one can fast forward, so that makes it easy!

Rating: Good

Language: Kannada

Hidden Figures

OMG! Just cannot believe that people went through all that is portrayed in the movie as part of putting the first American man on space. Many thanks to the author for penning down the history, and for the film-makers to make such a fabulous movie out of it. Fantastic dialog, screenplay, direction, casting and acting. Definitely a must-see.

Kaun Pravin Tambe?

Wow, what a man! Pravin Tambe is such an inspiration, such one-pointed focus on playing for Ranji. All those failed attempts, all those discouraging people and how he rose above all of them - Truly fantastic! The movie is extremely well made, one feels like wanting to keep seeing more and more. The simplicity of the man is outpouring, the direction, the location, casting, acting - everything is superlative.Totally enjoyed it!

Rating: Must-see

Language: Hindi

Hotel Transylvania

A movie for the daughter. Initially felt had chosen a wrong movie since it was all about ugly looking monsters but then found out it was not that bad actually. Humorous indeed. Nice, touching tale of how to let children go out into the world and explore, and not be protective forever. Dialog is catchy, animation is good and screenaply/narration is just apt.

Language: English

Rating: Good

Shane

A (true-story) documentary about Shane Warne. Well, the tale is good but narration is average. Lots of pauses in-between makes me think editing could have been better. I guess, it could have been reduced by at least half an hour. Also, I was expecting more of Sachin-Shane but there wasn't much. But what was there was indeed riveting. The first ball in his first Ashes against Gatting was something I had not known and it was mind-blowing. I kept watching that scene again and again! There were other tales like Salim Malik asking him to fail, Shane being out for an year for failing drug test, him playing Australian football, his children, etc. which were all new stuff to me - so it was interesting. But so glad this documentary was made when he was still alive, and he could see it. If he had started off his career with cricket (instead of football) and not lost that one year and retired late (he retired to spend more time with his kids!), he could easily have taken 1000 Test wickets! What a great man, indeed. And for that, this documentary is well worth watching.

Rating: Average

Language: English

The Vaccine War

Wow, what a true story and what a movie! This one's a ripper by Vivek Agnihotri. Splendid casting. Wonderful acting - Nana Patekar is brilliant and so is Pallavi Joshi. Direction & narration are awesome, its a gripping tale and the movie doesn't fail in showing it. Truly bow down to all those 'real-life' characters who went over and above the need of the hour to get Indians the Indian vaccine. This one's a must-see.

Language: Hindi

Mr. Popper's Penguins

Great joy of a movie. Excellent dialog, very creative screenplay. This one's a real fun stuff to watch with the family. Everything is good about this movie - from casting to acting to story to direction, you name it!

Rating: Good

Bhakta Kanakadasa

Watched it for the second time, to give company to wife and daughter. Thought I will get bored but did not! Not much of despondency shown (like typical old movies) albeit here and there, and I guess the true story of Kanakadasa has enough miracles to keep the audience hooked. Appreciate the effort taken by the crew to get this movie out. 

Rating: Good

Language: Kannada

Safety

True story about Ray Ray and how he tried to help his younger brother in Clemson University while juggling with his academics, football and the NCAA. A well-made movie, and at times a tale that becomes unbelievable, hence it is fascinating to watch, making viewers sit on their edge... Resembles 'Pursuit of Happyness' but then that is how many people's lives are...

Rating: Good

Eddie The Eagle

A fascinating true story of how even as a small boy, Eddie always wanted to be an Olympian. Excellently narrated tale, and well casted too. From the starting scene, the movie has feel-good factor written all over it despite the ups and downs in Eddie's life. The tale itself is wonderful, so movie-making just made it better. Cinematography and photography is superlative.

Rating: Good

Ford vs Ferrari

Wow, what a fantastic high-adrenaline movie! And a true-story at that. Matt Damon is classy, as usual. Superb narration, casting, acting, setting, dialog and direction in general. Its a pity to know about Ken Miles - how he actually won Le Mans 24 hours but red tape gave the victory to McLaren in 1966. And his unfortunate accidental death at a young age of 47. An absolute unsung car hero indeed. Many thanks for the production crew to bring out this message to the masses.

Rating: Must-see

The Social Dilemma

My manager had spoken about this, and I was very keen to see it. Finally got to see it this month. And, it is indeed a must-see. Not much of a movie although there is a small tale, but it is more of monologue from ex-Google, ex-Facebook, ex-Twitter, ex-Instagram and many other ex-Social Media Tech Giants. And these are super brilliant people, and their choice of words is absolutely fantastic in explaining the problem. The movie (or documentary) making is also top-notch especially with the AI models which try to keep users engaged.

Laal Singh Chaddha

Well, I guess I have seen Forrest Gump so many times that I remember most scenes by-heart. So, was not very keen about this LSC movie. Yet wanted to see it because of Aamir Khan Productions. But I was glad I did watch it. Very nicely made movie with fabric of Indian History from 1980s onwards for 3-4 decades. Acting's good but Aamir's acting resembled his PK character. Location settings to depict yester-decades is remarkable. And India's great locations like Kargil, Kanyakumari, Ladakh, Punjab, etc. are all very well depicted.

Rating: Good

Language: Hindi

Boss Baby - 2 (Family Business)

Well, we wanted to see the sequel immediately! But it took us some days eventually and this one gets going from where the first one ends - in terms of imagination, animation, dialog, narration and what-not! Always being edge-of-the-seat! Some ROFL scenes as well. Fantastic movie-making all-in-all, very creative indeed!

Rating: Good