Sarkar 3 too is lacklustre and ordinary. Coming from the House of Ram Gopal Varma, in some ways that counts as worse than being bad.

4 years have flown between the remarkable Lootera and this film which, despite its follies, serves as a good showcase for her talent. Here is hoping we do not have to wait another 4 years for a film that does treat her like a prop.

Naam Shabana is a better film than Baby. It has a more polished appearance, and the idiotic bad guy here is at least less idiotic than the amateurs in the earlier film.

In terms of writing, directorial execution and acting, yesterdayhas zest and today does not in this inconsistent albeit sweet spook story.

It is one thing to avoid high-pitched melodrama, but quite another to allow your film to lapse into complete lack of energy. Trapped has a promising premise and is interesting to begin with, but is unable to maintain those interest levels through its 102 minutes and 56 seconds running time.

The film’s impressive action scenes and pretty hero cannot compensate for its limited substance, which matters particularly because the action is not unrelenting. While Karan is bashing up baddies, it is hard to look away from the screen. When he is not, it becomes easy.

Sadly, there is more to Jammwal than that face, body and his fighting skills. Someone give this man a more substantial film, please.

Jolly LLB 2, as it turns out, is a mixed bag. The references to the Kashmir conflict and Hindu-Muslim tensions are impressive because the film raises these crucial issues without being in your face about them. It also bravely takes a swipe at self-righteous deshbhakts in the ongoing nationalist-versus-anti-national debate. The basic elements in the story are teeming with potential. When it’s good, Jolly LLB 2 is alternately amusing and moving. Sadly, the patchy treatment leaves it sagging too often.

It is not easy to write and direct rubbish, and get an intelligent audience to laugh. As someone who refuses to brush aside David Dhawan and Rohit Shetty’s work, I can vouch for the fact Kung Fu Yoga is a pile of nothing.

Alif is proof, if any were needed, that good intentions need good writing, good direction and good production quality to be translated into a good film. This is an important story. It just needs to be told in a better film.

Ranveer Singh, Vaani Kapoor’s verve can’t mask this old wine in a glossy bottle…