Bryan Durham
DNA India·Mid Day·Times Of India
Most Divergent Takes
- Collateral Beauty (2016)2.0 vs TRM 4.4-2.4
- Skiptrace (2016)7.0 vs TRM 4.6+2.4
- Love, Rosie (2015)2.0 vs TRM 4.4-2.4
- Split (2017)4.0 vs TRM 6.3-2.3
- Rings (2017)2.0 vs TRM 4.2-2.2
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
2017 · DNA India · May 2017
Really hope this is the end of the franchise, despite it being a stronger outing than On Stranger Tides. Don't want it becoming another Rocky or Rambo swansong. Somewhat entertaining, and yet, still at sea about what's happening. You can go on for the ride, but the franchise won't hold your thrall like it once did.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
2017 · DNA India · May 2017
Despite its most obvious flaws, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 entertains. Kids will love Baby Groot as will the adults. Fans will have a field day gawking at everyone from Howard Duck to the Watchers. And need we mention Stan Lee, too? It's a Marvel film, after all! Strap on your seatbelts and go along for the ride.
Smurfs: The Lost Village
2017 · DNA India · Apr 2017
The animation aside, the film has nothing going for it. Some things are lost for a reason and should stay lost. Not worth the 3-D outing (if you're thinking of opting for that one).
The Fate of the Furious
2017 · DNA India · Apr 2017
There's little to hold your interest in between. You know the reason for Dom's 'betrayal' fairly soon. You don't know why he shares a kiss with Cipher. You wonder how easy it is to bury a hatchet when fighting a common enemy. And how long you can hold a grudge. Building up a sequel is fairly easy.
Ghost in the Shell
2017 · DNA India · Apr 2017
Watch this one for ScarJo. It's not much of an effort to sit through. And what's more, it is an incredibly good looking film. But it could have been so much better.
Life
2017 · DNA India · Mar 2017
Get past the blah, the bluster, the babble and the banter and you'll have something to get an eyeful of. It's not always pretty, but it gets the job done. One-time watch.
Beauty and the Beast
2017 · DNA India · Mar 2017
Obvious flaws in the story aside, it's an entertaining spectacle that sees you rise, fall, float and fly with every note in this musical. It's engaging, beautiful and idyllic. Purists might have their reservations, but one has to say this is a thing of rare beauty!
Kong: Skull Island
2017 · DNA India · Mar 2017
The rebooted King Kong has the right cast, the right effects people, but quite possibly, the wrong script. It brings the film crashing down with a thud that's as loud as every hit that Kong lands. It's entertaining, but only if you don't go in expecting Oscar-worthy performances from this celebrated cast. It is the film's soundtrack and its spectacular effects that save it.
Logan
2017 · DNA India · Mar 2017
Watch it, for sure. It offers hope for the X-Men franchise yet. The future, despite the bleak one painted by this one, is one you're not going to forget in a hurry. A superhero film that entertains and makes you think? Rare breed, I'd say.
Split
2017 · DNA India · Feb 2017
Save for that unexpected cameo at the very end of the film, you have little to sit through this film for. Avoidable.
Lion
2017 · DNA India · Feb 2017
It doesn't exactly make you roar in applause, but it does leave you with a lump in your throat at some points during the film. Sunny Pawar is a revelation. Watch this one for him.
The Ghazi Attack
2017 · DNA India · Feb 2017
Watch it once. More so, if you haven't watched the likes of Hollywood films Crimson Tide or U-571. Watch this one for Rana and some great underwater action sequences.
The Lego Batman Movie
2017 · DNA India · Feb 2017
.Running time and obvious flaws notwithstanding, you're in for a fun time. Everything is good, but everything is not awesome.
Rings
2017 · DNA India · Feb 2017
Should you watch it and will you die if you do? Most certainly! Of boredom.
The Great Wall
2017 · DNA India · Feb 2017
As a monster flick of epic proportions, it is dwarfed by its own ambition, never quite reaching full potential, but is entertaining nevertheless. A one-time watch.
The Founder
2017 · DNA India · Jan 2017
Watch it by all means. It's an interesting tale of greed and ambition and a treatise on why, in business, there are no good men, and why only the rotten ones flourish.
XXX: Return of Xander Cage
2017 · DNA India · Jan 2017
Watch this one for Deepika and Vin if you're fans of the two. The action parts are fine and in good measure. It's a film that's supremely confident of what it is. And that shows. And if you're looking to be entertained, you will be. Just don't tax your brain with the way this film plays out. Trust me, you'll get a headache.
Passengers
2017 · DNA India · Jan 2017
It's nothing like Gravity (the allusion is there), like The Martian (similar concept) or Interstellar (the motive for the journey) and so, despite some fine performances by the lead pair, it's not going to leave a lasting impact.
Collateral Beauty
2016 · DNA India · Dec 2016
Avoid it like sin. This is not the kind of tripe you ought to subject yourself to. Great cast notwithstanding. Forgive them for they knew not what they did.
Rogue One
2016 · DNA India · Dec 2016
Despite rave reviews, it's not a film that blows us away or bamboozles us with spectacle. Maybe Episode VIII will be better?
Office Christmas Party
2016 · DNA India · Dec 2016
Those two stars are for the great casting. The film itself is strictly for those with low standards. It's so bad, the trailer is better the actual film. Avoidable.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
2016 · DNA India · Nov 2016
Minor gripes aside, do not miss a minute of this film. It's probably one of the best films you'll watch this year that's consistently engaging and entertaining.
Doctor Strange
2016 · DNA India · Nov 2016
It's unmissable, for sure. It has the style, the spectacle, a story with little to no twists, a penchant for gags and jokes we've now come to expect from the MCU and more. And its Cumberbatch-ness is definitely a big draw. And the fact that it knows its flaws and doesn't dwell on it. That you're going to love this one is an understatement.
31st October
2016 · DNA India · Oct 2016
We all know what happened on that date in 1984. It tells you nothing you don't already know - the villains, the victims et el. It neither serves as a grim yet unforgettable reminder of the day some men became monsters or offers hope that history won't repeat itself. As a film goes, it makes you feel nothing. And that's just sad.
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
2016 · DNA India · Oct 2016
It's a no-brainer for Tom or Cobie fans. Flaws and all, it still reaches out to you and drags you along for the ride.
Inferno
2016 · DNA India · Oct 2016
Dan Brown fan or not, you're bound to feel a little disappointed, because Irrfan (accent aside) is brilliant (that confidence and will-do attitude we saw in Jurassic Park, comes unhinged in this one) at what he does and this movie, on the whole kind, doesn't do him justice. And let's not hide it, you bought a ticket to this one, because of the Tom Hanks-Ron Howard-Dan Brown combo. You only wish, the movie lived up to all your expectations and not just a few.
The Shallows
2016 · DNA India · Sep 2016
I cannot emphasise enough how beautiful (and dangerous) this film and its leading lady look. In fact, I'll go out on a limb and rocky waters to say this: give Blake a standalone superhero movie already. God knows, she deserves it. Dive headlong into this one, killer sharks, notwithstanding. But hey, Jaws, it ain't!
Robinson Crusoe
2016 · DNA India · Sep 2016
The only thing that works for the film is the visuals. Everything else is not worth your time or money.
Sully
2016 · DNA India · Sep 2016
The Hanks-Eastwood combo works. The film rarely lets your attention slip from the events up on screen. And that's something to be proud of, these days. Did I mention it was a Hanks-Eastwood project with a dash of Eckhart thrown in for good measure? Take flight with this one. It won't let your expectations crash.
Don't Breathe
2016 · DNA India · Sep 2016
The idea of a Hotel California-like situation - you can check in, but never check out - makes for a tense, horror-filled film. More so, since the frights are provided by a flesh-and-blood monster and not a ghost or ghoul.
Skiptrace
2016 · DNA India · Sep 2016
While the humour and fight scenes are good, the film is a little long and has its laggy moments.
Akira
2016 · DNA India · Sep 2016
Despite its flaws, catch this film for Sona. Every kick and punch she lands, proves that she's grown in leaps and bounds since that joke of a boxing match in Holiday. While Murugadoss leaves a lot to be desired, it is a satisfying one-time watch for an action-junkie.
Pete's Dragon
2016 · DNA India · Aug 2016
It's a family film for children of all ages. And despite its flaws, makes for repeat viewings.
UNindian
2016 · DNA India · Aug 2016
Brett Lee's bowling (as Will) gets sledged in the film, buy an Indian cardiologist 'wanker', no less. His acting, while it leaves a lot to be desired, could do with some net practice. But he'll get there soon enough. The film itself, could've done better with better writing.
Jason Bourne
2016 · DNA India · Aug 2016
Watch it only if you are a die-hard fan of the franchise. And even then, you'll wonder why this film had to be made.
Suicide Squad
2016 · DNA India · Aug 2016
Go for it... at least once. It has its flaws, but nothing you can't ignore. And it has Will, Margot and Viola. And it's all about loving your villains, after all.
The BFG
2016 · DNA India · Jul 2016
We're more cynical now than we used to be. And if that child inside you still exists, you might want to check out this whimsical feel-good fairy-tale. And it's Spielberg, so there's that.
Star Trek Beyond
2016 · DNA India · Jul 2016
Go buy that ticket and strap in to explore new worlds with the Starship Enterprise. Enjoy the ride. We're sure there are more to follow.
Ice Age: Collision Course
2016 · DNA India · Jul 2016
Don't go in with mammoth expectations and you won't be disappointed. It may as well be titled Apocalypse Averted, but that still wouldn't salvage this film's fate!
Great Grand Masti
2016 · DNA India · Jul 2016
Strictly recommended viewing for people who want to get sledgehammered with silliness. Or just hammered by ham. You know you want it!
The Secret Life of Pets
2016 · DNA India · Jul 2016
TSLOP makes for a great evening out with friends and children. It is a rather straightforward tale about pets, the importance of friendship and being there for one another when it matters most. And that while there are bad humans (think: the Chennai medical college students) here's a reminder that there are good, kind ones, too. And it doesn't hurt, that it's rather funny, too.
The Legend of Tarzan
2016 · DNA India · Jul 2016
If you're a sucker for a tale where you root for the 'sequel' where the hero returns for closure (or possibly new beginnings), this film is for you. If you expected it to be more, you might as well let out a Tarzan yell in frustration.
Now You See Me 2
2016 · DNA India · Jun 2016
Nothing quite as entertaining as the first film. And that's saying a lot more than I should. It'd take something of a magic trick to pull off a win with this one, despite some clearly winsome performances.
Finding Dory
2016 · DNA India · Jun 2016
Dory definitely deserves a one-time viewing at least. It's been a while and we've missed her. Beyond that, well, that's up to you....
The Nice Guys
2016 · DNA India · Jun 2016
The Gosling-Crowe pairing, obviously. The promise of some great jokes. A lot of murders. And a time long gone. Go, if you're into all that.
The Angry Birds Movie
2016 · DNA India · May 2016
Don't go in with too many expectations and you won't be disappointed. It's worth one viewing but could have been more than just that.
Veerappan
2016 · DNA India · May 2016
For someone still reeling from the after-effects of watching Not A Love Story (never mind that RGV had a string of could-have-beens after that), this comes as an opportunity to prove us wrong, wasted. Where have all the Shivas, Satyas, Sarkars and Shools gone?
X-Men: Apocalypse
2016 · DNA India · May 2016
An unnecessarily convoluted though fairly decent film that tries to pack as much of everything as it possibly can, it ends up a great pav bhaji instead of being a great pasta. Both have their own merits, only one doesn't require pounding the living daylights out of your ingredients.
Criminal
2016 · DNA India · May 2016
It should be a criminal offence to be asked to watch this film. You're better off watching Face/Off instead.
Captain America: Civil War
2016 · DNA India · May 2016
Screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely never let your interest dip and the Russos make sure everybody gets a line (or more) in. This is a build-up to other movies and to keep with it, you have to watch this movie to the very end - there's a mid-credit teaser as well as one that rolls after all the end credits have.
10 Cloverfield Lane
2016 · DNA India · Apr 2016
The performances hold you captive. This one is reminiscent of Misery in a good way. Don't miss it.
Santa Banta Pvt Ltd
2016 · DNA India · Apr 2016
There's a reason this review is this short. This is strictly avoidable fare!
The Huntsman: Winter's War
2016 · DNA India · Apr 2016
If you watched the first movie and liked it, this sequel will disappoint you. And even if you haven't, it will still disappoint you.
The Jungle Book
2016 · DNA India · Apr 2016
...you're going to love Mowgli, this film, the voice cast, the photo-realism of the animals surrounding Mowgli and an inherent innocence that just shines through and through. It's a spectacular film and one you shouldn't miss. Just go watch it!
Kung Fu Panda 3
2016 · DNA India · Apr 2016
This feels like yet another Kung Fu Panda movie. It's entertaining, great fun to watch and laugh along to. But we're greedy. We'd like to see something beyond the obvious.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
2016 · DNA India · Mar 2016
Irons and Affleck are the best reasons to catch this film. God knows it isn't Cavill's fault. I'd say don't miss the beginning and don't miss the end. Everything in between is fair game. Your move!
Norm of the North
2016 · DNA India · Mar 2016
Even the kids won't sit through this one. The film has far too few good gags to even merit one sit-through of this film. Do yourself a favour and... well, you know what to do.
Bus 657
2016 · DNA India · Mar 2016
We've been in this 'situations' in previous films of the genre. We know how it's going to end. That's never a good thing. What starts out promisingly, ends up quite middling. It's a lazily made film. It might work in the matinee slot. But as a thriller feature, it could have done so much better! Disappointed.
The Program
2016 · DNA India · Mar 2016
It's worth one viewing if you haven't heard about the man, and even if you haven't. The film has bark, one only wishes it had more bite.
Zootopia
2016 · DNA India · Mar 2016
Zootopia is the sort of film that wants to make a point and even does it well, but it also does leave you a little cynical by the end of it. But hey, that's life!
Jai Gangaajal
2016 · DNA India · Mar 2016
While PC plays a strong character, we can't say that the film has either - strength or character. It's contrived, a little too long for our liking and dragged out. Watch this only if you are a PC fan.
Carol
2016 · DNA India · Feb 2016
While it isn't as 'explosive' a story as the book once claimed to be, you'll find that it is a love story society (at the time) forbade. A love story nonetheless and a rather beautiful, tender one at that. Rather tastefully done, Mr. Haynes!
Gods of Egypt
2016 · DNA India · Feb 2016
Gerard/Nikolaj fans might lap this one up. The rest of us have better things to do. Like, have faith that there won't be a sequel to this.
Spotlight
2016 · DNA India · Feb 2016
Forget the flaws. This film deserves to be watched solely for the performances by the ensemble cast and for daring to telling a tale of courage and the pursuit of truth, no matter what the consequences.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
2016 · DNA India · Feb 2016
A tad too long and a little too late in coming along, PPZ could nearly have passed as being dead-on-arrival.
Trumbo
2016 · DNA India · Feb 2016
Watch this one for the brilliant Bryan Cranston and his perfectly delivered lines, a lovely Diane Lane as his wife Cleo and Mirren, a truly terrifying and malevolent journalistic force of nature.
Deadpool
2016 · DNA India · Feb 2016
I'd recommend this movie to anyone, disclaimers notwithstanding (no kids, and maybe... girlfriends with a really formidable sense of humour?), as something that's so entertaining you won't just watch from start to end (the end credits are hilarious, too) but even sit back for the right-at-the-end credits (that Marvel is notorious for).
Joy
2016 · DNA India · Jan 2016
Joy has an engaging beginning, a middling middle and a rather overdone ending. It has its heart in the right place, but should that be enough?
The Danish Girl
2016 · DNA India · Jan 2016
Watch this one solely for Eddie. The story is a warm, beautiful one, but not as engaging as Eddie's performance.
Wazir
2016 · DNA India · Jan 2016
Worth one visit for sure for AB Sr's superlative acting and some ceetee-worthy dialogue (why don't we write like this anymore?). As a thrilling drama, it has some bite, but as a suspenseful tale, it lacks teeth.
Everly
2015 · DNA India · Dec 2015
An action flick that's all noise and no substance, they might be firing for all they're worth, but all they're shooting are blanks.
The Good Dinosaur
2015 · DNA India · Dec 2015
The scenery has never looked more photorealistic than it does in this movie. Mychael Danna's music is beautiful. Arlo and Spot share several moments you can keep returning to because they're so damn well-captured. It's just that...while it's rather clear that most of the other dinosaurs seem worked on, Arlo and his ilk seem a little underwhelming to look at, at the outset. Also, Spot comes off a far cuter version of Sandy from The Croods, and one feels a little deja vu in that respect.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
2015 · DNA India · Nov 2015
Remember the franchise for all the best moments. Few came from this one. I'll leave you with lines by Katniss that sum the entire experience: "It's like a game. I do it over and over. Gets a little tedious after all these years, but... there are much worse games to play." True, that!
Spectre
2015 · DNA India · Nov 2015
It's a Bond entertainer starring Daniel Craig. Most of you are going to like it. For me, it was a rather safe, been there, done that outing. Suffice it to say, it started well, but kinda lost steam in the middle. Overall, I was neither stirred, nor shaken.
Band Baaja Baaraat
2010 · Mid Day · Nov 2015
Debutant director Maneesh Sharma brings Delhi alive like few filmmakers have in recent years. His confidence with his craft shows. The script is mostly fluid with the rare weak moments but what really holds up the two-hour flick are its lead pair. For someone who's two films old (Anushka) and a debutant (Ranveer) to entertain with josh and a fervent energy without a single big name in any frame calls for appreciation.
Titli
2015 · DNA India · Oct 2015
Not an easy film to watch, Titli sheds light on a microcosm within a microcosm, where frustration and sheer helplessness dictate actions and reactions. In the end, it all comes down to choosing between a known devil and an unknown devil.
Goosebumps
2015 · DNA India · Oct 2015
As an adult, you won't really be in love with the film. Through a child's eye, however, this is stuff you'd definitely want to catch at least once on the big screen.
Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension
2015 · DNA India · Oct 2015
Nothing riles you more than a horror film that doesn't keep you hooked or even scared throughout, even for a hour and a half.
The Last Witch Hunter
2015 · DNA India · Oct 2015
Even the monsters or the witches don't look scary. Everything seems to have been put together in a hurry. It's an action flick. But it is rarely entertaining. It has Vin Diesel, but there's no car chases in this one. It could've been great, but settles for just about okay.
Rock the Kasbah
2015 · DNA India · Oct 2015
This film is confused about what it wants to be. It's not entirely satire, not entirely dark comedy and utterly boring at every turn.
The Walk
2015 · DNA India · Oct 2015
It's an easy enough walk to the ticket counter. Take it. And tell your friends about it. Flaws and all, it still is well worth the price of admission.
Sicario
2015 · DNA India · Oct 2015
The drug problem in the US has no lasting solution, but temporary arrangements and compromises, is what this film tries to convey. It's not something everybody can relate to, but it's gripping enough to merit at least one watch if only for the star cast.
The Martian
2015 · DNA India · Oct 2015
...despite its long running time and explanations on video logs, there's not a moment where you feel that this film is boring. Because it isn't. A solid entertainer that's high on entertainment, humour and science, it is a space-flick you shouldn't miss.
Black Mass
2015 · DNA India · Sep 2015
Watch this one if you're a Depp fan. The film doesn't really work without him. It's good stuff, but nowhere close to what The Departed (also based in Boston) was.
We Are Your Friends
2015 · DNA India · Sep 2015
Zac as an aspiring DJ is uninspiring. He's got a clueless look plastered on his face throughout, quite stoned by the looks of it. His character Cole is seemingly talented, supposedly has it factor, has abs, is a hit with the ladies. Everything Zac is. But in most of his other movies, he's not what he is in this -- terribly boring.
Hitman: Agent 47
2015 · DNA India · Sep 2015
By the end, you feel almost as vacant and blank as 47. There's the hint of a sequel, so don't walk out as the end credits roll. Wait for the one that comes mid-credit. And wonder why. This is a good enough example of what could have been, but wasn't.
Manjhi: The Mountain Man
2015 · DNA India · Aug 2015
Not quite 'Shandaar, Zabardast, Zindabad' as one would expect it to be. It makes you proud that such Indian lived among us and makes a compelling case against Indian politicians and the bureaucracy. But beyond that, it's simply a love story - a man tearing through a mountain to keep the memory of his wife alive.
Shaun the Sheep Movie
2015 · DNA India · Aug 2015
Take your kid to this one or watch it to relive the time you were a kid and enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. And yes, don't miss the end credits!
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
2015 · DNA India · Aug 2015
This well-balanced entertainer is a visual treat. Cruise is a delight to watch - even as he indulges in the same shtick in all the M:I films (a tad bit tiredly this time, it seems). And whatever you do, don't miss the beginning.
Pixels
2015 · DNA India · Jul 2015
This would have to count as one of Columbus's laziest efforts. And Sandler's, for sure. Guys, it shows when you're trying too hard!
Masaan
2015 · DNA India · Jul 2015
A film that runs the risk of predictability, but is compelling enough to keep you hooked to what happens next without succumbing to the danger of getting waylaid by its own indulgence, is what makes Masaan a film you cannot and mustn't miss.
Ant-Man
2015 · DNA India · Jul 2015
This is a film that deserves to be seen on the big screen. Yes, despite its flaws that become quite apparent as you watch the film. At the same time, it's entertaining, Paul Rudd is great in it and we'd really like to see more of him.
Minions
2015 · DNA India · Jul 2015
Here's a film that won't fail, but it won't be one of the best animation films this year either. Your kids and you will probably watch it all of once and then move on to the merchandise. Yeah, that's it. I can't imagine revisiting this film. And that's really disappointing for a film that should've had world do-minion on its agenda.
Amy
2015 · DNA India · Jul 2015
Adjectives don't do a telling of her life any justice. Neither does one documentary. But this one lets you take away what you want from her story. One thing is for sure, you come away with tears, though richer for having seen a side to Amy you had either only heard of before. Here's to more such documentaries!
Terminator Genisys
2015 · DNA India · Jul 2015
Taylor is no James Cameron. Let's face it, he's competent, but is bogged down by a really silly script. Oh, that twist in the tale? It comes a little earlier than you would expect. An actor of the caliber of JK Simmons in this film is such a shame. And that, dear reader, is followed by another twist you really can't wrap your head around.
Pitch Perfect 2
2015 · DNA India · Jul 2015
...the second half sees a far more balanced film. Stick around and you'll be treated to a satisfying end to a film that does well, but could've done so much better!
Inside Out
2015 · DNA India · Jun 2015
You feel it all with Riley - joy, sadness, fear, anger and disgust - and become part of that journey. Parents and teachers have so much to learn from and educate with, through this film. The very fact that it doesn't try to sugarcoat childlike enthusiasm with dumbed down characters, says a lot.
Insidious: Chapter 3
2015 · DNA India · Jun 2015
Go for this only if you're a fan of the franchise. You won't much care about it otherwise. You will end up chuckling, rather than being very afraid.
Jurassic World
2015 · DNA India · Jun 2015
Of course, watch the film once at least. Don't miss the big screen experience. But spending on 3D or Imax? Don't really see the point of watching in those formats. Very little actually takes your breath away to merit viewing in those formats. A word of clichéd advice: A little less conversation, lot more action please!
The Duff
2015 · DNA India · Jun 2015
Wait till this one is out on DVD. Not worth the big screen experience.
The Age of Adaline
2015 · DNA India · Jun 2015
Given the performances, this should have been a delightful outing. If only, it wasn't so strong on subtlety and so weak on progression.
What We Did on Our Holiday
2015 · DNA India · Jun 2015
To use a cliché, not everybody's cuppa. That being said, you just have to get past the strong local flavors.
Maggie
2015 · DNA India · May 2015
They say less is more. For the most part, in this film, it isn't. This isn't your average post-apocalyptic/ zombie flick.
Poltergeist
2015 · DNA India · May 2015
...the original 1982 film was a cult classic. If you're going for a redo, at least up the game. Scare-wise, there's nothing here, we haven't already seen. Effects-wise, it wildly fluctuates between the truly scary and the laugh-out-loud parts. And more so, toward the latter.
Tomorrowland
2015 · DNA India · May 2015
...this film is worth one watch at least. If you're a geek/nerd/science enthusiast, you'll be swimming through bones to pick. If visual razmatazz is more up your alley, this is the ticket to ask for this week.
Big Game
2015 · DNA India · May 2015
Brave, bold, loud, flashy and occasionally funny, Big Game is largely pretty tame fare.
Mad Max: Fury Road
2015 · DNA India · May 2015
The few tiny flaws aside, there's much to love about this film. Get on this crazy drive, but hang on for dear life. It's gonna be a wild ride!
Harishchandrachi Factory
2009 · Mid Day · May 2015
Mokashi's feel-good film tells you about the man behind the famous name. Of how he fought social ostracisation and ridicule for wanting to follow the simplest, most (seemingly) ludicrous dreams. Mokashi might well be compared (and the comparisons will be a tad too early) to Roberto Benigni. And it really doesn't matter if this film never made it to the Oscar shortlist. Harishchandrachi Factory is a winner from the first reel itself. And long after you've left the theatre too.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
2015 · DNA India · Apr 2015
It's an entertaining film, nevertheless. The characters are now household names and with the dawn of new characters, is well worth your while to keep tabs on what's gonna happen next.
Dharam Sankat Mein
2015 · DNA India · Apr 2015
The satire works at its best when Rawal is at the forefront of things. Thankfully, that's for almost all of the film. Without him, it would've been an also-ran.
Home
2015 · DNA India · Apr 2015
An endearing family entertainer...If you're looking for a good, clean, simple yet entertaining fare to take your family or your kids to, this is it. More than once? Well, that depends on you, no?
Barkhaa
2015 · DNA India · Mar 2015
Despite its best intentions, it is a tedious exercise going through this film. Sara Loren is pretty, but her performance isn't. The director and writer still probably think we're stuck in the 60s and 70s. We know it's stupid to make sweeping statements like "all bar girls are prostitutes" (because it isn't true), but why does one need to make a film to elucidate that point?
Dragon Blade
2015 · DNA India · Mar 2015
While it scores high on what may be termed "a cinematic appearance", it lingers too long on places it shouldn't. Clichéd, but definitely worth one watch.
Cinderella
2015 · DNA India · Mar 2015
Have courage, and be kind to the family or girlfriend who you're forced to watch this film with. And if you can get past the "but it's a Disney princess film" stigma, know that it's same-same, but (a little) different. In a nice way.
Insurgent
2015 · DNA India · Mar 2015
Think of this as an inbetweener you have to get through to get to the final two films in this series. Tedious, but necessary.
Chappie
2015 · DNA India · Mar 2015
If you choose to watch this film, do so for the mad, mad, mad antics of Ninja. Dev and Hugh are too thinly drawn here to merit a criticism. Copley plays Chappie with heart. And when you start watching a film and use your brains, it helps to have a character like his. Really wish I liked this film more, but I don't.
Kingsman: The Secret Service
2015 · DNA India · Mar 2015
It's entertaining. Firth is awesome in it and it's genuinely one of the more fun spy flicks going around. Go watch it.
Love, Rosie
2015 · DNA India · Feb 2015
Rosie Dunne leaves a lot undone. And maybe that's how real life is, but you really can't be that stupid in life. Really not worth your time or money. Unless you're a sucker for these kind of films.
Khamoshiyan
2015 · DNA India · Jan 2015
Find a cheap morning show if you're really keen on catching this one. Or don't. Even if you're a fan of any of these 'actors' or 'writer' or 'director'. Unless you're a glutton for punishment.
Ugly
2014 · DNA India · Dec 2014
Do not miss this film. It may be all things dark and forbidding this festive season, but it is, with flaws and all, one of the best films you'll watch this year.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
2014 · DNA India · Dec 2014
Whatever you do, don't miss this film. And before you do, fish out the DVDs of the first two Hobbit films and watch them back-to-back. It's a treat for the senses.
Jessabelle
2014 · DNA India · Dec 2014
Do yourself a favour and wait till this one's out on DVD.
This Is Where I Leave You
2014 · DNA India · Dec 2014
Any good family drama has a well-worn balance of measured ups and downs. Adaptation or not, it can't bore you too much. This Is Where... seems confused about which side of the fence it wants to be.
Penguins of Madagascar
2014 · DNA India · Nov 2014
The Penguins of Madagascar is worth watching twice. The brilliant animation aside, after three movies with Madagascar's principal cast, it's heartening to see some of the other memorable characters get their own film. In this one, they poke fun at the franchise in particular, at spy films in general and get on with the usual gags and some truly brilliant new ones and puns. Because you know, you can never have enough of those...
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
2014 · DNA India · Nov 2014
First, watch the first two films in this franchise. You will have to or you will be scratching your head through parts of the film. And it won't be because of the dandruff.
Zid
2014 · DNA India · Nov 2014
Take an aspirin before walking into this one. Twists and cuckoo-ness apart, it's curiously not that much of a suspense story. You kinda figure that out in the first half itself.
The Equalizer
2014 · DNA India · Nov 2014
Denzel Washington steals the show in 'The Equalizer'. Denzel's a pretty cool customer for his age. Age seems to slow a lot of action stars down. Thank god, he's nowhere close to being an Expendable one.
Happy Ending
2014 · DNA India · Nov 2014
As Armaan Ji says, "300 rupaiye mein logon ko zindagi mat sikha!" Now, if that's not a master class on making big money in Bollywood, I don't know what is. If only Raj-DK had kept it as short,simple and precise, this would be recommended as a two-time watch. In its current avatar, one should be more than enough.
Nightcrawler
2014 · DNA India · Nov 2014
It's a disturbingly stark and sufficiently suffocating look at the stuff that makes monsters of men. Recommended watching for every student of human nature.
Interstellar
2014 · DNA India · Nov 2014
Nicely done, Nolan, but maybe I was expecting more... But one thing is for sure, fans of his work are gonna love it. The rest of us, vaguely familiar with his other works, might not find it as accessible. Maybe because its nowhere near as cheesy as an Independence Day? Or maybe because it will come to mean different things to different people. But whatever you think about it, just "don't go gentle into that good night".
Big Hero 6
2014 · DNA India · Nov 2014
This is a film you can take your family to. It's the kind of a film a child any age can enjoy, despite a few violent moments here and there. But then again, we see far worse on cartoon shows, these days, don't we?
Fireflies
2014 · DNA India · Nov 2014
It looks good. But it doesn't really keep you interested in the goings-on. You couldn't care less about any of the characters. And that's always a bad sign.
Gone Girl
2014 · DNA India · Nov 2014
Flaws and all, it still definitely is the Hollywood movie of the week. Go watch it!
Dracula Untold
2014 · DNA India · Oct 2014
It's a short enough film for an epic tale. Worth one watch.
The Prince
2014 · DNA India · Sep 2014
Strictly avoidable, even for Bruce Willis fans. Or action fans. Or gangsta film fans. Or action fans.
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
2014 · DNA India · Sep 2014
As a fan, this one is dead on arrival on account of having come so late. But if you're new to Sin City, well now's as good a time as any to get acquainted.
Life of Crime
2014 · DNA India · Sep 2014
If you're gonna watch this one, do it for Aniston. She is near about the only spark you'll get from this lazy attempt of a movie.
The Giver
2014 · DNA India · Aug 2014
A film like this provokes us to change the way we think about worlds perfect and imperfect and know there is a hell in every heaven. Compelling points made, but not entirely gripping and a little too simplistic, The Giver isn't for everyone. You have to give a damn about everything around you to enjoy this one.
The Hundred-Foot Journey
2014 · DNA India · Aug 2014
...is feel-good and entertaining, yet somewhat predictable.
Into the Storm
2014 · DNA India · Aug 2014
'Into The Storm' is all about the spectacle of destruction...
Lucy
2014 · DNA India · Aug 2014
With aspirations of being cerebral and cool at the same time, Lucy falls somewhere in the middle. This one isn't a one-size-fits-all, you could either love it or loathe it. Watch this one only for Scarlett Johansson. And better luck next time, Luc!
22 Jump Street
2014 · DNA India · Aug 2014
Call a friend and drag him/her along for this one. And then watch it once more. It's one of those rare times a sequel does one better than its predecessor.
Hercules
2014 · DNA India · Aug 2014
With two Hercules films already out this year, this one comes off too little, too late despite being a far superior effort than the other two. Could've been so much better. Watchable, but not repeat-worthy.
The Grand Budapest Hotel
2014 · DNA India · Jul 2014
Despite the hows and whys a Wes Anderson film will inevitably fling in your general direction, you do tend to overlook these things. Why? Because as human (flaws and all) as it is, it is also quite fantastical. And you do want to be transported to a time or place like that. If even for a little under two hours. Go for it!
Planes: Fire & Rescue
2014 · DNA India · Jul 2014
'Planes: Fire & Rescue' sequel feels like a rushed job. Go fly a paper plane, instead. Oh wait, it's still raining!
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
2014 · DNA India · Jul 2014
Definitely watch this one for Andy Serkis. And because -- cheesy as it may sound -- when the end credits roll, you realise that it's not the destination that mattered, it's the journey this film took you on. You rarely get to say that about sequels these days. Bring on the next one!
Zero Dark Thirty
2012 · Times Of India · Mar 2014
The film could've been much shorter. Clocking in at close to three hours, the film's premise is based on a series of events that spanned close to a decade, but the suspense is built, almost in real time, on slow-burn. It gives you the feeling of being there 'as it happens'. That's not always something your audience wants.
Monsters University
2013 · Jun 2013
It's not a bad film. Far from that. It is actually quite enjoyable when watched for its own merits and with the entire family. It's endearing in parts. But compare it to Monsters Inc, and it falls quite short on charm.
Fast & Furious 6
2013 · Jun 2013
The girl-on-girl fight scenes are actually more kick-ass than the ones with the guys. The new characters impress. That being said, this one's purely for fans of the franchise and action junkies alike.
The Croods
2013 · Times Of India · May 2013
A fresh, fun and mostly footloose feature, you wish there was more to the story than just a race 'into the light'. The premise's inherent simplicity is just as easily its only undoing.