It’s rare that Bollywood empowers it’s young, lead female protagonist with a role as brilliant and liberating. Queen is one of those few films that you wouldn’t mind watching again. Absolutely recommended!

The good part about Total Siyaapa was that its promos got your interest perked up in the film. Alas, that’s exactly where it ended! Unfortunately all the fun bits were packed in the promo itself. There is little fun you have while watching the film.

Highway doesn’t have a story that can engage you till the end. Post-interval, the film meanders aimlessly, not knowing how to resolve the conflict it has got into and at one point the director decides, okay it’s time to end the chase.

If armchair tourism is what you are looking for then Highway may be worth your while otherwise it makes sense to wait for this one till it airs on TV. Beyond scenic locations captured superbly by cinematographer Anil Mehta, there is little it offers.

The film is well-mounted and the production design is lavish though not necessarily real. The Calcutta setting is eye-catching and the cinematography is excellent. The climax captured in the coal mines of Dhanbad is powerful. Overall a story that you have seen in the countless films of the 70s is glossily packaged for the 2014 consumer/viewer.

A huge chunk of debutant director Vinil Mathew’s Hasee Toh Phasee takes you through this woh saat din romcom in a refreshing way even though it all happens in the backdrop of a predictable, big fat Indian wedding with uncles, aunts and cousins, adding dollops of colour, fun and madness to it. It threatens to get slightly melodramatic in the second half but quickly saves itself from a deja vu pit.

Truth be told. Shekhar Suman, the actor in Heartless, is more impressive than the director of the film. Better luck next time.

The film’s pace is slightly leisurely which may be a bit trying at times. Also, Dedh Ishqiya’s music works within the context of the film but unlike Ishqiya, Dedh Ishqiya is devoid of hummable numbers like Dil toh Bachcha Hai Ji and Ibn-e-Batuta. But, that should in no way deter you from taking this cinematic journey which is more layered and complex than Ishqiya.

One of the biggest reasons to re-visit this classic again is that many of you may have not seen this film on the big screen. That’s the way a film like Sholay should actually be viewed. With topnotch performances, extremely well-constructed scenes and superlative directorial effort, revisiting this gem of a movie would be a perfect and the best way to begin your cinematic journey of 2014.

The animation effort is at best amateur and at place drawing too much attention to it because of it being gaudy. The final battle scenes should have been a display of spectacular technical wizardry but it’s not. Sadly, you are reminded of the two arrows colliding in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan and Ramayan was made before BR Chopra’s televised Mahabharat. It almost looks like they just needed to get over with it once the Kurukshetra war starts. Honestly, by this time, even you are hoping it gets over fast and soon.

The earlier two Dhoom films sizzled. This one fizzles right at the beginning and keeps stalling intermittently.