Paloma Sharma
Rediff
Paloma Sharma is a freelance journalist at Rediff who moonlights as a student of humanities, although it should be the other way around. She was named Youth Incorporated Magazine's Blogger of the Month for July, 2013.
Most Divergent Takes
- Krrish 3 (2013)0.0 vs TRM 5.6-5.6
- Bullett Raja (2013)1.0 vs TRM 5.2-4.2
- Creature (2014)0.0 vs TRM 4.1-4.1
- Walking with Dinosaurs (2013)1.0 vs TRM 4.9-3.9
- Horror Story (2013)1.0 vs TRM 4.8-3.8
The Perfect Girl
2015 · Rediff · Sep 2015
The Perfect Girl has caused a crater to form on my desk because I keep hitting my head against it as I recount this less than perfect slow poison of a film to you.
Jaanisaar
2015 · Rediff · Aug 2015
... in its present form, Jaanisaar is a test of endurance. A film that helped me discover that dark space between frustration and boredom, Jaanisaar would have been a more honest work of art if it were titled Jaanleva.
Pixels
2015 · Rediff · Jul 2015
It could very well be the most unremarkable Hollywood film of the year; a complete waste of time.
Aisa Yeh Jahaan
2015 · Rediff · Jul 2015
Despite strong performances, Aisa Yeh Jahaan fails to engage due to its shaky storyline and scattered plot. It is a half-baked attempt to create something beautiful.
The Gallows
2015 · Rediff · Jul 2015
The Gallows will probably appeal to high schoolers at a sleepover. For the rest of us, a rewatch of The Blair Witch Project will have to suffice.
Amy
2015 · Rediff · Jul 2015
A fitting tribute to the lady who made jazz and the blues both interesting and accessible to a generation that couldn't comprehend Miles Davis or Dinah Washington, Amy will make you wonder why we are so critical of icons we swear to love.
Minions
2015 · Rediff · Jul 2015
Too long to keep its audience glued, Minions could have been a much better watch were it Minion sized.
Insidious: Chapter 3
2015 · Rediff · Jun 2015
A simple story of demonic possession seems to have gotten lost in the mists of the Further while one was away during the interval, the ends of which are tied up with laughable simplicity and a saddening lack of creativity. Much like a bumbling partner in a three-legged race, the second half of the film weighs its first half down. Insidious: Chapter 3 is less insidious and more insipid.
Ishqedarriyaan
2015 · Rediff · May 2015
Lost in a world of its own, the film forgets to engage the viewer. The makers of the film might need to offer free tea at the screenings to give the audience an incentive to stay awake. The kindest thing I can say about Ishqedarriyaan is that it is yawn worthy.
Welcome to Karachi
2015 · Rediff · May 2015
Welcome 2 Karachi could have done better had it invested in a good VFX guy. We've seen better special effects when it comes to bomb blasts and sea storms on CID. Somebody needs to take this monstrosity to the cutting room floor and chop it up like nobody's business. Somebody also needs to put actual musicians at the helm of the sound department.
Tomorrowland
2015 · Rediff · May 2015
The visuals are pleasant. The acting is good. The story is good enough. But not one factor in the film pushes itself beyond this line, towards greatness. For a film with such immense potential, Tomorrowland plays it too safe.
Surkhaab
2015 · Rediff · May 2015
An out-and-out vanity project that takes itself far too seriously, Surkhaab lacks the strength to go all the way either to become a masala thriller or to blossom into an insightful take on the exploitation of immigrants. Because it wants to do both, it ends up doing neither.
Margarita, with a Straw
2015 · Rediff · Apr 2015
... is a refreshingly, brutally honest film which ends up making the tiny mistake of adding an emotional, clichéd ending. Although certain scenes in the film could have been infinitely more powerful had the background score been stronger, one must laud Bose's use of deafening silence and Laila's wails in a scene at the hospital towards the end of the film.
Ek Paheli Leela
2015 · Rediff · Apr 2015
Though there are more flaws in the film's execution, at the heart of it Leela is a genuinely intriguing, if slightly predictable story and the twist at the end could have been a game changer had it been played out better. Nevertheless, critical analysis is not going to make much of a difference for this film is clearly a one woman show and as far as the film is concerned, it is always Sunny in Rajasthan.
Broken Horses
2015 · Rediff · Apr 2015
For those who haven't watched Parinda, Broken Horses could perhaps be a moving, serious watch. But for those who have already been blown away by Chopra's original, Broken Horses pales in comparison...
Furious 7
2015 · Rediff · Apr 2015
Furious 7 is more of a montage of fond memories than it is a movie. Largely entertaining but not necessarily everyone's cup of tea; as far as this one is concerned, you come for the action and you stay for the drama.
Mortdecai
2015 · Rediff · Jan 2015
It is difficult to understand why Koepp, Depp, Paltrow, Bettany and Aronson agreed to make the film. Mortdecai, eventually, is but a joke -- an inside joke, which only the above mentioned five persons will find amusing. The rest of us must suffer through it.
Paddington
2015 · Rediff · Jan 2015
Paddington is a heart-warming family story but it ultimately succumbs to the Disney template with a happy ending that's unbearably sweet. Paddington also imparts practical life lessons in a way that is neither patronising nor insulting to the intelligence of kids.
The Theory of Everything
2015 · Rediff · Jan 2015
A film as strongly scripted and impeccably executed as The Theory of Everything will be remembered for longer than Stephen Hawking's estimate of the end of time.
Alone
2015 · Rediff · Jan 2015
Alone is a story that is forced to come together by unknown forces, to which Bhushan Patel contributes very little. There seems to be very little logic or sense of direction behind the scenes, that go on for so long that you feel like you're watching an Ashutosh Gowariker film.
American Sniper
2015 · Rediff · Jan 2015
Despite being intrinsically American, the film might actually appeal to a certain section of the political spectrum, even in India. However, it could have been infinitely better. Not quite as mindlessly gory as Lone Survivor, not quite as brutal and sensitive as Fury, American Sniper is a middle ground that is as masala as a war biopic can get.
Big Eyes
2015 · Rediff · Jan 2015
Big Eyes easily evokes a mix of fascination and empathy and you just can't stop looking...Big Eyes is big on spunk and sure to be a big hit.
Taken 3
2015 · Rediff · Jan 2015
Taken 3 is about an old dude who still has the moves and will open a can of whoop ass on you if you come near his girls. Not so much about family as it is about the stroking of male ego.
The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death
2015 · Rediff · Jan 2015
The Woman in Black: Angel of Death 2 is scary enough to entertain but won't play with your mind when you're home and the lights go out.
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
2014 · Rediff · Dec 2014
Repetitive and a tad cheesy, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb would have warned moviegoers better of its overly Christmas-y intentions were it named 'Once Upon a Time in the Museum Dobaara!'
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
2014 · Rediff · Dec 2014
...the most unspectacular in the series and it makes you thank your stars that it is the last one.
Main Aur Mr. Riight
2014 · Rediff · Dec 2014
Main aur Mr Riight is a tad too pretentiously philosophical to be taken seriously.
Sulemani Keeda
2014 · Rediff · Dec 2014
The film will obviously find a loyal audience in the urban youth who, upon finding no respite in television, have turned to the internet for some Hinglish entertainment they can connect with. Finally an unpretentious indie, Sulemani Keeda, simply put, is by the filmis, of the filmis, and for everyone.
Exodus: Gods and Kings
2014 · Rediff · Dec 2014
Exodus is bound to rile up believers but it will definitely bore skeptics as soon as the second half begins because although it begins with Moses rebelling, it offers very little insight. Exodus is a good time-pass film. However, if you've watched The Prince of Egypt (1998), then skip this one.
Dumb and Dumber To
2014 · Rediff · Nov 2014
Dumb and Dumber To seems to be desperately trying to carve out an audience for itself in a world that has moved on. Harsh as it may sound, Dumb and Dumber To seems to have been made purely because the studio needed to dish out something and this was probably the least-worst option. Stale and struggling to remain relevant, Dumb and Dumber To doesn't manage to be good enough to be applauded or bad enough to be laughed at.
Beauty and the Beast
2014 · Rediff · Nov 2014
Beauty and the Beast takes more time to establish the premise than an Ashutosh Gowarikar film takes to end. Set in a universe that is probably the lovechild of Katrina's Choc On advertisement and those insipid 3D animated Barbie movies, Beauty and the Beast is all silk, velvet and jewels with insignificant things like subplots and emotions thrown into the mix. A classic case of bad editing and worse dialogue, Beauty and the Beast certainly is not a children's film.
John Wick
2014 · Rediff · Nov 2014
A perfect blend of angst, brutality and soft, damp eyes, Keanu Reeves is the best John Wick that one could possibly find.It should be understood that this film is no masterpiece. However, if you're a fan of action thrillers and have hungrily devoured Stallone and Segal's crappiest films of the same genre, then you're going to love this.
Boyhood
2014 · Rediff · Nov 2014
Once the initial wide-eyed worship of the filming process fades away, all that Boyhood leaves you with is a faint sense of nostalgia and not much else.
Nightcrawler
2014 · Rediff · Nov 2014
Perhaps what keeps one glued to Nightcrawler is the marvel that one is bound to feel at one's inability to dislike such a clearly diabolic character. There's something beguilingly vulnerable in the wide blue eyes of Louis Bloom and though you will find him likeable at first, its his (and Gyllenhaal's) ability to gain your trust that will leave you disturbed.
Fireflies
2014 · Rediff · Nov 2014
Fireflies is is one giant cesspool of sadness and agony that is ever-expanding and will engulf every barely happy soul it can get its hand on...
Roar
2014 · Rediff · Oct 2014
You'd be naive to go into this one looking for top grade acting or direction but if you have liked any adventure film starring Dwayne Johnson, then the Sunderbans are the place for you.
The Best of Me
2014 · Rediff · Oct 2014
The Best of Me fits well enough in the genre to which it belongs and will obviously prove to be a major tearjerker for hopeless romantics. The rest of us can only find it amusing, at best.
Fury
2014 · Rediff · Oct 2014
Fury may not be everyone's cup of tea but it serves as a great reminder of the devastation wars bring with them...
Happy New Year
2014 · Rediff · Oct 2014
The film relies more on the two-minute noodle brand of patriotism than it does on common sense in order to further the plot. Featuring some adorable cameos from Anurag Kashyap and Vishal Dadlani and (yes, you're reading this right) Sajid Khan. This could have been a much better film if only it had dared to move out of its comfort zone. Happy New Year is a film that's bound to make you feel good, but trust me, the feeling won't last.
The Judge
2014 · Rediff · Oct 2014
With an uncomfortably high number of elements borrowed from an insane amount of places, The Judge is the refined, severely toned down version of basically every Yashraj/Karan Johar movie. This is Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham for Americans.
What If
2014 · Rediff · Oct 2014
A fairly enjoyable way to pass an otherwise free afternoon, What If attempts to be different from the rest in the genre but fails to leave a mark.
Dracula Untold
2014 · Rediff · Oct 2014
A film that could have been a genre breaking masterpiece, Dracula Untold in its present form would be a more honest work of art if it were titled Dracula Unfortunately.
Spark
2014 · Rediff · Oct 2014
Spark's title, like everything else about it, is random. Filled with twisted morality and creepy old uncles who like to watch (and how I hate to use this term) item girls sing about their 'jawaani' and 'solah baras ki kahaani' -- 16 is underage, just FYI -- Spark simply failed to ignite the flame.
Left Behind
2014 · Rediff · Oct 2014
The miracle of Left Behind will touch your heart in such a way that you will get down on your knees and pray. You will pray to make it stop. Left Behind is a film you need to leave behind.
Annabelle
2014 · Rediff · Oct 2014
Coming from the very people who gave us The Conjuring, Annabelle moves slower than a snail trying to book a ticket on the IRCTC website. If you're looking for a scare, look into your 8th grade math textbooks. All that the theatre can offer you in this case is a deep, dreamless sleep.
Ekkees Toppon Ki Salaami
2014 · Rediff · Oct 2014
Ekkees Toppon ki Salaami is one of those films that you can watch over and over again. Extraordinarily ordinary and proud of it, Ekkees Toppon ki Salaami reminds us of the important things in life in a highly consumerist world.
Tamanchey
2014 · Rediff · Oct 2014
No amount of catchy soundtrack, meticulous set design, or slick editing (by Manish Jaitly) can save the film from the lofty, misplaced ambitions of the people entrusted with guiding it.
Creature
2014 · Rediff · Sep 2014
Creature 3D is just about as thrilling as the prospect of attending extra classes during summer vacation. The only real monsters in it are the people who unleashed it upon the rest of us.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
2014 · Rediff · Aug 2014
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles does have some rather enjoyable action sequences and cheesy, yet funny one-liners though.
22 Jump Street
2014 · Rediff · Aug 2014
22 Jump Street might fall slightly short of being as awesome as 21 Jump Street but it will surely leave you begging for more. PS: Stick around for the titles. You'll thank me later.
Lucy
2014 · Rediff · Aug 2014
Lucy could have used more action and a better soundtrack and although it isn't really a masterpiece, it cannot be dismissed either. Lucy is a visual treat -- like National Geographic in HD. But better.
Begin Again
2014 · Rediff · Jul 2014
Begin Again speaks to the viewer like few films have... Begin Again has neither heroes, nor anti-heroes. It just has people -- pathetic, frustrated, struggling people who are still clinging on to the hope that things will get better. And it has music; and sometimes that is enough too.
Planes: Fire & Rescue
2014 · Rediff · Jul 2014
Although I would like to think otherwise, Planes: Fire and Rescue was made in order to keep the franchise alive. It was clearly not a labour of love and it doesn't really care where the script is headed to, as long as it fulfills its target audiences' need for instant gratification. Planes: Fire and Rescue seems to be too high on fuel to be able to walk the straight line of consistent storytelling.
Amit Sahni Ki List
2014 · Rediff · Jul 2014
The makers seem to have been inspired by several popular Hollywood romantic comedies and so, the film becomes predictable. Funny on the surface with faults in its execution, Amit Sahni Ki List should probably come with a warning that says 'Burn after watching'.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
2014 · Rediff · Jul 2014
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is not, and never was, about a fictional future that seems scary and yet amusing to us at present. It is about realising what we're doing today and what could be done to us tomorrow. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes unapologetically pits humans against apes; and you can't just be a mute spectator. You will be forced to take sides.
Bobby Jasoos
2014 · Rediff · Jul 2014
Bobby Jasoos works only because of Vidya Balan and the strong supporting cast...
The Fault in Our Stars
2014 · Rediff · Jul 2014
The fault in The Fault in Our Stars is that it is so obsessed with bringing tears to your eyes that it forgets to bring substance to the table.
Grace of Monaco
2014 · Rediff · Jun 2014
...too obsessed with being a fairytale to really become anything more than a pretty sheet of shiny wrapping paper twisted around a piece of wood-hard, flavourless candy. It is as beautiful as its subject, but amounts to be little else.
The World Before Her
2014 · Rediff · Jun 2014
The World Before Her is a poignant, disturbing watch. It makes you wonder which will be the new India -- Ruhi's glamorous "modern" world, or Prachi's traditional, religious State. And will either of these really be so different from each other?
Filmistaan
2014 · Rediff · Jun 2014
Filmistaan is packed with great background scores, unfaltering narration and stellar performances. It's also one of the best films I've watched since Queen and D-Day; it's absolutely flawless.
Maleficent
2014 · Rediff · May 2014
Packed with lovely visuals and a predictable plot, this film is a one-woman show that could have been a little less brooding. It could have been brilliant but it chose to stick to its seat with its safety belt tightly binding it down. Its sad when a film fails to realise its own potential. Maleficent is almost magnificent.
The Raid 2
2014 · Rediff · May 2014
There are films built around the theme of violence and then there is violence for the sake of making a film -- The Raid 2 happens to fall into the latter category.
Heropanti
2014 · Rediff · May 2014
Over all, Heropanti is an amusing yet bland modification of the classic Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayengey, featuring some of the most fake Haryanvi accents this North Indian has ever heard. The film could do with more action and less drama. The most masala-less masala movie I've watched in a while.
Mighty Raju Rio Calling
2014 · Rediff · May 2014
Mighty Raju: Rio Calling is just an animated, toned down version of Krrish 3 for children -- and it's mighty awful.
Yeh Hai Bakrapur
2014 · Rediff · May 2014
Yeh Hai Bakrapur fails to live up to its early promise due to lacklustre direction. The film is also shabbily edited with abruptly cut scenes in several places.
Manjunath
2014 · Rediff · May 2014
This film is more about experiencing hope than it is about paying attention to the technical aspects and the unfortunate socio-political climate that prevails around us makes it a must-watch. Manjunath is a lesson in humanity we all need at the moment.
Million Dollar Arm
2014 · Rediff · May 2014
Million Dollar Arm may have a point when it questions the treatment of players as commodities and not humans, it overdoes the white saviour bit.
Purani Jeans
2014 · Rediff · May 2014
Unabashedly sexist, regressive, poorly researched and lacking the punch a college romance film is supposed to pack, Purani Jeans can easily give Yaariyaan a run for its money when it comes to being the worst film in the recent history of bad films. After watching Purani Jeans for 138 minutes, I have decided to discard my denims.
Brick Mansions
2014 · Rediff · Apr 2014
Brick Mansions never slows down enough to let you enjoy the brilliance of David Belle's liquid movements and never speeds up the story to keep you from yawning.
Samrat & Co.
2014 · Rediff · Apr 2014
Samrat & Co might be about an extraordinarily observational man's fight against crime but as far as cinema goes, this film is a crime against the genre.
Tarzan
2014 · Rediff · Apr 2014
Tarzan is one of those rare scripts that Hollywood should have faxed to Bollywood and let them do it their way because only Karan Johar could have saved this film with a decent love triangle and loads of family melodrama.
Revolver Rani
2014 · Rediff · Apr 2014
Revolver Rani could have been the movie of the year. It ended up as a confused film that can't decide who, or what it wants to concentrate on instead.
Transcendence
2014 · Rediff · Apr 2014
Transcendence may be intellectually half-baked but it poses some serious queries about the boons and the banes of technology. It might test your patience but if you choose to stay with the film, you will be rewarded adequately.
2 States
2014 · Rediff · Apr 2014
There's nothing that should keep you from watching 2 States. If you're as desi as I am and get senti about maa, there's no way you won't run home after watching this film and give your mother a big hug.
Oculus
2014 · Rediff · Apr 2014
Oculus is a story that has its fair share of goosebump-inducing moments but it would have been told better if it were cut short.
Divergent
2014 · Rediff · Apr 2014
Divergent is clearly made for its already existent fan base, with the best loved bits and pieces of the book shoved on to screen with hardly any adhesive to keep them together.
Rio 2
2014 · Rediff · Apr 2014
Rio 2 features some lovely, complex animation and a vivid, cheerful colour palette but is a one-time watch at best. Strictly confined within the box and The Formula, Rio 2 might be the Ram-Leela of animation/Hollywood when it comes to visuals but as far as children's films go, it remains less innovative.
Main Tera Hero
2014 · Rediff · Apr 2014
Main Tera Hero succeeds where films like R... Rajkumar, Chennai Express and Phata Poster Nikla Hero failed. Not exactly suitable for family audiences, Main Tera Hero is a total seeti-maar, paisa vasool film and refreshingly unpretentious.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
2014 · Rediff · Apr 2014
Captain America: The Winter Soldier does its best to be an out-of-the-box thriller, but eventually ends up feeling a bit factory manufactured and slightly lacking in that creative edge (which Chris Nolan's Dark Knight series had the perfect dose of). A must-watch for Marvel fans, Captain America has action-packed entertainment that may leave you thinking about the direction the world is heading in.
Youngistaan
2014 · Rediff · Mar 2014
Youngistaan neither says something new nor does it reinforce time-tested wisdom in a way that you actually want to pay attention to it. It makes claims like Modi, implements policies like Rahul and has a persistent cough like Kejriwal, and I certainly wouldn't vote for it.
Lakshmi
2014 · Rediff · Mar 2014
It is difficult to watch Lakshmi. It gives you a headache inside the theatre. It gives you nightmares when you go home. The worst part of Lakshmi is that it isn't just a story. When you come out of it, you will forever be plagued by the knowledge that evil does exist in this world and we, as a society, are only enabling it.
Shorts
2013 · Rediff · Mar 2014
Shorts is a welcome change from the usual Friday fare but it isn't quite there yet. Nevertheless, it does leave one with some very powerful images and is worth a shot.
Pompeii
2014 · Rediff · Feb 2014
Pompeii is one of those rare films for which I am glad that a 3D format was used. If cheesy, overdone, masala flicks are your kind of fare, this is your kind of film. For the rest of us, Pompeii just blows.
Darr @The Mall
2014 · Rediff · Feb 2014
The highest point of Darr @ The Mall is the soundtrack- highly predictable, but it is the only thing that keeps the horror factor up. The songs fail to generate interest, except for one - Pinacolada; and as the song goes, "zindagi hai mehngi sharaab". So don't waste it on Darr @ The Mall.
RoboCop
2014 · Rediff · Feb 2014
In an attempt to make it relevant to our darker, more violent times, director Jose Padilha loses sight of the point he wishes to make through the film. RoboCop tries to be something it is not and in that process, ruins everything it could have been.
Vampire Academy
2014 · Rediff · Feb 2014
... falls flat on its face . The film ends up looking like a sloppily put together mash-up of almost all tween pop culture reference from films.
The Lego Movie
2014 · Rediff · Feb 2014
The Lego Movie is the ultimate family treat. It's a relief to be able to watch cinema that is not exactly dead in the head, with company. The film delivers a strong message about the unlearning of (rigid) instructions and the power of human imagination. While this may be unsettling for more orthodox folks and institutions, it is important for the younger generation.
Heartless
2014 · Rediff · Feb 2014
This is no romance film. It's a vanity project. The camera spends more time on Adhyayan Suman in Heartless than it did on Hrithik Roshan in Kaho Na... Pyaar Hai -- with both films being directed by the actors' respective fathers. However, the trouble is that even though Adhyayan's character is made to dominate the film, Addy could just as easily have been a Subtracty and it wouldn't have made much of a difference. Heartless is, in fact, without a soul.
Lone Survivor
2014 · Rediff · Feb 2014
Lone Survivor is Hollywood's Lakshya -- except, without the spunk, the entertainment factor and Hrithik Roshan. This is not a film. This is a test; And of all the people I sat in the theatre with, I think I have emerged the lone survivor.
Miss Lovely
2014 · Rediff · Jan 2014
While gaudily commercial films like R... Rajkumar lies on one end of the spectrum, Miss Lovely lies far on the other extreme and too much of anything is never a good thing.
The Legend of Hercules
2014 · Rediff · Jan 2014
...is no legend. It is merely a mash up of 300, Gladiator, Troy and pretty much every other film made about ancient Greece. Drab and almost despicable, this film has nothing to offer. Honestly, it's not even worth talking about.
Carrie
2014 · Rediff · Jan 2014
Had it been cast better, Carrie could have been a true horror flick, but now it's just truly horrifying.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
2014 · Rediff · Jan 2014
While not a complete waste of time, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit could have used a solid script and some more patient direction before waltzing into a theatre near you. It does its best to sound intelligent by bringing geopolitical battle lines into the picture, it lacks the intensity to be categorised as espionage cinema
Karle Pyaar Karle
2014 · Rediff · Jan 2014
Logic gets suspended here as easily as gravity in space and no one has any motivations for their actions. All's well that ends well, and at least this one ends. Period. The only thing that you will be asking yourself after watching Karle Pyaar Karle is maine pyaar kyun kiya?
Grudge Match
2014 · Rediff · Jan 2014
You can afford to miss this if you aren't a fan of either of the actors or a fan of boxing. As a long-time Stallone fan, I choose to excuse myself from this wreck because I cannot stand to see a performer I admire so much do something like this. If you must watch it, do it for Alan Arkin, who plays Stallone's trainer, Lightning. He's the only one who seems to have put any kind of effort into it.
Yaariyan
2014 · Rediff · Jan 2014
Yaariyan may be targeted at a young audience but every single teenager who chooses to watch it will be insulting their own intelligence.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
2014 · Rediff · Jan 2014
Beautifully shot and easy on the eyes, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is thoroughly engaging. Never before have I seen a room full of some of the sternest critics in town refusing to leave their seats, expecting more as the titles begin to roll in.
The Wolf of Wall Street
2014 · Rediff · Jan 2014
If The Wolf of Wall Street were a person, I probably wouldn't turn around to give them a second look. It is rather shocking and extremely heartbreaking to see this coming from a director I admire so much. It looks good and it sounds good too -- The Wolf of Wall Street can really please the senses, it seems. Just remember to forget your humanity for a while.
47 Ronin
2014 · Rediff · Jan 2014
Don't bother with 47 Ronin if you've already seen the 2:31 minute trailer, the rest of the 116.69 minutes can be ignored. You wait for something to happen throughout 47 Ronin. The stage is set. You get that creeping feeling of déjà vu. Parts of the film remind you of The Matrix, Constantine and Dungeons and Dragons. You almost think you saw a glimpse of Seven Samurai and The Last Samurai while the frames flash by.
Mr Joe B. Carvalho
2014 · Rediff · Jan 2014
...that annoying friend who won't stop forcing those unbearable PJs on you as you try to laugh politely while one eye seeks an emergency exit. At the end of the film, you slip off your seat, onto your knees and beg Mr Joe B Carvalho — please ab maar daalo.
Walking with Dinosaurs
2013 · Rediff · Dec 2013
...a lazy attempt at filmmaking. Watch it only if you have insomnia because the comfortable seats, the theatre air conditioning and the film will be enough to lull you to sleep.
Jackpot
2013 · Rediff · Dec 2013
Only go for Jackpot if you sat right until the end of the titles of Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag and yelled encore.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
2013 · Rediff · Dec 2013
Magic is an essential part of The Lord of the Rings universe and magic is what you get the moment you put your 3D glasses on in the dark cinema hall. If you thought Ram-Leela was a visual treat, you ain't seen nothin' yet.
Oldboy
2013 · Rediff · Dec 2013
Watching Oldboy feels like you're watching a history lesson on the projector in your seventh grade class. While the visuals may be dark and slick, there is really nothing about the film that feels even a tiny bit humane. Cyborgs might as well have crafted this. Oldboy is not for the weak-hearted. Or film lovers. Or just people, in general.
R... Rajkumar
2013 · Rediff · Dec 2013
The film begins pretty well and Shahid entertains in bits but there's only so much he can do to make this kind of stuff work.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
2013 · Rediff · Dec 2013
Every frame is slick, though not as dark as that of the first film despite the characters dealing with extreme trauma in this one. Hunger Games Catching Fire is clinical at times but nevertheless a smooth ride.
Bullett Raja
2013 · Rediff · Nov 2013
Bullett Raja is rife with predictable scenes, bad editing and a lack of control over the script, which spirals into an unending loop of absurdity. The pseudo-patriotism blends into personal enmity with the corrupt without much warning, leaving the viewers confused.
Last Vegas
2013 · Rediff · Nov 2013
It might be perfectly executed with an amazing star cast but it lacks a soul -- and a story. The saddest part is that this could have been such a beautiful film. It's not everyday that we see films for an audience above 30. The idea to include a wider age group into the cinematic experience might have been a noble one but the film essentially forgets to help the viewer connect with any of the characters -- despite all of them having completely legitimate sob stories.
Gori Tere Pyaar Mein
2013 · Rediff · Nov 2013
Gori Tere Pyaar Mein is essentially two different films separated by an intermission, with a few, weak common threads between the two. It is a case of shoddy editing, writing and direction. Its saving grace is that it is a love story and the second half will manage to melt your heart, if only slightly. It's the classic opposites attract story and hey, if you're into that kind of thing, this might be your kind of film.
Singh Saab the Great
2013 · Rediff · Nov 2013
The first half of Singh Saab the Great is enjoyable but overshadowed by the loud, sometimes nonsensical music. The other half is unnecessarily gory and overshadowed by even louder and more nonsensical music. Although I appreciate that the makers of Singh Saab the Great tried to make a socially conscious and relevant film, they got pulled into giving a sermon instead.
Rajjo
2013 · Rediff · Nov 2013
Rajjo is a horribly confused film. It is shabbily edited to the point of seeming to be cut-pasted from different films. The story launches into too many tracks which almost never come full circle.
Insidious: Chapter 2
2013 · Rediff · Nov 2013
Insidious Chapter 2 is definitely not for the faint-hearted but if you're a seasoned horror fan -- by which I mean, if you have peed your pants after watching Poltergeist at age 4 -- then you might as well skip this and watch Sansani.
Free Birds
2013 · Rediff · Nov 2013
...has a couple of laughs and if you don't think too much, you might not even find it predictable
Satya 2
2013 · Rediff · Nov 2013
All I can say is that Satya 2 is as bad as Satya was good.
Krrish 3
2013 · Rediff · Nov 2013
...could have been a much better film if it had been a tad more original. The blatant plagiarism from other superhero films, the absolute lack of creativity, has made me lose respect for the makers and the film itself. In conclusion, after watching Krrish 3, all I can say is that I need a therapist.
Sooper Se Ooper
2013 · Rediff · Oct 2013
If you've liked Khosla Ka Ghosla, Challo Dilli and Do Dooni Chaar, you will love Sooper Se Ooper. This film isn't about getting from point A to point B; it's about enjoying the journey -- destination be damned.
Mickey Virus
2013 · Rediff · Oct 2013
Mickey Virus is two films divided by an interval. The first half is a marathon of the now (thankfully) defunct TV show Dil Mil Gaye and the second is a suave, well-scripted suspense. If you have time to spare and the strength to tolerate the first half of the film, book your tickets now.
Escape Plan
2013 · Rediff · Oct 2013
Escape Plan is a two-man show. If you've loved the Terminator and Rambo series, you will love this. If you didn't, it's an entertaining yet forgettable ride.
Captain Phillips
2013 · Rediff · Oct 2013
Captain Phillips makes for an interesting watch – if you can survive the constant hammering of the background score. Just fast enough to keep you gripped, Captain Phillips is good entertainment that, thankfully, has its brain intact.
Horror Story
2013 · Rediff · Sep 2013
If you like being horrified at things such as lack of logic or Bollywood films 'paying tribute' to their Hollywood counterparts, Horror Story is for you.
John Day
2013 · Rediff · Sep 2013
John Day fails as a thriller. I suppose it had a run time of approximately two hours, but it felt more like five.
Jobs
2013 · Rediff · Aug 2013
The film also conveniently overlooks the details of Steve Jobs' life and miserably fails to represent him as a complete person. Had he still been around, Jobs certainly wouldn't have approved of Jobs.
Planes
2013 · Rediff · Aug 2013
Planes does have its fair share of comic moments and some of the dialogues are especially witty but how far will that take it? Though propped up on the strong, experienced wings of Disney, one is left to wonder if Planes would have enough strength of its own to successfully take off.
Bajatey Raho
2013 · Rediff · Jul 2013
Bajaate Raho had a whole lot of potential. Sadly, not all of it was realised.
D-Day
2013 · Rediff · Jul 2013
D-Day has all the right ingredients that make it a memorable film.
Shortcut Romeo
2013 · Rediff · Jun 2013
Well shot, with laudable performances from Neil Nitin Mukesh and Ameesha Patel, Shortcut Romeo makes up for loose ends and bizarre twists in the plot by means of sheer masala power.