Fireflies is a brave effort, natural and languid for most parts. However, it fails to glow through its foreseeable conflicts and layers, and ends up being a statement in craft over storytelling.

Surely, smarter films can be constructed with such resources, thereby opening up a new universe of possibilities for viewers and distributors alike. I can already hear box-office registers ringing, but ask yourself this: Would halls be full if Shahrukh Khan chose to forego his friends’ films?

The 3D, worthless as ever, isn’t post-converted for a change, with the use of stereoscopic cameras. This is a schoolboy error because the entire film is shot at night. The filmmakers try to overcompensate by lighting up every scene like the moon (you can literally see the source), thereby making this look like a grainy animated disaster.

The promise ends with the title. Sonali Cable is a superficial representation of a trade that has frustrated Mumbaikars for a decade-a relevant profession it had an opportunity to enlighten viewers about, the way Rocket Singh did for computer-service firms.

Despite its design as a timeless saga, one ends up feeling most of the 135 meditative minutes. Nevertheless, there is something about this film, perhaps an oldworld charm and innocence missing in today’s flashy love stories.

Spark is a dated political action flick that looks to have been concocted by melancholic film buffs in a smoky room during a mandatory 1-day editing course.

This is probably the most entertaining out of the five films this week-with set pieces that crack you up and manipulate you-but invariably has you pulling out your hair in frustration. Such fine actors, but an opportunity lost.

Watch this, if only to be reminded how one man’s passion is every other man’s lunacy.

Bang Bang is one of the breezier Hindi-language action packages of recent times, but that really isn’t saying much. The bar, albeit sparkly, still remains at the same desensitized height. It can best be described by my first answer when asked how the film was – ‘Houseful’.

A more loosely based version might have provided a better structure and unpredictability to Haider’s psychological battle. Even though the film’s flaws are largely down to the nature of work it chooses to adapt, the universe it functions in is occasionally at odds with the characters.