Soumya Srivastava
Hindustan Times
Most Divergent Takes
- Beauty and the Beast (2017)9.0 vs TRM 6.5+2.5
- Collateral Beauty (2016)2.0 vs TRM 4.4-2.4
- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)8.0 vs TRM 6.0+2.0
- Lekar Hum Deewana Dil (2014)2.0 vs TRM 3.6-1.6
- Paddington 2 (2018)8.0 vs TRM 6.5+1.5
Dumbo
2019 · Hindustan Times · Apr 2019
An elephant flies but no one cries in Tim Burton's woke but boring remake of a Disney classic...Tim Burton's remake of 1941 Disney classic fails to take off. It underuses important scenes and introduces needless others.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
2018 · Hindustan Times · Dec 2018
The freindly neighbourhood superhero is back on the big screen and has brought along a few more webslingers in this super stylish and entertaining fun ridde.
Paddington 2
2018 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2018
Paddington 2 has done what many franchises couldn't: make a sequel about a brave bear brilliant, beautiful and better than the original. For that, it just may deserve the BAFTAs nominations after all.
Pitch Perfect 3
2018 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2018
Thankfully, the comedy is still strong with this one. Rebel Wilson with her "physical comedy", Elizabeth Banks through what we hope was sarcasm and sometimes even Anna Kendrick with her crazy ideas about people looking like animals, manage to wring giggles out of you often enough.
Wonder
2017 · Hindustan Times · Dec 2017
Fans swear by the intellectual depth and the liberating story of Perks of Being a Wallflower, Chbosky's only other big film, but even that failed to register with me as little more than being dunked in a well of emotions without really soaking in anything. Sadly, this film fails to make a splash either.
Despicable Me 3
2017 · Hindustan Times · Jun 2017
Have we seen better animated films? Without a doubt, yes. Have we seen a better film in the same franchise? Definitely. But that doesn't take away from the fact that this too is 1.5 hours of silly fun with a filling of marshmallowy niceness.
Wonder Woman
2017 · Hindustan Times · Jun 2017
If you can forgive the ending, like I have (actually, I did take away a star for it) and love Diana for her inspiring character, the righteousness of her spirit and also the mad slo-mo action, this film will lasso you right in.
Beauty and the Beast
2017 · Hindustan Times · Mar 2017
Emma Watson and Dan Stevens have all the tools they need to recreate the love story of Belle and Prince Adam but what they are missing is a touch of magic.
Jackie
2017 · Hindustan Times · Feb 2017
Jackie offers a window through time into the life of Jacqueline Kennedy but you wouldn't want to believe it is due to the exorbitantly larger than life treatment that it gets. The film tried exceptionally hard to be exceptional and it seeps through the seams just enough to make you feel disenchanted.
Collateral Beauty
2016 · Hindustan Times · Dec 2016
The desperation to make something out of nothing was spilling over in the twist that didn't fit with the film we just spent an hour and a half breaking our heads over. Do better Will Smith. You deserve so much better. We deserve so much better.
Bad Moms
2016 · Hindustan Times · Jul 2016
Beware of mothers breaking bad into gooey marshmallows...
Finding Dory
2016 · Hindustan Times · Jun 2016
Finding Dory is a good and safe bet for your weekend movie cravings, but that's about it. You can try to tell yourself that it teaches you to use your shortcomings to your advantage and other motivational stuff but nobody will truly believe that when the story is convenient. Be sure, you will laugh, your kids will laugh but be also sure, you will not cry.
The Walk
2015 · Hindustan Times · Oct 2015
Philippe Petit was an amazing amalgamation of talent and courage (which many would call insanity) who made the impossible, possible. Watch this film for Levitt's great portrayal of Petit, Zemeckis' great visual effects and also the greatness of the feat achieved by the artist.
Minions
2015 · Hindustan Times · Jul 2015
While Minions are insanely cute and do offer you short spells of laughter, this is nothing to go bananas over.
American Sniper
2015 · Hindustan Times · Jan 2015
American Sniper fails to effectively answer the questions it raises and truth be told, Bradley Cooper's performance was the only thing that 'hit the mark'.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
2014 · Hindustan Times · Dec 2014
It maintains the light and often humorous spirit of the prequel franchise and still manages to remind us we are coming close to the actual LOTR with its lessons in the sins of greed and avarice.
Ungli
2014 · Hindustan Times · Nov 2014
The only way you can enjoy this mindless film is by looking at the fun side of the 'witty punishments' the vigilante foursome unleashes on its victims. Ah yes, even the dialogues: They are so miserable that you just cannot the miss their fun side.
Boyhood
2014 · Hindustan Times · Nov 2014
...it is truly 'a historical moment in cinema' and not just because of Linklater's courage to even take up a behemoth like this but also for the masterful execution of the same. So let the 'moment seize you' and make sure you don't miss out on being a part of the history.
Big Hero 6
2014 · Hindustan Times · Nov 2014
...as far as having 'fun' goes, be sure that this movie promises 100 minutes of entertainment for kids and it is safe to say that even adults will also not be bored. This is a one-time watch, specifically for the cuddly and puffy robot. You made my ribs hurt, Ow!??
Fury
2014 · Hindustan Times · Oct 2014
Brad Pitt's Fury is the first one off the block from the long list of war movies to hit the screens this year, and, quite inevitably, it will be compared with the one true king of of war movies. Is it better than Saving Private Ryan? Absolutely not. Is it really terrible then? Again, absolutely not.
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
2014 · Hindustan Times · Sep 2014
The movie made complete sense even after all the cruel editing. It is very rarely that we see good sequels and this one is not to be missed.
Step Up All In
2014 · Hindustan Times · Aug 2014
It is best if you have already seen one of its four siblings in the past so that you know what you are in for before you go for this one. If not, you have only yourself to blame if you expect any form of story or purpose from it.
Into the Storm
2014 · Hindustan Times · Aug 2014
Watch the movie only if you are a fan of meaningless disaster flicks. We have another suggestion: go easy on the soft drinks with this one. Though the movie is just 90 minutes long, but all the rain and water will definitely not help. Better safe than sorry, no?
Lucy
2014 · Hindustan Times · Aug 2014
Watch it for the 'breathtaking' VFX and Scarlett Johansson and for 90 minutes of visual delight. However, we suggest you leave your reasoning powers at home for this one.
Lekar Hum Deewana Dil
2014 · Hindustan Times · Jul 2014
One dialogue from the film sums it up aptly for us: "yaar ye toh epic fail hogaya!" Watch it only if your life depends on it.