B2B movies at FAME

I don’t know what the Big deal about this latest Batman movie was. I guess one man’s death has created hype and the producers are laughing all the way to the bank with Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight. The movie is great in terms of its cinematography and the action scenes are great. But apart from Heath Ledger’s performance the plot and movie are quite lack luster. So imagine my disappointment having watched this movie after the whole world had watched it and kept saying to me in shock “you haven’t watched Dark Knight?” Well now I have and I don’t understand what the big fuss is all about.

To add fuel to the fire, I watched another movie straight after this. I mean literally after this. I came out of one of the halls at FAME South City and went into another one to watch a disaster of disasters movie called WANTED. Why? I have no clue! OK maybe because it had Angelina Jolie and Shia Lebouf and the promise of some kick-ass action. The action was over the top and seriously nowhere close to believable. Angelina’s titillating exit from the water baring a lot of skin and tattoos also couldn’t save this plot. But there’s no doubt that she’s hot. So if that works for you, go watch this one.

Rock On!

Rock On!! is the story of 4 friends who put together the greatest band this country has ever seen,but never make it.

Years later date conspires to bring them together again and set them on a journey back to where they left off... a soul-searching into their past.

The Cast:
Farhan Akhtar (Aditya Shroff)
Arjun Rampal (Joseph Mascarenhas)
Purab Kohli (Kedar aka Killer 'KD' Drummer)
Luke Kenny (Rob)
Prachi Desai (Sakshi Schroff)
Shahana Goswami (Debbie)
Koel Purie (Devika)
Nicolette Bird (Tanya)

I wish I had a "Vantage Point"

I missed this movie when it hit the theatres in Kolkata. So I just waited till the DVD came out and watched it a couple of days ago.

It’s an inconceivable piece of cinematography. The plot is an assassination bid on the President of the United States and involves multiple points of view of the events that transpire from a about half an hour before the actual shots are fired up to the time after that when the terrorists are being chased and tracked down.

Each of the characters led by a star cast of Dennis Quaid (Agent Barnes) as one os the Secret Service agents assigned to protect the President and Forest Whittaker (Howard Lewis) who is vacationing and happens to be video recording the event. Others include the News Producer Sigourney Weaver (Rex). Others in the plot are Matthew Fox (Agent Taylor), the mastermind behind the assassination Saïd Taghmaoui (Saurez), his accomplice Ayelet Zurer (Veronica), her suspecting lover Undercover Spanish Policeman (Enriue), the special forces trained Edgar Ramirez (Javier) who’s brother is being held captive by the terrorist and who’s only way of getting him back alive is to keep the President alive and finally William Hurt (President Ashton).

If you don't get blown away by this action thriller, then try making a movie like this.

Weekend Movie

Though a 2003 release, I watched this George Clooney (Miles Massey) & Catherine Zeta-Jones (Marylin Rexroth) starring movie. Intolerable Cruelty delves into the gold digging, love seeking, philandering marital couples who will go to any lengths to stake claim to each other’s assets in the certain eventuality of divorce. In fact the institution of marriage is based on acquiring the richer partner’s assets when the fight it out in court during the divorce. Miles Massey is the suave and successful lawyer who falls in love with the enemy, Marylin Rexroth whose sole ambition is to get rich through marriage.

Supported by an award winning cast of Geoffrey Rush (Donovan Donaly), Cedric The entertainer (Gus Petch), Edward Herrmann (Rex Rexroth), Richard Jenkins (Freddy Bender), Billy Bob Thorton (Howard Doyle) and Paul Adelstein (Wrigley) the movie is thoroughly entertaining and takes you through the strange proceedings of law that might make you sit back and wonder about never ever getting divorced. Oh and for those not married, never ever getting married. Or then again might be an interesting insight into the most wonderful feeling in the world, LOVE. And as The Beatles once said “All You Need is Love”

Finally Monsoon Seeme to be Kicking In

Something's Gotta Give

Cupid can strike at any age and in the strangest of circumstances. It takes the philandering Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson) a mild heart attack to realise that all his life he had been chasing a pipe dream and now at the age of 63 he had come upon true love. The object of his affection is the beautiful playwright Erica Barry (Diane Keaton). Their encounter is the strange circumstance of a weekend getaway at her beach house, where her daughter Marin (Amanda Peet) brings her very old boyfriend Harry.

Also in this love filled comedy is the handsome Dr. Julian Mercer (Keanu Reeves) who has read every one of Erica’s plays and Zoe (Frances McDormand) her sister who is trying to fix her up with the young doctor.

As the story unfurls Harry & Erica realise that they by some strange twist of fate were meant to find each other and fall in love.

Be sure not to miss this wonderful movie with brilliant award winning performances from the lovely Diane Keaton & inscrutable Jack Nicholson.

Rahmania to 'Italia'

This weekend I enjoyed some Mutton Tikia, Paranthas and Biryani from Rahmania in my own 'pada'. This tiny eatery with three tables is the perfect place to come for a quick yet sumptuous bite. The food apart the sheer joy of the curteous staff there makes it all the more worth a visit on those days when we don't cook at home. Thoda extra chillis or salad and they are ever willing to please and pamper you. Infact they ensure that you get a royal meaty piece of mutton if you're a regular.

This weekend also took me to Fire & Ice for some long awaited Pizaa, original Italian style with the thin crust. The place was packed to the bone. The experience was excellent especially meeting up with some old friends and making some new ones too. The service was good and there was this one bloke who was serving us who made the meal just that little bit more fun with his pleasant demeanour.

Bachna Ae Haseeno

Bachna Ae Haseeno the much hyped Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone starrer with Minissha Lamba and the super Sexy Bipasha Basu doesn’t quite live upto the expectations it has built up. The plot involves three love stories with our hero romancing all three of the female leads at some point in his life, the latest of them being Deepika. The realisation of love and heartbreak leads him to seek forgiveness from the first two failed romances.

Deepika & Ranbir fail to show super star acting capabilities and I felt that Super Sexy Bips does a really good job. Minissha is also ok. A special appearance by the Rang de Basanti fame Kunal Kapur is worth a mention. He does his bit pretty well. Apart from that Hiten Paintal as Ranbir’s faithful friend and sidekick in the movie delivers a performance that is worthy of being called an actor.

Ranbir’s attire throughout the film leaves a lot to be desired. A roadside Romeo could do better. Yellow belt with White Shirt and pant! Not happening dude! Oh but then I must say Bollywood has come a long way and Ranbir after his towel dropping scene in Saawariya gets to lock lips with all his female co-stars in the movie. Ahem. Ahem. Deepikaji how did you feel about that?

Weekend Double Bill

Patrick Dempsey in this strange comedy does his best to keep the strange plot of the movie together. The philandering boy who doesn’t get the sorority girl on one of his drunken college escapades many years later happens to find her as his best friend. But surprise, surprise! Only when she goes overseas and falls in love with a strange Scottish fellow does he realise that he actually loves her. The rest of the movie is about how he goes to no ends to win her back. The girl in question is played by the attractive Michelle Monaghan. The eclectic Sydney Pollack plays his father who seems to be going through divorce after divorce in the film.

Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock star in this strange love story. Separated by a time dimension, one is in the year 2004 and the other in the year 2006. The movie will have you confused but intrigued as to how their fates and lives and destiny are intertwined. Of course you’ll lose track about the past, present and future most of the time in the movie, but it’s OK. Once the movie is over you’ll kind of have put the pieces together yet still be thoroughly confused and yet happy that the two of them end up with each other.

Shooter

I had watched SHOOTER a couple of months ago, but not really completely. Last evening I got to watch this action packed thriller movie starring Mark Wahlberg (Bob Lee Swagger). Mark Wahlberg has established himself as an actor of repute with some great performances in the past. The Cast also includes Michael Pena (Nick Memphis) as the rookie FBI Agent who becomes Bob Lee Swagger's spotter. Danny Glover (Col. Isaac Johnson) as the bad guy supported by his henchman Elias Koteas (Jack Payne), Rade Sherbedgia (Michael Sandor) and Ned Beatty (Senator Charles F. Meachum).

Others in the movie include the super sexy Rhona Mitra (Alourdes Galindo) and Kate Mara (Sarah Fenn).

Akshay is Kinng

Akshay Kumar is Happy. Happy Singh! And he is the Kinng of this film. Dancing to his tunes is the gorgeous yet feisty Katrina Kaif as his love interest playing Sonia. His best friend Rangeela played by the talented Om Puri lends the essence of true friendship throughout the film.

Add to that a brilliant assortment of actors of whom Javed Jafferi playing a double role as Mika and Puneet’s ((Ranvir Sheroy) father. Punnet is the kebab-mein-haddi fiancé of Sonia.

Lucky (Sonu Sood) is the original Kinng who gets paralyzed in an assassination bid and is also good. His flunkies Guruji (Kamal Chopra), Raftaar (Sudhanshu Pandey), Pankaj Udhas (Yashpal Sharma) and Julie (Neha Dhupia) complete the gang. Rose Lady (Kiron Kher) is Sonia’s mother who adds the warmth of family bonding.

Beyond this, go watch the movie to realise why Singh (Akshay Kumar) is truly Kinng. Oh and the Kinng always has a Queen. Bollywood’s new Queen could just be Katrina Kaif.

An Unusual Movie

I spent the evening at Mani Square Mall and munched on some Fillet-o-Fish, McChicken, fries and Coke at MacDonalds. This was followed by watching a most unusual movie on DVD when I got back home. THE DARJEELING LIMITED starring Owen Wilson is the most off-beat kind of movie I've seen in a while.

My Tummy & The Mummy

Last evening I went to City Centre and had a feast on the Zinger, Chicken Meal, A Snacker and the new Chicken Wings they have introduced. The Wingers are quite tangy and come in options of 3, 7 & 25 pieces.

After that I caught the 10.40 PM show of The Mummy: Tomb of The Dragon Emperor at INOX, City Center.

The usual suspects Brendan Fraser (Rick O’Connell) is hunting down mummies with his wife Maria Bello (Evelyn O’Connell) and a grown up son, Luke Ford (Alex O’Connell) who actually digs up the Mummy to start off this adventure. Add to that John Hannah (Jonathan Carnahan) who also leaves a hint at the end of the movie that there’s another Mummy movie brewing and this time in Peru, Liam Cunningham (Maguire) as the crazy pilot who loves landing planes on hillsides adds to the humour.

Isabella Leong (Lin) & Michelle Yeoh (Zi Yuan) play mother and daughter respectively and add to the mystical aspect of the movie. Lin also happens to be the love interest of Alex O’Connell.

Jet Li (Emperor) is the Mummy that is causing all the trouble and this time in China.

The rest of the roller coaster ride you’ll need to enjoy when you go to watch this movie.