Movie Review: Antim - The Final Truth

ANTIM - THE FINAL TRUTH is the story of the rivalry between a cop and a gangster. Rahul (Aayush Sharma) lives with his parents and sister in a village near Pune, Maharashtra. His father Datta Pehelwan (Sachin Khedekar) owned a land but he sold it to Shinde (Uday Tikekar) for an unreasonable price, for the lavish marriage celebration of the former's daughter, Seema (Siddhi Dalvi). Shinde builds a farm house on Datta's land and Datta is employed there as a security guard. Shinde ill-treats him and one day, he fires him from the job on a frivolous pretext. The family then moves to Pune where Datta Pehelwan starts working as a porter in the vegetable market. The goons of the local corporator, Salvi (Vijay Nikam), demand hafta from all the porters. A porter, Satya (Mahesh Manjrekar), one day, refuses to pay. The goons beat him up. Rahul and his friend Ganya (Rohit Haldikar) attack the goons. Rahul and Ganya are arrested and taken to the nearest police station, which is headed by Rajveer Singh (Salman Khan). He is a righteous officer and refuses to release them despite pleas from Dutta Pehelwan and Seema. Rajgir also tells Rahul to not break the law as it can cause problems to his family. In prison, Satya and Ganya are attacked by Salvi's men. The fight is stopped by Nanya Bhai (Upendra Limaye). He sees potential in Rahul and Ganya. Once they are out of jail, Rahul expresses desire to teach Salvi a lesson. Rahul and Ganya get a chance to do so one day but they accidentally end up killing him. They are back in jail but this time, Nanya Bhai gets their bail done. Rahul then fights for the rights of the farmers who come to the vegetable market. He decides to give everyone a fair price for their produce. Nanya Bhai sees potential in Rahul's business model and he becomes a partner. Rahul also starts doing Nanya Bhai's dirty work like getting farm lands forcefully from poor peasants. Rahul sees nothing wrong in that but one day, Satya informs him that it was Nanya Bhai who compelled Datta Pehelwan to sell his land at a rate below the market price. Nanya had also threatened to rape Seema if Datta Pehelwan had refused the offer. Meanwhile, MLA Ambir (Sharad Ponkshe), arch nemesis of Nanya, tells Rahul to finish Nanya. What happens next forms the rest of the film. <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1306175 size-full" title="Antim - The Final Truth" src="https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Antim-–-The-Final-Truth-25-1.jpg" alt="Antim - The Final Truth" width="720" height="450" /> ANTIM - THE FINAL TRUTH is the official remake of the 2018 Marathi film MULSHI PATTERN [written and directed by Pravin Tarde]. Pravin Tarde's story touches upon some important issues like land mafia, migration of rural population and their exploitation in urban areas, etc. Mahesh V Manjrekar, Abhijeet Deshpande and Siddarth Salvi's screenplay is decent in the first half but is unexciting in the second half. The characters and the plot points are such that the film could have gone to great heights. Instead, the writers pepper the narrative with beaten-to-death and insipid scenes post intermission. A few scenes, however, are exceptionally penned. Mahesh V Manjrekar, Abhijeet Deshpande and Siddarth Salvi's dialogues are sharp and commercial, without going over the top. Mahesh V Manjrekar's direction is fine. The veteran director tries his best to make the goings-on exciting. He also gives a very realistic look and realistic setting to the film. A few sequences are very arresting like Rajveer and Rahul’s meetings in the police station and Rahul’s assault on Salvi. The intermission point is dramatic. Post-interval, two sequences stand out – one, when Manda (Mahima Makwana) admonishes Rahul in front of hundreds in the market, and two, when Rahul tells Datta to come stay with him and the latter refuses. Barring these two sequences and the climax, the second half is unimaginative. The grand plan of Rajveer to start a war between the warring gangs is childish and is presented as the greatest plan ever thought by a character in a film. ANTIM - THE FINAL TRUTH doesn’t waste time and the characters and their problems are introduced at the very start. Rajveer’s entry is heroic. The first half is engaging and one expects the film will turn to be a great fare in the second half, especially after Rajveer and Rahul’s fight at the interval point. Sadly, the film goes downhill after the interval. The chase and the final fight is when the film picks up. But the film ends on a very dark and depressing note. Also, the film is very local in nature. Due to these two factors, the film’s reach might be limited. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Aayush Sharma: “An ADVICE I received from Salman Khan that I’ll follow all my life is…”| Rapid Fire</span> <iframe id="jwiframe" class="playerFrame" src="https://ift.tt/3CXEZMO" width="800" height="340" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Salman Khan is not in top form but he manages to create impact in a few scenes. Thankfully, he has a significant role and is there in the film from start to finish. Aayush Sharma has improved a lot from his debut film, LOVEYATRI [2018]. The actor has worked hard and it shows. Besides an able performance, his dialogue delivery is also praiseworthy. Mahima Makwana makes a confident debut and is memorable in the scene where she blasts Aayush. Sachin Khedekar is dependable. Upendra Limaye leaves a huge mark in a small role. Uday Tikekar is decent while Vijay Nikam is good in the cameo. Mahesh Manjrekar plays a role similar to the one he played in DABANGG [2010]. His dialogues are difficult to understand. Jisshu Sengupta (Pitya) and Nikitin Dheer (Daya) are poor. Prem Dharmadhikari (Sidhu) gives a decent performance and has a significant role. Rohit Haldikar is there for most parts of the film but doesn’t have much to do. Sayaji Shinde (Uday) and Bharat Ganeshpure (Lawyer) lend able support. Sharad Ponkshe, Siddhi Dalvi and Chhaya Kadam (Rahul's mother) don’t get much scope. Waluscha De Sousa looks gorgeous in the item song. Hitesh Modak's music is forgettable. The only song that stands out is <em>'Koi Toh Aayega'</em>; it is played in the background and enhances impact. The rest of the songs - <em>'Bhai Ka Birthday'</em>, <em>'Hone Laga', 'Chingari'</em> and <em>'Vignaharta'</em> are disappointing. Ravi Basrur's background score has the massy vibe. Karan B Rawat's cinematography is passable, but certain top angle drone shots of the market are spectacular. Vikram Dahiya's action is not gory and works well. The intro action scene by ANL Arasu is the best action piece in the film. Prashant R Rane's production design is realistic. Ashley Rebello and Alvira Khan Agnihotri's costumes are real and yet appealing. Bunty Nagi's editing is neat. On the whole, ANTIM - THE FINAL TRUTH has an entertaining first half and the face-off between Salman Khan and Aayush Sharma keeps the interest going. But the unexciting second half diminishes the overall impact.

source https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/antim-the-final-truth/critic-review/antim-the-final-truth-movie-review/antim-the-final-truth-has-an-entertaining-first-half-and-the-face-off-between-salman-khan-and-aayush-sharma-keeps-the-interest-going/

Movie Review: Satyameva Jayate 2

SATYAMEVA JAYATE 2 is the story of a family's fight against corruption. Satya Balram Azaad (John Abraham) is the home minister in a coalition government in Uttar Pradesh. He tries to pass an anti-corruption bill in the assembly but his own alliance partners oppose. Interestingly, one of the MLA who votes against the bill is Satya's wife, Vidya Azaad (Divya Khosla Kumar). She is the daughter of Chandra Prakash (Harsh Chhaya), the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, the doctors in a government hospital in the state go on strike. A mother pleads them to treat her daughter who has met with an accident. The doctor leading the strike refuses. The victim dies in front of the protesting doctors and media. The same night, a vigilante (John Abraham), kills the doctor leading the strike in an act of revenge. His death leads to the strike being withdrawn. The vigilante becomes an overnight hero. Chandra Prakash is not impressed and he tells DCP Upadhyaya (Anup Soni) to find the culprit. The DCP hands over the case to Jay Balram Azaad (John Abraham), twin brother of Satya Balram Azaad. On the other hand, another scandal rocks the state as many children fall ill after consuming a meal in a madrasa. In the government hospital where they are admitted, there's shortage of oxygen cylinders. Hence, 40 of those kids die. Satya finds out that the spoilt foodgrains were supplied by a relative of Tripathi (Daya Shankar Prasad). And the one responsible to supply oxygen in the government hospital is a close aide of Shankar Prasad (Zakir Hussain). Both Tripathi and Shankar are from the alliance party and they threaten to withdraw support when Satya confronts them. It now comes to light that the vigilante is none other than Satya. He now kills both Tripathi and Shankar. A few days later, a third incident occurs as a flyover in the state collapses. The contractor of the flyover, Madan Lal Joshi (Rituraj Singh) refuses to take responsibility. Jay and others conclude that he's going to get killed by the vigilante. What happens next forms the rest of the film. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1305184" src="https://ift.tt/3cHE2h0" alt="" width="720" height="450" /> Milap Milan Zaveri's story is massy, as expected. He has touched upon a lot of issues, many of which are relatable for the common man. However in the second half, too many issues are presented and they come across as standalone issues. Milap Milan Zaveri's screenplay is very engaging. The script is such that the film never gets low or dull. Something or the other is constantly happening from start to finish. Milap Milan Zaveri's dialogues are clapworthy. There are some powerful one liners in nearly every sentence and this is really commendable. Milap Milan Zaveri's direction is supreme and it's clear that he has evolved. This isn't an easy film to pull off as it has three characters, all of which are played by one actor and moreover, it is treated in a very commercial manner. Some scenes are executed exceptionally. In fact, the entry of Jay Balram Azaad, the interval point, the fight sequence of Dadasaab Balram Azaad (John Abraham) etc. will create a riot in cinemas. On the flipside, while the first half moves like a rocket, the second half dips slightly. The Karwa Chauth scene slows down the narrative. Also, the film might not be everyone's cup of tea as it is a complete mass film in all respects. SATYAMEVA JAYATE 2 starts off with a bang without wasting any time. The assembly scene is rocking but the film gets better as Satya kills the vigilante and later the corrupt netas. The entry of Jay is a highlight and the way the national anthem is incorporated is seen to be believed. The twist in the interval point comes as a bolt from the blue. Post interval, the flashback portion of Dadasaab is engaging. The film then falls but picks up in the finale. SATYAMEVA JAYATE 2 is completely a John Abraham show. The actor has outdone himself and has played the three characters in a superb manner. Each character stands out but the cop one is the one where he plays to the gallery and it'll be loved by the masses followed by the farmer one. Divya Khosla Kumar looks stunning and delivers an able performance. Harsh Chhaya is decent. Anup Soni doesn't get much scope. Daya Shankar Prasad and Zakir Hussain are decent. Sunita Kapoor (Suhasini) leaves a tremendous mark. Rajendra Gupta, Shaad Randhawa, Sahil Vaid, Saleem Shah, Bhagyashree Limaye and others lend able support. Nora Fatehi is sizzling hot. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1305185" src="https://ift.tt/3FAMDi2" alt="" width="720" height="450" /> The Music of the film is fine. <em>'Kusu Kusu'</em> is a chartbuster already. <em>'Tenu Lehenga' </em>comes at a great juncture. <em>'Jann Gann</em> <em>Mann'</em> is very touching. <em>'Meri Zindagi Hai Tu</em>' is passable. Sanjoy Chowdhury's background score is loud but it works well for the film. The Dadasaab theme is memorable. Dudley's cinematography is appropriate. Amin Khatib's action is one of the highlights of the film. But at a few places, it is raw and quite gory. Priya Suhass's production design adds to the film's appeal. Akshaye Tyagi's costumes are realistic yet glamorous. Nora Fatehi's costumes (by Sandeep Khosla, Abu Jani) are quite hot. Futureworks and Variate Studio's VFX is neat. Maahir Zaveri's editing is fine in the first half but could have been better and slicker in the second half. On the whole, SATYAMEVA JAYATE 2 is a power packed mass entertainer, and is embellished with some highly entertaining moments and a bravura performance by John Abraham. At the box office, it has the potential to open huge and sustain well in the long run.

source https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/satyameva-jayate-2/critic-review/satyameva-jayate-2-movie-review/satyameva-jayate-2-is-a-power-packed-mass-entertainer-with-a-good-performance-from-john-abraham/

Movie Review: Bunty Aur Babli 2

BUNTY AUR BABLI 2 is the story of two pairs of conmen. 15 years after the events of the first film, Rakesh (Saif Ali Khan) and Vimmi (Rani Mukerji) are now settled in Phursatganj. They have a son, Pappu, and have completely left the con job. One day, Inspector Jatayu Singh (Pankaj Tripathi) arrests them for conning a group of middle aged men. They were promised a trip to a country called Virgin Island and each person in the group had paid Rs. 5 lakhs to a couple - Kunal Singh (Siddhant Chaturvedi) and Sonia Rawat (Sharvari). When these men reached the airport, they realised that had  been conned. These angry men barge into the office of Kunal and Sonia only to find the logo of Bunty and Babli. Jatayu was a junior cop in the team of Dashrath Singh (Amitabh Bachchan) who was in charge of solving the Bunty and Babli case. Hence, he knew about their whereabouts and nabbed them. Rakesh and Vimmi insist that they are innocent. But Jatayu refuses to believe them. He realises his mistake when Kunal and Sonia carry out another con job while Rakesh and Vimmi are in custody. This time, they fool a mayor (Yashpal Sharma) of a town in western Uttar Pradesh under the pretext of selling the lease of the Ganga river. Jatayu makes an offer to Rakesh and Vimmi. He asks for their help in nabbing the new Bunty and Babli. Rakesh and Vimmi agree as they are hurt that someone is using their brand which they created with lot of hard work. What happens next forms the rest of the film. <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1302556 size-full" title="Bunty Aur Babli 2" src="https://ift.tt/3cqGZCH" alt="Bunty Aur Babli 2" width="720" height="450" /> Aditya Chopra's story is okay and gives a strong deja vu of his previous productions like DHOOM, LADIES VS RICKY BAHL, BADMAASH COMPANY etc. Varun V Sharma's screenplay is decent in the first half. The con games played by Kunal and Sonia before the intermission are at least interesting to see. But in the second half, the film goes downhill as the humour and logic both go out of the window. It seemed like the writer ran out of ideas and didn't know what to do next. Varun V Sharma's dialogues adds to the laughs at select places but could have been much better. Varun V Sharma's direction is neat and devoid of complications. But it fails to hide the glaring loopholes and not so funny developments of the second half. The biggest grouse however is how things happen conveniently. For instance, it is bewildering how Rakesh and Vimmi are able to locate Bunty and Babli in Goa. Even in the first half, Vimmi finds out about Sonia's whereabouts in the gym. One can argue that their son, who is tech savvy, must have helped them. But how exactly he did so is never explained. And if he had the resources to track such most wanted criminals, then the police should also ideally have better ways of doing the same. And that's not all. The character of the kid is very funny but the way Rakesh and Vimmi would leave him for days without help from anyone else is very unconvincing. And there are a series of such errors in the script. BUNTY AUR BABLI 2 has a fine start. The three con jobs shown in the first half keep viewers engaged. The entry of Jatayu is heroic and funny. Post interval, one expects fireworks as Rakesh and Vimmi travel to Abu Dhabi to nab the con duo. But the plot points from here on fail to entice. The ending is intended to be wicked but is silly and also predictable. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Rani Mukerji: “Maine saare stereotypes ko CHALLENGE kiya hai because nor I’m…”| Bunty Aur Babli 2</strong></span> <iframe id="jwiframe" class="playerFrame" src="https://ift.tt/3cteTGP" width="800" height="340" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Speaking of performances, Saif Ali Khan is not in a great form. And its pretty shocking since he's known to ace in all kinds of genres. Rani Mukerji is too loud and over the top and is not in sync with her character in the first half. The only scene where she does well is when she blasts Kunal and Sonia at the breakfast area and it is memorable only because of her act. Siddhant Chaturvedi leaves a mark and proves that he's a hero material. Sharvari makes a confident debut and looks sizzling. The performances of both, however, suffers as not enough emphasis is given on their respective back stories. Pankaj Tripathi, as expected, is dependable and hilarious. Yashpal Sharma is decent while late Mohit Baghel (Golu Chaubey) leaves a mark in the scene where he apologizes to Sonia. Gopal Dutt (Nand Kishor) is lovely. Rajiv Gupta (Gupta; cop) is passable. Neeraj Sood (Chadha), Asrani (Thahrey Singh), Brijendra Kala (Mehmood) and Prem Chopra get no scope. Agrim Mittal (Pappu Trivedi) and Mahi Soni (Rinku Awasthi) are cute but the character of the former could have been better fleshed out. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's music is poor and that's another major problem with the film, since the soundtrack of part 1 is memorable even today. The title song is nothing special. <em>'Tattoo</em> <em>Waaliye'</em> is played in the end credits and is forgettable. The same goes for <em>'Luv Ju' </em>and <em>'Dhik</em> <em>Chik'</em>. Julius Packiam's background score is much better. Gavemic U Ary's cinematography adds to the grandeur and visual appeal. Rajat Poddat's production design is decent. Sabyasachi Mukherjee's costumes for Rani Mukerji are tacky and doesn't contribute to the humour. It also looks a bit cheap at some places. Leepakshi Ellawadi's costumes for the rest are fine. Parvez Sheikh's action is fine. Aarif Sheikh's editing could have been slicker in the second half. On the whole, BUNTY AUR BABLI 2 is a poor show all the way. At the box office, the overall collections would be impacted due to the negative word of mouth. Disappointing

source https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/bunty-aur-babli-2/critic-review/bunty-aur-babli-2-movie-review/the-saif-ali-khan-rani-mukerji-film-bunty-aur-babli-2-is-a-poor-show-all-the-way/

Movie Review: Dhamaka

DHAMAKA is the story of a prime time reporter getting the biggest scoop of his career. Arjun Pathak (Kartik Aaryan) was a reputed TV reporter of Bharosa 24x7. He is married to Saumya Mehra Pathak (Mrunal Thakur). All is going well but due to an unsavoury incident, Arjun is demoted and is given the post of a radio jockey on Radio Bharosa. His marriage with Saumya is about to end as their divorce proceedings are going on. One day, during his morning show, Arjun receives a call from a man called Raghubeer Mhata (Soham Majumdar). He claims that he has planted a bomb on the Sea Link in Mumbai. Arjun assumes that it’s a prank call and abruptly cuts it. The next moment, he hears a loud blast. He looks out of the window and sees that a part of the sea link has exploded. Raghubeer calls again and wants to talk. A scared Arjun immediately phones the cops. But he cuts the call when he realizes that this is his chance to get back his position as a prime time news anchor. He requests Raghubeer to wait for some time. He immediately dials his boss, Ankita (Amruta Subhash), and informs her about the situation. He also gets an assurance from her that he can go on air with this story. A temporary studio is set up in the radio station. Arjun goes on air and begins to further talk to Raghubeer. At this point, Raghubeer informs that he wants an apology from the minister Jaydev Patil immediately; or else he’ll do more blasts. He also tells Arjun that there’s a bomb in his earpiece and that he’ll execute the blast if he moves from his seat. To add to Arjun’s fears, he learns that Saumya is the one who has gone to the Sea Link to cover the story on the ground. Another blast rocks the Sea Link and now Saumya and the rest of the people present there are in danger. What happens next forms the rest of the film. <img class="aligncenter wp-image-1302421 size-full" title="Dhamaka" src="https://ift.tt/3csJswd" alt="Dhamaka" width="720" height="450" /> DHAMAKA is based on the Korean film TERROR LIVE [written and directed by Kim Byung Woo]. The story is unique and one of its kind. DHAMAKA is a thriller but it starts on a sweet note. Soon, the tone changes as Arjun gets the call from the mysterious caller. The first half will give you no reason to complain as the makers neatly explain the setting, the dynamics between the various characters and why Arjun has got demoted. The way Arjun uses his divorce papers to make notes is quite assuming and shows that the director has tried to make the product stand out. The scene where Jayant Patil’s deputy Subhash Mathur (Vishwajeet Pradhan) comes to the studio and speaks to Raghubeer is a terrific scene and will leave viewers astonished. Another heart-in-the-mouth scene is when Saumya attempts to save a girl from a car before it falls off the Sea Link. The second half, too, has its share of good scenes but due to the above-mentioned glitches, the impact is diluted. Puneet Sharma and Ram Madhvani's screenplay is impressive and ensures that audiences remain glued to their seats. However, some of the developments in the second half are not convincing. Even the finale is difficult to digest. Puneet Sharma and Ram Madhvani's dialogues are sharp and acidic. Ram Madhvani's direction is gripping. The storytelling is such that viewers can’t help but get lost in the world shown by the talented director. He also raises the tension levels very well, leaving audiences to wonder what will happen next. His comment on ethics and the quest of news channels to get the ratings up at any cost is sure to shock viewers. On the flipside, certain developments, later on, are difficult to digest. The sequence where Ankita gets an anchor from a rival channel to expose Arjun’s wrongdoings and even compels Arjun to speak to him on the other news channel is too much. This is especially because Ankita is shown to be worried about the ratings; such a move could have hampered the channel in the long run. The decision of Arjun in the climax feels needless as he did have a fighting spirit. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Kartik Aaryan on Dhamaka: “Arjun Pathak ye character mere liye bohot hi…”| Ram Madhvani</strong></span> <iframe id="jwiframe" class="playerFrame" src="https://ift.tt/324EQuf" width="800" height="340" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> DHAMAKA scores when it comes to the performances. Kartik Aaryan is known for comic and light-hearted roles but here; he steps into altogether new territory and comes out with flying colours. He’s sure to surprise many and proves that he’s able to portray different kinds of roles with ease. Mrunal Thakur is mentioned first in the opening credits, before Kartik. Her role is also credited as a special appearance and she does very well. Amruta Subhash leaves a tremendous mark and adds a lot to the drama in the film. Soham Majumdar has a limited appearance but his voice plays an important role and overall, he does a fine job. Vishwajeet Pradhan is memorable in a cameo. Vikas Kumar (Praveen Kamath; counter-terrorism official) gives a fine, no-nonsense performance. Anuj Gurwara (Manas Sethi; INL News anchor) is okay. DHAMAKA, ideally, should have been a song-less fare but the three songs are neatly woven into the narrative. '<em>Khoya Paaya</em>' boasts of powerful lyrics and vocals by Amit Trivedi. The female version by Jasleen Royal is also hard-hitting. '<em>Kasoor</em>' is sweet and has the trademark Prateek Kuhad stamp. Vishal Khurana's background score is impactful. Manu Anand's cinematography is a bit shaky but that adds to the tension. Nidhi Rungta's production design is authentic. Manohar Verma's action is realistic. Theia Tekchandaney's costumes (associate costume designing by Ayushi Jain) are non-glamorous as per the film’s requirement. Futureworks Media Ltd and RedChillies.VFX's VFX could have been better. Monisha R Baldawa's editing (co-editing by Amit Karia) is slick and fast-paced but slows down a bit in later portions. On the whole, DHAMAKA is an edge-of-the-seat thriller and boasts of one of the finest performances by Kartik Aaryan. But sadly, the film loses steam in the second half.

source https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/dhamaka-2/critic-review/dhamaka-2-movie-review/despite-a-slow-second-half-dhamaka-is-an-edge-of-the-seat-thriller-that-boasts-of-fine-performances/

Movie Review: Sooryavanshi

The wait was worth it! Rohit Shetty had designed, conceptualised and executed SOORYAVANSHI for the big screen. He waited patiently for close to two years for cinemas to reopen, so that moviegoers could watch his newest creation on the big screen. After having watched SOORYAVANSHI, I genuinely feel that the decision to release SOORYAVANSHI in cinemas was the most appropriate decision. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1295294" src="https://ift.tt/2ZW6KYd" alt="" width="720" height="450" /> Big films are meant for the big screen and SOORYAVANSHI is truly a big ticket entertainer that ought to be enjoyed on the wide screen, in a cinema hall. Come to think of it, there’s a lot riding on SOORYAVANSHI. Big money, yes. But, most importantly, a film like SOORYAVANSHI is sure to boost the morale of an industry that’s already going through its toughest phase due to the pandemic. So let me come to the point right away. SOORYAVANSHI is amongst Rohit Shetty’s best works. Like Manmohan Desai, he knows the pulse of the audience and serves a dish that they relish. He integrates the right elements in those 2.30 hours and at the end of it, you can’t help but exclaim, this one’s a paisa-vasool entertainer. Now to the storyline WITHOUT spoilers… SOORYAVANSHI tells the story of a daring cop Sooryavanshi [Akshay Kumar], who decides to go after the mastermind of the terror attacks. He faces obstacles, his wife [Katrina Kaif] almost walks out on him, he loses a few colleagues in this fight, but he stays focused. On paper, the storyline of SOORYAVANSHI may sound predictable and done to death, but it’s triumph lies in its screenwriting. The screenplay is truly gripping for most parts, although it slackens in the first half due to an unwanted song and some romantic scenes filmed on Akshay and Katrina. Rohit amalgamates drama and emotions beautifully and peppers it with remarkable action pieces. Would like to mention a few sequences here… ⭐️ Akshay’s introduction ⭐️ The chase and fight in Jaisalmer, when Akshay nabs Abhimanyu Singh ⭐️ Akshay confronting Gulshan Grover, who then is confronted by Rajendra Gupta ⭐️ The bike, speedboat and helicopter chase in Bangkok ⭐️ Gulshan Grover’s arrest and the immediate sequence when Akshay confronts his supporters ⭐️ The entry of Simmba [Ranveer Singh] and Singham [Ajay Devgn] ⭐️ The song ‘Chodo Kal Ki Baatein’ towards the penultimate portions While the screenplay is padded with the right ingredients, Rohit makes sure he never deviates from the core issue. The film has scale and content, both and that is its biggest strength. Dialogue too are well worded and fit seamlessly in the narrative. The DoP captures the scale of the film without any hiccup. The background score is effectual and the signature tune when Simmba and Singham appear on screen makes you nostalgic. <strong>Gulshan Grover: “Sooryavanshi mein Akshay, Ajay, Ranveer inn sab ke saamne jo ek…”| Katrina Kaif</strong> <iframe id="jwiframe" class="playerFrame" src="https://ift.tt/3bLokkG" width="800" height="340" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Akshay returns to the action genre with SOORYAVANSHI. He indulges in fisticuffs, spews fire and venom, pumps bullets, vanquishes the villain and romances Katrina. Must add, he delivers a terrific performance yet again. Also, his deadpan humour contributes to the fun element. Katrina has a decent role and she goes through it with ease. But it is the song ‘Tip Tip Barsa Paani’ that’s bound to be greeted with whistles and claps at single screens mainly. The film has a plethora of characters, but the ones who stand out include Kumud Mishra [very good], Abhimanyu Singh [excellent], Gulshan Grover [first-rate], Rajendra Gupta [competent], Niktin Dheer [good], Sikandar Kher [effective] and Sharvari Lohokare [super]. Jaaved Jaaferi is, as always, dependable. Jackie Shroff has an important role, but doesn’t get too many scenes to prove his mettle. The presence of Ajay Devgn and Ranveer Singh is sone pe suhaaga, truly a master stroke. Their sequences only enhance the post-interval portions to a major extent. On the whole, SOORYAVANSHI has it all: stars, scale, action and entertainment. Rohit Shetty presents a Blockbuster package this Diwali that's sure to bring the audience back to cinemas in large numbers. SURE-SHOT SMASH HIT.

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Movie Review: Red Notice (English)

long shots in a novel style enhances the impact. Andy Nicholson's production design is first-rate. Mary E Vogt's costumes are very rich and treat to the eyes, especially the ones worn by Gal Gadot. VFX matches global standards. The action is not at all disturbing and goes with the family-friendly genre of the film. It is also smartly and entertainingly choreographed. Julian Clarke and Michael L. Sale's editing is quite slick. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1295560" src="https://ift.tt/3nYKpBM" alt="" width="720" height="450" /> RED NOTICE is the story of an officer trying to catch an art thief. Special Agent John Heartley (Dwayne Johnson) of the FBI reaches Rome along with his Interpol colleague Inspector Urvashi Das (Ritu Arya). They straight away head to a renowned museum in the Italian city and inform the management that a priceless artefact, Cleopatra’s Egg, is about to be stolen. The manager rubbishes off the claims. This is when John Heartley realizes that he’s late and that the artefact has already been stolen by the world-renowned art thief, Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds). John manages to track him down in Bali. He arrests him and also retrieves the Egg from Nolan. Unknown to John, The Bishop (Gal Gadot) infiltrates into the Interpol commando team that had arrived to arrest Nolan. She smartly replaces Cleopatra’s Egg with a fake and escapes with the real artefact. She also manages to wire millions of dollars into John’s account. Hence, Inspector Das is convinced that John is behind the robbery. She gets him arrested and he’s sent to a prison in Russia where his cell mate is none other than Nolan. Both want to desperately escape the prison. While John wants to prove his innocence, Nolan wants to steal the second Cleopatra’s Egg which is kept in the residence of an arms dealer Sotto Voce (Chris Diamantopoulos) in Valencia. Sotto has used extensive security features and hence, stealing the Egg from there is next to impossible. John and Nolan escape from the jail, team up and manage to infiltrate into the room where the Egg is stored. But as luck would have it, Bishop arrives there, determined to steal the Egg and also steal the thunder from the duo once again. What happens next forms the rest of the film. Rawson Marshall Thurber's story has all the trappings of a commercial entertainer. It’ll also give a déjà vu of DHOOM 2 [2006] to the Indian audiences. Rawson Marshall Thurber's screenplay is entertaining and doesn’t have a single dull moment. There’s laughter or action in most scenes. A couple of scenes are emotional but even these have been treated in a light-hearted manner. However, this is a mindless caper and hence, the logic goes out of the window. Also, each act follows a template and hence by the time the film reaches the pre-climax, it becomes predictable to an extent. Rawson Marshall Thurber's dialogues are hilarious and one of the strengths of the film. The ones mouthed by Ryan Reynolds especially bring the house down. Rawson Marshall Thurber's direction is supreme. He doesn’t waste time and incorporates a lot in just 115 minutes of run time. How the narrative jumps from Rome to Bali to Russia to Valencia, etc is seen to be believed. But what works the best is the unusual chemistry shared by the three actors. The trio is at loggerheads and yet share some sort of chemistry and this is a very unique aspect of this film. On the flipside, several sequences are very convenient and viewers would have to understand that there’s no logic to what’s unfolding on the screen. Also, the way the film reaches the finale, one expects fireworks. However, the ending is abrupt with the promise of a sequel. This might be disappointing for a section of viewers. RED NOTICE’s intro scene and opening credits are stylishly done and set the mood. The madness at the Rome sequence is funny and thrilling. The Bali sequence is surprising as one doesn’t expect John to catch Nolan so soon. The prison sequence is hilarious and the manner in which John and Nolan escape is nail-biting. The best part of the first half and even the film is reserved in the Valencia episode when John and Nolan fight off the Bishop. Post-interval, the bullfight sequence raises laughs. The pre-climax and climax are entertaining but also slightly predictable although the twist in the tale does catch you unawares. The finale is sudden and one doesn’t expect the film to get over so soon. Speaking of performances, all the three main actors have brought in the star power and have done really well. Dwayne Johnson is apt for such a part. His comic timing and his action add to the fun and he also doesn’t attempt to overpower the other two actors. Ryan Reynolds is too good and gets the best lines in the film. His character is a bit child-like and yet again, he attempts to ensure that his act stands out, like the way he did in the recently released film FREE GUY. He also gets to do his share of action although his comic quotient is more memorable. Gal Gadot is stunning and gives yet another memorable performance. She has less screen time than the two male actors but compensates for it with her acting prowess, action and the oomph factor that she brings to the film. Ritu Arya puts on a confident act. Chris Diamantopoulos is decent. Steve Jablonsky's music is cinematic and has an adventurous feel. Markus Förderer's cinematography is breathtaking and the way he has taken the On the whole, RED NOTICE is a <em>paisa vasool</em> entertainer that rests on the writing, direction and the star power and able performances of Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot. Had it been released in cinemas, it would have been a huge grosser.

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Movie Review: Eternals

ETERNALS is the story of an immortal alien race on the Earth for a purpose. 7000 years ago, the Celestial Arishem created the Eternals, the immortal human beings like creatures, and sent them to Earth. These Eternals include Sersi (Gemma Chan), Ikaris (Richard Madden), Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), Sprite (Lia McHugh), Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry), Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), Druig (Barry Keoghan), Gilgamesh (Don Lee), Ajak (Salma Hayek) and Thena (Angelina Jolie). Their purpose is to save the planet from monstrous creatures called the Deviants. The Eternals arrive on the Earth in the year 5000 BC in Mesopotamia and manage to defeat the Deviants. They then live through the progress of human civilization and even give a push to mankind in various ways using their superpowers. Among the Eternals, only Ajak is the one who has the ability to establish contact with Arishem. In the present-day (post the Blip episode caused by Thanos), Sersi is in London and is a professor. She is romantically involved with Dane Whitman (Kit Harington) after Ikaris left her. Sprite is also residing with Sersi. One day, while returning from a party, Sersi and Sprite are attacked by a Deviant. They fight it out and are about to get defeated when Ikaris comes to rescue them. The trio realizes that the Deviants have become much more powerful than before. They decide to contact Ajak in South Dakota, USA hoping that she’d have an idea. Shockingly, when they reach her place, they find her dead. Sersi also realizes that she’s now got the ability to communicate with Arishem. Arishem tells her that ‘it’s almost time’. Realizing that the Eternals are in danger, the trio set to reunite all their rest of their colleagues, who are scattered around the world and try to find out why the Deviants are out to kill them. <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1295408" src="https://ift.tt/3wbBEYS" alt="" width="720" height="450" /> Ryan Firpo and Kaz Firpo's story is interesting and is in the zone as the AVENGERS series, at least on paper. Chloé Zhao, Patrick Burleigh, Ryan Firpo and Kaz Firpo's screenplay is captivating and effective. The writers have tried their best to ensure that it seems like a Marvel film and yet doesn’t give a déjà vu of the previous superhero films of this franchise. The characters of the various Eternal heroes are well fleshed out and the chemistry they share is one of the best parts of the enterprise. On the flipside, the film is a bit confusing and also the pace is slow. At places, the writing also tends to drag. The dialogues are conversational and a bit mysterious at places. The trademark Marvel humour is also present in some one-liners. Chloé Zhao's direction is impressive and cinematic. She had a huge responsibility on her shoulders as she had to ensure that it should not seem like the poor man’s AVENGERS. After seeing more than 20 Marvel films, it was also crucial for her to ensure that it stands out. In this regard, she comes out with flying colours. The film is shot in several locales around the world and each location is presented beautifully. The bonding between the characters and the challenges they face also add to the fun. She has also managed to incorporate massy and clapworthy elements in action scenes. On the flipside, the narrative at places is too slow and it can test the patience of the viewers. Her treatment is a bit more creative and fit for critical acclaim and hence, those used to watching typical Marvel films might feel shortchanged. In other words, ETERNALS is not as outstanding as the AVENGERS films. The conflict between the Eternals and Deviants becomes complicated to understand towards the end. The same goes for the dilemma of Sprite and also the condition faced by Thena. ETERNALS starts on a rocking note. The entry scene of each main character is sure to be greeted with whistles and claps. The London episode is entertaining. The death of Ajak comes as a jolt. The scene where Sersi, Ikaris and Sprite reach India to meet Kingo is sure to bring the house down, especially among the audiences in our country. In fact, this <em>desi</em> connection will surely be of help in impressing the Indian audiences. The Australia episode has its share of fun and drama. The Amazon track is nail-biting and from here on, the film gets a bit serious. The twist in the tale in the pre-climax is unpredictable. The final fight has its share of thrill and adrenaline rush but could have been more powerful. The scene after the climax fight also drags the film. The mid-credit scene is interesting while the post-credit scene will leave viewers bewildered. Speaking of performances, Gemma Chan has the maximum screen time out of all the Eternals and rocks the show. Salma Hayek has limited presence but makes up for it with a strong performance. The same goes for Angelina Jolie but as mentioned above, viewers won’t be able to relate to her condition. Richard Madden is dependable while Kumail Nanjiani gives a funny yet sensitive performance. One wishes he had more to contribute in the last part of the film. Lia McHugh is fine while Brian Tyree Henry puts up a memorable act. Lauren Ridloff is excellent as the mute superhero. Barry Keoghan is passable while Don Lee is very impressive. Kit Harington looks dashing and lends able support. Harish Patel (Karun Patel) is a scene-stealer. The actor of Indian origin has considerable screen time and makes good use of it. Haaz Sleiman (Phastos' husband) is fine. David Kaye’s baritone voice suits that of Arishem. Harry Styles is nice in the cameo. Ramin Djawadi's music compliments the goings-on very well. The ‘Game Of Thrones’ composer also enhances impact with his score. Ben Davis's cinematography is breathtaking and he does justice to the various exotic locales shown in the film. Eve Stewart and Clint Wallace's production design is rich and suits the theme of the film. Sammy Sheldon's costumes are royal, especially the superhero wear of the Eternals. VFX, as expected, is top-class and looks great on the IMAX screen. The action is spectacular. Dylan Tichenor and Craig Wood's editing could have been tighter. On the whole, ETERNALS is a well-made superhero saga that gives a nice boost to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It releases on post-Diwali day and is sure to have a huge opening, despite the intense competition from SOORYAVANSHI. The last Marvel release, SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS, managed to score well despite no release in Maharastra and occupancy restrictions. ETERNALS, meanwhile, will have a release across the country, On the whole, ETERNALS is a well-made superhero saga that gives a nice boost to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It releases post-Diwali day in India and despite the intense competition from SOORYAVANSHI, it has managed to record strong advance sales due to the hype, enviable casting, big screen appeal and Marvel connection. Hence, it’s sure to have a fabulous opening and can put healthy lifetime collections in all languages.

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