Movie: Dabangg
Director: Abhinav Kashyap
Time: 2010
Stars: Salman Khan, Sonakshi Sinha and Sonu Sood

Snapshot of the story

Dabangg means fearless. The story was written to show off the larger than life images of Chulbul Pandey (played by Salman Khan) and was done with ease. The story revolves around a corrupt cop Chulbul Pandey who wants to settle old disputes with his step brother Makkhi (Played by Arbaaz Khan) and step father (played by Vinod Khanna) and movie has a touch of romance with Rajjo (Played by Sonakshi Sinha) and the musical score compliments the story.

Theme of Story

Any one who wants to know what is Indian cinema, then this would be the perfect example where the hero (lead actor) has been shown with larger-than-life image well suited to Salman Khan. Movie doesn’t really make any sense and is for pure entertainment only. Salman Khan is playing a corrupt cop in this movie living in a small town with his mother, step father and step brother. He started to like a girl that he wants to marry but the girl does not have mutual feelings for him. There is a goon (Sonu Sood) in the town that creates problems for Salman Khan as he starts the operation against these goons and puts the break in their looting. After the death of Salman’s mother his relationship with the step dad and brother started to show signs of cracks. Trying to take the advantage of this situation Sonu uses Arbaaz against Salman. A love story is also running in the background as Rajjo started liking and dating Salman and they finally tie the knot. Soon Arbaaz comes to know the evil intentions of Sonu and refuses to kill his own step brother and then Sonu decides to kill Arbaaz as he did not kill Salman.

Twist In the Tale

Story becomes a great action movie when Salman comes to know about this plot and try to save his step brother’s life and also come to know that his mother was killed by this goon (Sonu Sood). This adds the flavor of revenge motives for the action scenes. The last twenty minutes of the is completely dedicated to action as Salman goes to save his step brother and takes revenge of his mother’s murderer

On Screen Chemistry

The larger-then-life portrait of Samlan Khan was beautifully conveyed by the director Abhinay Kashyap in this movie. The movie does not ask much of you and applies the principles of Indian movies that many have come to love. This is in contrast to movies from the director’s brother Anurag Kashyap whos movies touches you with highly realistic stories. Debutant Sonakshi was looking very beautiful throughout. The music was the real highlight of this movie, specially the song “Munni Badnaam Hui…” which was a chart topping hit for several months.

The Happy Ending

The story ends with a happy note as the goon (Sonu Sood) was killed by Salman and Arbaaz was rescued from Sonu’s custody and that also bridged the gap between Salman and his step brother and dad and they start living like a happy family again.

Rating
7/10

Tags: Debut movie of Sonakshi, Larger Than life Image of Salman, movie reviews and ratings, review of Dabangg, Review of Indian Cinema, Salman is Larger Than Life in Dabangg

Movie: Dil To Pagal Hai
Director: Yash Chopra
Time: 1997
Stars: Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor

Snapshot of the story

Dil To Pagal Hai is a musical love story triangle between Rahul (Played by SRK), Nisha (Played by Karisma Kapoor) and Pooja (Played by Madhuri Dixit). Story has love, romance, drama, music, emotions and a good ending with the guest appearance by Akshay Kumar to add a twist in the end of the story.

Theme of Story

Rahul is director and planner for a musical stage play as the movie starts with Rahul explaining his imaginary character “Maya” to a group of members. Nisha is one and only female dancer of the group and has a hidden love for Rahul. However Rahul does not have any similar feeling for her and treat her as a good friend. The group starts the play rehearsal with Nisha being the lead actress and the period comes when both starts dating as Nisha wants Rahul to give it a try for their relationship. Unfortunately, Nisha gets injured during the practice and is advised by doctor to rest for 8 weeks but show will be under way next month and already sold out. Rahul is desperate for a replacement with similar talent and comes across Pooja who is a brilliant Indian classical dancer. Pooja is already engaged to a business man from London Ajay (Played by Akshay Kumar) and accepts Rahul’s offer to join and play Maya’s character.
Rahul and Pooja gets involved in the play and realizes that they started liking each other but Pooja like a girl next door thinks that this is wrong as she is about to get married to her future husband to be Ajay. Scenes between Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit are the most romantic parts of the movie.

Twist in the Tale

The long emotional drama starts when Nisha comes to know about Rahul’s feeling for Pooja. She becomes uncomfortable and insecure as Rahul and Pooja starts dating and even Pooja feels that Rahul is Mr. Perfect whom she likes to marry but she feels scared as how others will make of this. Along comes the help from her dance teacher played by Aruna Irani who shows her how to follow her heart. Following this advice Pooja shares her feelings with Rahul on stage in front of thousands of people in the audience.

On Screen Chemistry

Shah Rukh Khan in his usual great presence in this movie and was able to justify his romance with two gorgeous ladies Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor. Yash Raj is a big director in Indian cinema and made some the most memorable loves stories on screen with superstars of each decade. This time he did it with Shah Rukh Khan. Story was fairly simple with not much twist and turns but the real highlight of the movie was its romantic music that glued the audience to their seat.

Conclusion

This love story conveys a very simple message which is to follow your heart when you are in love because you can never be sure of what you want.

Rating
9/10

Tags: Indian Movie reviews, Moview reviews and Ratings, review of Dil To Pagal Hai, Shah Rukh's Love Triangle: Dil To Pagal Hai

Movie: Dial M for Murder
Year: 1954
Genre: Murder Mystery
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Stars: Ray Milland, Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings

Snapshot of Story:
This is another engaging crime thriller by Alfred Hitchcock with Ray Milland (Tony Wendice) and Grace Kelly (Margot Mary Wendice) delivering towering performances as actors. The story is about an husband Tony Wendice who tries to stage the perfect murder of his wife Margot Mary Wendice.

Storyline:
Tony Wendice finds out that his wife Margot Mary Wendice has been seeing another man behind his back and goes about planning the perfect murder. He black mails an old university acquaintance to murder his wife through a staged break-in into their apartment. Unfortunately, the whole sequence of events goes wrong and the man who was supposed to kill the wife gets killed himself. Tony using his quick wit and judgement is able to manipulate the situation to his advantage and as a result able pin the blame for the murder on his wife and send her to jail. Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Hubbard played by John Williams decides to investigate further and through various twists and turns is finally able to apprehend the true culprit.

Conclusion:
Hitchcock in his true form is able to paint an entirely believable crime drama that keeps the viewer engaged right up to the end. There is plenty of dialogue as is expected in a crime drama and there are times when one can become lost in some of the scenes. In particular, the part where the key was left under the carpet for the person to get into the apartment. This piece of the puzzle was the most damning evidence that the inspector was able to use to uncover the murder mystery.

Rating:
8/10

Tags: Hollywood movie reviews, movie reviews and ratings, Murder Mystery: Dial M for Murder by Alfred Hitchcocks

Movie: Serenity
Year: 2005
Genre: Adventure/Sci-Fi
Director: Joss Whedon
Stars: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres and Chiwetel Ejiofor

Snapshot of Story:
Mal is the captain of the space ship Serenity and he and his crew engage in transporting cargo from one planet to another in the federation of planets that are under Alliance control. They find themselves embroiled in action and pursuit when one of the passengers River holds some deep secrets that the Alliance is after.

Storyline:
The story begins with the doctor Simon played by Sean Maher brother of River played by Summer Glau infiltrates the Alliance medical center where River is kept. They both manage to escape and and become fugitives to a cold-blooded assassin played by Chiwetel Ejiofor.

The pace of the movie is intense and entertaining where the plot and the character evolves in much the same manner as the tv series Firefly. The movie is carried with substance and excellent special effects unlike some of the shortcuts of the original series where the movie is based. There are no specific character that stands out in this movie and the acting of the whole crew in the space ship is well done.

Although the crew hops from one planet to another, the story does not appear disjointed and the direction is such that one can feel immersed in the bigger story.

Some of the highlights of the movie were not just the action scenes but the hidden attraction that exists between Simon-Kaylee and Mal-Inara. Both Simon and Mal are unable to express their true feelings for the persons they have the attraction for.

At the end we see a twist in the ending where the assassin has a change of heart and learns the true nature of River.

Even though the film is well made there are some holes in the movie such as how the ‘rivers’ who are a cruel and violent blood-thirsty group of cannibals can manage to maintain a spaceship and pursue humans for fodder. Also the fact that an entire planet can be hidden from everyone within the Alliance is a bit unbelievable.

Final Thoughts:
Serenity is based on the original 13 episode made for tv series called Firefly produced by ABC. However the series was abandoned after 13 episodes with no reason given and now has a cult following. The movie that was spawned from the series was likely a result of the intriguing plot that was in the original series.

Rating:
7.5/10

Tags: Hollywood movie reviews, movie reviews and ratings, Relive the Adventure: Serenity

Movie: Bad Teacher
Year: 2011
Genre: Comedy
Director: Jake Kasdan
Stars: Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel and Justin Timberlake

Snapshot of Story:
Bad Teacher is a comedy movie that stars Cameron Diaz who’s sole life is to squander other people’s monies in order to live a lavish lifestyle. When newly married husband opens up to this fact, he divorces Elizabeth (Cameron Diaz) very quickly and Elizabeth now has to find a job to survive. She goes back to teaching school kids and finding a man to date that can put her back on her path.

Verdict:
The story has an interesting plot where the director Jake Kasdon could have done more to lift this movie. Cameron Diaz who plays Elizabeth keeps the audience engaged but the whole story is let down by a weak plot. Although the movie is funny at times, it does become a bit tiring in a few of the scenes where the scenes don’t follow from one to the next and one can be left a bit bemused.

Once Elizabeth ends up at the school she has no intention of teaching and get’s by in the worst way possible. She let’s the kids watch tv, while she snoozes from the previous night’s drinking binge or catches up on sleep.

In one interesting scene, Elizabeth hunts down the examiner residing in another state in order to find the answers to an exam paper that would allow her pupils to pass without much effort. Like in other cases Elizabeth uses her charm and good looks to bag the paper from the examiner.

Justin Timberlake’s appearance gives it a fresh look to this movie and he comes across the morally scrupled teacher very well. When Elizabeth finds out how wealthy he is, she sets about to acquire his attention and many mishaps and comical scenes follow as a result.

Towards the end of the movie Elizabeth wakes up to some of her faults and also manages to find genuine love.

Conclusion:
The movie does have some underlying messages to it’s story and shows that teachers can be very neglectful of their teaching and more interested in getting by. Also, the bureaucracy of the teaching system can be clearly seen which show how stifling this can be on the school educational system.

Rating:
6/10

Tags: movie reviews and ratings, review and rating of Bad Teacher, review of Hollywood movies