Haider (2014) Movie Review and Trailer

Movie: Haider (2014)

Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Tabu, Kay Kay Menon, Shraddha Kapoor

Genre: Tragedy, Drama, Thriller

Haider Trailer (Official) - Shahid Kapoor & Shraddha Kapoor - In Theaters October 2nd by Express News

Jack Nicholson commented on Heath Ledger's state of mind after playing the Joker by saying that a role like that often never leaves you and can haunt you for the rest of your life. Every time Shahid Kapoor came on screen during Haider I could not help but recall Jack Nicholson's point of view. I seemed throughout Haider that Shahid has completely given himself up in pursuit of Haider and even deep inside those intense eyes one finds no clue of Shahid Kapoor.

Haider is an adaptation of Hamlet, a tale of deceit, love and the uncomfortable gray shades of relationships that we hold scared. The epic line, "To be or not to be..." is substituted by a poem that goes something like, "Hum hain ya hum nahin" and that inclusive, the poetry that surrounds the story telling has been artistically chosen and filmed. To comment on the story is futile since Shakespeare seldom falters at narrating a story. The presentation, the setting, the cinematography and the script are all immaculate and deserve all the accolades. The movie is a masterpiece and should be remembered for times to come.

The acting is supreme. Every character is believable and every actor has lost himself in the role. Shahid Kapoor has outdone himself and gives shades of his father's intense acting talent bordering on magical. He mesmerizes and captures the viewer like a bulbul-e-bismil. Three cheers for him and hats off. Tabu and Kay Kay were exceptional as well and Shraddha Kapoor did justice to her part.

What I did not understand was why Haider wasn't showcased in Pakistan. If anything it was more anti Indian army than anti Pakistan.

All in all a great movie and a must watch!

Rating: 4.5/5

Mardaani 2014 Movie Review and Trailer #RaniMukerji

Movie: Mardaani (2014)

Cast: Rani Mukerji, Tahir Raj Bhasin

Genre: Action, Drama

Mardaani 2014 Official Trailer - Rani Mukerji by Teasers-Trailers

Mardaani (2014) is an action thriller based on events from a true story. It revolves around a female super cop who tries to track down and capture the leader of a human trafficking gang that specializes in prostitution. 

Mardaani addresses issues of societal rot and inhuman abuse of women and how the women can face and fight back such issues. It focuses on the hidden power of a woman as an equal and sometimes more powerful and resilient force in society.

Rani Mukerji has given a very strong performance as a cop. She doesn't overdo the role and looks believable. Tahir Raj looks evil and very despicable as the negative lead. He shines through very strongly and doesn't let Rani over shadow him.

This movie is a must watch and should be seen by all women as an inspiration.

Rating: 3.5/5

Dukhtar 2014 Movie Review and Trailer

DUKHTAR Theatrical Trailer - Pakistan's First Road Trip Thriller Movie by The Crew Films

The new Pakistani movie Dukhtar was a good experience overall with the story and presentation up to the mark. The hype however was much exaggerated than what was on offer.

When it comes to Pakistani cinema of the recent past I have a slight problem with what it represents. Titles like khuda ke liye, bol and now Dukhtar highlight the problems that women face in our country and are sensitive works of art. They however are the only notable works of cinema from our country apart from the recently acclaimed waar which was a proud Pakistani production. What this does is, sending a wrong message to the west that Pakistan is an unsafe country for women and that all people of the country are insensitive and uncultured with all women oppressed and clad in Burkas.

The fact is that we have a night life in Karachi and Lahore and our kids are world toppers in O and A levels. We have sporting legends bigger than Mary Kom who deserve a film made on their life. We have youth that is humorous and can be the subject of a fresh comedy. All these subjects need equal attention. 

We are presenting the west with stories that relate to the element we are at war with. We should present it with stories that show the enlightened youth of this country.

As far as the movie is concerned Mohib Mirza and the rest of the cast have done a great job and the movie deserves a watch and all the appreciation. It is high time however that we make movies that provide entertainment and present us as an educated and intellectual nation that like all nations has its gray shades.

Rating: 3/5

Chef 2014 Movie Review and Trailer

Chef (Trailer) by tvPRIME

Chef is literally a one man show by Jon Favreau, who sparkles as a writer, director and actor in this wonderful tale of self discovery of a Chef who chooses satisfaction over tradition when it comes to cooking a meal for his customers and critics.

Carl Casper is a Chef at a popular restaurant in L.A and is in a dilemma when he realizes that creativity and business might not be great partners when it comes to serving food at an eatery. Sparked by a review from a renowned critic Carl embarks on a self discovering journey leading him to pursue his ambition of serving people with food that represents him.

The movie is very touching and deals with relationships, family and pride beautifully. It is also a visual and culinary treat and makes one want to cook and eat.

Jon Favreau has rediscovered himself in this low budget project after his association with the high profiled Iron man franchise. Scarlett Johansson and Robert Downey Jr. have also played their part in bringing the story forward as an enjoyable and very warm experience. Highly recommended.

Rating: 4.5/5

Mary Kom 2014 Movie Review and Trailer

Mary Kom - HD Hindi Movie Trailer [2014] Priyanka Chopra by Hindi Movie Trailer

Mary Kom is a true story of a multiple time women's boxing champion from India. The movie is a journey through the tough life of a young girl who has no other dream than to punch her way out of oblivion.

The struggle of a woman through the not-so-encouraging setup of the Indian Boxing Association, the hardships of family and motherhood and the wrath of a protective and concerned father is depicted to perfection by one of the marvels of Bollywood, Priyanka Chopra. PC has over the past few years proven her mettle and the most versatile actor India has ever produced. She puts herself far behind the character and very seldom do we see the real Priyanka during a performance. In Mary Kom she successfully reinvents herself and makes us believe that we are seeing the boxer and not the actor.

All in all the story, cinematography, dialog and acting are all high quality and deserve a viewing and appreciation. I recommend it strongly.

Rating: 4.5/5

The Giver 2014 Movie Review and Trailer

The Giver [2014] - [Official Theatrical Trailer] [FULL HD] by A||4WaTcH Official Channel

The Giver is another one of the post apocalyptic sciences-fiction thrillers that have been hitting the screens frequently over the past couple of years. In the same vain as the hunger games, the ender's game, divergent, oblivion and a few others, The Giver portrays life after a mass destruction of the world as we know it. It however, to me, has scored heavily as compared to the similar projects in areas of storytelling and plot structuring and has come out as a more believable futuristic drama as any other movie of its genre.

The story of a world divided in communities and governed by elders who denounce difference of color, creed, cast or emotions and create an engineered society where the individuals are made incapable of experiencing such differences through medication is made extremely enjoyable by stellar performances by Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep. 

The cast has acted well overall and the young leads have delivered well enough to share the screen with the legendary duo of Streep and Bridges. Brenton Thwaites and Odeya Rush have both given freshness to the screen and look adorable together.

The Giver addresses some very sensitive issues about life and humanity and the purpose of our existence. It is both an enjoyable and educating flick that should at least be seen once by everyone who wants to cherish life with all its shortcomings. I recommend this to all fans of quality storytelling in cinema.

Rating: 4/5

The Pact 2 Movie Review and Trailer

The Pact 2 - Trailer by Dread Central

The Pact 2 is a sequel to the horror flick from 2012 called The Pact. The movie is based on the events that happened in the prequel and is almost a continuation of the first edition. Some of the cast is also the same as the first movie.

For those who have seen The Pact, The Pact 2 would appear as more of the same that the first edition had to offer. This sequel lacks novelty and seems as a repeat of the first movie which makes it quite predictable and takes out a lot from the enjoyability factor.

The villain and his presence is also quite unclear and confusing. His nature of presence as a ghost or a physical entity is quite vague. It remains a mystery if the movie addresses the subject of possession or mental illness.

The cast has acted adequately and is overall suited to the genre. Caity Lotz does a good job in the lead and gives a believable performance. She has featured in both the prequel and this movie and has been consistently good throughout.

The Pact 2 might not be the most impressive horror flick you'd set eyes on but it still is not a dull movie. It has its moments, especially the ones where you feel the tension that the cast is experiencing. All in all it is watchable.

Rating: 2.5/5

7500 (2014) Movie Review and Trailer

7500 HD Trailer 2014 (Official All Videos Trailer) by Allvideos HD 

It is now very often that a relatively low budget and seemingly unknown movie turns out to be a very enjoyable experience. This shows that the cinema business has now turned into a very competitive field where a sincere effort can be richly rewarded. 7500 is a very well crafted horror/thriller that bends more towards the spiritual thriller category that an outright horror flick. It is an honest attempt at storytelling and does deliver on various levels.

The story unfolds in an airplane flight and the confines of the plane provides a perfect tension and eeriness required to make it a thrill filled ride. The fact that the audience can associate to such a situation (air travel being a risky business, especially after the Malaysian airline fiasco) brings a whole new experience to the fore. The passengers soon realize a supernatural entity has been unleashed in the airplane after a passenger dies due to trauma caused by turbulence. As bodies start disappearing they find it hard to find an explanation other than a dark force trying to kill them all one by one. The end is a great twist and is worth the watch.

The acting is honest with each passenger playing his or her part pretty well. Leslie Bibb and Amy Smart have both done appreciable work. The story and characterization is also very well executed.

I strongly recommend 7500 to all audiences. It is a family friendly film with very little gore or profanity. Barring a few swear words, the movie is a good one to watch with the wife and kids. Grab a popcorn and some soda and check it out.

Rating: 3.5/5

Albert Nobbs (2011) Review

"I begin with the name of Allah, the most merciful".

An amazing movie with a stellar performance by Glenn Close. Albert Nobbs is a woman who spends all her life disguised as a man. Working as a waiter she is always looking to get a shop of her own, aspiring to be a tobacconist. The movie takes us on an amazing journey through her life and death.

Acting is amazing and characters are believable. The movie might seem slow but that is the beauty of it. Even silence means something in this beautifully put film. Watch out for some Oscar results!

I rate it 4.5/5. It is worth a watch!

The Roommate (2011) : Obsessed and Dangerous

Article first published as Movie Review: The Roommate (2011) on Blogcritics.

Hollywood has seen a mushroom growth of horror/thrillers based on the psychotic behavior of the human mind. From the days of Hitchcock, through the times of Psycho and finally to the era of Jason we have been exposed to such extremities of mental illness that it becomes utterly difficult for any modern day movie based on lunacy to make an impression. Having said that, I have to admit that The Roommate does make an impact on the viewer and has much to offer in terms of thrill and suspense.

The Roommate tells the story of Sara (Minka Kelly), a fashion student with a new roommate. Sara had shared a room all her life with her sister Emily, who died around a year earlier leaving Sara alone. Sara's new roommate is her first since the death of her sister, so Sara felt a little emotional (in a good way) about sharing the room. Sara doesn't know however that her roommate Rebecca (Leighton Meester) is a little too protective to say the least!

As the movie progresses, Rebecca gets irritated by everyone who tries to come close to Sara. She scares her close friends away and tries to prevent Sara from getting into a relationship. Sara just feels that Rebecca is overprotective towards her and doesn't take it seriously until she finds a secret! A secret that makes Rebecca's own parents fear her!

Why is Rebecca so obsessed with Sara? Why are her parents afraid of her and why is she so uneasy with Sara having a boyfriend? Is she in love with Sara or is their something more dangerous than love lurking in the depths of Rebecca's mind? Watch The Roommate to find out.

I Rate it 3.5/5 for the gripping storyline and good acting. The Roommate keeps the audience interested and hence is a good use of time. I thoroughly enjoyed the film and would recommend it to everyone. You surely won't be disappointed!

Movie Review: The Rite

All ardent fans of cinema, especially those who appreciate acting ahead of the use of technology, eagerly wait for Anthony Hopkins' films. He has definitely not disappointed his fans this time. Hopkins leads the cast in the latest Horror/Thriller The Rite based on the rituals of exorcism, and he has given an outstanding performance to say the least.

The Rite is a story of a young man, Michael (Colin O'Donoghue) whose father runs a funeral home. Michael is himself a seminary student but is not particularly fond of dressing up the dead and hence decides to give the priesthood a chance. He takes up a course, spending four years studying, but in the end he decides not to pursue priesthood; Michael does not actually believe in God.

The father at his school asks him to give God a chance and take an exorcism course in Rome. Reluctantly, Michael leaves for Rome thinking that he would find nothing that could budge his reasoning.

In Rome Michael finds it hard to come to terms with the idea of spirits, possessions and exorcism; his teacher refers him to an exorcist named Father Lucas (Anthony Hopkins).

Lucas is an unorthodox practitioner and a very straight forward man. He shows Michael how he interacts and fights demons and spirits. Michael is persistent with his disbelief and thinks that Lucas's patients are psychological patients rather than possessed people.

What follows, eventually forces Michael to believe in the Devil and in God! Also what follows makes the audiences marvel at the acting supremacy of one of the finest actors ever to have graced the screen, Anthony Hopkins! One can only salute the awesomeness of this amazing actor.

I won't tell any more about the story because I don't want to spoil it for you but The Rite is definitely right up there with the best films of the year and Anthony Hopkins as Father Lucas is phenomenal. I rate is 4/5 and recommend it highly!

Movie Review: Love And Other Drugs(2010)

Article first published as Movie Review: Love And Other Drugs on Blogcritics.

Jamie (Jake Gyllenhaal) is leading a mediocre life. He is a real hard worker but is always on a look out for shortcuts in life. He is a charming gentleman and believes in living it up. He works in an electronics store, but after awhile is fired. 

His best friend Bruce helps him find a job at a pharmaceutical company. His interpersonal skills helps him excel as a pharamceutical company representative. On a routine visit to a nearby clinic he meets Maggie (Hathaway) for the first time. After a few more accidental encounters, Jamie sees a chance for himself with Maggie. She is an alluring free-spirited girl who does not believe in relationships. On the other hand Jamie also is a carefree person whose ultimate goal always is to satisfy his sexual desires. They embrace each other like lock and key.

With the passage of time Jamie and Maggie who were leading a happy unconcerned life with each other, find themselves in a relationship. Things eventually go their way but then suddenly life takes a huge turn, and they find their love life in lots of trouble.

Love and other Drugs lies somewhere between comedy, romance and drama, but it is mainly a romance. In my view it is a good movie but the story is very patchy and lacks cohesiveness. It seems that somewhere in the middle of the movie, the writer lost the plot.

Hathaway and Cyllenhaal are the real attraction to this movie. There are some very explicit sex scenes with Anne Hathaway; she looks good, and looks prepared for her upcoming Cat-Woman role in Batman. Jake Gyllenhaal is cute as ever and his dorky, nerdy looks are amusing and great to watch. He has also acted reasonably well. 

Although the movie has one foot in the comedy genre and the other in the "soft-porn-of-the-year" genre, I still recommend Love and Other Drugs. It is will not only keep you hooked for two hours but will provide you ultimate entertainment. I rate it 3/5 and you should give it a try!

Movie Review: The Godfather Trilogy

Article first published as The Godfather Trilogy Taken as a Whole: Still Brilliant After All These Years on Blogcritics.

I recently saw All Good Things and a scene therein reminded me of the all time blockbuster and the queen of all feature films, The Godfather Trilogy. I realized how after so many years since the first part's release, the film still remains a must see and one still marvels at the acting that was on display in every scene of the trilogy.

Since I saw The Godfather in one go i.e all three parts at once, I have always considered the trilogy as one big film and not as three different films. This way I have never ventured into the comparison of the three parts and that has made me admire the trilogy on the whole and as a masterpiece without worrying about any one of the parts being superior.

The Godfather Trilogy to me is Al Pacino's finest work and perhaps his role as Michael Carleone is the best character ever to have graced the screen. Al Pacino according to me has outdone Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro and has made the trilogy his own without anyone else even coming close to his greatness. To me the second-best performance in the film is Andy Garcia as Vincent Mancini.

The cartel, the power and the rise of Carleone's is a treat to watch but what underlines it all is the transformation of Al Pacino from a timid young man to a shrewed gangster and then to an aspirant white-collared businessman.

The Godfather Trilogy is the greatest film of all times and one must see it to believe the myth! I rate it 5/5 and that is because the I have no more to give.

Movie Review: Game (2010)

Article first published as Movie Review: Game (2010) on Blogcritics.

Bollywood's ambition of successfully making a murder thriller has very seldom matured into a watchable film. Unlike rom-coms like Band Baaja Baraat, thrillers don't fare too well with the audience. The main reason behind the incapability of Indian cinema as far as thrillers are concerned is the copied script/story that is often borrowed from a Hollywood flick. What happens is that film-makers borrow a story from Hollywood but do not have the budget or the technical expertise to carry the film forward. Another issue is the limited number of stars available to the film-makers and their reluctance in casting anyone who is not a popular star!

"Game" suffers with the later more than the former. As far as the script is concerned, the film has a very jumbled up story that is good in parts but unbelievably poor in others. It is very patchy with a feeling that many individual parts of the story were forcefully attached together to make a whole.
"Game" is a story about a man Kabir Malhotra (Anupam Kher) whose illegitimate daughter is killed in her early 20s. He collects evidence against the people who he blames for her death and calls them deceptively at his personal Island only to hand them over to international police. The people he invites are, OP Ramsay (Presidential Candidate of Thailand) (Boman Irani), Neil Menon (Drug Dealer) (Abhishek Bachchan), Tisha Khanna (The twin sister of his dead daughter) (Shahana Goswami) and Vikram Kapoor (A film actor) (Jimmy Shergil). After he has told them their contributions in the death of his daughter and that they will be handed to the police with the file that has evidence against them, Kabir Malhotra apparently commits suicide by shooting himself in the temple leaving all four of his guests as suspects for murder!

When Inspector Sia Agnihotri (Kangna Ranaut) comes to take the evidence and the four guests as requested by Kabir, she in turn finds Kabir dead and her intelligent investigation soon reveals that Kabir did not kill himself but was murdered.
"Game" is a search for Kabir Malhotra's murderer and what happens next is better seen than narrated, so I won't spoil it for you.
The cast has failed to impress, with Abhishek doing what he does best i.e playing a slick, stylish role and Jimmy Shergil doing what he does best i.e miserably failing to impress! The worst performance, however, was Kangna Ranaut's and that may be due to the inappropriate casting more than anything else. For a girl who is not comfortable speaking English, to be given a character that speaks more English than Hindi, is unfair and extremely senseless. All in all the acting was below par.

The film's overall impression is below average, with stale action sequences, poor dialogs (unlike Farhan Akthar) and mediocre acting (despite some heavy names). I give it a meager 2.5/5 and you can skip it if you have better things to do!

National Lampoon's Dirty Movie (2011) Review

Article first published as Review: National Lampoon's Dirty Movie (2011) on Technorati.

Movie: National Lampoon's Dirty Movie (2011)

Cast: Christopher Meloni, Diane Neal and Stephanie Gatschet

Rating: 3.5/5 

Well, of all the dirty comedies that you could come across, National Lampoon's Dirty Movie is the most direct and uninhibited attempt at ridiculing and taunting almost everyone on the planet in one way or the other. The fact that the movie does not point at any one community or sect makes it an enjoyable watch since one can laugh at one's own self and others alike.

As for the story of the film, there is none! The film is a collection of jokes acted on screen and put together in no particular order or form. They are just independent jokes and nothing more. Jokes range from pedophiles, to Arabs, to Jews, to Niggers and so on. The quality of jokes and the dirtiness that they possess is especially of great interest.

Apart from the jokes themselves the double standards about jokes are also a topic of discussion in this film. It sheds light on how we are prepared to laugh on others and not our own selves and ideas.

All in all it is a great watch with titties flapping and bouncing and jokes flowing like a river of excitement. If it doesn't get you crying with laughter it might wet you in other places of importance.

Due Date (2010) Review

Article first published as Review: Due Date (2010) on Technorati.

Movie: Due Date (2010)

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis and Michelle Monaghan

Rating: 4/5

It is very seldom that a comedy is as gripping as Due Date without a female lead featuring in it. Most comedies take the help of a woman's sexuality, bordering on the edge of obscenity in order to create a surprise for the audience. Due date is nothing like that. It is an amazing film and one that should not be classified under a single genre. It is not only a comedy but a drama as well.

Due date is about two men from distinctly different setups and backgrounds who hook up in bizarre circumstances and end up travelling together. Peter Highman is a successful businessman who is having the worst day of his life. He has to reach Los Angeles to see the birth of his child but fate has other things in mind. He meets Ethan Tremblay a loser by every definition but his own and in extraordinary circumstances both of them end up on a no fly list when Ethan's drugs are caught from Peter's luggage. What follows is a worth seeing story of this couple's journey to Los Angeles.

Robert Downey Jr. as Peter has outdone himself and proved that his comic timing is amazing. Zach Galifianakis has played a very difficult role with utter ease and makes you both love and hate him in every scene he performs in. The rest of the cast is negligible but adequate.

Please do watch the film because it is a wonderfully told story and deserves all the audience it gets.

Robot (2010) [Bollywood] Review

Article first published as Review: Robot (2010) [Bollywood] on Technorati.



Movie: Robot (2010)
Cast: Rajni kanth, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Rating: 4.5/5

It is very seldom that one is totally blown away by the action sequences and special effects in a Bollywood flick but Super star Rajni's Robot is an exception. It is the most expensive film ever made in the history of the Indian film industry.



Robot is the story of Chitti (Rajni Kanth) a humanoid-android made by a genius scientist Vasee (Rajni Kanth). Chitti is a unique Robot in that it can learn and execute humanly possible tasks but initially is rejected by the Artificial Intelligence Authorities because of its inabilities to differentiate between right and wrong. Trying to solve the problem Vasee gives Chitti the ability to feel and therein lies the biggest problem. Chitti falls in love with Vasee's fiancée Sana (Aishwarya Rai). When Vasee finds out he dismantles Chitti and garbages him only for him to get in the hands of Vasee's rival and mentor Prof. Bora. Bora makes Chitti into a demon by giving him an extra chip. What follows is a roller coaster battle between a creator and his most prized creation.


The acting by Rajni and Aishwarya has been outstanding. Aishwarya has looked the prettiest in a long long time and every glimpse of her in the film is a pleasure to watch. She looks like an object so attractive that a Robot can grow feelings for. Rajini as Chitti is outstanding with a Robot like expressionless face and digital movements.



What is most impressive in this Sci-fi flick is the quality of special effects. It puts films like Iron man 2 to shame with the formations that Chitti takes. One particular scene with the giant serpent is absolutely amazing! The look of the film is slick and sharp and parallels any Hollywood movie.

I felt very strongly that if Inception had the best special effects in Hollywood this year, then Robot was its apt counter part in Planet Bollywood.

The Story of Fuck 2010 Review

Movie: The Story of Fuck (2010)
Cast: Finlay Robertson, Joe Absolom and Norma Atallah
Rating: 2.5/5

A fun film I stumbled upon going through a list of films online was The Story of Fuck. When I put the DVD on, I was looking for a lusty, mindless comedy that just talked about pussy and booty and presented women as a commodity and nothing else. The movie, however, was much more than that.

It is a comedy that revolves around a music promoter who is having a rough time of it and nothing seems to be going right for him. His rival in the music company is a pain in his ass and he desperately wants to get back at him.

Lewis (Finlay Roberston) gets his chance when he sees a group of losers who think of themselves as rock 'n rollers. When his new intern builds a hoax hype for a band called "Fuck" and his rival Gilbert signs that band for millions, Lewis just has to make the losers he found to agree to be members of Fuck and when they fuck up, Gilbert is fucked.

The cast has acted well with some funny dialogue. It certainly is by no means a bore, and one does enjoy it. The downside is that the film lacks depth and the script is patchy. All in all, it is a different film, but nothing too exotic.

Let Me In 2010 Review

Article first published as Review: Let Me In ( 2010) on Technorati.

Movie: Let Me In (2010) on DVD/Blu-Ray

Cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Moretz and Richard Jenkins

Rating: 4/5

One of the best remakes I have ever seen is the vampire tale presented in Let Me In. A remake of the Swedish film Let the Right One In (2008), Let Me In tells the story of a vampire girl who is twelve years old and has the innocence of a child.

She, however, can only survive on fresh blood and turns into a horrible monster as she smells or sees blood near by. This is a story of a vampire who befriends a human boy and discovers a streak of humanity in her savageness.

It is a story of a lone boy who finds humans to be more savage than a vampire in their way of discrimination and abuse. This is a love story of two twelve-year-olds with extremely contrasting natures, yet strikingly similar loneliness.

Abby (Chloe Moritz) is a vampire who has been twelve for hundreds of years. She moves into a new neighborhood in the house next to Owen (Kodi Smit), a troubled and bullied naive boy who is pushed around by his fellows at the school. They hesitantly become friends and a story that has many beautiful contrasts — coldness vs. warmth, chaos vs. peace, guilt vs. innocence, darkness vs. delicacy, and despair vs. hope — follows. To say more about the film would give away a lot, and so I am all hush hush!

Chloe and Kodi have acted brilliantly and are perhaps the best child artists in Hollywood. I honestly believe that Let Me In is one of the greatest American remakes of all time.

Patiala House (2011) Review

Movie: Patiala House

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Anushka Sharma, Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Hard Kaur

Rating: 3.5/5

Cricket Junoon is running wild the world over. India and Pakistan are two countries that eat, drink and breathe cricket and with the Cricket World Cup 2011 being hosted by India, for Sri Lanka and Bangladesh the heat is on as far as cricket craze is concerned.

Amongst the excitement of the mega event of cricket comes a film that celebrates cricket and glorifies its charm and peoples' love for it. It is a film that shows the importance of family, the passion for cricket and a man's endeavor to live his life-long dream.

Parghat Singh Kahlon aka Gattu (Akshay Kumar) belongs to a cricket crazy Sikh family, the Patiala House, who had moved to England years ago. His father Gurtej Kahlon (Rishi Kapoor) is a cricket fanatic but also harbors great hatred for Englishmen following his elder brother's murder decades ago on the basis of racism. When Gattu gets selected for the English line-up in his teens his father stops him from playing saying that he would die if his son plays for the Goras (English). Gattu buries his dream in obedience of his father setting an example for the others to follow. No one in Patiala House could dare to even dream against Gurtej Kahlon and if they even spoke up they were asked to follow Gattu's footsteps. Gattu was hated by all and no one saw his frustration and sacrifice.

When the English team faces a lack of a genuine fast bowler for the upcoming T-20 Championships, they consider Gattu on the recommendation of one of the selectors Mr. Bedi. Gattu at 34 is still quick and accurate and forced by the members of Patiala House he accepts a place in the English team. Will Gattu play for England? Will he be successful? Will the family be able to hide Gattu's selection and the fact that he is playing for England fron Gurtej Kahlon? Will Gurtej accept his son as England's fast bowler? Will the Patiala House be free to dream and fulfill their dreams? You have to watch the movie to get answers for these questions. I would recommend all cricket fans to go see it.

Akshay Kumar has acted well and Rishi Kapoor has given a memorable performance as well. Anushka Sharma is charming and refreshing. Her great talent and awesome body makes for a delightful view. She surely is the next big thing in Bollywood.