Iron Man 3 (2013)

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Iron Man 3 (2013)

Genre:     Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Superhero

Starring:  Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Jon Favreau, Ben Kingsley, Stephanie Szostak, James Badge Dale, Ty Simpkins

Directed by: Shane Black

Rated: US: PG-13, UK: 12A, India: U/A

Running Time: 130 minutes 

Movie Review:
To tell you the truth - I so wanted to give this movie 10/10. But as they say 'hope in reality is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torments of man.' and my first mistake was - after watching The Avengers (for 3 times in theater and several times on DVD - well I stopped counting after 3), I put all my hopes on Iron Man 3 and believed that it was going to be a masterpiece of a Super Hero Movies. Pity, it was not like that. Nevertheless, though Iron Man 3 did not deliver the way expected for it has a plot without vision and exploited villain far from what they were in the comics, this film did not disappoint in terms of action, comedy and visual effects.

Based on the character developed by Larry Lieber, Don Heck, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee - comic book writer, editor, publisher, media producer, television host, actor, voice actor and former president and chairman of Marvel Comics, Iron Man 3 is a fast pacing slapstick action comedy which concludes from where the The Avengers left. The near death experience of Tony Stark in The Avengers has resulted him to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder. Restless with his trauma - he has build up his personal Iron Man suits army. Being hubristic, he challenged a terrorist who, in return, devastate and tear apart his home and his pride (maybe) with it. Now its time for him to rebuild himself and return for vengeance, but wait! There is more to it, he also has one more enemy to deal with which can be the deadliest enemy he has ever met.

Robert Downey, Jr. is one actor with plethora of skills. You can always trust him for he will never let you down. With his skilled serious comedy and his ingenuous one liners, he can make you rofl. For the first time you can see less of Iron Man and more of Tony Stark who happens to have fighting skills regardless of the suit. Iron Man 3 is a well crafted visual  stunner and stick-to-couch kinda film which has a prolix run time of 130 minutes. It does not bore you but is not worth the storyline it has. Nevertheless this film is a worth watcher for its mesmeric effects, blood gushing action and brilliant 3d effects. But do not keep your expectations high, this film is relatively better than Iron Man 2 but don't think of comparing it with The Avengers. The Avengers was a masterpiece and Iron Man 3 is just a puzzle piece of the puzzle board The Avengers 2 is gonna provide. The more is yet to come.


 My Verdict:
I liked Iron Man 3, but did not love it. The story line is crappy but the way the film has been portrayed is amazing. There were some questions of which I did not get answer and I was a bit disappointed for the way they exploited the villainous characters from the comics. Also I felt that this film is worthlessly lengthy and few scenes should have been avoided to cut the length a bit and focus more on story. Nevertheless, Robert Downey, Jr. has always impressed me with his acting skills ( I wish someday I will see Downey with Johny Depp sharing the screen together - Man! It is gonna be a ride! Can actually we have a story so strong which can improvise both their acting skills? Hey! Directors - are you listening this?). But what amazed me was its stunning Vfx and hard core actions. Iron Man 3 is purely a scenic ride which you may love to enjoy in theater, just remember not to keep your expectation too high as you may have after watching Avengers.

Why See?: Visual effects, action, adventure, 3d effects

Why Not?: Crappy Storyline.

Rating: 7.5/10

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Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

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Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

Genre:     Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Starring:  Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Alice Eve, Bruce Greenwood, Peter Weller, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anton Yelchin

Directed by: J. J. Abrams

Rated: US: PG-13, UK: 12A, India: U/A

Running Time: 133 minutes 

Movie Review:

After the magnificent performance by Star Trek in 2009, it was quite clear that a sequel was on the way, which took a long road to reach to the theater - Obviously 4 year is a long span when Marvel Comics did the whole The Avengers concept in 4 years - which includes 2 Hulk, 2 Iron Man, a Thor and a Captain America and finally - The Avengers... and mind my maths but it calculates what? 7 movies! Not that is what we call Business! And now when the sequel is here, it is sure to create some ripples with its jaw dropping visuals and astounding 3d effects. This is what Star Trek Into Darkness is all about, it is a refreshing film with a weak story line, which is unlikely as the predecessor came with flabbergasting visuals and resplendent storyline along with the cast ensemble which were just perfect for a Star Trek installment. And Star Trek Into Darkness promises the same, the difference being is its underwhelmed story which does not impress anyhow.

 Based on the series of the same name created by Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek Into Darkness is actually the 12th installment in the Star Trek film franchise which has been into continuation since 1979 when the first motion picture of Star Trek was released. The 2009 Star Trek was, however, a spinoff and took the Star Trek film franchise to a new level. But that does not mean that you have to watch each and every Star Trek to get hold of what exactly it is.

After bombing a secret installation in London, the starfleet agent John Harisson tries to kill the high ranking officers at starfleet, which result in deaths of several officers including Rear Admiral Christopher Pike. Harisson successfully escapes to a planet, which turns out to be Kilngton, the home planet of Kronos. Kronos are enemies to humans and now its time for the Starfleet Team which includes - Captain James Kirk, Spock, Dr. Leonard McCoy, Hikara Sulu, Nyota Uhura and many more, to go behind this fugitive with only two options - bring him back to justice or kill him for his evil deeds. The emotional Kirk, aghast by the death of Pike, is filled with rage and he is sure that he will end up killing Harisson. But Harisson is powerful and he know secrets that can shake the core of starfleet officers. And there is something new waiting for Kirk and his team, which is ruthless and ugly than Harisson himself. What will Kirk, Spock and their team gonna do? Watch out for this fast pacing adventurous yet dangerous ride with Kirk and his crew where they will save lives and more importantly, will save their dignity.

 My Verdict:

Star Trek Into Darkness is hell of a ride. With its appealing 3d effects, this film is a good to go. Just its storyline, which does not looks to be fresh and in the end - with all its whoa! effects, you may end up saying - 'I think I have watched films with similar story line'. But the place where it does not fail at all is - 'Entertainment'. Star Trek is visually perfect, with its jaw dropping sequences and its stunning visual effects, it takes you to a fast pacing adventurous ride where action and entertainment is guaranteed. And when you have your 3d glares on, you know that you took the right decision to go for this film because the 3d effect of this film, takes you to a magnificent joy ride.

Why See?: Visual effects, action, adventure, 3d effects

Why Not?: Storyline - which does not look fresh.

Rating: 7.5/10


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Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)

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 Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)

Genre:    Action | Fantasy | Horror

Starring:  Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen, Peter Stormare

Directed by: Tommy Wirkola

Rated: US: R, UK: 15, India: A

Running Time: 88 minutes 

Movie Review:
Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton as Witch Hunters? Sounds fun! So I had to see it, keeping my fingers crossed that it should go head-to-head with the same genre movies like Van Helsing (2004) or Brothers Grimm (2005). And Voilà! It was not that bad but the problem was... It was not that good either. Superior to Brothers Grimm and inferior to Van Helsing though, Hansel & Gratel is a time pass gory entertainer which promises nothing but fun.

A spinoff from German folk fairy tale by Brothers Grimm, Hansel & Gretel casts Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton as the duo siblings, who, because of the series of events happened in their childhood, are now the best known Witch Hunters. 11 kids have disappeared from a town of Augsburg, and they are just a part of a ginormous satanic scheme of witches. Hansel & Gratel have been appointed to find out the truth and slay the witches behind this evil act. But witches know them better than they know themselves, and they are more than ready for them so action is guaranteed.

Gemma Arterton is fabulous, and watching her fighting on the screen is enchanting. Jeremmy Renner cracked some nice one liners. The news had been that this film was delayed for 10 months, so that Jeremy Renner can complete his roles in highly anticipated Marvel's Avengers and The Bourne Legacy. Which means that Jeremy was always the first choice for this film and he has to perform real well, which he did. The plot is feeble though, which is really sad as this film had a high chances to be much much better.  Even the way of presenting a scene is mediocre at places. But as Vfx is good and this film is full of gore action which is the first demand of a evil hunting action flicks, this movie does not lack in that and turns out to be an 88 minutes of disappointing fun (A fun filled film which also disappoints simultaneously? Boy was that possible.... All hail to Timmy Wirkola.)

My Verdict:
I had high expectations from Hansel & Gratel: Witch Hunters. Even someone who would see the trailer would say the same. Though this film did not quench my curiosity much, but it did not disappoint me either. You want bloody action where witches are getting killed by some pretty cool gadgets and techniques - you would not want to miss it. But if an unpredictable and sensible plot is what you seek, this film will never meet your expectations. These pros n cons make this film an average entertainer which is fresh as movies of this genre has not been in the spotlight recently. But this film promise a better sequel (no no its not like that the movie does not end here, but a sequel is sure to come), and I will be waiting for the sequel.
  

Why See?: Intense action scene, good performance, good humor at times

Why Not?: Weak Storyline, less humor

Rating: 6/10

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Tranformers 3: Dark of the Moon (2012)

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Tranformers 3: Dark of the Moon (2012)

Genre:   Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Starring:  Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Tyrese Gibson, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Patrick Dempsey, Kevin Dunn, Julie White, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand

Directed by: Michael Bay

Rated: US: PG-13, UK: 12A, India: U/A

Running Time: 157 minutes 

Movie Review:
Decepticons are back! And this time they are loaded with more fire power, a super demoniac plan and a leader more powerful than Megatron himself. Autobots are going to feel on a weaker side and now its time for human to join the party and yell the 'kill-em-all' locution. This film had to be one of the most awaited movies of 2012, and for Transformers fans like me, every day of the countdown was a curious one. Everyone wanted it to be bigger, better and smarter than the predecessors, alas!

It is bigger of course (157 minutes duh! too much length for a sleazy plot), 'better' depends on your perception, to which, we will come later, but smarter? Hell no! (Mind my French :P) This film is a goof box if you are going to consider it a sci-fi film with some sense. It is too much to handle at a time, and I wonder how Michael Bay can be proud when everyone is gonna say - 'Hey! this scene is a complete nuisance!'. Action and style are surely Michael's cup of tea, but Basic Laws of physics? He well knows how to defy them from its core. But nevertheless, being a Transformers fan, you cannot miss this one so I have an advise -  'keep your expectations low', this is not anywhere better than Revenge of the Fallen or Transformers, except for its mind blowing action sequences and conspicuous CGI effects and remarkable 3d effects. If these are your criteria, you are surely gonna love this film, just do not give a damn about physics, sense and plot.

Based on Transformers action figures by Hasbro, Dark of the Moon  is the third installment to Transformers live action film series. Autobots have been working with human to capture 'decepticon punks' since three years of the previous encounter. Soon they realize that human have been hiding a long lost technology since the moon mission, 42 years back, where it was found. And now its time for Autobots to keep that in possession before Decepticon arrives and use it to destroy Earth and to pull Cybertrone - The ex home of the Transformers, to our Solar System (does not make sense? Yea exactly my point!).  But there is a space-craft hidden in moon and the secret inside it, can change the war's face to an unimaginable extent.

The way Michael Bay has shown the connection of secrets with moon's mission and the reason behind the sudden cease of man missions to moon is exuberant. After that, the plot goes incoherent. But as the Michael Bay film has always been, Dark of the Moon never goes out of style and presentation. When it comes to show action with style in jaw dropping way, Michael Bay has always proved himself an ace. Shia LaBeouf is a hard working actor and it shows, though there is nothing new about him to watch here.  The-miss-who-replaced-Megan-Fox aka Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is flawlessly pretty yet falls a step behind as an actress. But you cannot deny to the fact that she don't have to act much because when she is on the screen - all eyes are going to be on her. At some places you may find that dialogues have been put unnecessarily but it won't bother you as there is action everywhere to enjoy. Nonsensical plot cannot be avoided though, and it really bothers as absurdity at such level can be hard to digest. The length of the movie is too much as plot is not that intriguing, but CGI and action is. And CGI and action is all what is worth to see in this high end intensifying action flick

My Verdict:
Transformers: Dark of the Moon is a high end CGI live action film with mesmeric 3D effects whose fast paced action is really nail biting. But the way it defies common physics and its weak plot with high end absurdities is a major drawback and is unavoidable. Also some of the action sequences have been stretched too much that becomes difficult to assimilate all at a time, and hence the length of the movie is an issue. Thus, though being and excellent panorama of action, visual  and 3d effects, Dark of the Moon do not stand in the category of intelligent and excellent movies. Nevertheless, regardless of its flaws, this film excels in one thing and that is - Entertainment. Length can be an issue though but it keeps you engaged with its pace. It turns out to be a no-brainy hi-fi nifty action matinee which is worth to give a try, but is not a keeper.
  

Why See?: Mesmeric Vfx, action abundance, brilliant 3d, stylish.

Why Not?: Nonsensical scenes, logically whacky, lengthy.

Rating: 6.5/10

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The Last Stand (2013)

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The Last Stand (2013)

Genre: Action | Crime | Thriller

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker, Johnny Knoxville, Rodrigo Santoro, Luis Guzmán, Jaimie Alexander, Eduardo Noriega, Peter Stormare, Zach Gilford, Génesis Rodríguez

Directed by: Kim Ji-woon

Rated: US: R, UK: 15, India: A

Movie Review:
Arny is back after 10 years in a lead role and that too with a Bang! Though he is not the same as he was in Terminator 3 and has grown old. But his passion for action is nonetheless same.

The Last Stand is especially for Arnold Schwarzenegger fans who have been waiting for his comeback since a decade, who even watched The Expandables, just to have a glimpse of him and well Kim Ji-woon is not going to disappoint any of the Arny's fan and that is for sure.

Set in a sleepy border town Sommerton Junction - Arizona, of which, Ray Owens (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is the Sheriff. Soon he comes to know that the leader of a drug cartel has been on a run and going to speed out to the Mexican Border via his town in a sports car faster than any chopper. Now he knows that the only thing that can stop him from crossing the border is he and his rookie staff. How will he do that? The answer is: he has his own means (he always has). But will he be able to? The answer is in the film itself.

The Last Stand is a fast paced action film with some good one liners and has been comic at places, but all in all it is an average action flick with nothing fresh except Arnold who still has his charm and will be loved by his admirers. Moreover this is a genuine welcome to Arnold Schwarzenegger and is fine film for him to have a start all over again. 'Welcome back Arnold, you did a fine job here' - That's all what I have to say.
 
My Verdict: This is not a film for the film lovers who wants something extraordinary and has urge to watch something different or maybe a film crafted for oscar. But if you are an Arnold Schwarzenegger fan and you want to see some decent action film with no nonsense, this film will meet your expectations (just try not to keep them much high). This film has some good action scenes and the pace of the film keeps you engaged. Beside that, it has nothing special to see, oh! wait! it has something special to see and that will be Arny himself.

Why See?: Arnold Schwarzenegger, fast pace, good action

Why Not?: Nothing extraordinary

Rating: 6/10

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Jack Reacher (2012)

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Jack Reacher (2012)

Genre: Action | Crime | Thriller

Starring: Tom Cruise, Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins, Werner Herzog, David Oyelowo, Robert Duvall

Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie

Rated: US: PG-13, UK: 12A

Movie Review:
Adapted from Lee Child's 2005 novel 'One Shot', Jack Reacher aka Tom Cruise is a homicide investigator, an ex military, and a super intelligent analyst, who is investigating a murder mystery where 5 people are randomly killed by a trained military sniper. But someone don't want him in the city, neither he wants him to investigate. How will he investigate the case when his own life is in danger?

Literally speaking, this film is watchable because of Tom Cruise who has done a good job as Jack Reacher. The story line is impressive but not well executed. That-bond-girl from 'Die Another Day' aka Rosamund Pike is fabulous. Alas! they don't even kiss (Oh! Spoiler! never mind, it was something worth to know, I so wanted them to, and she so wanted him to.. But Reacher.. how gay of him.. he can analyze every aspect.. but cannot read her mind.. weird.)

From the direction point of view, this movie lacks in many aspects. Except Cruise and Pike, none of the ensemble seemed to be serious about their character. Especially David Oyelowo and Werner Herzog. I did not like David in any scene (wrong expressions to blame). Plus action scenes are not well contained, Jack Reacher lacks in some good action, even car chase was very simplified (not-so-Tom-Cruise eh!)

Maybe Christopher McQuarries should try harder as a director. He is a good screenplay writer and no one doubts that. But Jack Reacher is not that impressive, and if it wasn't for Tom Cruise, I am pretty sure that this film would have gone way down than its position. But this film is not-so-Tom-Cruise in which any good actor would have done a good job.

 Nevertheless, its a smart thriller, and if your genre is a murder mystery and your hero is Tom Cruise, you can give it a go. It has a good script and a good entertainer. So if you have nothing to do on this weekend, or any other weekend that follows, you can Rent this film, and watch it.
 
My Verdict: Despite of not well executed plot, Jack Reacher aka Tom Cruise, did a fine job to keep us entertained if not intrigued. Tom and Rosamund are the only fine actors in this film as other did not seemed so well contained. It is a classic thriller and differs from modern day thrillers. So if you would like to visit 80s thrilling films with modern touch this movie is for you. All in all Jack Reacher is a weekend entertainer and Rental of course.

Why See?: Good plot, well acted by Tom Cruise and Rosamund Pike.

Why Not?: Nothing impressive, other actors acting deficiency.

Rating: 6.5/10

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Apocalypto (2006)

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Apocalypto (2006)

Genre: Epic/Action/Adventure/Thriller

Starring: Rudy Youngblood, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Sérbulo, Dalia Hernández, Ian Uriel, Gerardo Taracena, Rodolfo Palacios, Bernardo Ruiz Juarez, Ammel Rodrigo Mendoza, Ricardo Diaz Mendoza, Israel Contreras

Directed by: Mel Gibson

Rated: US: R, UK: 18

Movie Review:

Mel Gibson is one brilliant director who has always left me mesmerized by his charismatic direction. Braveheart, The Passion of the Christ and now Apocalypto. I am not a profound fan of him, but the way he daringly takes concepts for direction has always acquired my attention.

Apocalypto, an Epic produced and written by Mel Gibson himself, depicts the struggle and fight of a man to return and save his family. And it is not a normal fight, he has to fight with the one of the most intelligent yet ferocious civilizations of time - The Mayans. Yes, they fooled us that world was gonna end, but this time they are serious.. :P. We may have survived the apocalypse but will this meso-american survive the Apocalypto? If yes, than how?

Apocalypto is a well crafted film which is ruthlessly bloody and highly intriguing  from start to end. This surely is not for faint heart people who do not enjoy gore much. But nevertheless, Apocalypto is a masterpiece of film that will be remembered as a 'cult' in the history of cinema. If you can bear the savage rampage this movie has, then do not miss it, because this film is more than violence, this film has every emotion you can think of. Its a keeper's edition that will entertain you always.

At few times, I almost forgot that I was watching a film, got so involved that it looked to me like I am seeing a real life story going on live in front of me. I did not find a single point which looked to me fake. The whole film being in Yucatec Maya dialect rather than English has made it more realistic and natural (hard coded English subs are available). The Vfx is amazing and the plot is heart throbbing.

Mel Gibson must have been called insane to direct such gory yet enthralling film but he must be highly appreciated, for all that movie is worth watching for, comes from the mind of Gibson himself. It will be in my library among the best movies I have seen and would love to see it again and again.


My Recommendation: If you can, for once, let go off your aversion for violent films (if you have any). Do watch this one, this film promises more than that, its a film that will clearly imprint a mark and will make you proud that you saw it. And if you are okay with violence in films, well don't miss this one.

Why Should I See?: Adrenaline rushing sequences, highly intriguing plot, brilliantly acted.

Why Should I Not?: Only if you cannot withstand violence at extent level.

Rating: 9/10

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Gangster Squad (2013)

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Gangster Squad (2013)

Genre: Action/Crime

Starring: Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Emma Stone, Anthony Mackie, Giovanni Ribisi, Michael Peña, Robert Patrick

Directed by: Ruben Fleischer

Rated: US: R, UK: 15, India: R

Movie Review:

Okay, somebody tell me what was wrong with Ryan Gosling's voice? Why was he talking like a girl. Lol, a guy with that personality and voice like this, irritates a lot. And yeah, the love chemistry of gorgeous Emma Stone and hunk Ryan Gosling (with female touch in his voice this time don't know why) is back from Crazy Stupid Love. They look a pretty couple together on screen.

Gangster Squad is an Action Crime film based on Tales from the Gangster Squad  by Paul Lieberman. This movie shows post World War II Los Angeles, which was then under control of a gangster Mickey Cohen. Can this gangster be stopped when he virtually owns the city? Well this is movie all about.

I appreciate Sean Penn (Mickey Cohen) as for some good acting here though his makeup is 'gawky'. But in this movie, what I truly appreciate is... Screenplay. Will Beall has written some great one-liners that were enjoyable at times.

There are some good action sequences and some nonsensical too (well car chase looked murky to me few times). But most importantly, there are some loop-holes in plot that are questionable. Ruben Fleicher's Zombieland was hilarious, and he has taken care of putting some good humor in this movie too but they are too less than expected.

Dialogues are enjoyable, caste ensemble is up to the mark,  the style the movie carries on in whole is great but when it ends, you just get up saying - 'It could have been better than what it is'. Well Ruben, take care next time. I appreciate your approach, but this movie has some elements missing and some questions that should have been taken care of in the movie itself.

My Recommendation: Car chases and gunfights of 40's was something we rarely see. So this is a Rental.

Why Should I See?: Screenplay and some good actions

Why Should I Not?: Sometimes Blatant

Rating: 6/10

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Bad Boys II (2003)

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Bad Boys II (2003)

Genre: Action/Comedy/Crime/Thriller

Starring: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Jordi Mollà, Gabrielle Union, Peter Stormare

Directed by: Michael Bay

Rated: US: R, UK: 15

Movie Review:
What happens when one of my favorite director works with one of my favorite producer to make a comedy-action with one of my favorite comic actor? When the trio Bay, Bruckheimer and Smith meets, a super comic, super action, super entertainer film happens and they name it 'Bad Boys II'.

I did not like Bad Boys (1995) much, which forced me to have this feeling that the sequel is not going to be better. But well we all know that 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' was better than 'The Terminator', in fact it was one of the best action movies I saw that time . Which means sequel not being better than the original does not happen always, right? Hence I decided to give it a try and well, soon I knew that this movie is going to be in my 'Must to Watch Action Films' list.

Bad Boys II has everything an action comedy movie must be filled with. Stylish actions, hilarious comedy and two brilliant actors Lawrence & Smith dealing with both. Though the movie has lot of racist jokes which may offend some people, but hey, those dialogues have been flawlessly delivered  by Lawrence & Smith which has made it highly enjoyable than to be felt offended with.

Michael Bay has always surprised me with his stylish action sequences and this movie has not been deprived of it a bit. Bad Boys II is a non-stop action entertainer that has nail biting action sequences that just goes on and on. And well due to the dialogues and action, the plot did not even mattered to me.

All in all, this is a good movie that any action - comedy lover will hardly give a miss.

My Recommendation: If you are an action - buddy comedy fan, and you don't care about how the racist jokes could do you any harm. Well, watch it!

Why Should I See?: Brilliant Action Sequences, Hilarious Comedy

Why Should I Not?: Racist Jokes, Involve Drugs

Rating: 7.5/10

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Serbuan Maut aka The Raid Redemption (2011)

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Serbuan Maut aka The Raid Redemption (2011)

Genre: Action/Crime/Thriller

Starring: Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, Donny Alamsyah

Directed by: Gareth Evans

Rated: US: R, UK: 18

Review:

OK, first of all, they all were not elite cops, most of them were 'rookies'. But The Raid Redemption has some really nice ass kicking hard core martial art scenes that need some serious appreciation. Don't watch it for plot, don't watch it for story, don't watch it for dialogues. But WATCH IT for its intense martial art actions and gun fights. Because when the action starts, it just won't stop.

The Raid Redemption, however lacks in plot which is very plain and hopeless. There has been many martial art films made with a good plot and scenes. Plot is the only place where it falls behind.


My Recommendation: Are you a martial art action fan no matter what? Rent the DVD today, because this film is a kick-ass for martial art lovers.

Why Should I See?: Intense action scenes
Why Should I Not?: Weak Plot

Rating: 7/10

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G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)

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G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)

Genre: Sci-fi/Action

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jonathan Pryce, Byung-hun Lee, Elodie Yung, Ray Stevenson, D.J. Cotrona, Adrianne Palicki, Channing Tatum, Ray Park, Bruce Willis

Directed by: Jon M Chu

Rated: USA: PG-13, UK:12A, India: U/A

Review:

Meticulous Vfx, good Sfx, nonsensical plot, cockeyed (at few places) yet superb action sequences, almost no Tatum, no Ripcord either and less of Willis states the whole story of G. I. Joe: Retaliation.

At some point it felt like some of its action has took its inspiration from Transformers but in an incoherent way. Where some of the actions are exquisite and if you are watching it in 3D, you may get your 'Whoa!' moment a many times, few actions will make you think that they have been added without adding sense to them.

It has more flaws then its predecessor and I felt that 'Rise of the Cobra' was better than this one on the basis of plot and direction.  But G. I. Joe: Retaliation won't disappoint you if you are in for a pure action. Dwayne Johnson has tried his best to carry Tatum's legacy with all he can do. But personally, I missed Stephen Sommers (Director of  'Rise of the Cobra') at many places.

My Recommendation: If you are in for a pure action, disregarding its plot and absurdity at some places , this movie is for you and it won't disappoint you in any way. And watch it in 3d if you can as it will double the fun.

Why Should I See?: Meticulous vfx, superb action scenes, good Sfx, great 3d effects.
Why Should I Not?: Nonsensical plot, incoherent (at few places) action.

Rating: 3/5 (1 point for its praiseworthy Visual Effects)

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Django Unchained (2012)

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Django Unchained (2012)

Genre: Action/Drama/Western

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson 

Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

Rated: USA: R, UK:18, India: A

Review:

Django Unchained - in one word is 'splendid'. A terrifying, surprising, shocking, hilarious yet poured out of slavery & bloodshed, Django is one 'unchained' movie that will keep you entertained till the end. If you are not familiar with Tarantino's way of showing blood-shed, you might feel little uncomfortable but this movie provides more than you can expect from a Wild Wild West cowboy flicks.

Django Unchained shows the cruel part of slavery and how a 'free' black man was not acceptable by them white men during those times, this flick has written 'cult' all over it.

Brilliant performances by brilliant actors with brilliant plot by a brilliant director, Django has the potential to be one of the Tarantino's masterpiece for a long time and is one of the best movies of 2012.



Why Should I See?: Hilarious, Brilliant acting, plot, entertaining
Why Should I Not?: Lengthy, Blood-shed (if you are not comfortable with it)
Rating: 3.5/5

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21 Jump Street (2012)

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21 Jump Street (2012)

Genre: Action/Comedy/Crime

Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie Larson, Dave Franco, Rob Riggle, Ice Cube

Directed by: Phil Lord, Chris Miller

Rated: USA: R, UK:15

Review:
 Set your expectations up and 21 Jump Street will not let you down in any way if you are in for an teen buddy comedy flick. It is full of good laughs, hilarious moments and filthy yet funny dialogues.

21 Jump Street is not just another teen movie, but it is THE ANOTHER teen movie. Some dialogues you will remember even after the movie goes over. 21 Jump Street is one of those teen comedy movies that has the potential to make you laugh till you drop at certain points.

Don't miss on this one if you are looking for some good times with pals.

Why Should I See?: Hilarious
Why Should I Not?: Only if you are not in for teen comedies which includes racist jokes, dopes, swears and a bit of vulgarity etc.  
Rating: 3.5/5

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Dredd (2012)

Dredd (2012)

Genre: Action/Sci-fi

Starring: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey

Directed by: Pete Travis

Rated: USA: R, UK: 18, India: A

Dredd is less of a movie and more of a video game entertainer. A-nothing-new plot, less on humor, plain gun actions and hardly any fight sequence makes movie a bit mediocre. But it has some nice SLO MO 3D effects (which I don't know why the director planned to put in slow motion - due to the SLO-MO drug I suppose, lol funny name for a drug).

Highly over-rated by critics worldwide,  Dredd is just another low budget action entertainer, in which the only plus point is that it does not bore you anywhere (Thankfully). It has some good one liners  but do not expect much from this movie and you will be fine. And if you are keen to view some high intense gun action, well, watch Dredd for sure.


Why Should I See?: 3D effects, Gun Action
Why Should I Not?: Weak Plot

Rating: 6/10

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Avatar (2009)

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Avatar (2009)

Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Sci-fi

Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi

Sigourney Weaver 

Directed by:James Cameron

Rated: USA: PG - 13, UK: 12A, India: U/A 

Avatar is not a movie, but a vision of the critically acclaimed director James Cameron, who was holding this vision since before he even made Titanic. The only thing that was holding him back was the technology needed to make this movie which was not up to the mark that time. So he decided to enhance the technology himself, waited for years to come and finally completed his vision and made this heart throbbing epic we know today as 'Avatar'.

The planet Pandora and the 'Blue-tiful' Na'vi people all made out of Live Action CGI  makes the movie you would like to see open mouth. All the effects take you to the realms which only can be imagined in dreams. And with 3d effects it shows, it brings the dream to reality. In short Cameron showed the dream with open eyes which you will not forget for a lifetime.

Avatar is a beautiful epic which shows the vision of James Cameron. It has all the essence of a blockbuster movie, superb casting, mind blowing action sequences, well made plot and more importantly a well executed one. Its a world beyond world and a zenith of beautiful imagination.

In short - Avatar is more than a movie, it is an example to show that a movie can be beyond the expectations. It will set an example for the movies for years.

Why Should I See?: Everything
Why Should I Not?: None
 
Rating: 10/10

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Inception (2010)

Inception (2010)

Genre: Psychological/ Thriller/Sci-fi/Action

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, Michael Caine

Directed by: Christopher Nolan

Rated: USA: PG 13, UK: 12A, India: U/A 

What happens when an acclaimed director Christopher Nolan decides to make a movie with one of the finest actor DiCaprio? Together they yield a mind boggling, super clever, finest sci-fi movie and they name it Inception. Inception is a unique idea that only a director like Nolan could have thought. It took him a while to polish this idea and nurture it to make a movie. But when he did, he made the finest movie of the year.




Over the top CGI, intellectual plot, femme fatale, action, romance and what not! This movie has every ingredients needed to make a blockbuster. Inception is a well made sci-fi thriller that keeps the story in layers that you cannot guess unless it is revealed. But if you do, you surely are way smarter.


My suggestion: Do Not Miss On This One, unless you like a melodramatic movie where you need not use your mind much. Because this movie will eat your brain inside out. Lol just kidding. 

Why Should I See?: Cleverl Plot, Over the top CGI & Vfx , Cinematography
Why Should I Not?: None
 
Rating: 9/10

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Total Recall (2012)

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Total Recall (2012)

Genre: Sci-fi/Action/Dystopian

Starring: Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel

Directed by: Len Wiseman

Arny or no Arny, Mars or no Mars, but this movie is quite a descent remake of 1990's Mega Blockbuster with the same name. Total recall is more than it looks like in the start. One of the highly twisted movie that has been released recently, Total Recall has some of the finest actors and breath-taking Sfx (Special Effects).

As the movie goes on, you will start believing that it is not only Farrell who is confused about his true identity, but it confuses you too at many points about his identity. After all the tag line is - 'What is Real?'

 Despite being Arny's film remake which has always been famous for its humor and one liners, this movie seriously lacks in humor. But it is highly under rated, this flick is worth to go if you like sci-fi action based on future. There are very few senseless scenes which you may not like but it does not make the movie lose its charm, because there are many scenes that will make you glued to your seat and you may not wanna leave unless the movie finishes.



Pros: Sfx, Action and Kate Beckinsale
Cons: Lengthy, Lack in Humor

Rating: 7/10

Watch Trailer:
 
*Trailer Courtesy: VISO Trailers

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The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

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The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Genre: Superhero/Crime/Action/Thriller

Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Morgan Freeman

Directed by: Christopher Nolan

You cannot expect any lesser from Christopher Nolan (Director). The Batman series trilogy has finally come to an end and this movie is the best farewell the Batman can get. The film has excellent direction, heart-pounding sfx and full of twist and turns. One will see the darker side of batman - his anger, his obsession, his passion that has been with him since 8 years (after the death of Harvy Dent) but never used it. Unlike the predecessor – The Dark Knight, it’s not about gadgets this time, but is about the physical and mental strength that Bruce Wayne possesses when he is Batman. This time he realizes the true power he has.

Bane is not as strong as the Joker, but his plans are vicious and more dangerous than Joker. The ravishing Anne Hathway aka Selina Kyle aka Catwoman has justified the role very well.

If you haven’t seen the other two parts, I will strongly recommend watching them first. Especially the first part i.e., Batman Begins, because if you don’t, you will keep on thinking that who is the mentor of Batman. 

Among the best part of the movie, is its excellent background score by the great Hans Zimmer. I believe that the Oscar is waiting for him already. The music itself intensifies the suspense/action scenes to a great extent.

The movie goes in slow pace once a while and at some places there are plot holes which doesn't makes sense (and you cannot expect such mistakes from Nolan Bros.) but the last 45 minutes of the movie is high packed action and thrill. It cover up all the complains that you may have in the previous 2 hours. And these 45 hours make the movie worthwhile.

The Dark Knight Rises can be considered among the best action movie of 2012 right beside The Avengers. With the reboot of Superman in 2013 as Man of Steel (by Zack Snyder), it seems like DC & Warner Bros. are planning for Justice League soon, and we wish the director to be none other than Nolan.

Rating: 8/10

Watch Trailer:

*Trailer Courtesy: VISO Trailers  

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The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

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The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)  

Genre: Superhero/Action/Sci-fi/Spinoff

Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Irrfan Khan

Directed By: Marc Webb

From the directorial debut from 500 Days of Summer to the reboot of Spider-Man saga, Marc Webb indeed has come away a long journey. I hope he knew that this movie is going to be compared with the 2002's Spider-Man directed by Sam Raimi.


What occured to Sony Pictures Entertainment's mind to go for a reeboot is a mystry as it was a big risk to take when the last movie of Spider-Man franchisee generated more than 890 million USD (which was Sony Pictures Entertainment's highest grossing film to date). They could have continued with the old story and would have changed the director / star cast which has happened many times in Hollywood history rather than going for a reeboot.

Andrew Garfield undoubtedly portrayed the character very well and Emma Stone has always been a charm to see on the screen. But the point where movie loses scope is - Plot. The depiction of story has not been justified properly.

The film has stronger characters and amazing effects which makes the movie watchable, but when it comes to the plot, it has a million loose ends. Few of them being:

1. The story of Peter turning into wall-crawler has not been depicted properly as it was in Spider-Man (2002).

2. It has been shown that there are millions of biotic spiders, which means there are millions of chances of getting bitten somehow and turning into wall-crawlers.

3. In some places the movie is over-dramatic

4. Where is Dr. Rajit Ratha?

5. What was the purpose of showing small lizards shown time to time?

And the rest, I will leave on the readers to tell, if you watch the movie.

All in all, The Amazing Spider-Man is a worth to watch for its effects and effective star casts. DO NOT expect much from the movie and do not think of comparing it with 2002's Sam Raimi's classic, then only you will find it worth.

Pros:  Vfx
Cons: Weak Plot

Rating: 6/10

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 *Trailer Courtesy: VISO Trailers 
 

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