Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)

*Poster Courtesy (www.impawards.com)

 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

Watch Trailer: 
 
*Courtesy VISO Trailers

Read More...

Mama (2013)

*Poster Courtesy (www.impawards.com)

Mama (2013)

Genre: Horror

Starring: Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Megan Charpentier, Isabelle Nélisse, Daniel Kash

Directed by: Andrés Muschietti

Rated: US: PG-13, UK: 15

Movie Review:
When I saw the trailer of this film, I was affirmative - "This is the movie I am gonna watch!" It looked so much promising. After all it has Guillermo del Toro written all over it. And when the film started, within few minutes I knew that this is gonna be hell of a ride - like jump-off-the-couch kinda scary. Well It did not happen exactly the same way, blame it to my higher expectations. Nevertheless, Mama is one decent horror movie that has emotions too, which is rare to see in horror films.

Mama, based on  Mamá by Andrés Muschietti, is a story about two little girls who were abandoned in a forest cabin for 5 years and were found alive by their uncle (who never stopped searching for them) but in a condition that couldn't be imagined. But how did they survive for 5 vicious years alone? Were they really alone? Will they be able to come out of the trauma? Will their Uncle and his girlfriend has the guts to raise them? And most important - Who is Mama and will she led them to raise the girls? This film has all of the answers in a way you may not expect (at least not every part).

Jessica Chaistain - The-Miss-Hot-Pants of this film is surprisingly good. She is indeed a good actress, and with this film, I think she has jumped a step above in her acting skills. But more impressive was the performance of Megan Charpentier as Victoria - the elder of the two girls. A girl of that age, has the potential to captivate you with her acting skills. Her expressions create suspense and intense all the time.

The musical score is the best part of Mama as all the scary moments comes from it. Not many horror movie has a strong story, but Muschietti, has worked hard to make a horror film with a story. He has tried to create scary moments with its story-line but he should have avoided few scenes that are more of a nonsense than being scary.

My Verdict: The best part of Mama is its strong, scary but emotional story which is a combination not many people think to take a risk of. But Muschietti did it, and he did quiet well. The music score is good and it creates enough fright but it has too much of unnecessary Sfx. Mama could have been better than what it is. Few scenes are absolutely illogical. Hence it is not a masterpiece, but is a decent horror. Just do not expect more from this film and than it will definitely surprise you. It has the tendency to catch your curiosity.

Why See?: Strong story-line, Scary Afx (audio effects) and Sfx (special effects), fine acting

Why Not?: Superfluous visual effects at some place and unnecessary effort to add scary scenes which were nonsensical.Having capability of being much more than what it is.

Rating: 6.5/10

Watch Trailer:


*Courtesy VISO Trailers

Read More...

À L'intérieur aka Inside (2007)

À L'intérieur aka Inside (2007)

Genre: Horror/Thriller

Starring: Alysson Paradis, Béatrice Dalle

Directed by:Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo

Rated: USA: R, UK: 18

Many of you will find this movie as the sickest movie you have ever seen. Inside is one strong bloody violent movie that has the tendency to haunt you over and over. This movie is strictly a no for weak heart. Only watch this if you have guts to see blood and violence beyond your limit.  This is the sickest entertainer I have ever seen.

You may hate yourself to watch this movie but Inside is worth to see for movie lovers who are fine with blood, gore and violence to an unimaginable extent. Mark my words - SAW and Hostel are just kids in front of this Horror flick. There are scenes that will certainly make you to either turn the movie off or close your eyes, and if you can see this movie in one go I must highly appreciate your guts to watch a bloody entertainer like this one.

Inside is some of those movies that remains with you even after its over, but not in a pleasant way... ;). But one thing is guaranteed, weather you like it or not you will always remember this movie.

My recommendation: Watch it at your own risk but the directors have done a marvelous job, after all, what is the use of horror movie if it doesn't haunt you?

Why Should I See?: Plot
Why Should I Not?: None unless you don't have capacity to see blood, gore and violent movies at a great extent.  

Rating: 7/10

Read More...

3G (2013)

3G (2013)

Genre: Horror/Thriller

Starring: Neil Nitin Mukesh, Sonal Chauhan

Directed by: Sheershak Anand, Shantanu Ray Chhibber

Rated: India : A

One word for this Not So 3G Movie is - Hopeless. Still if you want some cheap thrills, I recommend you to wait and buy the DVD as the movie did not seem to have anything that looks promising.

3G is a movie that has a story with no vision, it has a plot that takes movie nowhere and the shots have not been managed properly. The only plus point is the sound effect. Rest this movie is not worth the risk.

But if you like Sonal Chauhan and / or Neil Nitin Mukesh, then you can go for their sake, else I won't recommend to risk a single penny on this movie.

Why Should I See?: Afx (Sound Effects)
Why Should I Not?: Numerous reasons.
 
Rating: 3/10

Read More...