Out of the Furnace - Review

The following review has a plethora of spoilers and if you haven't seen the film yet, you probably should consider watching it before reading any further.

Disclaimer from Lalit Paryani: We watched the film at 11:45 pm on a Thursday night with a very humble serving of popcorn in stow. It doesn't matter what kind of popcorn. The only point I am trying to make is that this was the first film in ages where I went in with popcorn, or any kind of edible treat for that matter. For all the people with whom I have watched films in the past, I would like to apologise for breaking my code. I have gone to great lengths to convey my discomfort with anyone eating popcorn while watching a film due to the unnerving sound generated by the menacing crunches of the popped corn. I realise I might have been annoying and might have even offended a large number of people. I would simply like to submit my apologies for I have succumbed to this hypocrisy. I didn't even enjoy the popcorn.

Let's get on with the review.

Elysium - Review - Another EPIC film by Neill Blomkamp

Thursday, November 21, 2013 8:50 PM (Read Guruvaar, shaam aath baj kar pachaas minute par, Big Boss chahte hain ki aap Elysium ka review shuru karein)

Lalit: I’m fairly certain that Neill Blomkamp is extraordinarily pessimistic about how humans will carry forward the notion of society in situations where we are forced to face the unnatural. An unfounded idea was established with DISTRICT 9 and followed up in ELYSIUM. But that is okay because that is Blomkamp’s belief. What’s more important in this context is how he tells the story of his vision.

Gravity - Review

Editor’s Note: This review contains spoilers. Parts of this review that contain spoilers are in gray font.

Lalit: So let's talk about GRAVITY

Tarun: Shoot.

Lalit: Sandra was looking hot, wasn't she?

Tarun: Yes she was. Especially in that suit.

Varun: Especially when she removed the suit.

Tarun: Varun had to remove the 3d glasses to get a better look at her when she took it off.

Varun: I usually don't like Sandra Bullock but I didn't mind her in this one.

The state of Filmy Foodies

It's a month of temporary shut downs, from governing bodies to my television. Unfortunately (don't know for whom) Filmy Foodies was also temporarily disowned, but with good reason. We were happily occupied in writing and producing our very own short film.

Madras Cafe - Trailer Trash Talk

Lalit: I wasn't entirely impressed with the trailer. It just doesn't make me want to watch the movie. And I hate to say this, but I have never enjoyed watching a John Abraham performance. Ever. He's doing a good job staying behind the camera with his production company, but in my opinion, he has just failed to be a serious actor.

Often times I've seen trailers which try to pack in too much information in an attempt that something might stick in the minds of the viewer and they will make a decision to watch the final product. This wasn't one of those. They just ended up cutting a very busy trailer which didn't grab my attention at all.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag - Review

Varun: Rakeysh Mehra, one of the few successful directors in Bollywood, successful because he knows how to please the classes and masses at the same time (Other name coming to mind is Raj Kumar Hirani) masters the art of touching the nationalistic side of the audience (RDB and this), leaves no stone unturned in directing this epic biopic.

Farhan Akhtar has outdone himself, however his fluency in Punjabi was not as proficient than that of his Sikh compatriots/child character of Milkha Singh in the movie. After watching the movie, one might say that Farhan Akhtar would be in the driving seat but however, it wouldn’t have been possible without the following four wheels. Divya Dutta who makes sure the audience is connected with their emotional side. Prakash Raj providing the comic relief. And, the rear wheels Pawan Malhotra & Yograj Singh who provide that extra push and keep you uplifted and motivated through out the journey.

Lootera - Review

Tarun: Did you guys like the movie?

Lalit: Not in particular. I think I was expecting a little too much. Besides, there were a lot of annoyances. I mean lots.

Tarun: True. But I would have overlooked all of them if the lead performances were better.

Lalit: I thought the performances were okay. But the technicality was getting in the way of the story telling. And the pacing was so off.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag - Trailer Trash Talk

Lalit: Bhaagh Milkha Bhaagh, the first time I heard that, I had no idea what the movie was about or who was producing it. The first thought that came to mind was "Run Forrest Run". I gave it some thought and eventually made the connection to Milkha Singh, the Flying Sikh.

I did a bit of reading and learnt that Farhan Akhtar would be living in Milkha Singh's skin in the movie. But that was about it. I had forgotten about the production until I saw the teaser a few weeks ago.

Raanjhanaa - Review

Varun: I had gone to watch this movie because of Rahman's music (Tum tak and the title track in particular), Sonam Kapoor and the colourful visuals in the trailers. The movie starts with Kundan (Dhanush), a carefree, illiterate, son of Tamil Brahmin kind of a character falling in love with Zoya (Sonam), a literate, daughter of a Muslim professor. (Not that we have ever seen a Hindu-Muslim love story ever but what is with a twist here is the literacy-illiteracy part). It’s a one-sided love from Kundan's side mostly. What Kundan does with ease most of the time in the movie is to slash his wrist. (Not that we have seen slashing of wrists in movies before). The script tried to behave differently by being absurd, rather like the instance of Zoya slapping Kundan more than 15 times and he smiling like a fool, they having something (don’t know what to call it), her father finding about it and sending her out of town, she coming back after 8 years and gotten over him but Kundan like totally still into her (And yes all this while her father not knowing who is the guy whom he send her daughter out of town for, brilliant).

Chennai Express - Trailer Trash Talk

Varun: When I saw the poster, I don't know why it felt like Deepika’s a bigger star than Shah Rukh. Maybe he's not been there for a while. Also could be for these reasons Deepika’s doing some decent work in the recent past.

Watched the trailer, typical Rohit Shetty. Definitely again, taking Rohit Shetty’s name, Rohit Shetty is the bigger star in this one. Shah Rukh is of least importance here. Looks like an entertaining movie for all the Shetty fans.