Saturday, January 25, 2014

Top 10 movies to watch this year...!!!


IT'S BECOME QUITE OBVIOUS what draws me to the theater more than anything, the work of directors I've come to admire, appreciate and expect great things from. Certainly a film's subject matter adds to that excitement, but most often it's because the directors I most anticipate tell stories I most want to see brought to life.
However, what today's list of my top ten most anticipated movies of 2014 illustrates is that even when the subject matter isn't necessarily something in my immediate wheelhouse, the thought of a new movie from one of my favorite directors makes such subject matter immediately more interesting. Or, as in the case with one particular film on this list, the subject matter, the development of the film itself and the talent involved makes it an obvious choice for my top ten movies, which we'll get to right now...

1)  TRANSFORMERS 4: AGE OF EXTINCTION: As humanity picks up the pieces, following the conclusion of 
Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Autobots and Decepticons have all but vanished from the face of the planet. 

 However, a group of powerful, ingenious businessman and scientists attempt to learn from past Transformer incursions and push the boundaries of technology beyond what they can 
control – all while an ancient, powerful Transformer menace sets Earth in his crosshairs. The epic adventure and battle between good and evil, freedom and enslavement ensues.

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 27 June 2014 (USA)  »

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 Transformers 4  »

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 2) DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES: Continuing the story of how ultra-intelligent simian Caesar presides over the fall of human civilization. A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth's dominant species.

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 11 July 2014 (USA)  »

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 Untitled Rise of the Planet of the Apes Sequel  »

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3) THE LEGEND OF HERCULES: In Ancient Greece 1200 B.C., a queen succumbs to the lust of Zeus to bear a son promised to overthrow the tyrannical rule of the king and restore peace to a land in hardship. But this prince, Hercules, knows nothing of his real identity or his destiny. He desires only one thing: the love of Hebe, Princess of Crete, who has been
promised to his own brother. When Hercules learns of his greater purpose, he must choose: to flee with his true love or to fulfill his destiny and become the true hero of his time. The story behind one of the greatest myths is revealed in this action-packed epic - a tale of love, sacrifice and the strength of the human spirit.

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 10 January 2014 (USA)  »

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 Untitled Hercules Project  »

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4) 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE: Explores the story of 300 from the battle at sea between Themistocles and Xerxes' Naval Commander, Artemesia. This new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield—on the sea—as Greek general Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton) attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war. 300: Rise of an Empire pits Themistokles against the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), and Artemesia (Eva Green), vengeful commander of the Persian navy.

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 7 March 2014 (USA)  »

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 300 2  »

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5) CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER: After the cataclysmic events in New York with The Avengers, Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier finds Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow, Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Captain America and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon. However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable enemy—the Winter Soldier.


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 4 April 2014 (USA)  »

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 Captain America 2  »

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6) THE SON OF GOD: Diogo Morgado portrays the role of Jesus as the film spans from his humble birth through his teachings, crucifixion and ultimate resurrection. 


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 28 February 2014 (USA)  »

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 Son of God  »

7) X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST: The story is partially set in an alternate future where surviving mutants have been penned in concentration camps, giant robots called Sentinels patrol America, and most of the X-Men have been hunted and killed. In the present day, the X-Men were forced to stop a key event from unfolding in order to keep that future from occurring. 


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 23 May 2014 (USA)  »

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 X-Men: Days of Future Past  »

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8) I, FRANKENSTEIN: 200 years after his shocking creation, Dr. Frankenstein's creature, Adam, still walks the earth. But when he finds himself in the middle of a war over the fate of humanity, Adam discovers he holds the key that could destroy humankind. 


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 24 January 2014 (USA)  »

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9) THE EXPENDABLES 3: Continuing with the franchise, The Expendables 3 is about the Expendables needing to save the President of the United States. While on their mission, they clash with several younger, technology oriented action heroes.
In The Expendables 3, Barney (Sylvester Stallone), Christmas (Jason Statham) and the rest of the team comes face-to-face with Conrad Stonebanks (Mel Gibson), who years ago co-founded The Expendables with Barney. Stonebanks subsequently became a ruthless arms trader and someone who Barney was forced to kill… or so he thought. Stonebanks, who eluded death once before, now is making it his mission to end The Expendables -- but Barney has other plans. Barney decides that he has to fight old blood with new blood, and brings in a new era of Expendables team members, recruiting individuals who are younger, faster and more tech-savvy. The latest mission becomes a clash of classic old-school style versus high-tech expertise in the Expendables’ most personal battle yet.


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 15 August 2014 (USA)  »

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 The Expendables 3  »

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10) ROBOCOP: In RoboCop, the year is 2028 and multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the center of robot technology. Overseas, their drones have been used by the military for years – and it’s meant billions for OmniCorp’s bottom line. Now OmniCorp wants to bring their controversial technology to the home front, and they see a golden opportunity to do it. When Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) – a loving husband, father and good cop doing his best to stem the tide of crime and corruption in Detroit – is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp sees their chance for a part-man, part-robot police officer. OmniCorp envisions a RoboCop in every city and even more billions for their shareholders, but they never counted on one thing: there is still a man inside the machine pursuing justice.

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 12 February 2014 (USA)  »

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 OmniCorp  »

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There are several other movies coming up this year, but according to me, these are the top ten. Source: IMDB




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Friday, January 24, 2014

Jai Ho movie review



Cast            : Salman Khan, Tabu, Sana Khan, Danny Denzongpa, Daisy Shah,                                Mahesh Manjrekar, Aditya Pancholi. 
Music         : Sajid - Wajid, Amal Malik
Director    : Sohail Khan 
Producer : Sohail Khan, Sunil Lulla 

Writer       : A R Murugadoss 

What’s Good: Salman Khan and his ground smashing, perfectly done, action scenes. For a change, the actor has to himself, a story that has its heart in the right place.

What’s Bad: The constant plodding lecture alludes us from the intended magic of the film. Not to mention, the simplistic vein of affairs is appalling to say the least. Daisy Shah is a terrible case of incorrect casting.
Loo break: Some for sure






Watch or Not?: When it’s a grand Salman Khan affair, critics’ opinions are just trash talk from a bunch of envious buffoons who can’t digest the man’s success. But since I’m entrusted with the task of critiquing it, here I go. Sohail Khan’s Jai Ho is a nobly conceived product that disintegrates into a regular Salman Khan affair ala Dabangg with high octane action and irreverent dialogues. It’s bewildering to witness all the Gandhian sermons in a masala fillum but the novelty loses itself in the repetitive-ness of its plot. Finally, the film fails to ennoble itself beyond what the contours of the script holds for it. Lacking the quirky fun of Dabangg or Ek Tha Tiger, Jai Ho simply furthers Salman’s Being Human status. However, it still scores over all of Salman’s works put together for its ability to translate the common man’s simmering anger into a Utopian and satisfying climax. A definite not-miss!

A formerly decorated Army officer Jai Agnihotri (Salman Khan) is now leading the life of a common man. Employed as a mechanic in a garage, he still cannot withstand the social evils which are going viral around us. Raising his voice against the wrong doers lands him and his family in stick troubles.
Despite repeated attempts to stay off trouble for the sake of his lady love (Daisy Shah), he cannot ignore the chain of things and ends up pitted opposite the evil Home Minister Dasharath Singh (Danny).
Whether Jai manages to get his noble hearted intentions to trigger further or loses to Singh is what the story tracks down.


Jai Ho Review: Script Analysis

Salman’s movies are never about the script but about how well the scheme of things help in using the actor’s star power. But to its credit Jai Ho has an efficient story to itself. What falls limp is the frail execution of the film.

The film’s story comes without excessive baggage of intelligence and is kept simplistic in its vein. An army officer who underwent court martial after a failed terrorist operation becomes a car mechanic. The chain of affairs are webbed with such plainness that it all seems too easy for one. The concept of never wasting yourself saying thank yous rather help three other people, is both unreal and wishful. But atleast the film attempts to infuse some potent messages amidst the thrashing and action.

No one watches Salman’s films for exhilarating acting or story. We understand the limitations of the genre he has established but definitely the scripts he chooses have an intrinsic element of reliability.




On the grey side, the film repeats the moral value lessons so frequently that they turn tedious. The incredible hulk of a protagonist is intense and convincing only in the action bits, but the romance factor should have been done away with for good.

The growling lead man is hilarious and will crack you up more than getting your respect. It’s low on IQ, extremely lame and I can point out ten other well-based problems but the goose bumps I got every time Salman stood up for the wrongs against people ,negates every glitch in the film.

Jai Ho Review: Star Performances

Salman Khan is not Dabangg but he is light years better synced in the role than even Dabangg. He is earnest in his role and though there was hardly any scope for him to have fun, he is deliciously indulgent.
Daisy Shah isn’t exactly in her most impressive avatar.
Tabu is sincere but has very little to do in the film. Pulkit Samrat and Mohnish Bahl were noticeable in their. And Danny was great as well.
Perhaps the only one who looks appealing in the film besides Salman is the little kid – Naman Jain, whom we last saw in Raanjhanaa and Bombay Talkies can still steal hearts.



Jai Ho Review: Direction, Editing and Screenplay

Sohail Khan attempts to create a positive jingoism of warmth and goodness. But the director fails to fabricate the genuineness as it doesn’t emerge out the required intensity due to the over enthusiasm of its screenplay The preaching is overdone and had it not been for Salman Khan the film would have been entirely unwatchable.

The romance scenes were half baked and did not have the expected fluff. Often the film’s screenplay inflicts severe wounds on the intelligence of the audiences but when there is such unbelievable thunderous action to get mesmerized by, why waste time picking out logic lapses in the film. If you were looking for logic, Dedh Ishqiya would have been a super-hit. Especially, in the climax scene, when an army tanker guns down people who come to kill Jai, if you manage to find logic then hats off to you!

The brisk editing works fine as the film remains fast paced and doesn’t fall slack too much. The music is unbearable.

Jai Ho Review: The Last Word

Jai Ho is fascinating in parts and fumbles in the rest. Salman Khan and his convincing rendering is what makes this film work for me. The most interesting thing that comes out of it is the message that it isn’t very hard being Human. Jai Ho might have overdone it but the message is memorable. For Salman and his heart felt and endearing attempt, the film manages to slip out with 3 stars from me. Too many glitches but the goodness negates it.
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Thursday, January 23, 2014

10 Truths to Keep Your Relationship Healthy


I think it's easy to make things more complicated than they need to be. We all have relationship problems and trust me there is more to every relation, all you need is to explore each other more. Here are some basic rules of the relationship road that will keep you headed in the right direction

1.     Successful relationships take work. They don't happen in a vacuum. They occur when the couples in them take the risk of sharing what it is that's going on in their hearts and heads.


2.     You can only change yourself, not your partner. If you love someone and think that after a while he or she will alter behaviors you find uncomfortable, think again. If you want changes, put them on the table. so your partner knows what you need.


3.     All arguments stem from our own fear or pain. When upset occurs, check out what's going on inside of you rather than get angry with your partner. Truth is that we usually aren't upset for the reasons we think we are.



4.     Understand that men and women are very different. We're not from Mars or Venus; we're not even in the same solar system. Understanding and celebrating our differences will make living together more peaceful, interesting, and fun.


5.     Honor each other in some way every day. Every morning you have the opportunity to make your relationship sweeter and deeper by recommitting to your mate. Feeling respected and cherished by the one you love makes life much nicer.


6.     Anger is a waste of time. Anger is also a relationship killer, because it makes you self-absorbed and won't allow you to see the good. If you are annoyed with your mate, give yourself some time to calm down and then gently discuss what's going on for you.


7.     Get regular tune-ups. Go to a couples workshop, talk with a counselor, or read a relationship book together at least once a year. Even if you don't think you need it, you will pick up a couple of ideas, and the process alone will strengthen your connection.


8.     Find a way to become and stay best friends. For some this sounds unromantic, but for those who live it, most say it's the best part of their time together.


9.     Be responsible for your own happiness. No other person can make you happy. It's something you have to do on your own. If you feel it's your partner's fault, think again, and look within to find out what piece may be missing for you.


10.  Give what you want to get. Our needs change with time. If you'd like to feel understood, try being more understanding. If you want to feel more love, try giving more. It's a simple program that really works.

There are no guarantees, but couples who practice these techniques have longer and stronger relationships than those who are not proactive in their love. If you love so much that you want to spend your whole life together why not to do something for your relation, why not to hold their hands.
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