Soteli - Episode 11 Review

For those who haven't been watching, Soteli tells a compelling story of remarriage and what can happen when children from another marriage are involved.  As I can't remember the character names, I'll just use their real names.  Haha.  Sabreen Hisbani and Deepak Perwani are a married couple who finally conceived a son later in life, after trying for a while.  Sabreen treats her son as her greatest blessing and, in turn, ends up babying him a lot.  Milkoo is definitely over-protected by his mother, but receives a lot of love from both his mother AND father.  They are a happy, loving family...until one day, Sabreen is diagnosed with final stage cancer and passes away, leaving Deepak to take care of Milkoo alone.  While he does his best to care and love for his son, he finally gives in to his sister and friend's wishes to remarry for the sake of his son.  Enter Ayesha Khan, his new wife and Milkoo's "Soteli" mother.

Ayesha makes Milkoo's life a living hell from day one.  Milkoo goes from being the pampered son to being treated like a servant boy, ignored and unloved.  Of course, all of this happens under the unknowing eyes of his father, as Ayesha has warned Milkoo that if he says anything, she will get back to him.  Milkoo lives in fear and becomes distant from his own father as well, fearing that he has become like his soteli mother as well.  To cope, Milkoo takes to writing letters to his dead mother, hoping one day she'll relay all this information to his father and save him.

For as long as we can remember, there have always been stories of "the wicked stepmother."  Soteli takes a page out of that book and not only brings the evil stepmother to life, but also shows the psyche of this woman and the emotional trauma she inflicts on her stepson.

What was really exciting about episode 11 was that the story took a huge turning point.  The show was starting to drag a bit and I was finding it difficult to watch, as each episode consisted of me crying for Milkoo and feeling incredibly depressed.

In this episode, Deepak and Ayesha found out that they are expecting their own child.  Deepak was incredibly happy.  One evening, Ayesha got stuck at her mother's house due to a downpour in the city.  Deepak took this time to reminisce about the time spent with Sabreen and Milkoo, fondly looking at Milkoo's things and missing his son.  It's then that he discovers Milkoo's box of letters, exposing each and every detail of Ayesha's misdeeds.  In shock and fury, Deepak goes over to Ayesha's mother's house and confronts her.  She, of course, denies all the allegations and accuses Milkoo of lying.  Deepak however has figured her out and tells her to wait for divorce papers.

On the drive home, Deepak laments and grieves over his actions, ignoring his son and allowing things to get to this point.

While this was an eye-opening episode, I do fear for what may happen in the next episode.  Deepak is driving and crying in a huge storm - does he pass to leave Milkoo alone once again, never knowing how sorry he was?  This would be a TERRIBLE twist in the tale.

Despite what's to come, I'm back to enjoying this show again.  It strikes a chord on an emotional level and the performances are really good from all involved!

Happy watching!

Review : Kick

Cast: Salman Khan (Devi Lal), Jacqueline Fernandez (Shaina Mehra), Randeep Hooda (Himanshu Tyagi), Navazuddin Siddiqui (Shiv), Saurabh Shukla (Mr. Mehra, Shaina’s father), Mithun Chakraborty (Devi Lal’s father), Archana Puran Singh (Devi Lal’s mother)

Genre: Comedy, Action, Thriller

Direction: Sajid Nadiadwla

Production: Sajid Nadiadwla

Screenplay : Rajat Arora, Keith Gomes, Sajid Nadiadwala, Chetan Bhagath (Additional Screenplay and writer)

Story: Vakkantham Vamsi

Cinematographer: Ayananka Bose

Music: Himesh Reshammiya, Meet Bros Anjjan, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Julius Packiam (Background score)

Editor : Rameshwar S Bhagat

Distribution: UTV Motion Pictures

Release Date: 25^th July, 2014

Language: Hindi

Duration: 2 hours 26 minutes

Kick a movie by Sajid Nadiadwala (he is donning the role of a director for the first time, otherwise, generally he produces movies) turns out to be an average flick as a collage of tids and bits of Dabbang, Jai Ho, Tiger and gets us to meet the same Salman Khan, whom we have seen so much. The beginning of the movie with Jacqueline’s   entry with a soothing background song seemed to be promising, but the impact fizzles down. The movie is about what gives Salman Khan the ‘Kick’ – the adrenaline rush for which he keeps experimenting with his jobs, adventurous things till he finds the real ‘Kick’. It seems that Salman’s movies these days are afflicted with forced Social Responsibilities, his good Samaritan activities, dialogues with the mention of his brand ‘Being Human’ (even Jai Ho had the same shades). There appears to be some conscious effort to build an image. Lot of unrealistic scenes. The first half of the movie is dead slow. The pace in the second half of the movie picks up a bit but the end leaves me confused. I wonder, is it a cue to the audience that the sequel Kick 2 is in process. I am clueless, what and how does a movie gets into 100 crore club. Either we love our actors so much that, let whatever be the movie, its plot or presentation, we definitely want to watch the same. And this sensitivity of ours makes the movie a blockbuster.

Devi Lal Singh (Salman Khan) loves kicks in his life, for which he keeps exploring. The kicks during his journey from mother’s womb till adulthood are shown through digital animation. A psychiatrist Shaina’s (Jacqueline) encounter with Devi Lal happens in a dramatic scene where he is trying to help Shaina’s friend (Samona Chakravarty) flee with her boyfriend (Kavin Dave) and get married. Devi Lal has kept Samona’s mother (a MLA) and other people also informed regarding the couple’s whereabouts. Shaina finds him completely crazy. Shaina decides to make Devi Lal a case for her studies to understand his ‘kicks’. Devi Lal gets the kicks out of strange acts: beating the eve-teasers (oh yes, this is still great), jail doesn’t bother him, rather he ends up giving headache to the inspector (Sanjay Mishra- who keeps wondering, why did he arrest him at all). And there is the quintessential Mithun chakroborty as Salman’s father continuing to do so since his ‘Veer’ days and Archana Puran Singh pitching in as his mother still under the spell of her TV show ‘Comedy Circus’.

A bond strikes between Devi Lal and Shaina but soon it goes through a rough patch and Devi Lal gets the kick to make money and moves away from Shaina. Shaina’s parents are interested in her match with Himanshu Tyagi (Randeep Hooda). He is a Police officer, reaches Poland following ‘Devil’ – a masked mysterious thief, who keeps robbing rich people on festival days and also goes around pulling off spectacular stunts. There is a cat and mouse game between Himanshu and Devil.

And there is Shiva Gajra (Nawajuddin), who says –“aakhir main bhi to dekhum ki mujhse jyada devil kaun hai?’ He is into healthcare business with no ethics.

How does the story move further? Does Himanshu able to nail down Devil? Is he able to confront and finish the Devil? What happens to the relationship between Himanshu and Shaina, does it ever grow? Though you can guess very easily, does Devi Lal comes back to Shaina ever? What choices Devi Lal makes to fulfill his kick for making money? What is the intention of Devi Lal behind trying to fulfill his kick? What role Shiva plays in the movie and is he also in search of Devil?

Salman Khan, otherwise an entertainer, fails to give something new. Oh, there is Salman in different styles – with / without French beard, in hoodie at times… lot of styles are tested for him. Jacqueline looks good on screen, but then, that is not sufficient. Talented actors like Mithun, and Sanjay Mishra are wasted in the movie. Nawajuddin, although in a short role, seems to make his presence felt, superb as usual. I just wished, he could have got more screen time.

And there the movie ends – Main samajh me nahi aata, sirf dil me aata hum…

Kick throughout doesn’t ‘kick’. Even, Dhoom’s bike and Krissh Mask clubbed with Sallu Bhai may not save Kick. Watch it, if you are a diehard fan of Salman Khan.

Rating: 2.5/5 (Average+)

Review: PIZZA

Cast: Akshay Oberoi (Kunal), Parvathy Omanakuttan, Dipannita Sharma, Arunoday Singh, Rajesh Sharma, D’Santosh, Hussain Dalal, Omkar Das Manikpuri, Sonali Sachdev

Genre:Horror

Direction: Akshay Akkineni

Production: Siddharth Roy Kapur, Bejoy Nambiar

Written By: Karthik Subbaraj, Akshay Akkineni

Cinematographer: Jaya Krishna Gummadi

Music: Mikey McCleary, Saurabh Kalsi, Shamir Tandon, K (Background Music)

Editing : A Sreekar Prasad

Distribution: UTV Spotboy

Release Date: 18^th July, 2014

Language: Hindi

Duration: 1 hour 47 minutes

PIZZA is a movie in the horror genre by Akshay Akkineni (son of editor and multiple National Film Award winner A Sreekar Prasad). This is supposed to be the remake of Tamil superhit film by the same name. Efforts have been taken to make this a great piece of supernatural thriller, premise has been set, but somewhere, towards the end, one feels disillusioned (and probably cheated) since a horror movie moves from its basic theme. I experienced almost the same feeling as an audience when I saw Aamir Khan’s Talaash, I felt, that the end was least expected by revealing Kareena’s character as that of a ghost. Here, though I don’t want to spill the beans, this is the cue which I would like to give you.

Kunal (Akshay Oberoi) works with a PIZZA outlet. His wife Nikki (Pavathy Omanakuttan) is an aspiring horror story writer. Kunal does not believe in ghosts, whereas Nikki believes in them. For her, ghosts are fascinating. She practices effectiveness of her horror stories by narrating the same to Kunal and then laughs at him, who is terrorized.

The challenges begin when one day on his Boss’ demand, Kunal goes to deliver a chocolate pack to his Boss’ wife. He noticed something abnormal in her. Boss did admit to Kunal that his wife is probably possessed. After this incident, one day, when Kunal goes to deliver Pizza to a lady (Dippanita Sharma) in a big mansion, he gets locked up. Then follows a series of supernatural things happening over there, right from Dippanita getting murdered followed by husband Arunodaya Singh’s entry and also getting murdered, worms on remaining pizza, a child addressing Kunal as Papa.     

As far as the fear factor is concerned, much of the fear factor was not there, but definitely, it raised a curiosity to know further, although am completely disappointed with the way things towards the end is being handled. Can we put this movie actually under horror genre? Horror elements are clubbed with a few other themes (let me not reveal the same). 3D impact has come out well in certain areas. Akshay is convincing in his role.

PIZZA has the topping of horror and logic, might not go down with you, still you can taste it. An average film.

Rating: 2/5 (Average)

Opinion Piece: Cross-Over Stars

Every once in a while, a Pakistani celebrity ventures over to India to try their hand in Bollywood.  Sometimes, they're successful.  Usually, they're not.  However, despite their level of success, their fans "back home" are usually in an uproar over the star "abandoning" their home country.

It's also not always just the audience - anyone remember Shaan Shahid's infamous (and mildly insulting) words about actors going to Bollywood?  But even here, on the flip-side, we see Shaan now remaking Mahesh Bhatt's "Arth," conveniently named "Arth 2."  Is this hypocrisy at its best?  If an actor is so opposed to Pakistani talent going to Bollywood, he should also focus on making original content for Pakistani cinema.

With Zee TV's channel, Zindagi, our actors are coming into the limelight in India.  Zindagi Gulzar Hai and Aunn Zara have shot Fawad Afzal Khan and Osmaan Khalid Butt into stardom and both are being loved by the Indian audiences.  Indian fans are going as far as saying "These actors should move into Bollywood."  But if these actors move to Bollywood, what will Pakistani fans be left with?

The actors who are currently the target of criticism are none other than our biggest star, Fawad Afzal Khan, and one of the industry's biggest "lookers," Imran Abbas.  Both are currently promoting their forthcoming Bollywood ventures, Khoobsurat and Creature 3D and have already signed one film each afterwards.

While I understand the disappointment from Fawad fans, I don't really understand the intense anger against him.  At one point in Pakistan, stars do stagnate professionally and want more.  And the lure of more MONEY is always a tempting one.  Even our greatest stars in Pakistan do not get paid in the amounts that Bollywood films would offer them.  In this way, I completely understand the lure of working in the Indian industry.



I completely agree that by Fawad going to Bollywood, this means we will see less of him in Pakistan.  While Ali Zafar had left our TV screens long ago, we were always given the pleasure of listening to his music.  Since his Bollywood ventures began, we have heard very little of him in Pakistan.  To my knowledge, I believe the Zindagi Gulzar Hai OST may have been his last Pakistani recording?  So YES, on that account, I do understand the discomfort and anger fans may feel.

I think what we can do is hope for the best and hope that our stars continue working in Pakistan as well as working in India.  As long as I can see Fawad Khan in an Umera Ahmed, Haissam Hussain or Farhat Ishtiaq drama once a year, I will happily watch him in Bollywood as well.  I love Bollywood and I love my own industry.  I just don't want one to suffer at the expense of the other.  =)

Until then, let's please continue supporting our stars in whatever ventures they choose to embark on.  They are, after all, our stars and deserve our support.

Let's hope for the best!  And as always, happy watching!

Review: Amit Sahni ki List

Cast: Virr Das (Amit Sahni), Vega Tamotia (Mala), Anindita Nayar (Devika Dev), Kavi Shashtri (Pushkar, Amit’s childhood friend), Natasha Rastogi (Amit’s Mother), Anu Menon (Cameo)

Genre:Romance, Comedy

Direction: Ajay Bhuyan

Production: Pyxis Pictures, Tina Nagpaul, Kavita Kulkarni, Sujata Vemuri

Screenplay: Shiv Singh, Rohit Banawlikar

Cinematographer: Maneesh Chandra Bhatt

Music: Raghy Dixit, Palash Muchhal, Alien Chutney, Shivi R Kashyap, Karthik Iyer

Editing : Shakti Hasija

Release Date: 18^th July, 2014

Language: Hindi

Duration: 1 hour 50 minutes

Amit Sahni Ki List is a simple rom-com movie by director Ajay Bhuyan. You can watch this movie with a smile on your face. Consciously or sub-consciously, we all have a ‘criteria list’ for our ‘perfect’ would be. Are we able to manage to get the ‘Perfect person’. Once we figure out the ‘Perfect Person’, does the relationship also turn out to be perfect ? Are we able to live happily forever thereafter? This movie tells us that the relationships, frequency match between two people and the happiness / peace felt in the relationships are much beyond any list. Life does not move on the basis of a list, calculations, luvo-meter (app to measure love). Relationship is not technical / mechanical, it has to be nourished and taken care. Can a list really be a road-map and lead one to his / her soul-mate? Amit Sahni’s journey is peppered with funny situations, and smart takes on relationship shallowness.

The titular character of this movie- Amit Sahni (Virr Das) is a successful investment banker. On facing heartbreak after being dumped by the first teenage love Natasha, Amit decides that now onwards, he won’t allow any girl to reject him. He goes on to complete his education from IIT, followed by IIM and gets into high-paying job as an investment banker, drives a BMW, lives in a condo. When he gets ready for marriage, he prepares his own list for the ‘Perfect Girl’ for him. He rejects many girls just because the qualities in the girl were not matching his list. It is a hilarious scene, where he rejects one girl because she doesn’t have interest in cricket and doesn’t follow Sachin Tendulkar. His father is shown to be interested in reading newspapers and mother as a gregarious one, who enjoys talking in acronyms viz. BTW (by the way), IMHO (in my humble opinion), BTM (behanji turned modern) etc. His childhood friend Pushkar (Kavi Shastri), a self-proclaimed good cook, keeps giving weird advises to Amit. All these characters together make the movie worth a watch.

On mother’s insistence, Amit meets Mala (Vega Tamotia), completely opposite personality as per his list. Mala is an adventurous person whereas Amit is just the opposite. Mala seems to be a carefree, dog-loving, creative girl. In spite of the differences, something works out between Amit and Mala and they commit to each other. Things seemed to be great for both of them, but then the entry of Devika Dev (Anindita Nayar) happens. Gradually Amit realizes that Devika matches his list completely.

What does Amit do next? Does he decide to go ahead with Devika? What happens to his relationship with Mala? Which relationship Amit choose at the end – Devika – the perfect match as per his list or Mala – the total opposite to his list ?

Virr Das is effortless, witty. Vega Tamotia and Kavi Shashtri have also given great performances. Noni Singh as Mala’s pet dog is also cute.

Another hilarious scene, where Anu Menon does the entry as a Break-up consultant and gives a presentation on why the couple should part ways. It highlights, how romance these days has become more ‘practical’ and romance is no more done with the heart.

Music could have been better. There is an instrumental music piece played on a Violin (performed by Mala in the movie), which is mesmerizing.

Amit Sahni ki List is a smooth ride of a rom-com without much of roadblocks. You can walk out of the theater with a happy feeling.

Rating: 3 /5 (Good)

Review: Hate Story 2

Cast: Surveen Chawla (Sonika), Sushant Singh (Mandar Mhatre), Jay Bhanushali (Akshay)

Genre: Thriller

Direction: Vishal Pandya

Production: Bhushan Kumar, Vikram Bhatt

Screenplay: Madhuri Banerjee

Cinematographer: Raju Khan, Swarup

Music: Mithoon, Meet Bros Anjjan, Arko Pravo Mukherjee, Rashid Khan

Editing : Kuldip Mehan

Distribution: T-Series Films

Release Date: 18^th July, 2014

Language: Hindi

Duration: 2 hours 19 minutes

Rating: 3.5 /5 (Good +)

Hate Story 2, a film by Vishal Pandya, is a complete justice to its genre. It marks the Bollywood debut for Jay Bhanushali (TV fame – Actor and Anchor) and Surveen Chawla (TV Personality and Punjabi film actress).  What a performance from Sushant Singh and Surveen Chawala. Yes, it is true that, it is painful and difficult to watch such a movie. There was not a single moment in the movie where one would yawn. Even though predictable plot, one would be completely at the edge of the chair. We have seen Sushant giving powerful performances in the past and this is not an exception either. It is difficult to take eyes off Surveen when she is in the frame. Plot revolves around a politician who is obsessed with his keep. When he finds that she is involved with somebody else, he makes their lives difficult followed by revenge from the girl…this forms the story. We have even seen stories of vengeance in the past, but the actors and the director together have made this movie a great one to watch. This movie may not be for the people who just want some comedy from the movies.

The movie begins with the rescue of Sonika (Surveen Chwala) from a coffin in a graveyard who was almost dying due to asphyxia. She is brought to the hospital, and given police protection as well. On realizing that she is not safe even in the hospital, she flees from the hospital. Flash backs reveal that she is the politician Mandar Mathre’s (Sushant Singh) mistress, who doesn’t even give her space and time to breath, forget about letting her live. Sonika is physically, emotionally and sexually abused by him. A chess board is always laid out in her apartment, and Mandar always plays his moves autocratically. Mandar’s tough ways are reflected through his dialogues as well: (Baba Kahte the) Chinti ke par aur nagin ke sar shuruwat me hi kuchal dene chahiye; Kaidi ki rihaai ki arzoo aur rakhail ki azaadi ki arzoo, sar uthaayegi jarur; chuhe ko maarne ke liye uske peeche nahi daudte, vo khud apni badle ki bhookh mitaane ke liye chuhedani me aayegi etc. He does not even mind humiliating his wife in front of others.      

Sonika pursues her passion of photography by taking lessons on it. There she meets a happy-go-lucky Akshay (Jay Bhanushali) and falls in love. Mandar sniffs that Sonika is hiding something from him and physically assaults her like anything. On discovering the relationship of Sonika with Akshay, it is not to be even mentioned, what Mandar does to both of them. Rest of the story is about how Sonika takes revenge from him.

I felt, probably her journey of transformation i.e. to gather courage and strength to avenge Mandar and his henchmen could have been shown and justified in a better manner since she was physically and mentally frail. And what could have been avoided absolutely was Sunny Leone’s Pink Lips item number.

Jay Bhanushali’s role is small, yet, he is able to do complete justice to his character.

Song Aaj fir Tumpe Pyar aaya hai, behad aur beshumar aaya hai… by Arijit Singh and Samira Koppikar is very good.

Hate Story 2, gives us some powerful performances through Sushant and Surveen. Watch it if you like this genre.

Rating: 3.5/5 (Good +)

The Fault In Our Stars Review

Innumerable love stories have come and gone during the last few decades and some of them have joined the classic films belonging to the same genre while some have faded into oblivion. The Fault In Our Stars is one movie that belongs to the former category. Though it falls short of a classic, the film definitely touch our heart as we feel connected with the lead pair and feels for the tragedy they face in their life.

The film is an adaptation based on Newyork Times best selling novel and the story revolves around teenagers Hasal and Gus who are getting treated for cancer. The two fall for each other when they meet at a cancer support group's programme. Once they meet they realise that they have things in common and they have lot to share between themselves.

As we all know, many love stories end on a high with a positive outcome but here we know its going to be a tragic ending as the two lovers are in their final stages of life battling cancer. There are some finer moments that will make you literally cry, so be ready for that if you have plans to watch the film.

On screen you have Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort portraying the characters of Hazel and Augustus Waters and both of them have done a remarkable job in presenting their respective characters bringing out the varied emotions that were required at different points of time. Rest of the supporting actors also did a balanced act to make the film a beautiful one.

This is not the regular colourful and fun filled romantic entertainer that we normally see and if you are looking for something of that sort, you are in for a disappointment.

The Fault In Our Stars is a different love story, a film with a tragic ending that would make you cry for the two lovers. I am going with three and a half out of five.

Rating : 3.5 / 5

Preview: Bollywood Movies releasing on 18th July, 2014

Three Bollywood Movies are releasing on 18^th July, 2014 (L-R): 

Amit Sahni ki List, 

Hate Story 2 and Pizza

Amit Sahni ki List : A Romantic Comedy. Directed by Ajay Bhuyan. Vir Das, Vega Tamotia, Kavi Shastri and Anindita Nayar are in lead roles. Story of an Investment Banker, who is searching for the woman of his dreams (who fits into his ‘List’ of Ms. Right). Every time, he goes out on a date, he secretly checks to see if his date matches the list. The interesting twists and turns that take place on account of the list and his quest for Ms. Right form the plot.

Hate Story 2 : Erotic Thriller. Directed by Vivek Agnihotri. Surveen Chawla (of TV and Punjabi films fame), Jay Bhanushali and Sushant Singh are in main roles. 

Pizza : A Supernatural Thriller. Written and directed by debutant Akshay Akkineni. The film features Akshay Oberoi, Parvathy Omanakuttan and Dipannita Sharma in lead roles, while Arunoday Singh, Rajesh Sharma, Omkar Das Mankipuri and Sonali Sachdev play supporting roles. It is supposed to be the remake of 2012 Tamil Hit film Pizza (directed by Karthik Subbaraj). A Pizza delivery boy is sent to make a delivery of Pizza at a home full of dark secrets. How he is able to overcome this situation – this forms the story.

Pyaray Afzal - Episode 33

This will be brief.

Episode 33 was an episode of mangnis.  While on one end, Afzal got engaged to Yasmeen (yay!), on the other end, Farah's engagement was brought to a halt when Maulvi Sahab had a heart attack on the stage.

With Maulvi SubhanAllah in the hospital, this news couldn't be contained for long and Afzal rushed over as soon as he heard.  We then got to witness a brief encounter between Farah & Yasmeen, a heartfelt encounter between Arifa & Afzal and the beginning of a reunion between Afzal & Ruqaiyya.

These were the basic highlights of the episode.  And while these scenes were beautifully enacted, as a viewer, I am beginning to tire of the drawn-out nature of this show.  We're approaching episode 34 next week with no end in sight for the show.  Will episode 34 be the last episode?  Your guess is as good as mine.  What I do know is that the original path of 22-25 episodes per drama is the best path.  ARY has taken this route lately of extending their popular shows to 30 + episodes and this trend is starting to grate on my nerves.

Please, end this once-beautiful-now-prolonged show with dignity and allow it to live in our minds as a great show, rather than one that has been extended beyond reason.

Review: The Fault in Our Stars

Cast: Shailene Woodley (Hazel Grace Lancaster), Lily Kenna (Young Hazel Grace Lancaster), Ansel Elgort (Augustus Waters), Nat Wolff (Issac), Laura Dem (Frannie Lancaster), Sam Trammell (Michael Lancaster), Willem Dafoe (Peter Van Houten), Lotte Verbeek (Lidewij Vliegenthart), Mike Birbiglia (Patrick)

Genre: Romance, Drama

Direction: Josh Boone

Production: Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen

Written By: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber

Based on: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Cinematographer: Ben Richardson

Editor: Robb Sullivan

Music: Mike Mogis, Nate Walcott

Production Company: Temple Hill Entertainment

Distributed by: 20^th Century Fox                                                        

Release Date: 4^thJuly, 2014 (India)

Language: English

Duration: 2 hours 05 minutes

The Fault in Our Stars, a film by Josh Boone, is based on the novel by the same name by Josh Green. It is emotionally intense. There are so many moments in the movie which gave a lump in my throat. It is a tragic love story of two cancer-stricken people who are almost dying. Yet, characters are so positive. One knows that much time is not left in life, but still, one has the desire to live life in the best manner possible. One character fears oblivion after death, and another character feels that it is inevitable. One is worried, what will happen to her parents after her death and another character takes efforts to write his own eulogy. The family goes to any extent to keep the diseased as happy as possible. No tone of self-pity in the movie. The film is not about crying over what we don’t have or what we may lose, but learning to live life in what we have and what we do. It is not the fear of the death that makes one bitter, but lack of love does. The protagonists understand that “The world is not a wish-granting factory”, yet they want to make the best of their wishes come true in the limited lifespan. It is true that ‘Pain demands to be felt’, the pain of the diseased demands to be felt. What a wonderful movie, which makes you cry and laugh with the characters. ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ – yes, this could be true, we may not be able to fight with the destiny but still we can choose how to respond towards that destiny.

The movie begins with the narration of a sixteen-year old Hazel Grace Lancaster (Shailene Woodley), who is suffering from thyroid cancer. She was diagnosed with cancer at the age of thirteen, and cancer has metastasized into her lungs. So, she is on oxygen support all the time, breathing with the help of a nose cannula. She repeatedly reads a book ‘An Imperial Affliction’ by Peter Van Houten, which is about a girl Anna dying from cancer, and it ended mid-sentence. Hazel always wanted to seek answer to the question that what happens later after Anna’s death.  Her parents Frannie Lancaster (Laura Dem) and Michael Lancaster (Sam Trammell) feel that she is depressed whereas Hazel is not ready to accept the same.

On parents’ insistence, Hazel, though reluctantly, agrees to attend a cancer patients’ support group. Hazel embarks a different journey altogether. There she meets many people suffering just like her. One of them is charming and cheerful Augustus Waters aka Augustus (Ansel Elgort). Augustus suffered from osteosarcoma, which led to amputation of his leg, and now almost recovered. Both of them bond together and start hanging out. Augustus clamps an unlit cigarette in his mouth as a metaphor- allowing the instrument of death to sit between his teeth powerless. Hazel starts looking at life with a new perspective, discovers the world beyond hospitals, medication, pain and cancer. Their heartfelt exchanges give great moments in the movie. Issac (Nat Wolff) also joins them in between, who is getting blind due to cancer. Issac brings lot of humour into the scenes.

Even when things are not fine in their lives, the lead protagonist’s good-bye is ‘okay’.

Understanding Hazel’s love for her favourite book’s (An Imperial Affliction) author Peter Van Houten and her desire to seek answers for cryptic end of the book, Augustus takes efforts to contact the author.

Does Hazel manage to meet the author Peter Van Houten and seek answers from him? How does the relationship between Hazel and Augustus shape up? How do they fight their disease and the harsh reality of their lives? How do they prepare for the toughest acceptable fact i.e death ? Watch the movie. What an earnest performance from everyone in this movie.  

The Fault in Our Stars, a heart-rending tale of two dying teenagers gives tears in your eyes, and it makes us appreciate what we have in our lives.

Rating: 4 / 5 (Very Good)

Review: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Cast: Humans: Jason Clarke (Malcolm), Gary Oldman (Dreyfus), Keri Russell (Ellie), Toby Kebbell, Kodi Smit-McPhee (Alexander), Jocko Sims (Werner), Kirk Acevedo (Carver), Enrique Murciano (Kempt), Kevin Rankin (McVeigh), Keir O’Donnell (Finney), James Franco (Dr. Will Rodman, cameo)

Evolved Apes: Andy Serkis (Caesar), Toby Kebbell (Koba), Judy Greer (Cornelia, Caesar’s wife), Terry Notary (Rocket), Karin Konoval (Maurice), Nick Thurston (Blue Eyes), Doc Shaw (Ash)

Genre: Science Fiction

Direction: Matt Reeves

Production: Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver (Chernin Entertainment and Dune Entertainment)

Written By: Mark Bomback, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver

Based on: Characters created by Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Premise suggested by Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle

Cinematographer: Michael Seresin

Editor: William Hoy, Stan Salfas

Music: Michael Giacchino

Distributed by: 20^th Century Fox

Release Date: 11^th July, 2014 (India)

Language: English

Duration: 2 hours 11 minutes

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, a film by Matt Reeves, is extremely high on emotional side. It is great to see the emotional connect between humans and the apes. This movie really explores what happened after ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’. If ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ was spectacular, this is super-spectacular. The presentation of the movie is so natural and simple that one gets to relate with almost all the characters. Everyone has the right to live on this earth, be it animals or humans, one cannot afford to become the threat for the other. The evolved apes are trying to live their own lives and humans are in the struggle to survive. Each character, whether humans or apes, has been so well crafted and detailed. We get to feel their loss, fear, insecurity, efforts for survival etc. It is great to see the sentient apes, talking, expressing emotions like humans. Apes are shown to be quite rational and forgiving in comparison to humans. In spite of them having experienced human cruelty and imprisonment, now they want peace and just want to be free in their own world away from humans. This movie tells the story of how the declining humans and the ascendant apes come to be at war.

The movie begins from where the ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’ finished. In the first film, humans gave the apes their intelligence with an experimental drug. Ten years later, humans have largely been wiped out by contagious and deadly side effects of the same experiment. A quick montage gives us an idea of all these happenings since Rise of the Planet of the Apes. It narrates the wake of a flu epidemic, followed by violence and chaos. As a result, Dr. Willman (James Franco) and other millions of people are dead.  Human civilization has become almost extinct. The survivors have cobbled together a society in the ruins of San Francisco, with Dreyfus (Gary Oldman) as their leader.

On the other side, apes are in the initial stage of their civilization. Initial frames of the movie shows Ceaser (Andy Serkis – what an amazing performance), leader of the apes, with his family and fellow apes in a forest. Outstanding scenes with the apes swinging off the trees, jumping off the walls. Blue eyes (Nick Thurston), teenage son of Caesar and Cornelia (Judy Greer) is shown to be impulsive and short-tempered. Koba (Tony Kebbell), Caesar’s adviser feels that Caesar is too affectionate towards humans. Koba has lot of angst towards human beings since he was a test subject for them all his life before he was freed by Caesar. Caesar’s second-in-command cum great friend is Rocket (Terry Notary), who is also the honorary uncle of Caesar’s children.

Humans and apes are almost oblivious to the existence of each other, but the situation changes when humans come face to face with Blue Eyes and Ash (Doc Shaw), Rocket’s teenage son. Humans had come there hoping to tap an energy source, basically to gain access to a hydroelectric dam (in apes’ territory) which could provide long-term power to the city. Ash is shot at by one of the human Carver (Kirk Acevedo). While Carver calls for rest of his fellow armed survivors, Blue Eyes calls for the other apes. Caesar orders the humans to leave. Prompted by Koba, Caesar brings the apes to the city where he orders the humans to never enter ape territory again.

Dreyfus believes that humans can survive only when the last ape is killed. According to him, after all, apes are just animals. Whereas, Malcolm (Jason Clarke), Ellie (Keri Russell, Malcolm’s second wife) and Alexander (Kodi Smit-McPhee, Malcolm’s son) feel otherwise. Malcolm convinces Dreyfus to give him three days to reconcile with the apes to gain access to the hydroelectric dam in their territory, which Dreyfus, distrustful of the apes, arms survivors using an abandoned armory. Caesar allows Malcolm to work on the dam's generator, provided they surrender their guns. Humans stand in stark contrast to the mostly peaceful apes, who are willing to accommodate the humans if that’s what it takes to avoid a war. As Malcolm, his partner Ellie, and son Alexander work, they bond with the apes.

Things are smooth when someone does a foul-play and humans and apes clash. Who plays the villain? Who emerges as the planet’s dominant species? Does the movie answer as to who is truly at fault for the ultimate destruction of humanity. Watch the movie.

The motion capture technology used here is also so perfect, which translates minutest details into animation. Andy Serkis as Caesar tops the list of performers in this movie. Caesar’s emotions, rage, sympathy, concern everything is so beautifully captured.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a Visual Extravaganza and has the right mix of emotions, actions, performances and technology. 

Rating: 4 / 5 (Very Good)