Kites -- Reviewed

Genre: Drama, Romance

Director: Anurag Basu

Old wine in a new bottle...is it? To some extent Yes! But I liked the new bottle.

Well, its got some very filmy thrills with steroetypical car chases, backgrounds of the protagonists & dialogues. But it stands out in the way its been handled, which is quite refreshing. Here's what I liked in the movie:

1. The way the makers have handled the communication of feelings between the two main characters, inspite of the language barrier.

2. The protagonists are not the do-all-good kind of characters like our typical bollywood love stories, they show their grey side.

3. Hrithik & Barbara's acting will surely be enough to get loads of brownie points for this movie. Not to forget their sizzling on-screen chemistry. Hrithik, is probably the only actor in the industry right now who could have pulled off J's character. And he has done it with aplomb. Barbara is not only good on the eyes, she can also actually ACT, which is a far cry for our current crop of eye candies.

4.The slick camera work.

5. The song "Fire" gives something to ponder on to those who had any doubts about who the best dancer in the industry is. The song itself is enough paisa vasool for all the die-hard Hrithik fans.

6. While watching the movie, I never had the feeling that I was watching a bollywood love story. It's got the goods to appeal to the worldwide audience. Although it was also over-the-top in some scenes which wouldn't go well with some audiences.

I however, did not quite like the ending. Thats probably because I am used to masala love stories having a fairy tale ending. But that is not what happens in real life all the time, is it?

The movie certainly is not without its flaws. The supporting cast could've done a better job & it does have its stereotypes. But saying that "Kites" is the best movie of the year so far, would not be an understatement. Cheers to the makers for going ahead with this brave venture. It does augur well for the future of Indian cinema at the world stage. Time for the Chopras & Johars to stand up & be counted. I would certainly want to watch the international cut of this movie. For those who haven't watched it yet, just go without any expectations & enjoy the flight !!

Shaapit -- Reviewed

Genre: Horror
Director: Vikram Bhatt

Heard a lot about this movie before deciding to watch it. But I was totally unaware as to what was in store for me. A curse on a family that has lived through centuries of their existence by being associated to a "buri aatma". A potentially good concept, which was flushed down the toilet with aplomb. Here's how....
The scene goes like this: The parents are discussing why the marriage is/is not feasible. We see a few shots of Aditya Narayan (Aman) with a frozen face. Next shot is of a lady shedding tears. My first impression was that she was his mom. But wait, turned out, she was his girlfriend. Well, Shweta Agarwal (Kaaya) wasn't bad looking. Its just that the KID is not ready to become a hero yet. Well, he did grow a teeny-weeny-patch-of-a-beard as the movie went on, but that was not enough. Besides, he CAN'T act. He damn well gives Dino Morea & Vivek Oberoi a run for their money.
The Delhi Commonwealth games were well publicized, with Aman running like someone had stolen his candy, at the slightest opportunity.
The acting was the only thing that was close to being horrific. Rahul Dev was OK, the rest were non-existent. The special effects were amateurish to say the least. We've seen better. A few screamy moments, but they were not enough to save face.The music made matters worse & it was not what you would expect from a Vikram Bhatt movie. As I watched the movie, I waited for a chill to run down my spine, and I was kept waiting.
For all the fans of Ramsay brothers horror flicks, look no further. The face of the "buri aatma", in this unconvincing love story, reminded me of those golden "Puraana Mandir" days.
And finally, for a horror movie, the most important part is the after-effects it has on its audience & I am feeling no after effects whatsoever.
Top it all with an almost empty theatre & you have the perfect combination of a disaster. Kudos to the makers for wasting a perfect horror recipe. Not something you expect from the makers of "Raaz" & "1920".