DEAR ZINDAGI REVIEW - Love You, ‘Dear Zindagi.’

⏩ Genre :- Drama.
Most of the critics are calling this a Romantic flick. It's not. Until you are talking about romancing your life. Then yes, it is. ❤

⏩ Runtime :- 2 hrs 30 mins

⏩ Cast :- Alia Bhatt, SRK, Kunal Kapoor, Siddharth Nigam, Yashaswini Dayama, Ira Dubey, Rohit Saraf, Ali Zafar.

⏩ Director :- Gauri Shinde.

⏩ Plot :- Dear Zindagi is the story of Kaira (Alia Bhatt), a talented young Cinematographer in Mumbai who is going through a lot of problems faced by many of us from her age group.
Her family doesn't approve of her job (especially the relatives);
She has a fear of being left in a lurch by her boyfriends, so she dumps everyone before they dump her;
She has been kicked out from her apartment by her landlord because she is single;
This leads to a lot of emotional turmoil in her life and she couldn't sleep. Therefore, she decides to seek help from a Psychological Counsellor (played by a sober, toned down version of SRK) and with his help, eventually, she finds all the answers by herself.

⏩ Direction and Screenplay :-
After English Vinglish, which was both commercial and critical success, this is Gauri Shinde's second directorial venture and she has totally nailed it. I couldn't find a single glitch in the direction. Gauri Shinde, we don't expect anything less from you. ❤
Speaking of the screenplay, it's very thought provoking. It changes the way you look at your life and relationships. Kudos to Gauri Shinde for the way she has tried to portray the unconventional version of hero and heroine. There is such warmth in Kaira's interactions with the Dr. Jehangir that it envelops the rest of the narrative in a soothing manner and serves us with a delightful experience.


⏩ Editing and Cinematography :-
The Editing is a flaw in this movie. It could've been more sleek and crisp sans a few song and repeated sequences. But nevermind, the film looks engaging and fresh – with beautiful set ups, locations and lightings. Cinematographer Laxman Utekar glides the camera smoothly to shoot pretty frames of Goa that's unlike what we are used to seeing, Watch out for his magic while capturing focus-shots of Bhatt and Khan and the climax scene of Bhatt on a beach. So alive!

⏩ Music :- Well, it's known to everyone that Amit Trivedi never throws massy Chartbuster Albums, but his is the kind, that supports the screenplay, feel and theme of a movie. 'Just Go To Hell-O Dil' is situationally appropriate. 'Love You Zindagi' is mesmerizing and soulful. 'Tu Hi Hai' is hummable. Others are forgetful.
The background music is so refreshing if never allows you to even think of parting your attention from the movie.

⏩ The Highs –

▶In a male-ridden industry still tending to sideline women in most mainstream projects, this is a decision that shows guts on Shinde's part and Khan's evident willingness to experiment by not being the center of the movie. It goes without saying that this is an extremely unconventional film. King Khan appears about 45 minutes after the opening scene and and is nowhere to be seen in the concluding scene. Just 50 mins of screenspace in a 150 mins movie. Seriously? That's commendable. *claps*

▶Most of the scenes in this movie are either witty or insightful or both. Be it Kiara's conversation with her exes, friends or bitchy relatives. But the best part is, it never goes OTT.

▶From an industry that usually treats parents as deities (*Quotes Karan Johar* “It's All About Loving Your Parents.”) that are to be worshipped, are always right, knows what is best for you; It's unusual to come up with a story that shows the other side of the coin – *They can go wrong too, sometimes.* Shinde has managed to depict this so beautifully. Full marks on that.

▶ Performances by both Khan and Bhatt are top notch. Not even a single feather flaw.

▶ The Cinematography is one of the strongest points of this movie.

⏩ The Lows –

▶Towards the end, Dear Zindagi succumbs to the pressure of the mainstream public and throws an ending that is now considered inevitable in every Hindi film.  (not giving away any spoilers, chill.) But don't you worry, the ride upto the end is so damn good, you would happily digest the needless angle. Dear Zindagi is a perfect example of a journey that's more beautiful than the destination.

▶There are some glitches in the movie that closed the gateway to becoming a classic –Character Development.
- Who is Fatima (Ira Dubey), apart from being a mom and Kiara's bestfriend? We get to know her
husband's profession but her.
- Another bestfriend, Jackie (Yashaswini), what about her? All we get to know is, she is the optimistic one, and she goes on to date a guy Alia refers as a wierdo.
They are supporting characters, right? Where's their support?
Same goes with other supporting actors.
But these two, above, were important.

▶Also, the film had too many extras. I mean, seriously, you could've easily edited out 2-3.

⏩ Performances :-

▶ SRK gets lesser screentime than Alia but he owns every scene he is a part of. In fact, Dr. Jehangir enters the picture just as the film starts to sag and appears somewhat stretching. His arrival immediately lits Dear Zindagi. It goes dull occasionally thereafter, but never when he is around. Now that Khan is in this new phase of his career where he is acknowledging his age gracefully, showing us a tinge of gray and a whiff of wrinkles, unkempt hair and oh boy is he looking hot! Its about time we got to see SRK the actor and not SRK the Super Star in a film (Last seen - Chak De.), with no outstretched arms, no larger than life persona; And this movie, does exactly that. This is a new inproved SRK, who is a feast to the eyes with all that cotton and linen shirts, vintage lingo. That’s a rather nice avatar to have graduated to, SRK. We Likey! *winks*

PS - Even I have many problems in my life ya. Even I can't sleep some nights. Why can't I get a therapist like SRK? Then toh, I wouldn't even mind giving up on sleep. Lel.

▶ Alia Bhatt's Kiara is a perfect representation of who Alia is, who I am, who my friends are, and probably who you are. That's why the connection with the reel character is surreal, it touches your soul. She portrays her character so well, it's no long a wonder how slowly and steadily she is slipping into our "Favorite Actresses" bracket. She adds all the quirk, chirp, maturity and determination that her character demands. So much that you smile and cry along with Bhatt’s Kaira and at times want to just reach out and give her a tight hug, reassuring that all will be well

PS - Dear Alia Bhatt's makeup team, Stop making her wear bright red lipsticks and too much makeup as our natural beaut looks dull and made up because of it. Take a note.

▶ Angad Bedi and Kunal Kapoor as Kiara's exes play their parts really well.

▶ Ira Dubey and Yashaswini Dayama (Phobia fame) as Kiara's best friends are "BFF Goals."
The former is a mature mother figure while the latter is the goofy-but-sensible-when-required one. And both of them pretty ladies, do justice to their roles.

▶ Rohit Saraf as Kiara's younger brother Kiddo is cute and comes out as a fine actor.

▶Ali Zafar's (Yes. He has not been replaced by anyone and is STILL in the movie.) character Rumi is one of Kiara's flings and 5 minutes into his screentime you'll understand why. he. wasn't. replaced. He sweeps you off your feet by a beautiful song and his innate boyish charm. (I am not saying anything more because then, I'll be politically incorrect and people will label me as a "Deshdrohi." *sighs*)

▶ Aditya Roy Kapoor also has a very small cameo in the movie. Yes! Now you'll be paying attention to the movie. I know that.

⏩ Watch O Not ? – Arre! Yeh bhi koi puchne ki baat hai? Definitely. If you have enjoyed movies like Wake Up Sid, Kapoor and Sons Rockstar, Queen, English Vinglish, you are going to love this. Even if you aren't a fan of these movies, (I mean seriously? Upar se ek bhi pasand nhi ayi? Kaunsi duniya se ho bhai? Kidding. XD) give this one a try, and thank me later. *winks*

⏩ Verdict :- Dear Zindagi is a sweet one time watch. ❤⛄Watch it for Alia and SRK. Watch it for Amit Trivedi's calm and composed music. Watch it for Gauri Shinde's direction and screenplay. Watch it for YOU. Every broken heart wants a nurture, and Dear Zindagi will provide you that. That is explained by a perfectly written dialogue in the movie, delivered by SRK - "Don't let your past blackmail your present to ruin your future." Geddit? Geddit.

Dear Zindagi is all about finding comfort and happiness in life's imperfections. ❤

Love You Zindagi! ❤⛄❤

Ratings :- 3.7/5 :)

Doctor Strange Review – Jaw-Droppingly Beautiful! ❤

⏩ Genre :- Fantasy/Science-Fiction.

⏩ Runtime :- 2 hrs 10 mins.

⏩ Cast :- Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, Mads Mikkelsen, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Benedict Wong.

The piling up of superhero films has led to a tiresome atmosphere in the movie geek crowd. We are all bored of seeing the same shit (with different names ofcourse) again and again. A little originality never hurts, eh! Remember Deadpool? Yes. We're talking about films like that. Breath of fresh air, wasn't it? And Dr. Strange is no exception when it comes to stale old storyline. But yes, it's more fancy, magical and more visually appealing. It introduces us to a new character and does the absolute best it can to keep the rest of the MCU from creeping in at the edges and flooding the whole movie. 

⏩ Director :- Scott Derrickson.

⏩ Plot :- Stephen Strange is a neurosurgeon with miraculous hands and a gargantuan ego; He won't even treat patients he thinks he can't cure. Doesn't it remind us of someone? Tony 'Egoistic Charmer' Stark! Hmmm. One dark night, Strange – texting while driving, (Read : DO NOT TEXT AND DRIVE - Issued in Public Interest. Lol.) crashes his Lamborghini, later emerges with hands too crippled to be healed by conventional medicines. In search of a cure, he reaches Nepal and learns the mystical art by the "Ancient One" (Swinton) and thus realizes that he was born for bigger things. Hesitant at first, our sorcerer summons all the skills required to save the world from the dark dimension.

⏩ Direction and Screenplay :- 

Scott Derrickson who has giving us terrific horror flicks like ‘Deliver Us from Evil’, ‘Sinister’ and ‘The Exorcism of Emily Rose,’ has upgraded his pallete to serve us, a magical and colorful canvas of the world of Dr. Strange. This is indeed a rare case in which Marvel has freed a director’s imagination instead of  straitjacketing it. As far as the selling point is concerned, this is the same studio that made us weep over the death of a tree that said just three words. (GOG reference - "I AM GROOT!!" *sobs*) So no doubt about it. The screenplay, by Jon Spaihts, Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill makes it quite clear that Dr.Strange and his world is quite different from that of the Avengers. Strange can teleport to different locations, create strong magnetic fields, alter the path of time. Cool group of magic tricks, eh!

⏩ Editing and Cinematography :- 

Running for a short 2 hrs 10 mins, the editing by Wyatt Smith and Sabrina Plisco is crisp and fast paced. No unnecessary elements drag the scene or creates a lag. Cinematography by Ben Davis and the VFX by the Team is hands down the best in all the Marvel Movies. Some serious mind-bending stuff combined with great visuals to let it manifest itself to the audience. It takes you to an alternate universe and makes you lose your sense of judgement into what's real and what's fictional. 

All you are left with, are JawDrops, GooseBumps and WTFS!

⏩ Music :- 

Michael Giacchino, (the composer of 'Jurassic World', Ratatouille', 'Lost', to name a few) has done a fine job in the music department. He has added new, additional layers of meaning and emotion to the film through songs that vary from dark, hypnotic and mysterious to some tracks even having a psychedelic ‘70s and ‘80s rock feel to it. 

⏩ The Highs :

▶ The introduction of the Cloak of Levitation, Strange's encounter with the Dark Dimension, and the opening scene – wherein the Ancient One uses an Inception-style shifting of time and space in which buildings are turned upside down and dropped on combatants’ heads – are the best scenes in the entire movie.

▶ The movie has, without question, the most stylish and experimental CGI I’ve ever seen in a Marvel movie. The sorcerers conduct their battles in some sort of mirror-universe, which allows them to manipulate reality in some pretty freaky ways.

▶ You won’t soon forget the image of Cumberbatch having hands grow out of his fingers that grow out of his hands that grow out of his fingers /ad infinitum/. And the film has a clever, deadpan closing sequence that plays smartly with the idea that Doctor Strange, unlike many other Marvel heroes, wins his battles far more with his mind than his fists. No offense, Hulk!

▶ Making it grounded but still trippy really helps give it a flavor unlike any other comic adaptation.

⏩ The Lows :-

▶ Some scenes seem bland and repeated. Like, for instance, the spinning flaming circles in the air and disappearing into a vortex or portal, turns into a cosmic farce when the characters create their own doors for running in and out of. So much, that it reminds you of the anywhere door that Doraemom uses frequently to save Nobita's ass. 

▶In introducing so many things, it actually weakens any type of development the antagonist has. (Not Kaecilius, there is someone else too. *winks*) It seems we'll have to wait until the inevitable sequel to have a villain that we give a damn about, and that sucks. 

▶ Rachel deserved better. Strange kicks her out of his life in the first act of the movie, yet she is ready to forgive him at the drop of a hat when he barges back into her life for a favor. 

▶ The primary antagonist, Kaecilius, gets less screen time, murky motivations, and literally no character development. Which is kind of a let down, but this is almost becoming a cliché in superhero movies.

⏩ Performances :-

▶What Robert Downey, Jr. is to Iron Man and Ryan Reynolds is to Deadpool – Benedict Cumberbatch is to Doctor Strange. The British actor, flashing an American accent that's galaxy apart from the aristocratic tones of Sherlock, is the creative spark that ignites this new entry in the MCU. He played the character that's witty, super genius and has a wry sense of humour - with precision and a peculiar body language that's complimented with his eye-rolls and delivery. Take a bow, Cumby! 

▶ Tilda Swinton plays the "Ancient One", whose dome seems to have been carved by computers to make it smooth as a baby’s butt – with her crisp diction makes every Buddhist blah-de-blah sound great which you'd otherwise yawn at. A world-class mesmerizer she is. 😻

▶ Rachel McAdams plays Christine Palmer, the ER doc who loves him, despite the fact that the idea of romance for Strange is making her sit through his lecture on neurology. Aww. Also, her character is the most underwritten one after Mikkelson. Unlike Natalie Portman in Thor, she at least gets a few good scenes before being forgotten. Yayy! 

▶ Mads Mikkelson as Kaecilius, a trained sorcerer, goes rogue and wants the evil to take on the good. The character development of Kaecilius is poor but Mikkelson manages to hold the bar with his deadpan and scary delivery. 

▶ Benedict Wong as Wong, the protector of the Ancient One's secret books is the perfect fit for the role. This poor librarian is at the receiving end of most of Strange's dry sarcasm. For instance, "What, just one name," asks Strange sarcastically. "Like Adele or Beyonce?" *chuckles*

▶ Chiwetel Ejiofor, as Mordo to Strange, is what Falcon is to Capt. America – 'Imma save yo ass wheneva yo playy dumb.' Although he has nothing great to offer in this origin, he surely will have a meatier role in the next installment of the Strange franchise. (Post credits, bro.)

⏩ Watch or not? Defifuckingnitely. 

***DO NOT MISS IT.***

I insist you spend a few more bucks and watch it in 3D for the amazing kaleidoscopic effects and Benedict ofcourse.

⏩ Verdict :- Ansnskdokdnfnrjdjj. 

Translation : Still looking for the verdict. As if all the shit said above wasn't enough? Book your tickets rightaway!!

>>PS - THERE ARE TWO CREDIT SCENES. Don't miss out on any of them.<<

⏩ Rating :- 4.5/5 ❤

Shivaay – Shivaay, We Needed More Of Shiva-ay! 👀

I couldn't resist myself watching this movie first day after watching the amazing trailers which has astounded audience worldwide. And, I wasn't disappointed. 🙈

⏩ Genre :- Action/Drama

⏩ Runtime :- 2 hrs 52 mins.

⏩ Cast :- Ajay Devgn, Abigail Eames, Sayyeshaa Saigal, Erika Kaar, Vir Das, Girish Kamad, Saurabh Shukla.

⏩ Director :- Ajay Devgn

⏩ Plot :- Shivaay is a Himalayan mountaineer and guide who is innocent but is capable of transforming into a mean destroyer when he needs to protect his daughter.

⏩ Direction and Screenplay :- Directed by Ajay Devgn, the direction is not the best part of this film. The frame is quite shaky in few action sequences. But cut him some slack people, Shivaay is only his second directorial venture—the first being 'U Me Aur Hum.' (2008). As far as the screenplay is concerned, it may seem like 'Taken' and 'Rocky Handsome' in some aspects, but  co written by Sandeep Srivastava and Robin Bhatt, Shivaay has a deeper emotional connect, distinct execution and an amazing visual appeal. 

⏩ Editing and Cinematography :- 2 HRS AND 52 MINS!! It could've easily been toned down by 15-20 minutes by editing the "love blossoming" scenes between Shivaay and Olga. The cinematography by Aseem Bajaj is exceptionally good. The usage of electrifying blue, grey and white colors in the frame adds to the tranquility and refreshment factor. The breathtaking views of the Himalayan mountains and the cobbled streets of Bulgaria are so well shot and used to maintain the balance of the film. 

⏩ Music :- Music is the one of the best things of Shivaay. The music is extremely powerful and perfectly blends into the narrative.  'Darkhast' and 'Raatein' are soulful and hummable. But the title track 'Bolo har har' is mind-blowing and has the power to produce intoxication into one's being. It takes you to the level of extreme exhilaration. 

⏩ The Highs :-

▶ The story isn't something you haven't seen before; however, the execution and performance by the protagonist is thrilling.

Ajay's character depicts two phases that's parallel to that of Lord Shiva – The server of mankind and the destroyer of evil.

The character savoured with mythological tattoos of the Trishul, Naag and Chandra. –Also, few close-up shots of his eyes. (Remember the Third eye?)

▶ In a world where all the attention is given to the mother-child relationship, it's good to see a film reminds us that a loving and a responsible father too can mean the whole world to his child. Sweet. 

▶ The movie is 172 mins long since the makers take time to set up the plot, but the adrenaline-pumping action picks up from the word go (after 40-45 mins into the movie). Also, if you are an action enthusiast, you would love every bit of it. 

The second half is more entertaining and the background score and chase sequences keep you engaged and refrain yourself from yawning. 

▶ The music blends in so perfectly, you would even fail to recognize whether a song/music is going on in the background or not.

▶ Shivaay’s USP is its cutting edge VFX, which makes the film a reality. 

⏩ The Lows :-

▶The love making scenes between Ajay and Erika (who is just in the starting 30 mins of the movie) are awkward and you feel no chemistry.

 

▶ There are a few scenes wherein actors like Girish Karnad and Saurabh Shukla mouth dialogues that have no or least connection with the central theme. Sighs.

▶ It would've been better had they shown much reference to Lord Shiva's antiques by adding more flavour to Shivaay's character.

Instead what we see is a travel guide/mountaineer (whatever you'd like to call him) jumping from cliffs, constantly smoking a chillum – extremely self-consciously at that, looking meaningfully at the audience as though telling them : Stop me if you can. 

Even the Censor Board couldn't stop him from getting away with weed; since he was sanctioned by Shiva himself with the chants of 'Bolo Har Har' playing in the background. Smart. 

⏩ Performances :-

▶ While his last film 'Dhrishyam' was the psychological thriller, Shivaay marks the return of Ajay Devgn in his action mode. 

Ajay gives a stellar performance in the role that is totally tailor made for him. And as usual, does his signature 'emoting with eyes' thing perfectly. Also, the on screen relationship that he shares with the child actress Abigail Eames is extremely natural and flawless.

▶ Erika Kaar as Shivaay's love interest is beautiful but goes OTT with her accent. Dear makers, we would've been okay with her speaking English as we know she is not an Indian. Her hindi seems too forced.

▶ Abigail Eames as Gaura, who plays Shivaay's vocally impaired daughter is sweet and charms us with her acting skills.

▶ Sayyeshaa Saigal as a diplomat, does fine for her Bollywood debut. (She is already a renowned name in Tollywood.) 

▶ Vir Das has been roped in as an "Ethical Hacker" for the sake of comic relief and he proves his mettle once again through his perfect timing and killer expressions.

▶ Girish Kamad as the diplomat's father does an impressive job in whatever little role he's been given. (Although his character seems unnecessary.)

▶Saurabh Shukla as the chairman of Indian Ambassy in Bulgaria has a screentime of merely 5 minutes with dialogues somewhat like :

"Shakkal se firangi ho, par dil se ekdum Hindustani. Ghoos kaha deni hai sab jaanti ho." *sighs*

⏩ Watch or Not? Definitely. Shivaay deserves a watch for it's visual appeal, perfect soundtrack and powerpacked performance by Ajay and the cute kid.

⏩ Personal Note – It's indeed disturbing to learn about the paid propaganda unleashed by a lobby to demean a groundbreaking film like Shivaay! Don't go by the critics this time, you know who is funding them. No offense. *winks*

⏩ Verdict – With crisper editing and less melodrama, Shivaay could’ve been the best of the year. But it sure as hell, is worth all your money and time. So grab a popcorn and enjoy the visual canvas that Shivaay is. ❤

⏩ Ratings :- 3.5/5

🙏 Har Har Mahadev. 🙏

Happy Diwali and a prosperous New Year. 💁

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil - Waqayi, Yeh Movie Hai Mushkil

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (ADHM) has been one of the most awaited movies this year.

The film’s teaser, trailer and songs have already been a hit amongst the audience. After a lot of controversies, ADHM has finally hit theatres yesterday. 

Let's take a look at how we found it. 

⏩ Genre :- Romance/Drama/Musical.

⏩ Runtime :- 2 hrs 38 mins.

⏩ Cast :- Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Fawad Khan.

⏩ Director :- Karan Johar.

⏩ Plot -  Ayan (Ranbir) and Alizeh (Anushka) start off as friends, both coming off breakups, one a serious relationship while the other a casual affair. Eventually, Ayan falls for Alizeh while what Alizeh feels for him is not "Ishq wala" but "Dosti wala" love. Fawad Khan (DJ Ali), Alizeh's ex, begs her to give their relationship another chance resulting in marriage. A heartbroken Ayan finds lust in the arms of a divorced poet Sabah (Aishwarya) who convinces him for a "No Strings Attached" relationship. But Ayan still loves Alizeh and turns into Justin Bieber. Things get seriously complicated in the second half and... (Well, I know what you are thinking - "Isn't this complicated enough?" No. There's more to it.) Ayan gets transformed into the Ranbir from Tamasha while Aishwarya falls for him. Enter, SRK. Then there's some more drama. Few mellow songs. The end. (Deliberately written that to avoid giving away any spoilers. Thank me later.) 

⏩ Direction and Screenplay :- Karan Johar  surely knows how to tug at your heartstrings. Especially, when the target audience are Indians. The direction is top notch. Karan does an amazing job at ensuring that the pace never dulls, by painting in dialogues that keep you engaged. There are enough references to pop culture favs and films that we have grown watching and loving. (Yes. Most of which are his own.) Basically, the movie deals with the fine line between love and friendship and the fact that the former cannot be enforced. 

⏩ Editing and Cinematography :- 2 hrs 38 minutes is slightly more for a romantic film and that could have been avoided with a few cuts in the initial 15 minutes.

Well it's a Karan Johar movie, so it's pretty evident that the cinematography is going to be of top class. Like his every other movie ADHM is beautiful and glossy like a model from the cover of an A class mag. The movie has been shot in exotic locations like London, Paris and Vienna. Also, the majestic grandeur and simplicity of our 'Nawabo ka sheher' Lucknow has been depicted by shooting two song sequences there. 

⏩ Music :- The music by Pritam has already taken us into an euphoric high.

The soulful 'Channa Mereya', 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' and 'Bulleya' being absolute favourites. Also, 'Breakup Song' and 'Cutiepie' are peppy but good.

A big thumbs up for the background score which is scintillating and clever. Also, there is a very smooth transition from serious to funny scenes which is commendable. 

⏩ The Highs :-

▶ The first half is fun and the banter between Ranbir and Anushka is extremely engaging. 

▶ The highlight of the movie has to be the smart one-liners and jokes that too using words and language that's not only current but also entertaining. (It made me remember the friendly banters between the trio in Kal Ho Na Ho. Sweet.)

References to other films, dialogue-baazi namely the ones from the 80s makes you glee. 

▶ Johar does not season his film with supporting characters – Like no unnecessary best friend or overly protective parent or villain. 

Except for few cameos by his best friends.

Yes, We've SRK... And ek "ladki beautiful."

Guess? 

▶ Also, there are a lot of philosophies being thrown at you right from the beginning but you may very well connect with them.

A lot through shayris to be specific. 

Also, some lines are as good as an honest slap - Why go through it, when one can be friends: "Pyar mein junoon hai. Dosti mein sukoon hai." Corny, but true.

▶ Performances. Performances especially by the lead pair Kapoor-Sharma. They are so good you can't take your eyes off them.

▶ THE SONGS. THE COSTUMES. THE LOCATIONS. Need I say anything more? ❤

▶ The movie is so very relatable for people

who have been through heartbreaks or one sided relationships. 

⏩ The Lows :-

▶ In the second half, the scenes gets heavy on the head and that cloud of ‘been there seen that’ looms till the very end. We start getting Déjà Vus from different films like Tamasha, Katti Batti, YJHD to name a few.

Also, the filmy dialogues start irritating you by the end of the film. Not too much, but yes.

▶ The execution of the narrative gets lost in translation. By the end of the movie, you feel there are many unresolved feelings between the lead pair. Also, Aishwarya's character lacks depth. The reason of her divorce being unknown, her whole persona being a mystery till the end. 

▶ The lame twist in the end, annoys. Couldn’t there have been a better way to work it out? Can't we for once, make the reel-life scenarios like that of the real ones? Ffs.

Thousands of people live with their 'one sided' love story everyday. "Ek Tarfa Pyar Ki Keemat, Tum Kya Jaano Johar Baabu." *Pffts*

⏩ Performances :-

▶ Ranbir is the stand out performer of this movie. He owns Ayan like he’s felt every emotion of the character. Right from the long monologues to the short subtle reactions to his co-actors make his performance much more endearing. He is the soul of the movie. Plus, it’s an excellent return to form for him after a spate of failures recently.

▶ Anushka Sharma is so vivacious and vibrant, she keeps your eyes glued to her all the time. So much so that post-interval, you begin to miss her natural and unconstrained piece, even though the femme fatale Sabah (Aish) is in the centre. 

Stole your thunder, Aish! *smirks*

▶ Aishwarya 'Beautiful' Rai Bachchan looks like she’s strutted out of a beauty pageant with all the exaggerated movements of the hips and shoulders. Also at one point, you feel as if you are watching one of the Ads of a brand she endorses. 

(I maybe wrong, but the pouts, pucker, hair flips, eye rolls say otherwise. *Ahems* )

Speaking of her character Sabah, an alluring poetess, her moments with Ranbir have INTENSE sensuality and passion. But her role doesn’t go beyond what you see in the trailer. Also, was she high the whole while? Or maybe that's what was asked of her. Hmm. (I know most of you boys won't care about whatever has been written about her above. Even I would go watch her for her Oh-So-Beautiful features. Guilty. *drools*)

⏩PS - There is one confrontation scene between her and Ranbir, wherein she is all red and teary eyed - And mahn, her eyes speak volumes with minimal lines! *applauds*⏪

▶ Fawad 'Hot' Khan, as Anushka's ex boyfriend DJ Ali, is at his best!

⏩Cameos :

▶ Shah Rukh Khan too gets a small role and he cracks the most important dialogue of the film, “Ek tarfa pyaar ki takaat hi kuch aur hoti hai, wo auron ki tarah do logon mein nahi batt-ti. Sirf mera haq hai iss par. Sirf mera.” (I am not being racist but, Is he like... tanned? Or is that the standing-next-to-Aish effect? Go figure.)

▶ Lisa Haydon as Ranbir's fling nails the tiny role she's been given. She is funny as hell. Also, the word "Vatavaran" is soon going to be a catch phrase amongst youngsters. 

▶ Imran Abbas ('Mohabbat barsa dena tu' fame) as Anushka's date does a fine job too.

⏩ Watch or Not? - ADHM is basically a love child of Kal Ho Na Ho and Kuch Kuch Hota Hain. Therefore, if you are a sucker for TYPICAL, good, soppy romantic comedies book your tickets rightaway!

⏩ Verdict :- Ae Dil Hai Mushkil has some really nice moments, but they suffer the curse of an over complex second half. Nevertheless watch it for Ranbir and Anushka, and Karan’s nearly perfect interpretation of platonic love, unrequited love and heartbreaks.

⏩ Ratings :- 3/5.

Jack Reacher : Never Go Back - Literally. Don't!! 🙅

⏩ Genre :- Action/Crime

⏩ Runtime :- 1hr 58 mins (2 minutes to 2hrs, really?)

⏩ Cast :- Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders, Aldis Hodge, Danika Yarosh, Patrick Heusinger, Holt McCallany.

Jack Reacher : Never Go Back is an adaptation from a book, 'Never go back' by Lee Child.

⏩ Plot :-Reacher after helping in the arrest of a crooked Southern Sheriff heads to D.C. to try to land a date with a (apparently pretty) military officer he has assisted, but never met. Upon his arrival, he learns that she has been arrested for corruption, or something. So, Jack begins 'investigating' the corruption case, the Reacher way. He gets framed too, has to escape from jail with his intended girl friend, elude the bad guys, and get to know his alleged 'daughter', all in short order. That's a lot for a guy who usually talks less than Jason Bourne. *Winks*

⏩ Direction and Screenplay :- As far as the direction is concerned, 'Blood Diamond' director Edward Zwick does his best to fill the gap Christopher McQuarrie left but fails to do so in most of the action scenes. The movie would have been a lot better with McQuarrie on board. Edward Zwick (Director) alongwith Marshall Herskovitz and Richard Wenk has given the screenplay for this film. The story was weak and incoherent at times. You will be left with silly questions like :-

How did they get here?

How did they get out?

How did they not see them?

And many more...

⏩ Editing and Cinematography :- The cinematography by Oliver Wood is strictly average with warm undertones of maizey hue for the day and midnight blue for the night. Some low light shot are so poorly shot you can hardly figure out the people in the frame. Although the editing by Billy Weber is good, it seems confused as to which scenes to chop off and which to keep, thus leaving us with unexplained scenarios.

⏩ Music :- Henry Jackman's music is okayish and does nothing in the first half, but amps up it's mettle by the second half.

⏩ The Highs :-

▶Unlike the first one from this franchise, this one is a fast paced thriller. It's always throwing something at you, both good and bad, necessary and unnecessary. And believe it or not, it'll keep you on the edge.

▶ Tom Cruise again as Reacher pours his typical charm potion into the character and entertains you.

▶Certain action scenes are well choreographed and so Cruise does not have to fight every five minutes and is running around the whole flick, but they are well-dosed and then brilliantly calculated.

▶ The thrilling climax is worth the wait.

⏩ The Lows :-

▶The villain was intimidating at times but lacked motive. There were plenty of things that were left unexplained at the end. So, the villainy factor was not at all enough.

▶This is another of those movies in which the tough bad guy is always trying to tell the tough good guy how much alike they are so the good guy can say something to the effect that they're nothing alike as he puts a spike through the bad guy's neck or pushes him off a skyscraper. Lack of originality.

▶ Some of the romantic exchanges between Jack and Susan is rather funny. You'd even believe if I told you they were siblings. *Chuckles*

▶ The fact that after a brutal fist fight, the actors, especially Tom Cruise, present a face without any trace of the fighting. That's bullshit, isn't it? Even the director of soft movies could have put some make up on Cruise's face to simulate the harm, the result of the ferocity of the fight. But no, Cruise's face is as smooth as a baby's butt.

⏩ Performances :-

▶Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher is still very impressive for a 54 year old, but you can see it. You can see that he is not even giving us the full frontal of his chest anymore. You can see how his running chase sequences are being edited out. But still, he is the saving grace of the movie. With his charming one liners to his cute looks and intensity while performing stunts or action sequences, he saves the film from falling flat.

▶Cobie Smulders (best remembered as Robin from 'How I Met Your Mother')  as Susan Turner is the highlight of the film. She absolutely stole the show and will definitely leave you speechless with her kickass moves. Literally, this lady kicks ass!
Though it's fair to say her character is massively underwritten, else you would've been more hooked to your seats.

▶ Danika Yarosh as Samantha, a miscast, is quite annoying.

▶ Patrick Heusinger is good as the antagonist  "The Hunter," who won't stop till Reacher is dead. And he does this by means of words and effective action. What pulls us back, is that the character doesn’t have a backstory or even a name (His name is never revealed in the movie; not even in the end credits.), only a black leather jacket and some well-maintained scruff.

▶Aldis Hodge as Espin, the military police commander, is excellent and leaves us wanting for more.

⏩ Watch or Not ? Uhmm... Not so worth on the big screen.

⏩ Verdict :- The film is a good sequel, yet doesn't quite live up to the thrill-ride of its predecessor, 'Jack Reacher'. I feel that this film followed a bad trend that is rising in action movie sequels, where the main character is attempted to be given a much deeper persona, while also trying to be the same person from the first film. Yet it comes out in a very odd, strange blend of who we knew from the first film, It was troubling to have to accept this new introduction to the Reacher, when we have already been identified with him from the first film.

If you come to watch this movie expecting deep mystery or mind-blowing action sequences or superb dialogues, you will be disappointed.
But if you come to just getting entertained for two hours, you will have REACHED your goal. (Sorry. Couldn't resist the pun.)

⏩ Ratings :- 2.5/5