Gulliver's Travels

Rating : 3/10
Release Date : 24th December, 2010 (India)
Time : 85 minutes
Director : Rob Letterman; Writer : Joe Stillman, Nicholas Stiller (based on the book by Jonathan Swift) ; Music : Henry Jackman
Starring : Jack Black, Amanda Peet, Emily Blunt, Jason Segel, Billy Connolly, Chris O’Dowd
The scale of the suspension of disbelief required to enjoy this one will make a Liliputian out of anyone

This is the age old story if Gulliver, who travels to a place named Lilliput, almost existing in a parallel world, where everyone is extremely tiny (the size of a toe finger) and his adventures in that strange land


To contemporize the story, Gulliver, played by Jack Black, is a non-entity working in a mailroom of a travel office, the kind of guys who for several years cant bring himself to ask his crush, Amanda Peet (who works in the same office) out. He suddenly finds himself in Lilliput. Here he finds himself feted by the residents of Lilliput as he thwarts an attack by their foes and rescues the royal family (in a rather unique fashion). However, he does make an enemy out of the General (Chris O’Dowd), who suspects something amiss in the tall tales that Gulliver tells. Will Gulliver and true love triumph over the Generals machinations ?


Jack Black was brilliant as the crazy guy in High Fidelity. Here he comes across as forced ‘whacky’. The playing with the Star Wars figurines, the way he puts out the fire, the dating tips he gives out, the jeans with the butt showing…they all have a tired, laboured feel. The entire subplot with the princess (Emily Blunt) and the commoner (Jason Segel) or even the ‘main’ plot between Jack and Amanda were not really fleshed out well, didn’t integrate too well with the rest of the story



Logically, there were several flaws. Comically, there were a few funny moments (the plays about his ‘life’, the Times Square replication with the ads, the moments in the dollhouse) but these weren’t sustained. Storywise, it was all too predictable.

This one is best left for the kids…

The Tourist

Rating : 4/10
Release Date : 10th December, 2010
Time : 103 minutes
Director, Co-Writer : Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck; Co-Writers : Christopher McQuarrie, Jullian Fellowes, (based on Jerome Salle’s ‘Anthony Zimmer’) ; Music : James Newton Howard
Starring : Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, Paul Bettany, Timothy Dalton, Stephen Berkoff, Rufus Sewell

This one has a surprise ending that ruined it for me. The movie itself, while mildly interesting, somehow struggled to hold my attention completely. Blame to be laid at the lack of chemistry perhaps, between the lead pair, and a slightly stretched storyline.


Jolie is constantly under surveillance ever since she has been deserted by her lover. He had robbed a mafia type of a huge amount and the British government of a slightly smaller amount. Out of the blue he gets in touch with her again, instructing her secret agent style to take a certain train, at a certain time in order to meet him at a given location. Part of the instructions include finding a decoy on the train (Johnny Depp) who is similar to him in build and broad physical outline. Soon, Jolie is charmed by Depp’s small town sensibility but his life is now in danger as he is hunted by both the mafia and the Brits, convinced he is the real thief.



Depp doesn’t really suit this role. Stumbling, stuttering, fumbling, being unsure is not how you want to remember him or think of him. And because that’s how he’s portrayed, he doesn’t really pair up well with the statuesque, self-assured Jolie who is stunning as ever. You can get why he falls for her but not why she would even look at him twice. The locales are interesting, continental Europe at its most beautiful with a large part of the action happening in Venice (don’t think there are too many secret agent stories which don’t involve this city).

There is a forced feel to the film and then in the middle it struggles to hold your attention (especially in the romantic bits). Beautiful locales, beautiful people but not quite a beautiful story. Almost like a Hindi film.


PS : Cant believe this is the same director who made the brilliant ‘Lives of Others’

Tron : The Legacy

Rating : 4/10
Release Date : 17th December, 2010 (India)
Time : 125 minutes
Director : Joseph Kosinski; Writer : Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz; Music : Daft Punk
Starring : Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Bruce Boxleitner, Michael Sheen
I didn’t understand the story at all, the rules, the constraints went truly over my head yet I enjoyed the film for its styling, its cool look and Jeff Bridges performance.


Not having watched Tron, the first part, all I could gauge was that it was about Jeff Bridges inventing a game, disappearing completely and then his grown up son, Garrett, one day discovering an alternate reality world created by his father



There are clones, other beings called ISO's, identity discs which can be used as weapons and have boomerang properties, a mysterious portal that opens or shuts at fixed intervals (don’t really understand why) and some games played to death gladiatorial style. Didn’t really get any of this



However, the entire styling, with people dressed in neon outlines, the batons which transform into neon-outlined bikes, cars or flying machines, the arena where the contests happen, all of this is really eye-catching. And the places, the rooms, the clothing is very very cool. The white minimalist look of Jeff Bridges room, the outfits worn, the cool discotheque were all done with panache, with a definite styling palette in mind.



Jeff Bridges was the only assured performer – he has always managed to fit into different roles with ease and this one is no exception. Whether it’s the young cloned avatar or the ageing patriarch, he is good to watch. Garrett and all others seemed very unsure of themselves, not very convincing.


All in all, as I exited the hall, I did it in a confused state mind but with definite praise for its coolness quotient. Think of it as food which it isn’t very tasty but beautifully presented…

No One Killed Jessica

Rating : 7/10
Release Date : 7th January, 2011
Time : 136 minutes
Director & Writer : Raj Kumar Gupta; Music : Amit Trivedi
Starring : Vidya Balan, Rani Mukherjee, Rajesh Sharma, Neil Bhoopalam, Yogendra Tikku, Shireesh Sharma, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub

This is a brilliantly made film, one which keeps you gripped despite your knowing exactly how things will turn out. One which makes you glad and angry at the same time, as you leave the hall. Glad that someone made a film on a topic like this and at the way things eventually pan out. And angry, very angry that in our country we continually let those in power abuse those without it, to the point that they think they can get away with anything, even murder. And in most cases we let them …


It is a fictionalised account of what happened to an aspiring middle-class model, Jessica who is shot dead by a rich, spoilt, drunk politician's son at point blank range simply because she refused to serve him a drink after closing hours. She is shot at a party full of about 300 people, most of them rich and influential. And yet the courts acquitted the defendants, that too after 6 years. This is the story of how this came to pass and what became of it after.

Four things set this movie apart. Great direction, superb editing, excellent casting / performances and a pulsating soundtrack. The direction & writing sets the ambience perfectly, it captures the essence of Delhi with all its rudeness, power and money obsession, feistiness and even its heart. The editing makes sure the pace is at a fast clip throughout and despite it being a true story, the surprise moments keep coming through. The performances breathe life to the characters. Rani shows some spark after a long time as the TV journalist demanding justice. Vidya manages to somehow shrink and shrivel up as she plays Jessica’s sister Sabrina who despite being an introvert just keeps going ahead through sheer bull-headedness. There’s the inspector (Rajesh sharma) who’s had enough of high society people and their foibles. The extremely good looking star witness (Neil Bhoopalam) who is given an offer he cant refuse. Both the fathers, one weak willed and helpless (Yogendra Tikku), the other silent but powerful. The self indulgent high society aunt who is too confused at the wrong moments. And a soundtrack that makes the film come alive, enhancing the mood at every occasion.



If I have to nit-pick, I thought the pace flagged just a notch in the middle and towards the end of the second half. I thought the opening credits commentary, while interesting, was almost drowned out in the midst of the music, didn’t get a chance to standout. But these are really small points – in the larger scheme of things and versus most other cheap, gimmicky or mindless films coming out today, this one towers up and above.


A constant thought, sometimes articulated in the film, is this could so easily have been happening to us. Its so real. Another thought, again articulated briefly in the beginning, is that in Delhi you’re nobody if you don’t know somebody and that’s why everybody is always a somebody (‘tu jaanta nahin main kaun hoon ?’). Here’s to the day when everybody will genuinely just need to be himself to get justice and to other cities not becoming like Delhi…

Tees Maar Khan

Rating : 3/10
Release Date : 24th December, 2010
Time : 135 minutes
Director : Farah Khan; Writer : Shirish Kunder; Music : Vishal – Shekhar & Shirish Kunder (background & title track)
Starring : Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Akshaye Khanna, Arya Babbar
There are three great moments in the film. First, I loved the opening credits (quite innovative) and funky with the title track playing in the background. Second were the end credits, with Farah Khan continuing her tradition of filming everyone during the roll, right from the lightboy to herself. Third was Sheila ki Jawani. Watching Katrina pulsate and groove on the big screen, with her dresses slung impossibly low (even lower than Shilpa Shetty’s sarees), was something special. The rest of the film was terrible.



The story is pure nonsense. A great con-man, played by Akshay Kumar (we’re never given any proof of his exploits apart from a very very silly airplane caper) is hired by the evil Siamese twins (Raghu & his twin brother) to recover their loot from the cops (the most bumbling kind you’ll ever see) who are transporting all 10,000 kgs via train. Apparently Akshay is the only guy who can do this. He concocts a truly artrocious, hare-brained scheme, enlists the support of a famous actor (Akshaye Khanna), who has an Oscar fetish, and a whole village of idiots to try to steal back the treasure. Will he succeed ? What will the evil brothers do ? Don’t hold your breath, it aint worth it…



Akshay over acted, tried too hard and was too loud in keeping with the general tenor of the film. Katrina, playing Askhay’s girlfriend and a wannabe item girl, was very good, both in terms of looks and performance, playing the bimbette to perfection. Akshaye demonstrated once more why he is a fantastic actor, wish we saw more of him and in better roles.


The jokes & even the capers are silly, crass and crude. Tawaif’s, dumb cops, lipstick marks, loud, almost fluorescent clothes. The only time the jokes are funny is when they’re the insider industry jokes and most of them are against SRK. His angst at missing out on Slumdog, the craving for an Oscar, the six packs. But sadly these moments are far and few in between.


This film is another of those where I’m left full of regret at what could’ve been. What a platform this film had built in terms of excitement, hype and music. It had brought the audiences flocking back to the screens. Alas, its life is likely to be even shorter than Shelia’s now infamous Jawani…

Band Baaja Baaraat

Rating : 6/10
Release Date : 10th December, 2010
Time : 140 minutes
Director : Maneesh Sharma; Writer : Habib Faisal; Music : Salim Sulaiman
Starring : Anushka, Ranveer

Chai main dooba hua biscuit ho gaya
Main to ainvey ainvey ainvey ainvey lut gaya

This film has its heart in the right place, captures the essence of Delhi (the dhinchak Janakpuri part) and the event that brings out the most flashy, gregarious part of Punjabi’s, the weddings. The story is interesting in the first half, meanders and becomes too predictable in the second but still makes a nice film overall.



Anushka wants to open up a wedding planning business, has a tight deadline as her family wants her to get married and so has no time for love or other such niceties. Through a twist of fate and thanks to his Saharanpur relatives, she takes on Ranveer as a partner. They split various departments, resolve to never fall in love (jahan vyapar wahan na karo pyar, bread pakode ki kasam) and set up a roaring business. Around the interval they kiss. They then spend the next half then dealing with the ramifications & figuring out what to do.


I liked the freshness of the lead pair, seemed to make it more real. While they acted well, there were moments where they did seem to be hamming it a bit but they looked fine together. And the assorted ensemble cast does a fine job. Whether it’s the brother who reminds Ranveer when he’s threatening suicide that no one ever died jumping from the first floor or the rich kids from Sainik farms who want roses showered on a revolving stage after the jaimala or Anushka’s mom who has a single-minded focus on getting her daughter married or the decorater & caterer who soon form the backbone of ‘Shaadi Mubaarak’, the best wedding planners in town.


The music is nice, some songs stretch a bit but again nothing too bad. It doesn’t get too serious at any time, keeps going at a decent pace, some crisis or other at a wedding keeping us & the lead pair occupied. The writing is what makes the film stand out the most – lingo like ‘kaand’, ‘ganne chusiyo’, ‘speed le, gyaan na de’ or even the ‘shit bolti hai to bhi lagta hai FM baj raha hai’ and things like The Delhi university setting, the lousy hostel food, the wedding crashing, the U-Specials, brought back memories of a forgotten era.



I like the attempt behind this movie, using a hero & heroine who almost look like the girl & boy next door, a script that has some authentic lingo thrown in and direction / camera-work that captures the uniqueness of Delhi. Just for that alone its worth a watch.

Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey

Rating : 3/10
Release Date : 3rd December, 2010
Time : 160 minutes
Director, Co-Writer : Ashutosh Gowarikar; Co-writer : (Based on the book ‘Do and Die’ by Manini Chatterjee) Raoul V Randolf; Music : Sohail Sen
Starring : Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Sikander Kher, Vishaka Dutta, Mahinder Singh, Shreyas Pandit, Samrat Mukherjee, Feroz Wahid Khan
Disclaimer 1 : Nothing I’m writing here is any reflection on the actual people involved in the Chittagong uprising. I’ve not read the book nor am acquainted with the facts of this chapter in our freedom struggle. I hold in deep awe and respect each freedom fighter. All my comments are based completely on the movie & its characters, not the real martyrs.


Disclaimer 2 : In most freedom fight movies that I see, even Lagaan, my blood reaches boiling point extremely easily. First, by watching the atrocities heaped upon us by the British. Second, watching how easily we were duped and deceived by them. And third, watching Indians (including soldiers) carry out their cruel bidding – independence could’ve been far more easily obtained if no Indian had chosen to work for them. Obviously, then, this is not my favourite genre as its very hard to appreciate a film where you watch most of the film in silent rage.


This film is about an uprising that happened in Chittagong in 1930 where a group of people, led by a teacher (Abhishek Bachchan), tried to seize control of the town and send a message to the British. In this effort some teenagers (as young as thirteen, fourteen year olds) also took part as did a couple of women.


The first half moves along at a nice clip, is edited well, has some nice Q&A when the revolutionary recruitment drive is being carried out, some nice moments of humour. The second half, which deals with the actual attempt and its fallout, stretches and meanders and completely ruins the cinematic experience. You’re not sure at all of the true impact of what they were trying, of the significance of the attempt and its consequences.



A lot of questions remain unanswered, some key characters remain under developed. Abhishek, for example, why did he choose to go against Mahatma Gandhi’s decree of non-violence ? What was his logic and how come he got so many people to join him without any debate or discussion ? Also, based on the events as they turned out, he came across as a very poor leader – his planning had some obvious flaws (some extremely glaring ones), when in trouble he never seemed to be able to come up with the answers and had to rely constantly on the sacrifice of those around him and there was never any back up plan. He was hardly inspiring, he had no special gifts or talents that he brought to the fore. Similarly, all the other senior revolutionaries and the characters portrayed by Deepika and Vishaka, came across as unthinking, blind follow-the-leader kind of people. Ready to lay down their life but not totally clear or questioning enough about the methods being adopted to achieve their objective

The acting performances were very good – from Abhishek to Deepika to each of the teenage boys to senior artistes alike , they all looked and felt the part of idealistic early twentieth century revolutionaries. However, apart from Abhishek’s role, all other roles are cameos. Music is ordinary. The feel, the sets and the atmosphere though is brilliantly done. You do feel transported to another era.

This story, to make it a more interesting film needed some fictionalising. Maybe beefing up the romance a bit, for example or adding some other dramatic points apart from the uprising itself. In its current form, the second half truly pulls the film down, making it an almost unwatchable experience.


Postscript : My son didn’t enjoy the movie so much (more for the bloodshed shown in the second half) but was sufficiently fired up by the movie to write a short essay about the British rule for his classwork and a short poem about the freedom struggle. A better made film could surely inspire a few thousand more like him.