Impossible? I think not- MI 4: Ghost Protocol

Mission accomplished?
Movie: Mission Impossible - 4 Ghost Protocol
Cast: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg

PLOT:
After breaking Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise)-the infamous IMF operative out of prison-the team discovers there is some guy a.k.a COBALT trying to get his hands on Russian Nuke launch codes. Ethan and his team then try to break in and steal information on him at the KREMLIN, one the the most secure buildings in Russia. But it doesn't go well and they come back empty handed and the building is bombed. The blame lands squarely on Ethan's team. The IMF is disavowed. With no friends and no IMF back up the rouge team must get their hands on COBALT and the codes before its too late. That takes them from Russia to Dubai to Mumbai, where it all ends. Suicide mission or Mission possible?

Good news first:
The movie has us hooked from the very first scene. The long winding fuse that leads into the opening titles just give you a sense of what you can expect with flashes of scenes to come.

Cruise and his aging body have you wishing you could rewind the clock and go back to MI-2, but the action makes up for that disappointment in spades.

Special agent Jane (Paula Patton) and Benji (Simon Pegg), the comical British technician from the previous installment hack into the Russian Prison security and with Dean Martin music playing in the background, Ethan all but saunters out of that Prison. pffft ..it's like stealing candy from a baby.

Well it's much like watching a Rajinikanth movie really. Cruise gets bonked on the head, has several mild concussions and still manages to walk out without spilling a drop. So get this. If your one of those indi movie freaks. This ain't for you.

After the third installment you think... well we've seen him jump from one building to another, what more can he show us? Director Brad Bird, whose earlier stints in animated hits like Ratatouille and the incredibles could not have possibly prepared him for the adrenaline pumping blockbuster franchise, but somehow finds a way to step it up. And how!

How about Cruise climbing from the 123 rd floor of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai with nothing more than Spidey gloves? It will literally take your breath away.

You're in for a doozy! They break into the KREMLIN, with of course fake ID's and Russian accent.DA it's true, the masks always work. One thing that strikes you here is that the team is not perfect, they make mistakes. Lot's of them. And you'd think equipment failure doesn't happen in high budget secret ops. Oh but it does! And inconveniently when you are over a 100 stories above the ground.

The KREMLIN is blown up and Ethan lands at the hospital, but manages to get out of handcuff the old fashioned way- a paper clip. Ah simplicity, it's refreshing.

But throughout the movie Cruise goes about wrecking beautiful BMW's. It's painful to watch them get smashed.

The car chase scene in the middle of a sand storm, a routine happening in Dubai all but restores your faith in action movies.

While the plot itself was uninspired, the actors, the surprising bursts of humour and the thrilling action sequences make this a flat out popcorn entertainer. So buy a tub and settle down.

Brant (Jeremy Renner) of hurt locker fame really took the cake in terms of performance. So believable and likable. What a trouper.

The bad and the ugly:
Anil Kapoor was for me the biggest disappointment. Having proved his potential in 24, the hugely popular TV series in America, he played a billionaire bimbo, that quite frankly belied his true abilities.

And what's with showing all Telegu sign boards, when your are supposed to be in Mumbai? Bird, I know Americans really don't care. But really, research please. Or you could've just asked Anil Kapoor!And MH comes in front of a bloody license plate.

Oh the details do matter! But I did get a kick out of watching them set the nuke from the Sun Tv office. Symbolic really :) But the Chennai audience did get a kick out of watching Ktv and Sun Tv up on the big screen for just a min.

The climax was shoddy in it's execution and ruined the otherwise perfect build up. The frantic pace toward the end was really its undoing.

But you gotta admit its a visual feast and I only wish I had an IMAX theater here to do it justice.

Bottomline: There's a tub of popcorn with your name on it. Go get it.

Mega MIND BLOWING!

MOVIE REVIEW - MEGAMIND

CAST:TIM FAREEL, TINA FEY, BRAD PITT

Finally a comedy that can bring out a sincere laugh. Not the non-committal witty giggle that girls often tend to do (me included) to brighten an otherwise dull movie or to steal attention (and it's usually the latter.) I'm gonna take a detour from my usual style of writing, so bear with me while I experiment.

What's this movie about? u know the P-L-O-T!

Initially when they do the whole, superman thing -you know the boy being sent from a mysteriously cool planet to earth to fulfill his 'destiny', you think oh-boy this is goona be another crappy movie. But hold your horses cuz this movie is anything but that. It's like having a annoyingly weird friend (you know what i'm talking abt...its ok to admit .. all of us have one).. you have to let it grow on you.

So Megamind (Will Farell) after a painful childhood realises his true calling to be a super villain. He sets out to take over METROCITY and everyone knows, where there is a super villain there is always a drop dead gorgeous super hero (Brad pitt- METROMAN), with muscles rippling everywhere ( and I mean EVERYWHERE **wink wink**)

But his attempts to vanqish the hero always end in disaster, and his numerous stints in jail just fuel his desire to best Metroman. But as fate would have it, one of his "master plans" to get rid of Metroman actually works; he kidnaps Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey), a lois lane wannabe and the hero rushes to her rescue only to be defeated by COPPER his one weakness!! But when megamind goes "copper is your weakness , SERIOUSLY?" it's just LOL...it's the modern day kryptonite my friend...wake up!. But i feel it's jus impossible for a hero to be that built, he has got to be doped up on steroids to look like that!!

But soon Megamind reaslises that getting rid of a hero makes life that much more boring, so he decides to spice it up by creating a super hero himself. But there is a twist here, ah-ha! he falls for the lois lane wannabe and all hell breaks loose. So the insanely jealous new and improved super hero (who is in love with lois lane as well) turns into a villan. Now Megamind has no choice but to rise to the occasion, question is can he take on the new guy and live to tell the tale? Well no spoilers here, watch and find out.

the good the bad and the ugly?

Well Megamind's abnormally large head was ugly...but so was Brad pitt's less than stellar performance. I guess expectation is the mother of all disappointments.

TINA FEY- I bow to u..u r the queen of comedy. I was drawn to u like a woman is to a buck naked Jake gyllenhall (click for his pic..)

WILL FARELL- you are a comic genius! The whole man-child effect was just irresistible! you large headed blue freak of nature! wacko! your 'atrocity'es were awesum!(you'll get this wen u see the movie) The perverse reactions and spectacular super villain costumes slayed me!

DAVID CROSS- as minion, was absolutely brilliant in his understated performance

JONAH HILL - the hero turned villian TITAN was really awful. His voice was flat and boring. Simply forgettable! FYI u suck!

The cast really saved this movie from a being a flat out disaster, no doubt. This movie made fun of pretty much every super hero movie cliche. Spidy(jumping from buildings all the time!), superman (back story, beefy super hero...you know the works), batman(invisible super car)...no one was left behind. Hell there was even a lil bit of transformers in there, with the tiny bots bopping about. Once you realise what the movie is trying to do, u'll just keep on laughing. It's impossible not to like this movie. Sure it could've been better. But what was on offer wasn half bad. The animation was good, better than despicable me, the last animation movie I really enjoyed. The direction by Tom McGrath the same guy who did MADAGASKAR (yeah I still like to MOVE IT) was exceptional!

Bottomline : Megamind you deserve the key to the city!

An absolute ripper - HP7 part one

Movie: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part1)

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint

Plot:

After the death of Albus Dumbledore, a heartbroken Harry is determined more than ever, to end Voldermort's life. But killing once is not enough, because Lord Voldermort has spilt his soul into 7 pieces and hidden them, they are called Horcruxes. And so, when Harry Potter turns 17 the protective spell on Pivet Drive will wear off and he can no longer be safe from the Dark lord. So the order of the Phoenix come together to transport harry to a safe place. He then goes on a Journey with his dear friends Ron and Hermione in search of these Horcruxes. Trouble is, they have no idea, where they are or how to destroy them. With no one to guide them they travel far and wide in search of Harry's destiny.

A fan's delight:

If you have read the books, then you will absolutely love the movie. If you havn't, then you'll love it anyway as this movie is a treat for the senses. By sticking to the original, they have brought out the characters dilemma and complexities beautifully. Some may complain that the movie was slow, but that very immobility gives the movie a chance to really concentrate on the relationships between the main cast.

The locations were breathtaking with hues of dull grey, green and white to keep us all hooked. The Forest of Dean and the frozen lake are exactly as described in the book, and gives one goosebumps. They have surpassed any expectations anyone had on the technical department, the special effects were near perfect. The idea to recreate the tale of the three brothers in the movie without using actors, was ingenious and added a class to the story. The actors for the most part have done a reasonable job. Rupert Grint was the surprise element here, he proved he actually has some acting chops.

The movie is interlaced with humour, wit and a whole lot of adventure. Director David Yates has recreated the magic and the anticipation, of what will happen next, never lets up till the last scene.

Minor hiccups:

The scene at the Ministry for magic could have been better executed. The actors in these scenes were not convincing and it was a disappointment because, its one of the most exciting scene in the book. Whether it was an attempt at authentic filming or the result shoddy editing, some chase scenes (the one with the snatchers) were very disturbing and was almost painful to watch. In the last scene with Beatrix Lestrange, the exchange of wands must have been given more focus, because it was difficult to discern what went on.

Bottomline: In Ron's words "It's bloody brilliant!!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EC2tmFVNNE

As predictable as they come....

MOVIE: THE BACK-UP PLAN

CAST: Jenifer Lopez, Alex O’Loughlin

Plot:

Zoe (J Lo) is tried of waiting for Mr. Right, so she takes matters into her own hands and decides she’s going to have a baby. She takes the non-traditional route to get pregnant, but as luck would have it, she then meets the man of her dreams, Stan (Alex O’Loughlin). This puts her in a precarious position because she’s going out with Stan, while she’s pregnant with another man’s child!! Her Plan B seems to have backfired and she finds herself living her life in reverse. She thought she had it all mapped out, but she’s about to realize you can’t always get what you want.

Scream out loud:

Alan Poul’s (Director) movie saunters along as if all concerned had decided that imagination and flair were either unnecessary or impossible. The story itself is uninspired and that puts you off from the word go. The performances in the movie fall well below average and prove to be a huge disappointment. The screaming women in labour are not a pretty sight and the makers are delusional, if they think that’s funny. The movie keeps throwing one cliché after another and it gets to a point where you think, ‘enough is enough’. And how is that the owner of a pet shop (Zoe) can afford designer clothes??? It’s almost as if logic and humour have taken a holiday. The single mothers group is another unnecessary distraction and makes a root canal seem like a walk in the park. There were scenes in the playground with Anthony Anderson, which truly are the only saving grace in this movie, as it somehow manages to make you laugh. The adorable dog in the ‘wheelchair’ pretty much steals the show, with its wicked charm begging for scraps under the table.

Bottom-line:

This movie is Funny’s very distant cousin, ‘Not Funny’.

date night review

MOVIE : DATE NIGHT

CAST: STEVE CARELL, TINA FEY

Plot:

Phil and Claire Foster (Steve Carell and Tina Fey), a couple who have been married for several years seem to be caught in a rut. So Phil decides to spice things up, by taking his wife to a swanky new restaurant in the city. But the restaurant is full and so they impulsively jump on the opportunity, to steal someone else’s reservation. This leads to a case of mistaken identity and the couple soon find themselves in a lot more trouble than they bargained for. With angry mobsters and dirty cops chasing them, they try to find a way to get out of the huge mess, by getting the flash drive the villains believe they possess. Will they be in one piece at the end of date night? Let’s hope so.

Tickles your funny bone:

This is an action packed Romantic-comedy, so it’s guaranteed that the men will not fall asleep half way through the movie. It’s exhilarating to watch the car chase that features a very sleek silver Audi. Part of the fun resides in seeing how an ordinary couple can outsmart villains while being chased around Manhattan. This movie is not without flaws, as it tends to get a bit chaotic and frantic at times and they could have stayed away from most of the clichés. Steve Carell and Tina Fey prove to us, all is not lost when there is a ordinary script involved and that having talented performers can elevate mediocre material enough, to wring genuine laughs out of it. Their partnership proves to be a lethal combination, for their comic genius will have you laughing out loud almost throughout the movie. The solid supporting cast and cameos add to infectious energy that surrounds the movie. There is some brilliant improvisation at play here, in fact opportunities where they are cut loose and allowed to go really crazy, are some of the best parts of the film.

BottomLine:

This movie is funny, engaging and interesting and certainly worth a watch.

hmmmmm.....
Sometimes in our lives we all have painWe all have sorrow

But if we are wise

We know that there's always tomorrow
Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long'Til I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on
Please swallow your pride

If I have things you need to borrowFor no one can fill those of your needs

That you don't let show
Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long'Til I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on
If there is a load you have to bear

That you can't carry

I'm right up the road

I'll share your load

If you just call me
So just call on me brother, when you need a hand

We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'd understand

We all need somebody to lean on
Lean on me when you're not strong

And I'll be your friendI'll help you carry on

For it won't be longTill I'm gonna need Somebody to lean on

Lean on me...


Thank you for letting me lean on you!! happy b'day!! Im grateful for you guys:)

movie review- how to train your dragon

MOVIE: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
CAST: JAY BARUCHEL, GERARD BUTLER
This movie is based on a novel by Cressida Cowell and comes from the studio that brought you some of the best animated films like “Shrek,” “Madagascar” and “Kung Fu Panda”. The story revolves around Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), a gangly out-of-place kid in a town full of burly, king-sized Vikings. His father Stoick (Gerard Butler) is naturally disappointed, at not having a son who will follow in his footsteps, as the next best dragon slayer. Amidst all the chaos that surrounds the village, Hiccup befriends one of the most dangerous dragons, Night Fury after saving its life. Hiccup’s world is turned upside down when he encounters a dragon that challenges him and his fellow Vikings to see the world from an entirely different point of view. He uncovers certain secrets about the dragons, which threaten the very existence of his village. With so many lives hanging in the balance, Hiccup must rise to the occasion and find a way to make it all right.

Beauty and the beast:
If you think you’ve seen it all in Harry potter and Avatar, then wait till you see the dragons in action in ‘how to train your dragon’. This movie works on so many levels, I do not know where to begin. All aspects of the movie right from casting. Script, direction, animation and dialogue is spot on! This is a movie that will speak to audiences of all ages and that is something rare and special. This ones a keeper for sure!! This movie will remind you much of Avatar at times as the visual likeness is hard to miss. This movie manages to captivate the audience with the right mix of action, heartfelt emotion, drama and romance. It manages to be unpredictable, believable and exhilarating all at the same time.

Gerard Butler makes a menacing, proud, burly Viking look like a piece of cake. The cute Irish accent is just icing:). Jay Baruchel’s voice brings to life the character of Hiccup and makes him instantly likable. It gave me a jolt to see Snoutlout a character in the movie to bear an uncanny resemblance to Jack Black !! wat was that about??

You have dragons of all shapes and sizes, its so wonderfully creative and colorful you cannot help but be hooked onto to it. The story is based on a strong script and it shows, but it cannot take away from the fact that the performances were as bright as the sun. You could watch this movie 20 times and still want to watch it. It’s nice to see the former adversaries finally make nice, I mean the dragons and the Vikings:D:D. Who would have thought that dragons could be this much fun!! I certainly didn’t. I went in with no expectations, but I came out on the otherside with the smile on my face, because I know this film would have exceeded any expectation anyone would have had. The development of the bond between Hiccup and Toothless is conveyed virtually without dialogue, which suggests that DreamWorks Animation has absorbed a useful lesson from its rivals at Pixar.
Bottomline:
In the words of captain hadoock “Billions of bilious blue blistering barnacles”, what a ride!!!