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.

IT's Complicated Movie review

ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR!

MOVIE: It’s Complicated

CAST: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin

This Romantic-comedy was written and directed by Nancy Meyers, known for films such as The Holiday, Something’s Gotta Give, and Father of the Bride. The movie revolves around Jane (Meryl Streep) and Jake (Alec Baldwin) who have been divorced for a decade, but have learned to get along. Seems simple enough, but not for long as a steamy night between the two leads to a totally different kind of hangover! Jake is married to a woman half his age and Jane now finds herself being the other woman. Though her conscience plagues her, Jane cannot think past Jake and finds herself with conflicting emotions. But things get even more interesting when Adam (Steve Martin) enters the scene, unwittingly forming a love triangle.

Get high & low:

Jane owns a successful bakery and the onslaught of all the pastries and food is cause for all kinds of cravings. But this movie is not for the faint hearted, as seeing Alec Baldwin without clothes takes some serious courage. The cast with the exception of Lake Bell (Agnes) was well picked, as one feels an instant connection with Jane’s Children and the sense of family comes across. John Krasinski as Hurley leaves a lasting impression with his comic timing. The story is sometimes predictable and the constant giggling will get on your nerves. Steve Martin is not that great but his performance is effective to the say the least.

Age is just a number:

Anyone other than Meryl would have come off as tacky and cheap, but she looks fabulous and her acting almost flawless. And this comes as no surprise, has she ever done a bad movie?? If you’re a fan of 30 Rock, then you’ll definitely love Alec in this one, as he's blossomed into a terrific comic actor, a wickedly self-mocking satyr. Jake and Adam are hooked onto Jane, Who win finally win her over?

Bottomline:

An entertaining and fun ride which gives us a chance to escape into a world where everything is beautiful, even advancing middle age.

Sherlock holmes the review!!

Where do I start? Should I talk about the sheer brilliance of Director Guy Ritchie ? Or should I talk about the mind blowing performances of Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock Holmes) and Jude Law (Watson)? I think there is nothing that Rober Downey Jr. cannot do. He made an absolutely lovable super hero in Iron man and his incredibly funny 'black guy' act in Tropic thunder is unforgettable. But with Sherlock Holmes (SH) he scales new heights and exceeds your expectations, which i might add is quite rare in movies these days. What makes this movie different is that it is not a play by play of the SH portrayed in Sir Authur Conan Doyal's books. He is not just the rude, arrogant, resourceful and brilliant man you see in the books but a whole lot more. The SH in this movie is more physical, witty, endearing, whimsical, adorable and funny. Jude Law as Watson, is supposed to be SH sidekick and he appears to be anything but. His role really stands out due to his exceptional performance and it was exhilarating to watch the dynamic duo of Watson and SH. His relationship with Holmes in this movie is more personal and almost brotherly which is a nice touch by Director Guy Ritchie.

There is never a dull moment in the movie, it starts off with SH pursuing Lord Blackwood the man who is supposed to have murdered five women using black magic. He is then sentenced to death and his last wish is to see the man who put him behind bars. Lord Blackwood then asks Holmes to widen his gaze for the coming events are grave and unstoppable. The events that unfold after Lord Blackwood is hung will shock the viewer and manages to convince us that there is no logical explanation and that it is all the act of black magic. But Holmes is relentless and will not stop till he finds the answer to the mysterious events that are seemingly unsolvable. Rachel Mcadams as Irene is SH achilles heel, but her performance in the movie is adequate for lack of a better word. Her classic looks might make her perfect for the role, but the scope to shine I guess is limited. There are some absolutely rib ticking moments in the movie be it the innuendo by SH when he says " madam im a professional. listen to me, the key to my release lies beneath this pillow" ( you'll know why when you see the movie) or the smart repartee he shares with Watson from time to time. Inspector Lestrade from the police force is subject to a lot of ridicule from SH and rightly so i might add foe he looks like a bumbling idiot next to SH but you cannot help but laugh at RD Jr's sarcastic remarks. I really enjoyed the brotherly bond between Jude Law and RD Jr. in the movie because it is hilarious to see SH get jealous when Watson has a Girlfriend!! SH in this movie is a mad scientist, a nerd at heart so to speak and you will love every minute of his goofiness and it will make you want to clamor for more. Guy Ritchie does not disappoint, he even throws in a boxing match to make to movie all the more interesting. The movie keeps us guessing all the way to the end and manages to keep the doubt on our minds. What can we believe ? Is there no other explanation for this, except that this is a work of Lord Blackwood's Black magic or will SH find order from all the Chaos?

Sudish Kamat in his review for the movie 'Avatar' said " It is hard to find fault with GOD". Im sure he's gonna kick himself when he sees SH because this movie actually deserves such praise. A first- rate action packed movie that provides a near perfect example of how to redress an aging genre franchise for the masses. This movie is a treat for the body and mind, with its Dazzling action sequences, SH keen method of deduction, hilarious moments, amazing screenplay and sheer entertainment. It's a must watch for everyone, So what are you waiting for?