Rock On (2008)

"Rock On" rocks to the core. Oh how I'm speechless about this movie. Am i over-reacting? Yeah, think so, but it is a great movie. The attempt at all-round perfection is strongly gratifying. The music is just brillaint!! I'm sorry, shouldn't be giving first preference to music here, but it just slipped out. Well it is about music, so thats excusable. The songs gel nicely into the plot, you live the whole movie

The characters are nicely shown. Acting is on a high, everyone looks their role. Again, the music rocks! big fan

I think what clinches the deal for this movie is the focus on dialogue rather than histrionics. There are some very interesting exchanges like one between Farhan and Sakshi. Displays intelligent scriptwriting.

So! Announcing Abhishek Kapoor, director par excellence of Rock on! Hope to see more good stuff from you.

Special mention of the super talented Farhan Akhtar - director, actor, singer. He's rendered the songs very well.

Concept 8.2/10
Performance 8.5/10
Screenplay 8.2/10
Technical 8/10

Overall 8.2/10

Shaun of the Dead (2004)

I love Brit comedy! Its naturally funny when you have characters rattling off in short bursts at almost incomprehensible speeds. To top that, they try to give you the nonchalant, everyday expression that has 'big deal' written all over it. With such a combination, even Macbeth will sound funny. Here it gets better. We have a funny horror movie going

British cinema also seems to have an affliction for characterizing losers in their films. Probably that adds to the sarcastic comedy that is their forte. Shaun, our protagonist is one such loser living with a bigger loser (in all senses of the word) who's a close pal, and is desperately trying to get his failing relationship working. Into all this explodes an epidemic of dead-man-walking and suddenly we expect the fun to end. Surprise! Shaun, Ed (the bigger loser) and company are not losing their sense of humor over some silly flesh eating zombies. Rest assured, you'll laugh.

Special mention of Simon Pegg(shaun) and Nick Frost( Ed), who never let the movie go dull!

Concept 7/10
Performance 8/10
Screenplay 7.5/10
Technical 7.5/10

Overall 7.5/10

Inside Man (2006)

I'm always a sucker for heist movies and this one doesn't disappoint one bit. Solid plot that keeps you guessing till quite till the end. Powerful presence of the lead actors - Denzel Washington, Clive Owen and Jodie Foster do more than justice to the swift screenplay that is a must in such flicks.

Clive Owen was particularly brilliant brilliant as the no nonsense mastermind. I need to look out for his films.

Director Spike Lee is already filming the sequel to this movie and no prices for guessing who plays the lead. Denzel Washington is Lee's fav actor having given him a lot of hits such as 'Malcolm X' and 'He got game'.

An interesting piece of trivia - Spike Lee's production company is named '40 acres and a mule filmworks' - this alludes to an unfulfilled promise made by politicians during the civil war. Spike Lee tends to bring political overtones into his films and so this comes as not much of a surprise.

more trivia? - personal friend of ex arsenal striker Thierry Henry and thereby a fan of Arsenal. Huge fan of The New York Yankees and baseball in general, so much so that every film of his features some connection with the game.

Concept 8.3/10
Performance 8.4/10
Screenplay 8/10
Technical 7.8/10

Overall 8.1/10

Iron Man (2008)

A superb action movie! Near Perfect adaption of a comic superhero. near, cos nothing's perfect, but near also coz, it's a strong contender. Brilliant computer graphics, spectacular stunt sequences and a terrific Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man complete the movie. Nothing more needs to be said. It is meant to be an action flick, it means nothing less, nothing more. spotless entertainer!

concept 7.5/10
Performance 7.6/10
Screenplay 7/10
Technical 8.5/10

Overall 7.6/10

Hitman (2007)

On the face of it, its a good entertainer. there's solid action which is very well shot, there is a protagonist (Timothy Olyphant) who's got good screen presence and there's a climax. There's also the usual sprinkling of sensuality.

But, when you start to piece in the jigsaw, a lot of pieces are missing and i don't like that in a movie.

That minor issue, apart, a good action flick!

Performance 8/10
Screenplay 7.3/10
Concept 7.3/10
Technical 8/10

Overall 7.6/10

Kung Fu Panda (2008)

Po, the Panda has Jack Black written all over it. It was as if Jack Black was dressed up like a panda. Such was the faithfulness in the toon's caricaturization. I've loved Jack Black in movies like Shallow Hal and School of Rock. He has a unique style of acting characterized by quips and jerks. All that is faithfully imbibed into Po's body language.

Kung Fu Panda is a good movie. It, however, falls short of greatness. The screenplay is the culprit. Most animation movies are meant to be comedies, but here we have a first half thats almost philosophical. There are goosebump moments and grand emotions and it is building up into a serious drama when it all becomes funny. Just like that! Couldn't help frowning at that, but once you accept it, it becomes enjoyable again.

I'm a big fan of the oriental martial arts, their way of life, the importance of honour, respect and courage. Its a lesson in principles. Kung Fu Panda enlivens all that while at the same time being your regular funny cartoon. Tough juxtaposition; unwarranted, somewhat pulled off..not much harm done.

Performance 7/10 (Jack Black rocks!, but the support is not very strong)
Screenplay 7/10
Technical 8/10
Concept 7/10

Overall 7.2/10

I Am Legend (2007)

Its all hype! I thought this was going to be as good as it gets - science fiction, creepy crawlies and WILL SMITH!!...what more do you want? well, maybe rachel bilson running across the canvas every few minutes :P...point is, all my hopes were dashed to mediocrity, which is all this movie is about. Alas, even Will Smith couldn't salvage it from my disgrace

Concept: 5/10
Performance: 7/10 (-1 for the female lead)
Screenplay: 6/10
Technical: 7/10

Overall: 6.3/10