The Reviewer strikes

With just a few days to go before my main job interview for the old alma mater, the only thing hard to kill for this doc has been time. And with the new multiplex in town, its just a matter of finishing the movies as soon as they arrive every Friday. Now that I've completed all this week's releases save Mistress of Spices which I am loathe to watch for any number of reasons, I figured I might as well give a little review of each of them.
Presenting, Last week at the Multiplex.


1. Gangster ***
It's funny how when you go with no expectations, you end up getting surprised. This movie does just that. Showcasing the romance of a gangster and the betrayal which eventually redeems him, excellent music and an amazing debut by the girl,Kangana makes for a nice watching experience. No big budgets, just another good story from the Bhatt camp.

2. Darna Zaroori Hai **
My advice : Watch the first half, enjoy. In the interval,go get yourself a pack of your favourite popcorn ( with cheese or caramel topping,as you desire ) and keep walking...out of the theatre. True, there is still one more good story left in the 2nd half but it isn't worth the long wait. This analogy of 6 stories is better than Darna Mana Hai no doubt, but not by much. For what it's worth, the first half was fun. Not necessarily scary, but fun.

3. Pyare Mohan 0
Hmmm... crap? Crass? S**t? Which word best describes this? I really can't say. At any rate, I had little hope in either Fardeen or Vivek's comic timing and this travesty just goes on to prove me right. Saving grace - Boman Irani who just refuses to deliver a bad performance no matter how bad the film he's placed in. The best part of the movie ? The final credits !!

4. The Pink Panther ***
Don't go in to compare Steve Martin to the Peter Sellers of the original series. You'll only come out grumpy. Enjoy this for what it is - a really funny comedy. It's been a long time since I laughed out loud ( the good laugh, the bad loud laughs came aplenty when Fardeen & Vivek were being funny. ) The Bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau is on the hunt for a keeeler and heaven Help those in his way. Incompetence has a new name.

5. Underworld : Evolution **
After the movie, my friends who were with me asked - what was that all about??
Well, stated in the simplest of terms - wolf fight vampire (umm, dracula people ) since long long ago. Now hybrids in trouble because old dude wants to find original Wolfman who has bigger, shinier teeth. Babe to the rescue.
Or you could watch the first part and really try to get it. Still fun to watch for the action and mindless gore.

6. Rang de Basanti *****
Ok. I saw this movie awhile back but I couldn't resist going back again when the opportunity presented itself. To call this film pathbreaking is an understatement. Easily miles apart from any Hindi film ever made. Awesome performances from everyone and an amazingly original story in a world of plagiarism. Now pray that Shah rukh Khan isn't up to his old tricks and releases a film come December that steals all the awards while Aamir twiddles his fingers once more in frustration. ( think Rangeela & Akele Hum Akele Tum to DDLJ & KKhh )

That's it for now. Sources tell me I was justified not to visit the Mistress of Spices. Some things don't need a woman's intuition.