THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2012)

The untold story begins


GENRE
Action/Adventure/Fantasy


STORYLINE
Peter Parker finds a clue that might help him understand why his parents disappeared when he was young. His path puts him on a collision course with Dr. Curt Connors, his father's former partner.

DIRECTOR

Marc Webb

CAST

Andrew Garfield

Emma Stone

Rhys Ifans

MY REVIEW

Tobey Maguire's Spider-man last came out in 2007.Just 5 years on and we have a reboot.The old franchise earned close to $2.5 billion from the 3 films.Now in 2012 we have Andrew Garfield's Spider-man.Even though the 3 films achieved a lot of commercial success,seeing movies like Avengers and Iron man earning a lot of money(about $1.5 billion for The Avengers) Sony decided to reboot the franchise.Why? Earning easy money most probably.Even though this is a reboot people are going to compare the 2 franchises.Well,Which of the franchise looks good? I will go with the former one though its still early considering  the Amazing Spider-man is just 1 movie old.


Lets get to the story. Peter Parker(Andrew Garfield) lives with his aunt May(Sally Field) and uncle Ben(Martin Sheen).His parents had died mysteriously when he was a child.Peter is shown as a nerdy guy who is not really famous in school.He is often bullied at school at the behest of Flash Thompson.All this is similar to the previous franchise.One day in his basement Peter comes across his father's briefcase.He comes accross a photograph which shows his father's then partner Curt Conners (Rhys Ifans).He gets to know that his father was researching on cross genetics at Oscorp.Wanting to learn more about his father he meets him.It is at Oscorp that he is bitten by a genetically modified spider that transforms him into Spider-man.Curt Conners has his own problems.He has lost one of his arms and Rajit Ratha(Irrfan Khan) is putting pressure on him to complete his research quickly.With the help of  Parker he is able to perfect it but side effects take its toll on him transforming him into the lizard.Now it is upto Spider-man to save the city from 'The Lizard'.


Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) plays Parker's love interest in the film and I feel her character is well written as compared to Mary Jane in the previous films.Her father is the captain of the police and at times appears to be the second villain in the movie.


When I first got to know that Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone were going to be play the lead in this film I was quite excited. I liked Garfield as Eduardo Saverin in the highly acclaimed film 'The Social Network' and Emma Stone well, how could you not like her after so many good films she has done already.Andrew Garfield was good in this movie but I feel that his character as Peter Parker wasn't written well.His sudden transformation into Spider-man and well getting a hold of his powers was poorly written.The villain didn't have a strong presence in the film as Dr Octavious or say the Green Goblin (he isn't there till the interval in the film).I think his character could have been explored a lot more.Irrfan Khan marks the indian presence in the film.Marc Webb said that he plays an important role in the film while Irrfan said that it is a really small role.Its up to the viewers to decide how good was his role.There are many changes that have taken place in the new Spider-man.Unlike the previous films here the Spider-man needs to make his own webs to swing around the city.This film has its own moments though.The scene in the subway is quite hilarious and the scene with Flash at the basketball court is quite funny as well.The action sequences are 'amazing'.The scene where Spider-man saves the child on the bridge is well written.The romance between Peter and Gwen for some would be the highlight of the film.The 3D effects tend to lower the value of this film.At times the movie appears to dark for our liking.


I am not saying this a bad film but the fact that the previous franchise had ended just 5 years back made you have higher expectations from the new one.I would prefer you watch this film in 2D.I would call this movie a one time watch.


PS if you do go on to watch this film, wait till the credits are rolled for the post credit scene which gives the hint about the possible villain of the sequal


My Rating 7.5/10


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VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA (2008)

Life is the ultimate work of art


GENRE
Comedy/Drama/Romance


STORYLINE
Two girlfriends on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter, unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture.


DIRECTOR
Woody Allen

CAST

Rebecca Hall

Scarlett Johanansson

Javier Bardem

Penelope Cruz

MY REVIEW

This movie is about two friends Vicky(Rebecca Hall) and Cristina(Scarlett Johansson) who travel to Barcelona to spend their summer.While Vicky is a grad student in Catalan studies Cristina is still unsure about what to do in her life.Both of them like each other even though they have quite the opposite views on love.While Vicky has a more traditional view(she is engaged to a stable/safe man), Cristina is spontaneous and always tends to fall for the 'dangerous' type of man.In Barcelona they meet a painter,Juan Antonio(Javier Bardem).They spend the weekend with him in Oviedo.Both of them have their moments with him.Soon enters Juan's volatile ex wife Maria Elana (Penelope Cruz) with whom he had a relationship that was characterized by violence.

This is the first Woody Allen movie i have ever seen and I have now realized why the audience respect him so much.He has done a fabulous job.This movie has quite a lot of hilarious moments.The presence of a narrator in this movie adds a lot more to it.The filming locations are beautiful.Although the film has a few dialogues in Spanish with no English subtitles but this con can be ignored.Watch this movie for the funny moments and the excellent performances by all the leads especially Penelope Cruz who even won an Oscar for it.

MY RATING 8.5/10

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VICKY DONOR (2012)

Lakhon Mein Ek


GENRE
Comedy/Romance


STORYLINE
A man is brought in by an infertility doctor to supply his sperm, where he becomes the biggest sperm donor for his clinic.


DIRECTOR
Shoojit Sircar


CAST
Ayushmann Khurrana
Yami Gautam
Annu Kapoor


MY REVIEW
This movie is John Abraham's first home production.This movie not only gained commercial success but was also well received by the critics.


Set in Delhi,this story is about about Vicky Arora( Ayushmann Khurrana) who lives in Lajpat Nagar,Delhi along with his mother Dolly( who runs a beauty parlor) and his grandmother.Dr Baldev chaddha (Annu Kapoor) is a fertility expert who runs a fertility clinic and sperm bank in daryaganj.He has a unique ability of identifying the quality of sperm of a person just by meeting him.Unfortunately he has more failed cases than successful ones.He encounters Vicky outside his house and calls him 'Ihe Indian Alexander ' because of his record breaking sperm count.He convinces Vicky day and night to become a sperm donor till he finally gives in.Soon Vicky meets Ashima Roy (Yami Gautam) and they fall in love and get married.His world comes crashing down when she learns of his past as donor.Overall Vicky donor is a light hearted film that deals with the subject of sperm donation which is still considered a taboo in India.


It is hard to believe that this is Ayushmann's first movie.Annu Kapoor has also done a brilliant job. This movie is a laugh riot.Some scenes are exceptional especially the scene where the parents of the leads meet each other.A must watch for all comedy lovers


My Rating  8/10


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INVICTUS (2009)

His people needed a leader.He gave them a champion.

GENRE

Biography/Drama/History

STORYLINE

Nelson Mandela, in his first term as the South African President, initiates a unique venture to unite the apartheid-torn land: enlist the national rugby team on a mission to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

DIRECTOR
Clint Eastwood


CAST
Morgan Freeman
Matt Damon


MY REVIEW
This movie takes its name from the poem of the same name by William Ernest Henley which Nelson Mandela(Morgan Freeman) keeps with himself as a source of inspiration.Recommended by a friend this movie turned out to be an unexpected treat for me.


In 1990 Mandela is released from jail after a period of 27 years and is subsequently elected as the president of South Africa. Apartheid has been abolished and the immediate challenge Mandela faces is the issue of racial tension between the whites and the blacks.Apartheid has made the black hostile towards the whites.This is where Mandela rises above every other man and shows the true meaning of forgiveness,peace and humanity.South africa is too host the 1995 Rugby World Cup and realizing the love of rugby among the South africans he uses it as a medium to unite the nation.This is the story of how Mandela makes the nation fall in love with the rugby team which comprises of just a single black player.The movie is a bit long and predictable but still is one of the most inspiring movies i have ever seen.


Morgan Freeman is exceptional. Just the accent of Freeman tell you the hours of effort he might have put for this role.Matt Damon as Francois Pienaar,the rugby captain supports him quite well.


My Rating 8/10


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FIGHT CLUB (1999)

Mischief,Mayhem,Soap


GENRE
Drama/Thriller


STORYLINE
An insomniac office worker and a devil-may-care soap maker form an underground fight club that transforms into a violent revolution.


DIRECTOR
David Fincher


CAST

Edwart Norton

Brad Pitt

Helena Bonham Carter

Meat Loaf

MY REVIEW

When I first read the previews of this film,it appeared to be a simple film with a predictable storyline of two disturbed guys starting a fight club where people take their frustration out by fighting.But a rating of 8.8 on IMDB made me watch it.

When the movie started i couldn't take my eyes of it till the credits rolled. Since then i have watched it many times and each time it feels even better.It is Edwart Norton plays the nameless protagonist who suffers from insomnia.He is frustrated with his job and his employer.He meets the 'soap maker' Tyler Durden(Brad Pitt)  and the mysterious Marla Singer(Helena Bonham Carter)and then starts The 'Mayhem' in the film.One of the most unanticipated and well written ending I have ever sen

After Amrican History X, this is probably Norton's best performance.Brad Pitt and Helena Bonham Carter support him really well.Fincher intended Fight Club's violence to serve at a metaphor for the conflict between a generation of young people and the value system of advertising and that he has done really well.

This movie is a must watch for all the people who love complicated movies. By far the best film i have ever seen

My rating 10/10

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