Movie Review: Shrek Forever After - An almost appropriate ending, but not quiet!

Genre : Animation 

The only thing really disappointing about the final edition is that it ends a widely loved franchise. Otherwise, its more than a watchable film. Though strictly speaking, the first two editions were brilliant and this ones just plain good. Even if you compare it to the films that have come out before this one - How to Train your dragon, Up - this ones ordinary.

Shrek has a happy little life with his kids, his friends, his friends kids etc and his life has become a cycle of waking up, feeding kids, cleaning them, having food with his friends, singing songs and going back to sleep again. All's well on the surface, but Shrek is frustrated by the monotony in his life. He is not the same old feared Ogre, he used to be and he hates it. So out of frustration, he signs up a magical deal to get back his old life for just one day. Ofcourse, it's not just an ordinary deal and a whole new adventure starts.

What is really awesome about the movie is the 3-D experience. The movie is deliberately made for a 3D audience and many of the sequences look especially awesome due to the 3D effect. Also, like all the franchises, the humor rocks. Donkey, Puss in Boots and the villainous RumpelStiltskins are hilarious, and so are the take offs on the good old fairy tales. The first half ends with you wanting more.

The problem with the movie is that its too familiar. Everything you look at is like something you have already seen. Shrek has the same main characters, the same setting and it does not convert into something extraordinary. That does not mean that it's not enjoyable. Infact it is really a good time at the movies.

So if you are an OGRE lover, go to the theaters right away, coz I am sure this is your best bet this weekend. I am upset though, because even though the poster says ITS NOT OGRE, UNTIL ITS OGRE -- Its actually over....and not exactly with as big a bang as I expected.

Rating : 6.5 / 10

Movie Review : How to train your dragon - Simply 3-Delicious !

Wow, now that’s a spectacular film. How to Train your Dragon is one hell of a story and one hell of a ride.

I was waiting for this film to be released and didn’t waste time in running for it. And thank god I did. “HTTYD” is a 3-D animation film, which lives up to its tag of a 3-D film. As far as Animation Films go, this one is up there with the best of them.

HTTYD is about this clan of Vikings which hunt and kill dragons. According to them Dragons are vile creatures that have the sole motive of killing their kin, so Dragons are their sworn enemies. But one little kid, who is now being trained to kill dragons, never understands why he has to kill them. He comes across this injured unknown legendary dragon and starts developing a friendship with it. So now he starts understanding Dragons and how they are not so devilish afterall. Does he manage to make others understand? What are the challenges and how he tackles them? That’s what the rest of the film is about. And what a great ride it is !

You expect a DreamWorks production to have amazing Animation, and the film does not disappoint you with its quality. What you are not sure of is the story, characters and the screenplay. And that is where the movie scores. It has a touching story, an engaging story/characters and a gripping screenplay. The background score elevates the impact. The film is not just for the kids; it’s for the kid in all of us. The 3-D impact of the movie is much higher than a movie like Avatar which could have been enjoyed as much in 2-D. Also, the voice overs by the likes of Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Gerard Butler and Jonah Hill are excellent.

So what are you waiting for? Go for the 3-D version and do not wait for a DVD if you love animation films. Even if you don’t like animation films, go for it, you might start liking them ! This movie is simply 3-Delicious. Bon-appétit.

Rating : 8 / 10 - awesome :)

Movie Review - Wall-E - Spot ON....

Rating : 7 / 10

My say : Awesome

A big Bow to PIXAR before I start my review. If there would be a height of cretivity, I would name it Pixar. Wall-E is an exceptional and endearing animated film with a message. And it delivers its message in such a funny and enjoyable but hard hitting way, that it entertains and educates at the same time.

Its about this Tiny Robot which is assigned to clean the planet while the humans are enjoying on a fully automated space craft. He is alone and has just a cockroach for company. He carries out his work day in and day out, untill one day an unexpected visitor is sent to the earth's surface. he falls in love with the state of art new robot "EVA". This triggers an adventure of galactic proportions.

The movie touches serious issues like "Pollution" and "Lifestyle Disorders -Obesity" in a humourous but touching way. Its amazingly cute and you will simple fall in love with Wall-E. Bachchey , Boodhey aur Jawaan will love it equally. Throng to the theaters,,,, quick....

Movie Review: Kung Fu Panda - Simply "Fat"abulous....

Genre: Animated

Rating: 7 / 10

Dreamworks..Works like a Dream. Maybe they havent had the box office success as Pixar, but their work is at par. Shrek, of Dreamworks, is amongst my top 2 animated films, after Ice Age. Its become impossible to distinguish Animated movies on their quality of animation, because these 2 studios have almost perfected their art. With the level of precision and detailing, they have virtually created an alternate - beautiful and magical universe, which seems as real as ours.

Kung Fu Panda is amazing. The animation is fantabulous, which goes without saying. What makes is even more spectacular is the storyline and the dialogues. Its funny, witty and extremely engaging. Its about this "Fat" Panda who lives in china and sells noodles, untill he is chosen as the "THE ONE" who will destroy the greatest villian alive. You got the see the fight sequences to believe them. Seriously - awesome. Our hero cant even climb 5 steps without panting, let alone do KUNG FU. Its about how he starts believing in himself and how he finally defeats his nemesis! hehehehe.. its very funny!

I suggest , log on to the website of a theater and book a ticket "Turant- fauran- abhich- now" hehehehe.. I am still laughing.. He is so cute :) Go get Po! .. I mean .. oN yOUR mARK, gET sET PO!!!!

Wall-e

This is story of a robot on earth who diligently do it’s chore of cleaning up the mess created by a big co-operate which has turned earth into a dump yard and harbored all people into a spaceship. It then falls in love with a “probe robot”. Like a true lover it takes a on a long journey of winning its love and setting lots of things right in this course.

The movie is worth a watch for many reasons the most important being that we have seen stories of mouse and bee and fish and monsters…but this is a fairy tale of a robot. The idea conceptualization, detailing, graphics are all as per expectations from PIXER.

One thing that the movie lacks is a pace. It dwells on scenes so that people can absorb the detailing, but its takes away the zing from the movie. Also like the Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the movie over stress on the lead couple and emotion of love.

It’s a highly imaginative piece of work which one can appreciate more than get entertained

My Rating : 2.5/5

Amazing movie "RATATOUILLE"

PIXAR clearly differentiated itself from all others by getting top of the animated film category; with the help of “RATATOULLE”. The amazing film I have ever seen in animated film category. This is indeed the great combination of the animation and indigenous ideas.

This is a story of rat ‘Remy’ who help to revamp the slothful restaurants of ‘Gusteau’.

Remy used to live with his colony of rats in one house, when house owner come to know about rat colony, he makes them to leave the area. During this mess Remy gets separated from his colony. Remy has a very good sense of smell, and he was using that sense to save colony from rat killer poisons. He became very fond of the recipe by ‘Gusteau’, he used to read that.

When Remy was alienated from his colony, he had that recipe book by ‘Gusteau’ with him. Then ‘Gusteau’ talks with Remy as a spirit form. Then ‘Gusteau’ guides Remy to go to his restaurant and use his talent since he already read the book.

There he finds the garbage boy, who doesn’t have any knowledge about cooking. Then with help of his gift of incredible sense of smell he makes a wonderful soup, and it becomes hit, meanwhile this garbage boy get that this soup was made by Remy, that little chef. Then Remy agrees to help garbage boy for cooking in Gusteau’s kitchen.

Then the way he controls the action of garbage boy, is amazing. Plot is the best animated plot and it resembles far better than Ice-age series. Then sequence goes on like

Friendship…finest cooking…getting praised…jealousy….love…something like climax…..family…colony…food…..rats cooking for human beings….successful Gusteau’s restaurant......................................................Don't miss it.

Animated movie lovers, don't miss the movie.

“Anyone can cook” “Not everyone can become great artist but great artist can come from anywhere”

The Simpsons Movie - Dough!!! its Sumptuous!

Rating : 7 Doughnuts --- outta 10... Homer ate away the other 3!!!

The blog seemed incomplete without the review of the movie I was so eagerly awaiting. And because of the tussle between the Warner Brother Hot heads and Multiplexes, my anticipation was further accentuated!!! But phynalllllllyyyyyyyyyyy I got to see the Simpsons in action today and I must say my expectation was neither unjustified nor my anticipation sullied. Homer lived up to his pitiful, idiotic, and clumsy self! For me, Homer can do no GOOD anyways J and nobody is a better LOSER…. This guy is the pits (Don’t worry he likes it there.. might even start stealing and eating worms from dogs, down there)

So, the Movie is all about HOMER screwing up again (Like hell he wont!!!) But, this time its one of the biggest screw-ups in the history of Homer screw-ups. Yes, I went through the 363 Billion screw-ups of Homer till date!!! This time he manages to pollute his SPRINGFIELD so bad that the town is literally domed out from this world by the US government. While the whole town bays for Homer’s blood, Homer is busy Hammering his eye, playing with a pig, thinking of doughnuts! What ensues is Homers escape from the bottled town and return to save it from being annihilated. :) You know Homer will goof up big time again to save the day.

What makes this movie live up to the expectations is that it stays as unconventional and controversial as it always has been. What makes it a success is that Homer – the guy with a Pea sized brain (Don’t tell him, he will eat it) - keeps you in splits with his non-stop buffoonery. What makes it so awesome is the Brattish Brat still loves exploding stuff, playing king size pranks on his Dumb-father. What makes it loveable is that Simpson’s never seem to surprise to the levels they can stoop.

A special round of applause for the creators and the outstanding ‘Dan Castellaneta’ for lending his voice to Homer. The creators show ingenuity of the highest order – to come up with the most brilliant jokes. The movie is an extension of the TV show. It always was and still remains wild and whacky. What differentiates the movie from the TV show is that it doesn’t end in 20 minutes and that we see Homer hogging and goofing up on big screen – that’s the only difference. Is’nt that just great :). If you are a Homer Fan, and if you are missing this one – then may Itchy and scratchy come and explode you into smithereens.

My Friend Ganesha

Rating 6/10

I happened to watch this movie with my lil niece.When did we last see an animated movie.We did catch glimpses of animation in Raju Chacha,Hum Tum..but the most successful one has been Hanuman.

Story: The movie shows a family comprising of Father(Aditya),Mother(Aarti),Son(Ashu).
The parents are very busy in their daily chores and the child feels lonely.His only friend is the maid (Gangu Tai) in the house.The child happens to rescue a mouse in the rain and he is told by his maid that the mouse is Ganesha's pet.Now the child gets interested and the maid narrates the story of Ganesha to him.The maid tells him that Ganesha can be your friend.
After sometime the family suffers from a crisis.The maid convinces the family to get Ganesha home.As soon as Ganesha comes in the house all good things start happening,the child is happy and the family comes out of the crisis.

My Review: Well a simple story indeed but what stands out is the animation.The interaction between Ganesha and the Child is the USP of the movie.However,I as a viewer could not digest few things like the Father having problems at work,father's sister being blackmailed by her boyfriend;these things were rather vaguely presented.
The film targets little children but to leverage that advantage the movie must have released during the summer vacations and the advertising campaign should have been more aggressive.
Overall a fun movie to watch and my niece laughed a lot and enjoyed every bit of the movie with the pop corn falling all over the place.