The Great Gatsby Movie Review

The Great Gatsby Movie Review

Ratings:2/5  Review By:  Raja Sen Site:Rediff

The genuinely exasperating thing is, however, that this film indeed tries doggedly hard to capture the spirit of the book. Not just the vulgar excesses of Gatsby’s frequently flaunted wealth but also its sadness, its yearning. And while the visual circusry propels the first half of the movie to at least the level of an impressively exploding firework, the flourishes mostly dry up in the second half as Luhrmann tries to tell the story of a man and a woman with ill-judged restraint. The romance, told the way it is, comes across more infantile than fabulous.What he might not have approved of, though, is the way Luhrmann appropriates and trivialises those exquisite, immortal last lines from the novel. Just so his film can look at itself in the mirror and preen some more.

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Ratings:3.5/5  Review By:  Anupama Chopra Site:Star World

The Great Gatsby is basically Karan Johar meets Sanjay Leela Bhansali on an estimated 127 million dollar budget. Luhrmann’s vision is unapologetically over-the-top. He revels in artifice and big emotion, in frenzy and extravagance. If you like subtlety in your cinema, then this is not the film for you. For me, there was a lot to enjoy here.The Great Gatsby is too long and too loud but it is old-fashioned entertainment. Purists and minimalists would do well to stay away. I’m going with three and a half stars and recommending that you partake in this gargantuan fantasy.

Ratings:3.5/5  Review By:  Srijana Mitra Das  Site:TimesOfIndia (TOI)

Right up, Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby (TGG) is Hollywood's Devdas. Luhrmann's take on F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel is a beautiful bash - that lasts too long. On the upside, the music's super and the 3D - decorating dinners to orgies, advertisements gliding silkily along a taxi - stunning. His Gatsby is greedily gorgeous and occasionally sags, luxuriating in a 3D-theatric too many. Still, it showcases Fitzgerald's drama with flair - a society dancing on a knife's edge, where everyone drank and romanced too much, but you also heard an odd, wistful sigh - maar daala. Note: You may not like this movie if you don't like 3D-heavy literary adaptations.

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Ratings:2.5/5  Review By:  Tushar Joshi Site:DNA

If it wasn't a motion picture, then The Great Gatsby would have been a wonderful music video. There are two ways to enjoy Gatsby - one is by checking out the cool soundtrack and realising how amazingly it blends with a period so long ago ('1920'), and the second is to marvel at the sets and costumes. The film is a beginners guide to every wannabe art and costume designer. There are so many OTT moments that you will end up losing count.His much-talked-about project based on a literary classic is all dazzle but lacks soul. The length and pace of the second half make watching the film a tedious experience. Yes, it is stylish and there is colour and shimmer in every frame, but as the end credits roll all that you remember are Jay-Z and Lana Del Rey's melodic verses. And that doesn't bode too well for the film's reputation.

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Ratings:3/5  Review By:  Neha Pinto Site:Bookmyshow

The film retains a lot of the amoral energy of Lurhmann’s Romeo + Juliet. With The Great Gatsby, he plays story teller to the hilt. Although the novel from where the film is adapted, (F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic) was set in the 1920’s Luhrmann makes the film speak to the 21st century. And he does this by incorporating contemporary music which gives the film a familiar feel. The film does have an ending that’ll suck you into nothingness. However this doesn’t make it any less of a masterpiece, but only elevates it to higher levels of greatness.Verdict: The Great Gatsby is a spectacular film that pays a great homage to emptiness.

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Reluctant Fundamentalist Movie Review

Reluctant Fundamentalist Movie Review

Ratings:3/5  Review By:  Karan Anshuman  Site:Mumbai Mirror

Even though it has been well over a decade, The Reluctant Fundamentalist still has relevance. It says things the west needs to hear. I hope they do, I hope they get it. On this count, as a thought, Mira Nair could not have chosen a better subject. I suspect the subject chose her, really. But perhaps it is too subtle for this intention and will be far better understood in South Asia. Unfortunately, we already know all of this.

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Ratings:3/5  Review By:  Anupama Chopra Site:Star World

The Reluctant Fundamentalist is ambitious and uneven. Mira embellishes Changez’s story with a memorable soundtrack. But what doesn’t work as well is the flabby love story with a grossly miscast Kate Hudson and the tacked-on framing device of a thriller, which simply isn’t taut enough to be effective. I’m going with three stars for A Reluctant Fundamentalist. I recommend that you make time for the film. It moved me and I think it will move you too.

Ratings:3.5/5  Review By:  Renuka Vyavahare Site:Times of India

The beauty of the film lies in the depiction of its protagonist's unspoken words, suppressed emotions and unwavering beliefs. The incredibly talented Riz Ahmed enables the film to deconstruct the meaning of 'fundamentalism', which forms the core of the story. What leaves you in awe of the adapted screenplay is its brilliantly drawn parallels between Changez's personal, political and social situation. You feel his pain, vulnerability, denial, inner turmoil and psychological conflict. The film keeps you thoroughly engaged, even in parts where the pace drops a bit. While the film is more of a thriller, it doesn't cease to be a human drama, thanks to sublime supporting performances.Note: You may not like the film if films on religion and social reality are not your cup of tea.

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Ratings:3/5  Review By:  Shubhra Gupta Site:Indian Express

The films that have come out post-9/11 have been many and various, but Changez's conflicted individual at the centre of the narrative feels both vital and important. The film could have done with more finesse in the way it begins and ends, but there are enough subtle shifts in the main act to keep me with it. After Monsoon Wedding and The Namesake, The Reluctant Fundamentalist is Nair's most engaging work.

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Ratings:3.5/5  Review By:  Vaihayasi Pande Daniel Site:Rediff

But while you may ponder over the particular prism that Mira Nair chooses to look at these issues, you cannot doubt that The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a powerful, gripping/bold film, well worth a watch in the theatre. You may not agree with the film’s message but the message is worth knowing. There are plenty of touches in the film that warm you totally. For a desi, the most enriching moment of the film is when Khan, as an idealistic Lahore University professor, takes on the challenge of teaching a class full of youngsters of the importance of striving for the Pakistani Dream.

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Ratings:3/5  Review By:  Tushar Joshi Site:DNA

Despite the serious tone of the film, its length and the sketchy characters mar the end result from being anything but ordinary. The Reluctant Fundamentalist feels like a package delivered a little too late in the day. Not only have other film makers explored every possible angle and milked out all the possible conspiracy theories surrounding the incident, but the US versus the Muslim world debate seems too forced and rehashed. Fortunately that doesn't stop the cast from delivering the goods.Eventually, The Reluctant Fundamentalist ends up being yet another 9/11 inspired tale with all the expected ingredients, but we wish the film maker had engaged and challenged us a lot more like her previous efforts.

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Ratings:3/5  Review By:  Mohar Basu Site:Koimoi

What’s Good: The film preserves the mood of Mohsin Hamid’s book well. What’s Bad: A jerky screenplay ruptures the film’s flow multiple times all through.Watch or Not?: Mira Nair’s repertoire glistening with gems like Namesake and Monsoon Wedding is enough to evoke interest. However, The Reluctant Fundamentalist is not even close to being among her best works. With issues left unexplored and characters abandoned abruptly, the film is a desirable watch only for the landmark performance of Riz Ahmed and the grace with which he builds his character.

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Epic Movie Review

Epic Movie Review

Ratings:3/5  Review By:  Gavin Rasquinha Site:Times of India

A forest inhabited by tiny dwellers, an eccentric genius scientist obsessed with discovering their existence, and an estranged father-daughter relationship. These are some of the elements cobbled together in Epic. Yes, the ingredients are in place but somehow, it doesn't engage you at the emotional level that say, a Toy Story did. And neither does it present something truly unique as Wall-E did. Other than that, the film is adequate. It's sometimes slapstick, sometimes emotional, and funny at times. All in all though, the ambitiously-titled Epic is in fact anything but epic.

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Ratings:4/5  Review By:  Ankur Pathak Site:Rediff

The animated world of Epic is fantastically uplifting to watch; an awe-inspiring collage of creatures and scenery of tremendous beauty. So Epic contains all the familiar trappings, but is nonetheless immensely striking to watch. It may not be ground-breaking as far as the use animation is concerned, but packs a solid punch. The meticulous efforts invested by the makers must be honored by booking a seat in the multiplex for this epic ride. Like all good old fantasy films, Epic is a classic clash between the right and the wrong, between life and decay, between light and the dark.

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Angie's choice heroic: Brad Pitt

Los Angeles: Actress Angelina Jolie opted for a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of getting breast cancer and her partner Brad Pitt hails her decision calling it a "heroic step".

"Having witnessed this decision firsthand, I find Angie's choice, as well as many others like her, absolutely heroic. I thank our medical team for their care and focus," people.com quoted Pitt as saying.

"All I want is for her to have a long and healthy life, with myself and our children," he added. 

Jolie, 37, had to go for the surgery because genetic tests showed she had a high risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Her doctors estimated that she had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer. 

She lost her 56-year-old mother Marcheline Bertrand in 2007 due to ovarian cancer. (IANS)

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Kate Upton goes Vogue!

Kate Upton has gone from a Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover model to the front page of Vogue.

Upton tells Vogue that runway modeling is "not what I set out to do" and that she desires to front a major fashion campaign and maybe even launch her own lingerie line.

 

She also says she would like to continue acting. Upton has appeared in The Three Stoogesand Tower Heist. She's also got a part in an upcoming film called The Other Woman starring Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann.

Of her various goals she says, "I'm American - more is more!" This week, Upton attended the annual Met Ball in New York, which is hosted by Vogue.

The Vogue June issue goes on sale May 21.

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Star Trek Into Darkness Movie Review

Star Trek Into Darkness Movie Review

Ratings:4/5  Review By:  Gavin Rasquinha  Site:Times Of India (TOI)

The film will grab you from the opening shot and not let go. Despite a running time of over two hours, you won't feel as though you've been watching for that long because there's not a wasted nanosecond. Its pace is frenetic but not exhausting. J.J. Abrams sure knows how to make his films with style and the stunts in here are pretty awesome. Far from being superficial, the story and plot underscoring the breathtaking visual effects is solid. What you see is what you get, and this is one heck of a good entertainer. Don't miss it. Note: You may not like this film if you are not into Star Trek movies or fast-paced action/sci-fi films.

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Ratings:3/5  Review By:  Ankur Pathak  Site:Rediff

Spectacular in its own right, but ruefully short of the greatness of its predecessor, Star Trek Into Darkness is an enjoyable feast. The film has some remarkable set-pieces and Abrams admirable lens-flaring, which he employs as if to validate his directorial prowess (best utilisd in his last film, the brilliant Super 8) add an aesthetic sense to the visuals giving the finished product a glossy look. As the thrills predictably take over our collective senses, do we really feel the awe which we did after devouring Star Trek? As inevitable the comparison, it is rather unfair to the new film. Loyalists won’t be disappointed for sure, and the series may even inspire some new members.

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Ratings:--  Review By:  Nandini Ramnath  Site:Livemint

Apart from its nicely written characters and smart, conversational dialogue, the movie’s strength is Scott Chambliss’s chic, sleek, production design. Into Darkness is suffused with the kind of gadgetry that will probably inspire inventions by Google and Apple—seatbelts that taper onto the body like vines, floating hospital beds. The evocative sets and relentless action combine to provide a heady adventure for the most part, but the prolonged crash-bang climax and the attempt to provide emotional heft (Spock weeps!) indicate that nobody wants to take too many chances this time round.

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MUD Movie Review

MUD Movie Review

Ratings:3.5/5  Review By:  Gavin Rasquinha  Site:Times Of India (TOI)

A coming-of-age story with more than a few moments of menace, the film's languid pace matches the humid atmosphere of the Mississippi delta setting. The visuals are amazing, with a tinge of surrealism. The cinematography is lush and the dialogues deftly delivered. The Southern folks embody values like trust, a good work ethic, honesty and loyalty. Ellis is, however, the true hero of this film. Note: You may not like this film if you don't like stories about human relationships.

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Ratings:4/5  Review By:  Anupama Chopra  Site:Star World ( Hindustan Times)

Above all, Mud is a meditation on love. The way in which relationships between men and women curdle; how life has a way of disappointing people; and why, ultimately, love isn’t enough. Toward the end, Mud becomes a little pat and sentimental. But I think the characters and viewers earn themselves that last smile. I’m going with four stars. In places, the accent is tough to follow and the pace is slow. But have patience. This one is a beauty.

Ratings:4/5  Review By:  Ankur Pathak  Site:Rediff

As much as Nichols’ film deals with the collapse of a relationship, it also reflects the hopeful side of it, with a reassuring glimmer of hope. And more than just a story, the film, with its vivid landscape, also gives us insight into the simplistic way of life in the rural Southern America, one that is rooted in traditions yet is keenly desirous of the urban way of life. These various themes, incorporated with sensitivity and lyrical storytelling, make Mud a memorable and a moving film to watch.

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Simbu partners with Akon for Love Anthem

Simbu aka STR has tied up with international singer Akon for his ambitious Love Anthem, a music album focussing on global peace and unity. 

“Akon will be in Chennai for three days from May 6 to record and shoot for Love Anthem. Simbu is so thrilled to have Akon on board,” said sources.

Love Anthem has words from 96 languages and the album will underline the need to shower love and care on fellow human beings. STR is expected to launch the album at a grand function in Chennai soon.

Meanwhile, on the acting front, he is busy with two projects, Vettai Mannan, directed by Nelson, andVaalu helmed by Vijay, both newcomers.

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Iron Man 3 Movie Review

Iron Man 3 Movie Review

Ratings:4/5  Review By:  Renuka Vyavahare  Site:Times of India (TOI)

Black breathes new life into the franchise while retaining its trademark charm. He keeps the film vastly different from Jon Favreau's previous installments by adding his own brand of action-humour and twists. Black combines spectacular action, comedy and drama to get you entertained and emotionally invested in his characters.From the jaw-dropping attack on Stark's Malibu estate, his brand-new prehensile armour, to a mind-blowing airborne rescue scene, Iron Man 3 is every bit the superhero blockbuster you'd expect it to be. Just do not leave the theatre once the closing credits start rolling! Note: You may not like the film if you find solo super-hero films tedious post 'The Avengers'!

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Ratings:4/5  Review By:  Raja Sen  Site:Rediff

Yet what glorious clanging it is. Iron Man 3 boasts of the headiest of action setpieces, long and spectacular bits of movie wizardry dreamed up by grown men who like pushing their action figures to the limit. A lot of superhero movies look alike now, with increasingly incoherent action populating most of them, but this is a pleasure: these set-pieces feel like big, expansive, boastfully huge splash-pages. The kind of pages, also that don’t really need 3D conversion; I recommend you watch this film without the big glasses. From one True Believer to another, thank you, Shane Black. Iron Man has never soared higher.

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Ratings:3.5/5  Review By:  Tushar Joshi  Site:DNA

Iron Man 3 is funny, engaging, and has some really awesome action scenes. My biggest grouse about the film is its sloppy climax. We have the mandatory fireworks on display, but how about giving a closure or tying the loose ends of the plot before the big guns start blazing? Not only does the last half hour look rushed, but the Stark-Potts relationship deserved better handling. However, Iron Man 3 is a bonafide summer blockbuster that is your ticket to the most entertaining ride of the year so far.

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Ratings:3/5  Review By:  IANS  Site:NDTV

With characters culled from Marvel Comics, we know for sure that Iron Man 3 would be packed with spectacular action and nice razor sharp, witty lines. Iron Man 3 is the superhero's journey of finding the demons he created and destroying them. Jam-packed with humour and gags, there is no emotional connect with the characters. During the course of the narration, director Shane Black and his co-writer Drew Pearce have meandered from the graphic novel into subplots merging the sensibilities of the eighties and early nineties, thus making everything odd in the character's history. With a captivating finale, Iron Man 3 is a slick, inspired fantasy-adventure film that almost anyone can enjoy. Let's pray for the next edition to come soon.

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