Fantastic Four (2015) - A build up with a slow and shaky start

Fantastic Four (2015 film) is nowhere close to a Marvel film, with no quirkiness, almost no humour, no rogue superheroes, no insane / wow action sequences and not too long run time. The good thing about the film is the acting by all the actors - Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Miles Teller, Jamie Bell. There are a few scenes that add a bit humour and a Marvel touch to this otherwise very meh storyline. Like seriously inter-dimensional travel? How many films that have released in the past 2 years have had this thing called "other dimension". I think the subject has been exploited enough to just give a break.
Director Josh Trank (Wikipedia tells me he directed Chronicle - sci-fi film) has done justice to the script that was given to him and he could have done worse but thankfully not. It lacks every other element of the Marvel film thus ruining it.
But if you check history, Fantastic Four films have always received negative reviews and low ratings and the franchise has been one of the lowest grossing in the Marvel Entertainment saga. I think more than anyone else 20th Century Fox should take lessons from this fiasco and in future not arm-twist creative individuals to create something that the former has no idea about.
I have absolutely no regret of watching this film because the performances were good even if the story lacked the punch. It lacked everything, from action sequences that will make the audience go wow to dialogues which lack originality.
It is still not clear whether Fantastic Four will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe (I think it should join), but if it does, then it will be awesome and then watching this film considering this as a build up to the big event in the future isn't bad at all. This is the 3rd time the character of Doctor Doom has been portrayed although the 1st film never released in theatres, and I think there's a lot that this franchise deserves and it can be better with the sequel.
(Surprisingly, this film has an even lower IMDb rating than this week's Bollywood release All Is Well)

Manjhi: The Mountain Man - Excitement killed by expectations

The story of Dashrath Manjhi's life is really inspirational. Losing your loved one at an early stage of life and then dedicating your life for cause you believe in (but stupid for the society), fulfilling the promise you made to your loved one. Really inspiring life of beating all odds and overcoming all challenges and being a revolution.
That's a short description of Dashrath Manjhi, who is an inspiration for this film. And to have Nawazuddin Siddiqui play the character of such a man works for the film. Nawazuddin Siddiqui's presence on screen is the strongest point in the film. But Radhika Apte's character as Falguni Devi doesn't have much screen time. But that's just how it is.
I was excited to watch this film for many reasons - Dashrath Manjhi,  hype around the film, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Radhika Apte, Ketan Mehta's direction. Everything will work for the film and help it recover its cost and Manjhi will be called a success. But, is it a great film? My answer is - No. The entire film suffers due to Bollywoodization (that is not a word, but you get what I mean) of the story. The 1st half suffers more than the 2nd half. At a little over 2 hours (2 hours and 5 minutes to be exact), I feel there was a scope for a lot that could have been focused on, rather than rushing through his (Manjhi's) life. If not, the run time could have been around 1 hour 45 minutes.
I know people have vivid, weird imagination but Dashrath Manjhi's dreams (in the film) were touching the skies and beyond. Manjhi (film) has a typical Ketan Mehta touch to it, which is a good thing and also bad. Ketan Mehta's touch works for the film's portrayal of the friction between Manjhi and the society (including politics, family and friends). But it goes a bit off track when the film switches to the flashback scenes. The music is good. Just when you try to establish a connect with Manjhi's character, the film ruins it by bringing in the Bollywood element.
My expectations were high from this film, but I was a bit disappointed with the approach taken and the treatment given to this life adaptation. So if you are a fan of Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Radhika Apte or Ketan Mehta's films, then you can watch this.

All Is Well - There is a message in there somewhere

I don't know what was going on in the director's mind when he first decided to direct All Is Well. Directed by Umesh Shukla, the film isn't long at all. The run time being just a little over 2 hours (2 hours 7 minutes to be exact), All Is Well is an effort gone wrong. The characters are inspired by real life people, like you and me. And the same can be said for the story. But what went wrong is the simplicity and the whole Bollywood drama in a way that the film presents itself.
Rishi Kapoor plays a character that is someone you'll hate initially but later will start to like. Supriya Pathak doesn't have much dialogues but is convincing and good in her character. Asin's presence on the screen is a little more than blink and miss but again, her character doesn't have much dialogues. Surprise of the film is Abhishek Bachchan, who has acted well and you really connect with the character he plays at some level.
The film has a bit of fun element, few funny and emotional moments but overall doesn't connect with the audiences because of the simplistic nature of the script, at times forced-humour filled dialogues and unnecessary songs. Umesh Shukla also directed OMG - Oh My God! starring Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal. After you know that bit of information, you'll seriously say WTF! for this film. I'm not saying that the direction of All Is Well is bad, but just that he could have just refused to direct it because of the script's nature. Even though it's just a little over 2 hours, it feels boring and a drag at times. The music is good but the songs are unnecessary. The acting by all actors is good and Abhishek Bachchan is the only one to look out for in this film.
Should you watch it or not? My answer would be - you can decide for yourself if you wish to see a film with a message in there somewhere but filled with (at times) uninspiring dialogues, simple script inspired by common daily life with a Bollywood take on it.
(Tell me which Dhaba in India offers you the service of watching someone perform a song and dance sequence while you eat Butter Chicken and Naan. Forget Sonakshi Sinha's song, but try listening to the Hafte Mein Chaar Shanivaar song, I'm sure we all wish we had that many Saturdays in a week.)

Drishyam - The suspense will keep you hooked on

I have to say that I haven't seen the Malayalam film (by the same name) and Papanasam (Tamil film), so I can't really compare the three. But from what I've heard, the Malayalam version was the best.
But this review is about the Hindi film, so lets focus on that.
The film stars Ajay Devgn, Shriya Saran, Tabu, and Ishita Dutta (Googled and found that she's Tanushree Dutta's sister) in the lead. Directed by Nishikant Kamat, Drishyam starts at a normal pace but picks up towards the end of 1st half. The story, the suspense will keep you hooked on. The film has its brains at the right place. The locations, the dialogues, the background score blend in perfectly. Drishyam is Avinash Arun's next film as cinematographer after Masaan and it's a brilliant work with the camera. The suspense is something that does not get revealed till the very end. Brilliant piece of writing and direction.
Vishal Bhardwaj's music also complements the entire story. Nishikant Kamat returns to direction after Lai Bhaari and have to say his direction is brilliant. This film is something that deserves all your attention. If you blink, you'll miss. It's got the perfect blend of every human emotion weaved into it and at the right time. The controversy surrounding the Malayalam version might have helped in this film's promotion as well.
There has not been such a sensible Hindi film in a long time. And I don't think there'll be one in a long time to come. Good drama, thriller, suspense and brilliant acting by the lead actors. We are not used to seeing Ajay Devgn playing a common man and in a role that doesn't involve over-the-top humour and unnecessary stunts and so this is a complete surprise. The last time Ajay Devgn played a common man was in Himmatwala, and we all know what a disaster that film was.
Drishyam is not to be missed, I repeat not to be missed for anything. It's a must must watch.

Masaan - The movie that you shouldn't miss for anything

Masaan is Neeraj Ghaywan's first full length film as a director.  Set in Banaras, the movie follows 2 stories that converge at a later stage. Richa Chadda as Devi Pathak, and Sanjay Mishra as Vidyadhar Pathak (Richa's father), are convincing in their roles and their struggle and acting feels real.
Vicky Kaushal as Deepak Chaudhary, and Shweta Tripathi as Shaalu, are the other half of the story. Masaan has the right amount of every element that makes a perfect film - love, society, sexual encounter, relationships, death. The film wonderfully explores love and relationships in small-town in modern India. The constant struggle faced by people who want to explore their lives and be free of the burden of the society and its rules.
The dialogues, the music and the locations blend in a perfect way to create a cinematic experience that will leave you with lots of emotions. It will make you smile, it will make you cry, it will make you feel the pain and suffering of the actors and their characters. (Song) Mann Kasturi Re by Indian Ocean is a soulful composition.
Avinash Arun, Cinematographer of this film is the Director of Killa (Marathi film), and deserves the credit for the amazing camera work and portraying Banaras and the banks of river Ganga in a picturesque way. Neeraj Ghaywan's hardwork has really paid-off in a big way. To take a risk of making a movie where the actors are in a complete de-glamourized way is a big achievement in itself.
Massan, being an Indo-French co-production got a Cannes showing before it was released in India and that also added to the much hype around the film. It also won 2 awards at the said film festival. Masaan will leave you with emotions and thoughts that will shape your thinking of the society and encourage you to take a deeper look at the happenings in the country.
This film is not to be missed for anything and truly, it is not your average cinema to be ignored.

Ant-Man - A typical Marvel superhero movie but...

A guy who thinks he knows everything but his wife along with their daughter has left him for a better man who happens to be a cop. The guy who calls himself a cat burglar but gets caught by the police for stealing and when he's out of prison he doesn't have a job, or a home, almost no money and stays at his friend's apartment suddenly happens to find a (superhero) suit as he's the chosen one to save the world.
This film has lots of references to other films. Some of the dialogues seem unoriginal and at time boring. But what's good about Ant-Man is Paul Rudd's and Michael Douglas' acting. (Don't remember the last film I saw which had Paul Rudd in it but this one might just be the one which gives him more films.) Michael Peña brings in the comedy to this one and is funny.
Peyton Reed has done a good job with this one; especially the two scenes where the characters discuss about the job they got to do. Ant-Man has received a Marvel superhero film treatment but still at times you will feel the lack of it. But this may be the case similar to Captain America: The First Avenger and it can get better in the next one. Or maybe not. We'll have to wait for that.
We know what Marvel is trying to do with the entire portfolio of superhero comics and movies under its umbrella and in the process will hit some lows (this film is not that but given the expectations it will feel like one). At 2 hours, Ant-Man feels like a tiny bit stretched couple of times. But overall, good fun to watch as a standalone superhero movie.

I suggest you watch the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: The Winter Soldier before watching this one.
Also wait till the End and the end End (after the credits are over) to get a sense of what you can expect from the next film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan - Sense + Salman

Before I start, let me tell you that this review is not for Bhai fans.
So here it goes...

It's not like Salman hasn't done movies that have sense and logic but it's also not like all his movies have sense and logic. Bajrangi Bhaijaan is a bit of both sense & logic (a bit more because it's a Kabir Khan film) and nonsense & no logic.
Let's talk about acting first.
Harshaali Malhotra's character was like "Bin Kahe Bahut Kuch Keh Gaya". Even without the dialogues her character spoke so much about the scenes and about her capabilities as a child actor. She deserves all the attention. Nawazuddin Siddiqui once again proves why he is what he is today. Brilliant acting as always. Kareena Kapoor doesn't have much screen time but isn't boring when she is on screen. Salman Khan - for many will be a surprise package but not for those who have watched Jai Ho. He's definitely improved, changed, and that's visible clearly.
Now on to the dialogues, lyrics, and story.
I'm not going to list all the names of people because that'll make this post too long but everyone associated with the departments mentioned above have done the best they could have to keep the dialogues, lyrics, and story somewhat relevant to today's times.
Now on to Direction.
Kabir Khan yet again delivers a different kind of film with Salman Khan. Nicely shot at wonderful locations in Rajasthan and Kashmir.
I know there are many who don't like Salman and his films and this film will not change your perception about him on a great scale. But I suggest you watch the film for the world we can never have because of politics and politicians. And also watch it for Harshaali Malhotra who definitely is the star of the movie. I liked Bajrangi Bhaijaan and yes I have become a bit more of a Salman fan now.