Language: English

Genre: Drama/Suspense/Fantasy

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine, Christian Bale, Scarlett Johansson, Piper Perabo, Rebecca Hall.

Direction: Christopher Nolan

Reasons to watch: Exploration into the evil side of the human mind, complex mind-boggling games, interesting plot.

Reasons not to: The description of magic tricks and the repetition of scenes may be boring for some people.

Storyline: A leading stage magician returns from a three year hiatus, with a wonderful new trick to capture the minds of the London audience. As he performs one of his shows, he is killed and a rival magician is charged with his murder.

From there on, the story traces the journey of the two magicians since the time they worked together under a senior magician to being intense rivals finding a chance to kill each other. We are taken through sequences of dark plots that the scheming magicians hatch to outdo each other. Set in the 19th century, the story follows a captivating cycle of murder, ambition, love, betrayal and another murder to keep you on the edge.

Climax Handling: The climax builds slowly, stretching the audience’s anticipation well.The unraveling of a dark theme is finely handled.

Points: Vivid portayal of a stage magician’s world, power packed acting performance.

Overall Rating: 9/10

Comment: A must watch for all who once believed in magic.

Language: English/Mandarin

Genre: Action/Adventure/Comedy/Fantasy/Romance

Cast: Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Michael Angarano, Collin Chou, Crystal Liu Yi Fei.

Direction: Rob Minkoff

Reasons to Watch: Jackie Chan – Jet Li together, spellbinding Kung-fu action sequences. You want to keep watching!!

Reasons not to: Irrational story, many unexplained events.

Storyline: A young, Kung-fu obsessed American teen, Jason (Michael Angarano) finds a legendary weapon in a Chinatown pawnshop – the Staff of the Monkey King (Jet Li). All of a sudden, Jason finds himself transported to ancient China, where his mission is to return the staff to the Monkey King, so as to release him from a 500 year old curse of the evil Jade Warlord (Collin Chou). Jason teams up with a drunken Kung-fu master, Lu Yan (Jackie Chan); an accomplished Monk (Jet Li); and the gorgeous, vengeance-driven, Kung-Fu girl, Golden Sparrow (Crystal Liu Yi Fei). Together, they set off on a nebulous path to free the Monkey King; defying deserts, bounty-hunters and the Jade-warriors on their way.

Climax Handling: It could have been much better than this. It’s kind of rushed sequence.

Points: Amazing scenery, especially the bamboo forest, terrific fight-scene animations

Rating: 7.5/10

Comment: Perfect for a complete family entertainment. It has something for everyone and breezes through the entire 133 minutes!

Language: Hindi

Genre: Mafia, Action, Drama

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, K.K.Menon, Katrina Kaif, Supriya Pathak

Reasons to Watch: Vintage Ram Gopal Verma stuff, stunning performances, a gripping tale quite close to The Godfather. Francis Ford Coppola would have felt proud.!

Reasons not to: If you are too obsessed with The GodFather, Al Pacino and Marlon Brando.!(Do not compare this movie with the original masterpiece, this is a ‘declared’ inspiration, superbly adopted to the Indian way of life, and not a cheap rip-off)

Director: Ram Gopal Verma

Music: Sandeep Chowta creates a dark, brooding background score with “Govinda govinda…” haunting the screen time and again.

Storyline: Subhash Nagre (Amitabh Bachchan) – popularly known as Sarkar - is a wealthy and influential person in Mumbai, who does the ‘wrong things for the right reasons’ and imparts justice to the down-trodden and the helpless, being on the wrong side of the law. Still he is too powerful and politically connected and has a strong army of goons and support of the masses(read: Vote Bank). He has two sons, a foreign educated, Shankar Nagre (Abhishek Bachchan) and the ‘black sheep of the family’. Vishnu Nagre. Enter a drug dealer, ,Rashid (Zakir Hussain), who needs Sarkar’s help to operate. Sarkar refuses to allow this trade in his region and what follows is a tale of violence, betrayal and killing, which leaves Sarkar bruised and broken, his family and his power weakened. Shankar, then rises to the occasion, restoring his Father’s influence and respect, eliminating his enemies and becoming the next ‘Sarkar’.

Climax Handling: Climax is gripping yet predictable, but with a twist in the tale

Points: This is the closest any director can get to The GodFather, several have tried and failed miserably, watch it for the impeccable acting, cast and screenplay

Overall Rating: 8/10

Comment: If you have been disappointed by Ram Gopal Verma lately(AAG rings a bell..!) It reaffirms your faith in the director and also lays the groundwork for his sequel Sarkar 2, releasing soon in June.

Language: English

Genre: Drama/Biography

Cast: Denzel Washington, John Hannah, Vicellous Reon Shannon

Direction: Norman Jewison

Music: Bob Dylan, Boyz II Men

Reasons to watch: Denzel Washington..!(You need another reason..?)

Reasons not to: Distortion of facts though the movie claims to be based on a ‘true story’, slow pace and only a passing reference to boxing.

Story: Rubin Carter is an African-American who despite a troubled youth, became a top contender for the middle-weight boxing title and came to be known as ‘The Hurricane’. However, ‘The Hurricane’ is suddenly accused of a triple murder, and is convicted to three life terms. His efforts to prove his innocence, through his autobiography and multiple appeals prove futile until one day, when an African-American boy reads his book and he along with his Canadian mentors strive for his freedom. However, this struggle isn’t easy and a severe racial tussle lies ahead of them. How they overcome the obstacles that lie in their way is what the movie is all about.

Points: This movie deals with racism but is lopsided, and though some parts and characters are very unrealistic, the movie is largely believable.

Rating: 7/10

Comment: Denzel Washington makes it up for everything else though this isn’t his best too. Forget the facts to enjoy the movie..! (listen to Bob Dylan’s ‘the story of the hurricane’ after you finish with the movie)