Pawn (2013)

This movie proves that big budget and big stars are not always the key factors of making an action thriller good. What make this one good are the plot and the flow. It’s another suspense thriller that evolves around some events that takes place within a short time period. Once the background is set the whole story is one straight ride but it has few good twists to spice it up. It’s violent but it’s not overly gory either. Violence is used up the correct volumes just like the language. All in all it has a happy start and a happy ending with some good thrills in between.

Pawn (2013) 3/5

The Other Son (2013) | "Le fils de l'autre" (original title)

If you’re looking for a touching and never before tested story line and amazingly natural performances, then look no further. This is the movie you have to see. It speaks of a theme so emotional that some of you with children might find it heart breaking yet so loving. And teenagers out there will feel this movie entirely in a different way with much enthusiasm towards its characters. Speaking of characters they will live in your mind for many days struggling for a justification from you. Overall it’s the story of families, parenthood and childhood and the unconditional love that binds them. No matter which part of the world or what religion and race you belongs to this movie will sink right down to your heart. Guaranteed!

The Other Son (2013) | "Le fils de l'autre" (original title) 4/5

Quartet (2013)

Quartet is an absolutely beautiful movie filled with fantastic classical music and subtle yet memorable performances by veteran performers. The one thing that makes it adorable is the lively energy that music breaths in to it. Perhaps this is the most wonderful collection of classical music show cased in a recent film. From start to very end the journey through music and witty script indeed is bliss to experience. And it flows like a river in its smoothest passages. 

Quartet (2013) 3.5/5

Beautiful Creatures (2013)

Seriously I have no idea where to categorize this one. It looks like some ‘Twilight’ type fantasy movie but when it comes to cinematography and animation some TV series is way better than this. Maybe I’m done believing in romantic movies that involved people or creatures with super powers. They don’t work anymore. And this is trying to do the same old formula once again and from my perspective it doesn’t worth the 2 hours spent from your life. I’m pretty certain that some girls are hating me right now for writing this!

Beautiful Creatures (2013) 2/5

Side Effects (2013)

Seldom comes a movie that has the capacity to keep you engaged with sheer enthusiasm and make you believe in something that a twist would destroy it completely. Most psychological thrillers has this quality but not all makes it to the winning point with good energy. But this one sure is one of such fantastic psychological thrillers that put you in a tight spot. You get to choose between several people, several theories, understand them and make choices. While doing it you may solve some puzzles and some remains unsolved until the movie solves them at the end. This is a very smart and clever thriller that will twist your mind over and over.     Very impressive cast, flow and everything else.

Side Effects (2013) 3.5/5

Safe Haven (2013)

Mix of romance and thrill has being an age old concept in cinema. Some movies do it best while some sucks. This one does it ‘ok’ but not really to the point where you can remember it for long. What I liked about it is the setting. Nice country side, small town and friendly people, little humor here and there. But the thrill part is a bit exaggerated at one point and when you thought it’s going to have an awesome ending something drastically goes wrong. I don’t wanna say what it is and spoil your enthusiasm but I didn’t agree on the final few minutes which suppose to have a thumping twist to the story. But lover will love this movie.

Safe Haven (2013) 2.5/5

Parker (2013)

Stathom is the best new age action star with a good heart. Somewhat the same image when it comes to the Indian masala action star and the local bajar eke chandia. He is bad. But bad for the bad guys only. He tries his best to be bad but not to harm the innocent by his actions. Parker has the same narrative and has nothing exceptional in the story or the acting. And it has less volumes of action as well. But for the movie lovers who need some adrenaline rush it is a good joy ride. And you can’t leave Lopez out if you know what I mean. Double delight!

Parker (2013) 2.5/5

Starlet (2013)

Starlet is a simple, straight forward and an interesting piece of contemporary cinema. It does not have high budget actors or heavy investment to be boasted about. But it has a wonderful story line that grips the viewer well throughout. It takes some time for the pieces to fall in to one place. But the message it carries is quite beautiful. Starlet is about people and how they react to things which happen to them unexpectedly. This concept is tested from points of different people. Including people who are young and restless to people who are old and hopeless. On the whole it’s a thought provoking movie and most probably a second viewing is deserved after sometime. 

Starlet (2013) 3.5/5

Upstream Color (2013)

While its very complicated to be completely fathomed after a single viewing and even harder to categorize in genre to be a science fiction or a fantasy, Upstream Color could be one of the most impressively mind boggling piece of cinema I have seeing lately. I watched this few days back but still I spend few minutes a day trying to understand the complete depth of this wonderful piece. To start with it has a unique storyline that is never touched from what I have seeing previously. Then the style of storytelling will instantly put the viewer in to a trance and up until the end it’s just a continuous magical flow. There are so many unanswered questions and unsolved puzzles left with the ending. But for some reason you still feel much relieved. Rest assured that this type of movies doesn’t come to light often. And it cannot be repeated.

Upstream Color (2013) 4/5

Desert Flower (2011)

For fans with interest in photography and modeling this movie might feel glamorous and elegant. But for woman out there they will definitely feel something completely horrific.  This movie is not the perfect blend of horror and glamour but it does a very good job. There are some lose ends in the plot and moments of poor cinematography. But as a story coming to life with true events it is one powerful film. And definitely not the kind of movie you get to see often. 

Desert Flower (2011)  3/5

Time (2006) "Shi gan" (original title)

I have not come across a movie by Ki-Duk Kim which is a letdown. Being one of genius movie makers of our generation this is another mind melting drama from him. Though the true meaning of Time cannot be written loudly in a short review like this all I can tell is that beauty can be deceiving. Some largely believe that being beautiful is the true key to a happy life and relationship but Time proves that it is a dangerous path to be obsessed by it. At one point the movie will drill right in to your nerves and make you bleed. And that’ what true movie makes can do even without touching you.

Time (2006) "Shi gan" (original title) 4/5

Last Stand (2012)

Who would have thought that Arnie can burn some serious tires on screen? And here he is jacked with adrenaline and impeccable attitude that gets the job done. Guns and bullets is not the best of this flick. For me it’s the rides and the driving. There is a sense of mysteriousness and high speed pumped up flammable sensations behind those wheels. This movie is not the best action flick this year so far. But it certainly is not the worst.

Last Stand (2012)

The Promised Land (2012)

All I wanted to see was some corporate drama, environmental issues and defeat. But frankly speaking this movie delivered more than I expected. It has some interesting characters and lot of corporate politics that makes sense. And a movie that sets in a small town and amongst scenic beauty of the countryside look much better than ones in the big cities. Maybe the ending is not what most of us can agree upon or a very bold move by the main character but nobody can argue saying that it’s a fairy tale ending. Someday somebody has to rise up to the cause after all.

The Promised Land (2012)

Jack Reacher (2012)

There is something in the name. Jack Reacher has bit of resemblance to Jack Bauer from the TV 24 not by the looks but by the attitude and character. Though Reacher is not entirely an intense filled character like Bauer this movie is somewhat entertaining. And Cruise does his job just as the fans would expect. While the start and the plot is gripping and entertaining the final half becomes a bit dull, predictive and what can I say lame. But it doesn’t leave you with bad memories after all. There is some good detective work, fancy cars and car chases that can keep the fans tight while it lasts. 

Jack Reacher (2012) 2.5/5

The Company You Keep (2012) 2.5/5

How it starts and how it flows up to a certain point is quite entertaining and thrilling. But after sometime, things become shallow and less exciting. Maybe I expected too much when Redford is in the cast alongside Labeouf. They both have done some promising thrillers in the past. Or maybe I already have seeing better movies that speak of similar plots that made more punch. Whichever it is the final verdict is that good first half not so good second half. 

The Company You Keep (2012) 2.5/5

Take me Home Tonight (2011)

Though the humor is quite good this can be categorized as another romantic comedy with no exceptions. It does have many witty lines wrapped up in a usual love story. And a couple and their friends that makes the plot spicier. Other than the light minded viewing and the ample amount of laughs its nothing much. Recommend it for leisure viewing and for fans looking for love and laughs but nothing serious.

Take me Home Tonight (2011)

“La lengua de las mariposas” (Butterfly) 1999 (Spanish)

If you ever expected this to be a movie for children best to leave that though right where you imagined it. This movie would magically transform the viewer to their childhood and give them an opportunity to relive it over and over via many memorable moments. And even to live some wonderful moments that you have missed while being a child. Still the story that runs underneath is not so dreamy or flamboyant. And that moment when all the bitterness unravels the viewer would be silent like a dead log not knowing what to say. This is a movie for adults played by children and reminding what ugly creatures they become when they grow up. 

“La lengua de las mariposas” (Butterfly) 1999 (Spanish) 4/5

In the Land of Blood and Honey (2011)

I respect the fact that Angelina Jolie has taken a deep look at the war torn backdrop of the Bosnian war and actually came up with a script that makes some sense. But still comparing with ample amount of movies based on wars and conflicts this miserably fails to make a mark. Other than the considerably high production value and the mind shattering brutality filled scenes the love story that suppose to be the heartbeat of the whole movie seems to be making less sound. I was hoping to see a climax that would prove me wrong but guess this is not one of those movies.

In the Land of Blood and Honey (2011) 2/5