Archive for June, 2008

Ready Movie Review— Brahmanandam makes it Enjoyable!

June 23, 2008 at 7:07 am · Filed under movienomics ·Tagged , , , , ,

After ‘Seenu’ had a not so good stay in ‘Dubai’, Mr. Seenu Vaitla this time is ready [read eager] to get this throne back as the director who can deliver lol comedy, sensitive emotions, and an interesting story all in one package. Although this time around, Seenu Vaitla is unable to deliver the above mentioned features to their fullest [like Anandam, Venky], he and his writers somehow succeed in presenting an enjoyable fare.

Chandu [Ram] is a cool dude in college ready for any challenge. Chandu is ready to help his friends get married by facilitating their elopement. In one such episode, Chandu and his gang take away Pooja (Genelia). However, Pooja is only too happy with this development as she too is being forced by her family in to her marriage. Chandu falls in love with Pooja [of course] and helps her escape from her family’s goons. The first half pretty much goes by without any interesting story, but Seenu Vaitla manages to keep the proceedings from getting boring. The second half is the when the movie gains momentum. Pooja is taken back by her family and kept in captivity. It is now up to Chandu to get ready with an idea to bring the warring families together, win their heart, and marry his lady love. It is in this journey that Chandu meets McDowell Murthy [Bhramanandam], a close friend, accountant, and tax consultant for the warring faction families in the seema area. Chandu cleverly uses Murthy to get close to the families and plays the game, which is full fun primarily because the fun uses Murthy as the center point. As Murthy, Brahmamandam with his expressions, not only has the audience in splits, but completely steals the show by eclipsing others.

On the flip side, the story has all the routine elements–faction backdrop, Sumo’s/Safari’s, Goondas etc. Thankfully, however, the director only uses these elements as the backdrop and does not get involved in detail with any of them. The climax too is spared of any unnecessary complications and fights. There are fights, which are unrealistic with full of string work and are not even necessary for this kind of movie; they are only there for the hero [it is his home production]. The songs are good. Genelia is cute, but somehow she doesn’t look that good in this film; perhaps she is too busy trying to look good for her Bollywood films! Overall, a strong second half and a brilliant portrayal of Brahmanandam makes the film a winner!

For those who enjoyed Dhee and have looked at it closely, will realize that Ready also is a close cousin of Dhee–in terms of the set-up: goons, an accountant [Brahmam], a youngster using the accountant to win the goon’s family girl etc. However, given the nonsense and crap Tollywood audience have been presented since April until now [read Jalsa, Kantri, Bujjigaadu, Parugu, Dasavatharam], Ready comes as a great releif. At least we can walk out of the theater with one unanimous feeling that—we enjoyed the film. Perhaps, Seenu Vaitla is more aware of this than us because he makes sure that the last frame of the film is…you guessed it….Mr. Brahmanandam! [btw, watch out for Brahmam is his sherwani!...he looks cool!]

I would have loved to give this film two thumbs up, but given the not-so-special first half and similarity to Dhee, i cannot. However, i strongly recommend this film to all those who want to flush out the crap they watched this summer.

Mr.Inkenti’s Movienomics Verdict: One Thumb Up! Get Ready to Enjoy!

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“Singh is King” First Promo Song Video

June 18, 2008 at 11:15 am · Filed under movienomics ·Tagged , , ,

Singh is Kinng is 2008’s Om Shanthi Om without a doubt if you look at the hype and expectations around it. Akshay Kumar being hailed the The Hit Machine of 2007 only added more fuel to the publicity fire. However, the Hit Machine got hit by Tashan, but that wont dent Singh is Kinng’s power-ride to its release date. The best part of Singh is Kinng is, (apart from the spelling of Kinng), it is releasing on a unique date—8/8/08 (a friday)!!!

Pritam gives music for the film and the first look of the first promo song airing on ibnlive.com is really cool! Looks like a rumor i heard a long time back is true….every man in the film will wear a pagdi! neha dupia features in the video and so does glam babe katrina (easily, the new #1 of Bollywood) doing what she does in every film. u know, just being there, walking around, showing her legs and thighs, smiling like a teenager…and providing the glamor. This is a promo video and song punch line that groves singh is kingg…singh is kinng is really cool and the background flute (or some instrument like that) is cool too. Akshay Kumar has already declared that the audio of the film will be a blockbuster, lets see how it turns out.

The first theatrical teaser didn’t excite me but this promo song video gets Mr. Inkenti’s Thumbs Up!

ps-the official website is yet to be launched. http://www.singhiskinng.com/

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Kamal Haasan’s Next: The 101 Kauravas

June 17, 2008 at 6:05 am · Filed under movienomics ·Tagged , , , ,

Yes, my friends, it is unofficial and you read only on Mr. Inkenti’s Blog. Some of us are yet to come out of shock over the 10 avatars of Kamal in Dasavatharam and personally, i continue to appreciate Kamal’s effort to accommodate the 10 avatars even if the film gets messy. Anyways, the movie is done now and opened to fantastic openings as expected, but will surely dwindle down with the “headache” talk generated for the movie.

Sources not even related to Kamal or his office tell us that Kamal is dissatisfied with the negative talk and the way he is being ridiculed by bloggers and moviegoers. Kamal is not satisfied even though rediff.com and The Hindu gave rave reviews. Kamal is unable to believe that even though the played 10 roles in a film people are complaining about the story. Kamal’s sources have told him that many are not impressed with the 10 roles. However, as we all know Kamal is not the guy who will take criticism lying low and he has already began planning his next magnum opus.

This time around, Kamal wants to [literally] blow away the mids of moviegoers by making a movie based on the Mahabharata epic. The film will focus on the Kauravas and we will see Kamal play [hold your breadth] all the 101 Kauravas!!!!! This is unbelievable!!! I completely agree with Kamal; after Dasa he cannot act in a movie where there is only one Kamal and now is time to rise from dasa to satha plus 1 so that nobody, not only on earth but any other planet, can contest his record.

So ladies and gentlemen, get ready for Kamal Haasan’s mega magnum opus—The 101 Kauravas. Of course, counseling services will be provided at each theater to help moviegoers come out of the shock and get back to normal daily life.

ps–come to think of it, this is not a bad idea to get a world record. is kamal reading this?

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The Happening Review– Whad the heck is ‘happening’ to Shyamalan?

June 16, 2008 at 11:46 am · Filed under movienomics ·Tagged , , , , ,

Ok folks, the party is over for all M. Night Shyamalyan’s (MNS) fans. This film is so bad that i don’t even feel like devoting time to write its review, but i must to save all of you. Please read this review and don’t waste your hard earned money and resources on this film.

Its a fine day and all of sudden people pause and begin to kill each other. This begins in Central Park, New York and slowly starts spreading all over the Northeast. In Big cities and small towns, small groups, and large groups of people are killing themselves. There is panic everywhere. This is established in the first 5-10 minutes and it continues till the end of the film. Yes, there is absolutely no story, nothing interesting to watch, and there is no by-now-famous Shyamalan twist-at-the-end. The reason for this self-killings is revealed during the movie and again at the end. Don’t kill yourself now to know what the reason is…i will tell you. Apparently, human activity is threatening nature and the trees have to adapt to this new environment that threatens them. Sadly for the humans, as part of their adaptation the trees are emitting a poisonous/toxic gas that damages our nervous system or something that makes people who breathe this kill themselves. There a couple of scary moments, but that is mainly because of loud music.

The film just drags on and on. Typically, in an MNS film the performances are great, but here they are terrible. Shyamalan even borrows from Signs (towards the when the main lead are scared they will die and start talking about their first date; in Signs Mel Gibson talks to his kids about when they were born). MNS, in an interview, said that he has been working on this for two years. LOL.

Mr. M. Night Shyamalan, don’t you think the last two flop films The Village, and Lady in the Water were ’signs’ that you must be out of ideas? and doesn’t your ’sixth sense’ tell you that you have hit rock bottom in your career and you can no more be this generation’s Hitchcock? The Happening was financed 50% by an Indian company (UTV), a clear sign that he has probably lost most credibility in Hollywood. With this film receiving really bad reviews all over, it is time and expected that he will come to Bollywood where he will be respected even for the mediocre films he makes.

Parents must know that this film is not suitable for kids. It contains graphic scenes of torture and self-inflicted pain.

Mr. Inkenti’s Movienomics Verdict: Two Thumbs Down!

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Saudi Arabia to the Rescue!

June 16, 2008 at 7:10 am · Filed under World Affairs ·Tagged , , ,

Who will relieve us from our pains?—rising oil prices, food prices, dwindling stock market, and the list goes on. Is it Sonia Gandhi? Manmohan Singh? CPI? FM? US? no….it is Saudi Arabia. Just out on CNN.com, Saudi Arabia has told the UN that they will be increasing oil production by 200, 000 barrels a day from June to July. For those who have no idea of what is going on in the world, a quick wrap-up: oil prices are rising, inflation is rising, food prices are rising, stock markets are dwindling and it is believed that most of this is because the demand for oil by China and India has sky rocketed while supply has not from the oil producing nations. So now, Saudi Arabia has come to all our rescue. lets hope things ease down a little now and the poor can buy the vegetables at lower prices and the rich can recover some large losses at the stock market!

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Dasavatharam Box-Office Status and Public Talk

June 16, 2008 at 7:00 am · Filed under movienomics ·Tagged , , ,

Dasavatharam Box-Office Status and Public Talk–1st Week Update on Friday, the 20th:

If you are from Tollywood, you will know how starved we all are and were this summer for a blockbuster. More than chilled water i was thirsty for a blockbuster film which i can watch again and again (i saw OSO 4 times in the first week!). I had pinned my hopes on Dasavatharam (Dasa), but that too has disappointed me. Anyways, what a dasa-week its been! On 16th, Monday, after a discussion with my colleagues and friends i casually blogged about what the prevailing talk for Dasa is. Since then apart from being listed on top of google search the hits on this blog entry has run into thousands now! Lets not forget the interesting comments i’ve received on my review of Dasa and this box-office report. Synthesizing news and information from various sources, these are my observations at the end of week 1 of Dasa Let me now summarize the box-office status:

1. Dasa opened to Big (with a capital B) collections and mixed (online) reviews and public talk. This is typical for blockbuster films that release with high expecations–and this holds good for any film industry. However, much to the disadvantage of Dasa, the talk was poles apart ranging from rubbish to brilliant. Typically, blockbusters begin with mixed reviews and the talk stabilizes at one point and this common point is the bottom line that irrespective of the flaws the film entertains. This has not happened with Dasa. The public talk continues to be poles apart ranging from–’whad the heck is going on’ to the ’story is the work of a genious’.

2. It is also typical of blockbusters to garner HOUSE FULLS in spite of mixed reviews and this is exactly what is happening to Dasa. The first weekend saw extraordinary collections because multiplexes–in Chennai– were screening record shows. Single screens are also seeing packed houses. In the case of Tollywood, there is no other Telugu film worth the public’s ticket money and at this point Dasa is the best place to put that ticket money. There is tremendous curiosity around Kamal’s 10 different avatars and that is what is drawing the crowds. But once this curiosity dries up and when a better alternative movie shows up [possibly Rajni's Kuselan in Tamil and Kathanayakudu in Telugu] the collections are bound to fall for Dasa; primarily because the talk has not stabilized and continues to be poles apart.

3. Kamal fans are going overboard by educating those who didn’t like the film to realize the beauty of the film. To do this, they are talking about the Chaos theory and the butterfly effect—more than anything else, this has been the most interesting development over the week on par with the possibility that the UPA Govt. will fall apart. But the flip side to this is that, every film if closely looked at will reflect these theories. Film makers must know this mantra—blockbusters are meant to entertain only–whether it is Pirates, Indian, Khushi, or Indra. If the entertainment is done well then the educating part will work well (eg- Shankar’s Bharateeyudu, Okke Okkadu). To make movies that reflect on predestiny versus coincidence or butterfuly effect the treatment has to be different. And if that is done well, then even such (most probably small) movies will go on to be blockbusters.

4. Do not believe the numbers that are published by our producers or distributers—none of them represent the true picture. The public knows when a movie is a hit and when it is not. Every blockbuster release, in this day and age of aggressive movie promotions, corporate sponsorships, and other marketing blitz stunts can easily generate large collections as long as the film is reasonable enough and has a big star and huge hype. The real test is after the first two weeks. For example, Pawan Kalyan’s Jalsa opened to tremendous collections and then sank after a few weeks. Lets take the most recent RGV’s Sarkar Raj–hype, great star cast, some glowing reviews, a blog by RGV defending and justifying the film, great collections the first week and now…the film has sank at the ticket window. what does this mean? are really collections, half of which are fabricated by fans and prodcuers, the barometer to decide the verdict? Ultimately, what counts is the run of the film and the perception of the movie in the minds of the public. This test will work for every hit film in the past. Test and try. The producers know or have a gut feeling about their film and thats why it is released in so many theaters so that as much money is made in the first few days to save themselves from getting to the streets.

The bottom line for Dasa: End of the week 1, the film is doing very well at the ticket window and surely the film is not an utter flop. The public talk, however, even as latest as Thursday evening continues to range from negative to mixed. With such talk, it is virtually impossible for the film to attain a blockbuster hit status. I am positive this weekend also will be good, and it will be interesting to see how the film fares in the days to come. The ultimate blockbuster test is to see how a film fares when there is competition around.

Also see: Indiatimes reports: Dasavatharam Sinking at the Box Office. In fact, this report is even more brutal than mine. http://broadband.indiatimes.com/Movies/Dasavatharam_sinking_at_box_office/videoshow/3135534.cms

Wednesday Updates:

Sify.com published its Chennai Box Office Report. Of course, Dasavatharam is number 1, but it stated that the producer got special permission to screen 5 shows per day that gave the film unprecedented collections. No doubt, the trend now is to screen as many shows as possible in the first few days to get back as much money as we can. This is an indication that the producer is nervous. Please do not believe the numbers that our producers or distributors publish—they are all fake and do not in anyway give the true picture. In my opinion, there is no element of truth about the cost of production or revenue. Blockbuster movie releases often fizzle out after the first week or two—depending on the star’s box-office power and other big movies in the vicinity (eg-Sivaji and Jalsa). Om Shanthi Om is one blockbuster in the recent past that sustained blockbuster collections due to positive word of mouth.

Kamal and KSR are in Hyderabad promoting [read justifying] the film. Another clear sign that the film makers are aware of the negative word of mouth.

Lets wait and see how the film fares in the days to come.

Box Office Status on Tuesday in Hyderabad:

-PVR, ADLABS, Prasadz will all run to housefulls today. The shows for tomorrow at most of these multiplexes are available. The advance booking at single screen theaters (based on Easy Movies Theaters) is not too hot either. This trend suggests that while the advance booking is not ‘hot’, the shows are filling up fast on a day-to-day basis. This is not good news for a big-budget film. Those who are seeing the film are those who are curious about it or are fans of Kamal, but many of those who were waiting for the reviews and public talk are being cautious about going to the film. However, with no major film in sight Dasa might get some good returns. The film opened to record collections, but heavy negative word of mouth is affecting the film.

Update on Monday:

You had to be here to believe it…everywhere you go it was only about Dasavatharam (Dasa from now on) on Friday in Hyderabad. At prasadz, Easy Movies office, and it was the topic for discussion in my office from office boy to faculty. I had tickets for the 7:15pm show at Prasadz on Friday and the first review i read was around 2 on rediff.com that said Dasa was spectacular! then sify.com said it was average and mediocre. then i read the user comments, which clearly echoed what the aam janata* is thinking—the movie is a mess! check my review to get the full scoop on it.

As expected, the film began picking up negative talk all over hyderabad. On Saturday, tickets were available without competition at Shanthi theater.

The film will be running to Housefulls today at PVR, Prasadz, and ADLABS, but tickets are available from Tuesday. Surely, the housefulls on Monday is the spill over from those who couldn’t get tickets in the weekend. The single screens, tickets are available without much competition. ofcourse, the litmus test for the box office success of a film is at the single screens, not multiplexes.

On Monday, the unanimous public talk for Dasa is: confusing, no story, too many characters, no clarify etc. In Hyderabad, the film will definitely take a beating at the box office in the days to come.

* i had earlier writen junta, which was corrected by a reader of this blog. thanks Indian.

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Dasavatharam Movie Review— Nonsense-Avatharam

June 13, 2008 at 12:59 pm · Filed under movienomics ·Tagged , , ,

After almost three years in the making, court cases, controversies, and extraordinary hype, Dasavatharam finally hit the silver screen on June 13th, 2008. Touted as the biggest film ever made in Indian cinema with Dr. Kamal Haasan creating history by donning 10 different roles, the film is easily the biggest blockbuster release of 2008 or the recent past. Thus, the film too is subject to the expectations usually associated with such blockbusters and its success depends whether the expectations are met or not. So what avatar does Dasavatharam finally take on the silver screen? In my opinion it is the Nonsense-Avatar!

The narrator of the story is the scientist Govind (Kamal) from the podium of a stadium filled with thousands of spectators in the presence of Karunanidhi, Manmohan Singh, and George Bush. Govind says he will tell us a story that will make us reflect on religion, the divine, science, and our human race. For this he must travel back to the 12th century where the story begins. Rewind to the Chola dynasty where vaishnaviates are being persecuted by shaivaites. Rangarajan Nambi (Kamal) is the temple priest who is tied to vishnu’s idol and is thrown in to the sea. Next, we are brought in to modern day America in the lab of a biotechnology firm where Govind works. Govind and team are experimenting with bio-chemical warfare when an accident occurs that kills the experimental monkey in a brutal way. Seeing this, Govind’s conscious pricks him and he tells the company board to abandon this project in the interest of humanity. However, Govind suspects his boss of foul play and thinks he might be interested in selling this technology. Govind’s suspicion is proved right and he steals the capsule that contains the virus and escapes. From this point on begins the senseless and insane chase after chase till you get tired by the end of the film.

Govind is chased by a former CIA man, Chris Fletcher (Kamal) who is accompanied by Mallika and appointed by Govind’s boss to kill Govind and recover the capsule. In the process of escaping and keeping the capsule away from the bad guys, the capsule travels to India by a courier. It this journey that takes Govind and Fletcher to India and in due course of time all the remaining characters and avatars of Kamal are introduced. The entire film is for the capsule. Towards the end, the virus is released and humanity is saved because of the Tsunami (the virus can only be nullified with tons and tons of salt). Why each avatar is presented, how and why they relevant and irrelevant and they fit or don’t fit in to the story is beyond the scope of this review. What could have been an exiting adventure is spoilt due to Kamal Haasan’s indulgence and fetish of wanting to be the first actor to do 10 roles in a film.

Before getting in to the irrelevant aspects of the film, let’s talk about the positive aspect. The only redeeming feature of this film is the first 15 minutes set in the 12th century. Although this episode’s intensity is unconnected to the film, the rest of the film is so bad that you can’t help but console yourself that at least you saw a film where 15 minutes was well done. Also, K.S Ravikumar’s energetic and lively dance towards the end credits for Loka Nayakudu, comes a relief.

Now the negatives:

  1. First of all, there is no need for Kamal to do ten avatars. The story is too simple to justify or accommodate the ten avatars. Six out of the ten avatars are irrelevant and add no value to the story. The old lady (who looks repulsive), the pop singer, the tall muslim, the japaneese martial arts fighter, the young dalit activist, the president Bush are examples of Kamal’s indulgence in showing off (not showcasing) this acting talent. Most of the avatars, particularly that of Bush, come off as a comedy film.
  2. As a story writer, Kamal Haasan attempts to be the commercial M. Night Shyamalan. Kamal’s point in writing the story is make the audience reflect about the divine, the pre-destined versus coincidence (a la Shyamalan’s Signs). In other words, the story wants us to ask if whatever happens, happens for a reason and God knows what is good for us. Kamal’s attempt of bringing in 10 different characters and making their destinies criss-cross does not succeed in proving the philosophy of the story. How can it when we are shown that a bullet hitting Avatar Singh due a fight between the other avatars cures him of this cancer? Another example is—there is a reason why the Tsunami came, it is to save humanity from the virus that was released. The bottom line is—the story makes no sense.
  3. Even if the philosophy of the writer has come been communicated in the story, at least the adventure could have worked, but even that fails. Why? Because even chases need to have a reason. The main problem is there is no reason why on earth Chris Fletcher is chasing Govind like a mad hound gone wild. There is no reason presented as to whom Govind’s bosses want to sell the virus too. There is no valid logic in why the globe trotting chase is occurring.
  4. The much hyped make-up of the 10 avatars is bad. The old woman looks repulsive like a character straight out of The Mummy.
  5. Even the much hyped special effects of the Tsunami are poorly done. The Tsunami…cummon now, we’ve seen better stuff than that.
  6. The film has too much of English, Tamil, mixed Telugu, subtitles.

Nobody in India can contest Kamal Haasan’s acting abilities and he has already proved his versatility; then why this exercise? Six out of the ten avatars, or more, could have been played some other prominent stars and the film would still have been the same or even better. Kamal Haasan should simply have organized a fancy dress show with 10 or even 50 get-ups instead of wasting his producer’s money for his fancies, and test the patience of the audience.

When I first saw the trailer I suspected that the 12th century portion will be the best and the rest will be a mess. Parents should know that the film contains brutal killings and torture of characters. Parents might also want to discuss with their kids about bio-chemical warfare.

Mr. Inkenti’s Movienomics Verdict: Thumbs Down!

PS: For Your Information, I am listing the 10 avatars below:

1.The Brahmin: Rangarajan Nambi

2. The Scientist: Govind

3. The Former CIA officer: Keith Fletcher

4. The Old Lady: Krishnaveni Paati

5. The Fighter: Chinese Martial Arts Teacher

6. The Tall Muslim: Kalifullah Khan

7. The Telugu RAW Police Officer: Balram Naidu

8. The Dalit Activist: Vincent Poovarahan

9. The Pop Singer: Awatar Singh

10. The American President: George William Bush

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Sarkar Raj Movie Review

June 7, 2008 at 6:34 am · Filed under movienomics ·Tagged , , , , , ,

A few hours before watching this film, I was engaged in a discussion with my colleague about how his film might decide Ram Gopal Varma’s (RGV) fate. My colleague told me regardless of the movie’s fate or RGV’s previous failed attempts, class is permanent and form is temporary (this is true for most master film makers). Now, this can be interpreted in several ways, but Sarkar Raj comes a time when RGV has been completely out of form and this is his do or die film. How do we apply this adage to RGV?—that his in-form days are over or the out-of-form phase is temporary and now he has bounced back with Sarkar Raj? Unfortunately for RGV, this time around too he is not completely back in form.

‘Sarkar’ Subhash Nagre (Amitabh Bachchan) is celebrating his 6oth birthday and is proclaiming to his ‘Raj’ how proud he is off his son, Shankar Nagre (Abhishek Bachchan), who has achieved as much in so less a time. Shankar is in complete control of all aspects of the Raj and even convinces his father to accept the power plant proposed in their state by Anita Rajan (Aishwarya Rai), the CEO of a London based multinational. Shankar takes it upon himself to complete this project and dedicate it to the state. Subhash and his son have to seek the blessings of Rao Sahib, Subhash Nagre’s guru and guide, as the proposed power plant is to be built in villages where Rao Sahib is the revered leader. Rao Sahib gives his nod, but his son Somji is a violent anti-multinationals guy who is not going to allow the work to happen. Rao Sahib, apparently, has no control over him.

Shankar and Anita then take to the streets of the villages to educate the masses about the benefits of the project while Somji and his men are out to disrupt these activities. Meanwhile, there is a business man from Gujurat who wants the power plan shifted to his state and is willing to subdue Shankar if the need arises. Just when Shankar is about have a talk with Somji, there is an internal security breach within Sarkar’s fortress. Shankar seeks vengeance and gets it and just when Shankar feels everything is under his control and the project will happen, tragedy strikes again within the Sarkar family. Who is behind the conspiracy to wipe out the Sarkar family? Is the power plant the end goal or is it just a means to a larger goal? Why is there betrayal within Sarkar’s men? These questions form the rest of the story.

The first 10 minutes are great—fast, gripping, and gets to the point, and you begin to see the different camps quickly. Soon after that the film stagnates and the first half goes by without any interesting story to tell. The pre-interval twist is good. The second half too just seems to move on, but the twists towards the end are stunning. While the obvious strengths of the film are the performances and RGV’s stamp on the shot taking, the film has several weaknesses:

(1) The villains are not convincing and do not seem powerful. The reasons for enmity with the Sarkar family are not compelling

(2) The inclusion of Aishwarya Rai has only done more harm to the film than good. The romantic twinkle in her eyes towards Shankar, the bare-your-heart conversations between them, the romantic scene between them all have made the film soggy and dampen the pace of the film.

(3) While the overall story on paper is great, its structure bears a remarkable resemblance to the first Sarkar. For those who have watched and analyzed Sarkar closely will wonder why RGV would adopt the same structure and not do some original thinking.

(4) The execution of the film, particularly the revelation of the plot was not well done. The twists should be revealed through the scenes and by the characters themselves. Instead, what we have here is a Sherlock Holmes-Watson style explanation session by Subhash Nagre to Anita about how everything happened and why.

(5) Another main problem is with the uninteresting characterization of Shankar Nagre. He is shown to be too good a man with too good a character. Being the don and heir to the biggest mafia of Mumbai you’ve got to show some bad-man qualities. One can never understand why Shankar is so keen on the power plant. Towards the end, the character is shown as someone who never even understood the tricks of the trade.

(6) Abhishek and Aishwarya seemed to struggle to blend into the dark and serious atmosphere of the film. I am not comparing them to the peerless super star in Amitabh, but even compared to the rest of the cast, acting doesn’t seem to come easy to Abhishek and Aishwarya.

Sarkar Raj succeeds in parts, but fails in several areas. The pace of the film at several places is dampened and made soggy with sentiments, which just does not gel with the mood of the film. If only RGV did some original thinking for Sarkar Raj and made it stand out like the first, it would have only added to the Sarkar franchise (Yes, the foundation for the next sequel is laid out in this film) RGV tries his best to bounce back, but stops just short off the distinction mark.

Parents must know that this film is certified as U/A. There is brief violence and characters are in peril. The film, briefly, attempts to show the powers of modernity and globalization clashing with traditional  values. The debate of progress versus  tradition and the role played by politicians, regional mafia, and multi-national companies is depicted briefly. Towards the end, Ghandian values are shown in bad light. Parents might want to consider discussing with their kids the above mentioned issues.

Mr. Inkenti’s Movienomics Verdict: Only One Thumb Up. Suffers due to a dampened pace, soggy sentiments, and unconvincing characterizations and motivations.

[READERS BEWARE: SPOILERS AHEAD] Yes, how can I forget to mention: the ground for the next sequel to complete the Sarkar trilogy is also done. Now that Shankar Nagre is no longer there, Sarkar’s grandson, Chikku, son of Vishnu (who was killed in the first part by Shankar), from Nagpur has been called to be with his grandpa and Anita Rajan has joined Sarkar’s Raj. My wild card guess is that Chikku will grow up to look just like Abhishek Bachchan. Any other guesses?

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Revisiting RGV’s Sarkar and Sarkar Raj Preview

June 5, 2008 at 7:27 am · Filed under movienomics ·Tagged , , , , ,

If you are planning on watching Sarkar Raj and want to refresh your stroy of Sarkar, which there years old then check out this exclusive trip to visit SARKAR. Also, get a sneak peak into the story of its sequel Sarkar Raj.

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Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystral Skull Review

June 2, 2008 at 9:20 am · Filed under movienomics ·Tagged , , , , , ,

The saga of Indiana Jones continues with Kingdom of the Crystal Skull as the fourth installment of the franchise, coming after a gap of 19 years. check out the detailed review on TollywoodCentral.com

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