The Exorcist Trilogy : Mini Reviews

Such a boring Trilogy ! Most overrated movies I have ever seen. No scares at all, even our Ramu can make better films yaar. Duh! waste of bandwidth, waste of 6 hours. Yawn.

Don't know why, but despite of being a fan of this genre - these trilogy just couldn't get my attention at all. I think the rip offs are way better than this. These movies were much more 'theoritical' than being 'practical' and scare people.

Wonder why it has been listed on top charts?!

Tags : Exorcist Trilogy review. Horror

El Orfanato [Spanish]

Generally, I do not come out of my Bollywood shell and watch movies of different languages other than English. But nowadays, things are changing and I am getting nice suggestions for movies to see. On suggestion of Blogger-dost Bhargav Saikia, I watched this Spanish Horror movie called El Orfanato [The Orphanage]. Horror being my one of favorite genre, I obviously like most of them. But this one, I loved.

Movie is about Laura [Belen Rueda] who grew up in an orphanage, returns to that place and plans to reopen it for disabled children. After few days, his son Simon claims that he met a boy named Tomas in a cave near sea shore. Things take complete U Turn when Simon goes missing during a kids party, and shocking revelations about the orphanage keeps coming up when Laura starts searching for his boy when police fails.

Guilty Pleasures : Top 5 Thursday

Guilty pleasures eh?! There are many, many yaar. As I'm a hopeless movie watcher, and [once upon a time] TV maniac, I have so many guilty pleasures. But this is T5T ! The Top Five Thursday, [started by Christy] So here are my Top Five Guilty pleasures.

SONG: Tandoori Nights [Karzzzz]
I know Himessh will be choice of many among us. No matter how bad he sings, but don't know why this song get stuck in my head. I remember when the song was out, I was used to shout out and sing 'Rabba Rabba meri jaaaaan jale..jale...jaleee....jalee...'. And many of the colleagues were telling me to take medicines if my a** was burning :P Still, today, I love to sing this aloud while riding my bike. Coz no one can listen [identify] me wearing helmet. So my head is safe then, from rotten tomatoes.

SINGER: Annu Malik
Ah well, Not Himesh bhaiyya again. I admire Annu ji for being the original besoora voice. Another kahani - I was singing his album's song 'Dhuan Dhuan ho raha hai sama' - and my best pal said 'you sound exactly the same as Annu' !! OMG !! I was shattered to hear that. So I started singing a Shankar Mahadevan song [I was in dreams that I sound like him :)] But again, just like Annu ji in Indian Idol, My dearest friend told 'Yaar you 'Do' sound like Annu only'. Sigh...then, I started singing 'ek garam chai ki pyaali ho...'

GENRE: Horror
Just any kind of horror movie, I am always up to watch it. No matter if its thrashed by critics. Like recently I liked Phoonk 2, Loved Shaapit and also liked Agyaat !!! No matter how cliched the movie is, throw some spooks in it, and I would enjoy it !!! One more personal secret - I was watching Exorcist - 4 alone in my room. All lights off. Suddenly a scene with wild dogs came up and I ran to switch on the lights. Similar case happened while watching Grudge. I changed my sitting position, just because I was sitting next to a window - fearing someone's hands will come up from behind.

FILM : Saawariya
To 98% ppl around me, its a crap movie. And to me, its one of my lifetime favorite one. Love everything about it. Spectacular visuals, serene soundtrack, fantastic acts by leads. And oh, the beauty Sonam !! How can I deny all of these? No wonder I went to hall, 3 times to see this on big screen. Also the DVD is part of my precious collection.

ACTOR : Harman Baweja !!!!!!
No, don't faint please. Yes, he was bad, bad in Lovestory 2050. But at some places he shown sparks. And oh, he dances well. But I really liked his performance in Whats Your Raashee?. I mean, he played his character as he should. Wonder why that movie got bad reviews. After WYR, I'm surely looking forward to his 'Its My Life' [remake of Bommarillu] with Genelia. Well, I know there is no replacement of Sidhu, but lets see, how this shapes up.

So, readers, what are your Top 5 guilty pleasures?
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Image Courtesy : http://nonnetta.deviantart.com/

Phoonk 2 : Movie Review

If you are regular on my blog, then you must be aware of my love for Horror genre. Even the much criticized Agyaat was fun for me. And recently, loved watching Shaapit. So how could I not enjoy Phoonk 2 ?

Yes, yet another horror movie from RGV's factory. This time directed by Milind Gadagkar, Phoonk 2 succeeds to scare you. A sequel to Phoonk, this part is more engaging and well made so that audience get scared. I too did not like earlier movie for its silly Tantra-Mantra and wannabe Exorcist adaptation. But this time, besides so many cliches, I liked how it shapes up on screen.

Phoonk 2 starts with the same family going on holiday somewhere near beach. A holiday house and a nearby jungle-An 'I must scare you' setup for a horror movie. And the things turn out going bad as Madhu returns to haunt them again. Setup sounds like Vastushashtra isn't it? Yes, the same setup was there in earlier product of RGV. But this time it is even more scarier.

Talking about cliches, I feel it can never be avoided. I mean just think, do you call when a couple starts singing a song - a cliche? Do you call mom-dad opposes their marriage-a cliche? Then why do critics think that shutting doors, scary toys and noise making swings are a cliche?!! Those are mere basic elements for a horror movie. And Phoonk 2 succeeds in using them so effectively that scares.

This time, camera movements are pretty less which RGV is famous for. But some new kind of scares are there too. Which makes you jump in your comfortable reclining chair. Screenplay is pretty good that holds your attention most of the time. You know what will happen next, but the way it happens, makes it more fun to watch on screen.

My only warning if you wanna watch this movie is - just forget the jokes going on about the movie around. Don't read negative reviews [say any review] before watching the movie. And keep your belief aside that only 'Hollywood can make good horror flick'. [recently I saw The Exorcist trilogy, and I'm still alive !! Yes, boring -I found them]. You will enjoy this. Enjoy being frightened.

Oops, and forgot to tell you - be prepared for Phoonk 3 !!

My Rating : 3 / 5

Fav Scenes : Climax, Jungle scenes, Toys scenes and Raksha's dream.

Shaapit : Movie Review

• Ghost lady standing on road - check.
• An ancient Taavij - Check
• A haunted palace - Check
• Possessed heroine - Check
• Heroine with candle - Check
• Hold each others hand on round table to recall 'Aatmaa'- check
• Silly makeup of 'Aatmaa' - check
• Daak Banglaa with Watchman - check
• BAD acting by the lead actors.

and finally...one I absolutely loved

• A song by Bhatakti Aatmaa - check check check.

There was a time when Indian movie industry was categorized like the Veda system. If people wanted to get entertained-there were hardcore masala movies. If they wanted to smile-comedy movies. If they wanted to see some serious acts-art house movie. And when they wanted to get frightened - there were always good old Ramsay movies. No doubt how silly the movies were, it surely had managed to scare Indian audience a big time. Enter the Hollywood movies and satellite revolution, we got more choosy and aware about our movies, and it became easy to throw off bad products.

Well, this blah-blah doesn't mean that Vikram Bhatt's Shaapit-the Cursed is a bad product. Never. But at many places, it reminded me of Ramsays and still it was quite an enjoyable watch. No matter how bad the lead actors-Aditya Narayan and Shweta Agarwal are. The movie succeeds to scare everyone with all the unexpected and sometimes expected chills and thrills. Vikram has roped in many theories including Thiben language, Inca culture and ...hold your breath...Time Traveling !! Yes, you've read it right. Besides this mess all around, you get perfect Horror situations on screen. For example a scene in old Library or the scene on road where heroine is traveling alone or the scenes in cinema hall, it makes us jump off the seats.

Rahul Dev is the only one who manages to give a fine act. But he to loses his control in the muddled screenplay. Still, the past stories and connections with present, are interesting. Also it involves museums, jails and palaces which made it more interesting for me. The climax is mind blowing and it manages to scare the hell out of you. Vikram Bhatt has made great use of the palace and jails around it. Given some nice songs, "better makeup of the ghost" [i must be kidding right?!!!] and commendable acts, this movie could have done wonders. But still, it is a watchable fare if you are a fan of Bollywood horror movies.

Yes, no doubt there are hardly any genuine, perfect in all aspects, horror movies in Bollywood. But take it, if we are masters of masala movies, then we are masters of these kind of immature horror movies. Shaapit manages to scare us throughout the movie- and making it a paisa vasool time pass. Go and watch it if you are a fan of spooky stuff.

My rating : 3 / 5

Favorite Scenes : Mostly all spooky scenes.

Agyaat : Movie Review

Horror - A genre very less travelled by mainstream Bollywood cinema. I always wonder why. Cause I love the genre very much. I love the way the sound can raise your hair. Give you goosebumps or even sleepless nights and discomfort in darkness. Simple, I love to get horrified !! So I never ever miss a chance whenever a horror movie is up in cinema hall. So despite the bad reviews, I went for Ram Gopal Verma's latest misadventure "Agyaat : The Unknown". And surprisingly, at the end, though I was un-satisfied, still felt entertained. This is not a brilliant movie making but could have been. If given proper focus on totality of the movie. Still there are few moments that make this one a watch if you are free this weekend, doing nothing and having a 1:40 hours free time to pass around. Give this one a shot. But yes, mind it, ''don't'' expect cinematic excellence. That thing I will never ask from Ramu, now on.

Yes Yes :

1. Sound Design : Its just so perfect. So realistic that you can feel the jungle around you. And more surprising is, you never 'see' the unknown creature. Still you can feel it everywhere.

2. Characterizations : Very well defined. One can easily relate to the bunch of crew who came to shoot a movie in jungle. Cameraman, action director, AD and even hilarious 'Jai Matadi' spot boy - all are very good. 'The Hero' s character started off quite well, but towards the end, it was stretched out.

3. Cinematography : Jungles of SriLanka are shot very well. Scary and breathtaking at times. And it is also perfect with river running through it. Perfect place to shoot horror.

4. Shock and Aw factor : Thrilling moments actually thrills you. But quantity wise its quite less.

No..oh No.. :

1. Acting Dept : The lead actors. Nitin Reddy and Priyanka [Nisha] Kothari are weakest links. Fardeen and Urmila were best in similar role of "Jungle". Didn't Ramu had DVD of that, to show this newbies?

2. Screenplay : Very poor. This is the most critical area for a horror movie, where this movie fails. And becomes a predictable watch.

3. Slow start up : Continuing the screenplay problem, the starting of the movie takes such a long time to establish the story. Which would be better if shortened, and action started from first 20 minutes.

4. Dialogues : In the movie, a character who plays 'hero' -a movie star- also tries his hands at writing dialogues. And I think, Ramu has selected him in real too. Very very bad dialogues are there. See this sample :
Girl : '..but we can't live in water forever...' [oh thank you ma'm, otherwise we would never know that:P]
Boy : 'Yes, we have to swim this river to get to next shore' [ahh...thanks hero ji..otherwise we were in great suspense how can you get outta that river!!]

5. Item songs : Bad bad bad...so bad. Ramu ji, please call your loyal Sandeep Chowtha back. And why 2 songs are added in such a short movie? That too in a horror flick? Total Hathoda songs....

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My Rating : 2 / 5
Fav. Scenes : The 'Khooni Panja' moment, Campfire scene [a rip-off from LOST]
Re-watch : Oh no, not at all. But yes, will surely watch Agyaat 2.