Kahaani 2

Sujoy Ghosh failed to achieve the level of thriller of first one however it was worth watching for Vidya Balan​ and Arjun Rampal. The taboo about Child Abuse is well portrayed. Script needed little more surprise elements in second half as this became quite predictable. Supporting roles of Jugal Hansraj, Manini Chadha and cute Tunisha Sharma were good. Worth watching.

7

Allied

I liked this, not the best film ever made but pretty good.

I don't get the negative reviews,even if I am being too nice about the negative issues it really is not that bad overall.

I thought the film looked great, lots of period detail and M.C is gorgeous and has acted wonderfully. When I talk about the acting, it's kind of hard to explain how I thought things turned out. Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard are both great actors and I think they do good work individually here but I still think they didn't sell the intimacy of their relationship. They're supposed to be willing to die for each other and I found the scenes where they were supposed to be falling in love to be stilted and a little robotic.

7

Miracle

Don't let the fact that this is a Disney movie deter you from watching a thoroughly enjoyable and adult-level sports movie for two-plus hours. Kurt Russell does an excellent job portraying coach Herb Brooks as a complex and sometimes ruthless and inscrutable leader. Very UN-Disney-like indeed.

I am not a hockey fan - in fact I dislike the game intensely - yet I enjoyed the well-crafted scenes of competitive team play. Knowing the outcome of the BIG GAME did not detract at all from the excitement and suspense surrounding it. Sort of like the suspense Ron Howard achieved in Apollo 13 (where we knew in advance the outcome, but were worried about and later relieved for our astronauts).

A must-see for sports fans and non-fans alike.

7.5

Sully

Having seen various documentaries and media reports about the 'Miracle on the Hudson', I always believed that whilst the story was amazing, the story was far too short from which to make a motion picture. In my humble opinion, I'm still not wrong. The direction, acting and visual effects were absolutely top-notch weaving together absolutely the most that could have been scraped together, and often delving into Captain Sullenburger's personal life to find extra material.

Whilst the film is entertaining, I was on occasion actually bored from being overly familiar with the few minutes of the main story.

In short, a worthy picture that does its best with meagre material, whilst resisting the temptation to descend into fantasy. Absolutely worth your time and its quite short at just over 90 minutes.

7

Train To Busan

Koreans are good at making horror, and this zombie movie attempt shows how skillful they are. You have fast-running zombies, blood spattering, and selfish people. The film delivers shock value, and decent drama along the way. It feels like World War Z without CGI zombies piling on each other. Being set on a train, the plot is also similar to Snowpiercer, another train horror movie. (what is this obsession with trains, or is it the only place in Korea where the space is cramped?) The acting is decent, and the casts are pretty average-looking; with the exception of the lead actor, which makes the story more credible. The director did not focus too much on morality issues like the Walking Dead, but sets up new problems for the characters to face at different stages of the movie. This makes the plot move quickly and smoothly. The ending was rather conventional, but I guess no one hates a happy ending.

7

The Wailing

If you're looking for a good horror film I wouldn't really recommend this as I didn't find it scary but it was still entertaining enough to sit through and I would say it's worth a watch in general. I'd describe it as a supernatural modern mystery fable with horror elements and dark comedy, the tone really does vary though. The comedic dialogue and slapstick moments peppered throughout gave it a slightly goofy feel in places but there's plenty of dark imagery and nasty violence too. It's all wonderfully shot and well acted which definitely keeps it engaging. I preferred the first half of the film to the second; I thought the set up was really good but found it slightly predictable once the story started coming together. Overall; not bad, well shot and entertaining but overly long and unfocused.

6

Nocturnal Animals

Visually stunning, with something clinical about the way it dissects the relationships it depicts (with heat, anxiety and fear). The film is revelatory in some ways, a study in how heartbreak can be as savage as physical assault. The story-within-a-story structure works, mostly, though it also halts the momentum at times. Still, Nocturnal Animals, which was inspired by Austin Wright's book Tony and Susan is certainly worth watching. And not just for Adams, who's impressive here, but also to witness writer-director Tom Ford's confidence. If only the film more closely embraced the emotions at its core.

7

Arrival

Seriously the premise is good but the movie failed to deliver excitement, drama, tension, action, character development etc. Stay away. I was expecting something better than The Martian, but this was so below that. I'd rate this a b grade movie. I just can not understand how this slipped through the goal posts. You don't get many good science fiction movies made these days they seem to make movies that are just mindless. Love Amy Adams though.

5

The Accountant

I was hesitant about seeing this movie because I am not a Ben Affleck fan. I find his acting to be stiff and unemotional. That is why this is a perfect vehicle for him. Being stiff and unemotional is exactly how you would play an autistic. Think about Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man.

The movie however was very good. The use of flashbacks to explain his skills was done excellently. They were done sparingly and spaced at just the right time to change the pace of the film which was just right.

The casting was spot on and the acting was top notch. All the actors were believable.

7.5

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

With 4 chart buster numbers this movie had created buzz enough for movie buffs like me to watch it, but what turned out was a big disappointment. Anushka is a charm to watch and the only saving grace.

The biggest problem is the weak story and direction, specially the last 30 minutes were too heavy to bear out.

Seriously disappointed, though I will keep listening to the chart buster numbers for a while! haha

5.5

Jack Reacher : Never Go Back

I was a fan of the first movie, so naturally, I was worried. A lot of people gave devastating reviews, which made me lower my expectations.

I needn't have worried, because the movie was actually pretty good. And I say this as an action movie veteran. Having read some Jack Reacher novels, I thought the movie captured the instinct for trouble that pulls Reacher into these situations pretty well.

The fight scenes were intense. Especially the final fight had a harshness to it, that one does not often see in movies.

I also liked how they did not make the female co-star the beautiful bystander. She was just as tough as Reacher. A great role for a woman in an action movie! So don't expect a bullet-proof plot. There are some elements that are a bit convenient, but I can forgive it. Let yourself be entertained!

7

Inferno

A movie that had everything to be a 9 or 10, ended up a not so solid 6. I felt the movie was completely rushed, not being explained the conclusions Robert Langdon comes to take the next step in the investigation. Some scene were not very well staged, and I felt quite a bit is given away in trailers.

I love Tom Hanks, but this was just ok.

6

The Girl On The Train

First off, I will admit that I've not read the bestselling book that The Girl on the Train is based on so my thoughts are based purely on the movie adaptation.

I usually love a fast paced thriller with twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat. The trailers had led me to believe this might be the case for The Girl on the Train. Not so unfortunately...

The screenplay and direction were often sloppy while the editing was so messy it often felt like scenes were pieced together purely at random. I really struggled to warm to or identify with any of the characters in a film where all men are portrayed as controlling and deplorable and any sense of female empowerment is lost amidst the absurdity of the relentlessly twisting plot.

I have to call out Emily Blunt's stunning lead performance - she steals every scene she's in with a nuanced, conflicted and honest portrayal of a complex and intriguing character. There are some good quality support performances but they don't save the movie and most other characters are so slight and one-dimensional that they fade into the background.

The Girl on the Train felt like Gone Girl without the tension, emotion or drama.

6

Deepwater Horizon

For what it must be the longest and most tedious scenes in an "action movie", we sit through endless discussions relating to technical and managerial issues that might be accurate but are only confusing and tedious to the average viewer. We can't wait for the station to explode so they can stop talking.

When the fireworks finally arrive, we given what should have been a grand display of technical effects: visual and audio. There are some good minutes here and there, but it's too dark, the editing is a bit sloppy, and we are hardly able to see who is going through what. There is also a lack of emotion for a disaster movie.

Was expecting more.

5.5

Hell or High Water

In a summer (or should that be year?!) of vapid sequels, remakes, and overblown superhero catastrophes, who would have expected an entertaining, intelligent, well-crafted, suspenseful, character-driven, modern-day western with a brain.

In this razor sharp script, Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, and (especially) Ben Foster (along with everyone else who appears on the screen) inhabit this film as humorous, heartfelt, vicious, painfully tragic, and realistic members of a society reaping the fruits it has tragically sown. Best film so far this year I think.

9

Don't Breathe

DON'T READ REVIEWS FOR THIS FILM!

Avoid trailers and movie clips too. Avoid anything that could be a spoiler.

The less you know the better the film will be.

If you're a horror/thriller fan GO SEE THIS RIGHT NOW. You will be very glad you did.

The film was exhilarating, tense, eerie, and exhausting, with an amazing score.

8

War Dogs

The movie is classified as a crime/drama film but one knows it will have a comical aspect when Jonah Hill is involved!

"War Dogs" touches on a mysterious aspect of the world which is not often talked about. Therefore, the story is already intriguing, and I want to find out what happens to the two guys. What they do might seem questionable to some, and their subsequent success gives much food for thought. The ending makes you think and reflect on the fine line between right and wrong; and how people can get caught up in their successes. Another good aspect is that despite the subject matter, the story manages to be funny yet still remains dramatic enough to be taken seriously. I enjoyed watching it a lot!

8

Mechanic Resurrection

A very ordinary plot. No suspense, no story, unrealistic fight scenes. Can't believe Jason agreed to do it to be honest!

Overall it's very average, only good thing was Jessica Alba!

4

Nerve

With social media at the very heart of the world we live in, the film takes these elements to demonstrate the wide-spreading nature of this technology, as well as the hidden danger through its incredibly intriguing premise. Captivating and brilliantly performed by Roberts and Franco, Nerve exceeded my expectations to become one of the most tense, adrenaline-packed films of the summer. In a blockbuster season that lacked originality, Nerve brought it in abundance, dressing it up in a visually-spectacular package that is well acted, well directed, well edited, thought-provoking and intriguing.

7.5

The Shallows

I was trying to kill a bit of time, hence the reason why I went to see this movie, not expecting much. I was actually surprised at the quality of the filming locations, the camera work, the special effects, and the lack of any serious plot holes or stretches of the imagination.

A young woman goes surfing on a "secret" beach in Mexico and discovers that she has unknowingly entered into the feeding ground of a great white shark.

The comparisons to "Jaws" will be unavoidable. Definitely not a terrible way to spend 85 minutes of your time. Grab some popcorn, for sure!

7

Jason Bourne

This movie made me want to leave after half an hour, and kill myself after 1. I am a huge Bourne fan I was very exited for Matt Damon's return to the Bourne franchise. Also there was fresh face of Alicia Vikander and not so fresh face of Tommy Lee Jones and Vincent Cassel as the bad guy so what can go wrong? Well it turns out if you have a horrible script, you are left with the biggest disappointment in the cinema this year.

So to conclude : Do not see this movie!

1

Star Trek Beyond

This is 2 hours of your life that you will never get back.

So, where to start? First off the story is so thin and seems like a child wrote it. It has no depth and right from the beginning you feel basically nothing for the bad guys or the good guys, and there are so many holes in the story.

There is quite bad CGI during the whole movie. In every action packed scene especially the fighting the camera moves around so much it is hard to grasp what is happening. But even with this shaky camera trick it's impossible to miss how utterly bad these scenes are.

The only thing decent with this movie are some of the actors and their dialog. Everything else, from story to script to CGI is just garbage.

Im sorry I like Star Trek I really do, but this movie is not worth seeing in the cinema.

4.5

TE3N

A remake of 2013 South Korean movie Montage, 'Te3n' is a Well-Made thriller, but its not engrossing enough.

The mystery is nicely built up in the first-hour, although the sluggish pace does get bothersome. The second-hour unfolds on much speed, but as the final twist in the tale is revealed, the predictability wears off. Frankly, the first-hour works, despite the problem of its pace, but the second-hour, despite fastness, lacks the bite.

Amitabh Bachchan delivers a sincere performance as the grieving protagonist. Right from his body language, to his ever searching eyes, the legend remains true to his character. Nawazuddin Siddiqui & Vidya Balan's characters aren't strongly written, but the actors make them worth watching.

On the whole, 'Te3n' isn't engrossing enough, nonetheless, it has some merit to earn itself a viewing.

7

The Legend Of Tarzan

If you want to see a painfully unoriginal and unengaging story of paint-by-number characters getting at it in the green room for 90% of the time, go see this movie.

The most deplorable thing about this movie - aside from the plot being an incoherent mess - is the way the villains are portrayed as caricatures, and the good guys as saints who can do no wrong. I don't know about you, but when the villains are portrayed as sadistic psychopaths with no real motive or character, I lose interest in the story.

Poor

4

Now You See Me 2

I enjoyed the first "Now You See Me" because I was wowed by the mystery and suspense it had. This installment, however, does not provide me with the same experience.

This time round, the film spends a lot of time introducing the new characters and to set the picture. Then, there is a constant stream of trickery, which are unrealistic and unlikely. The plot becomes so far fetched and random, events happening so conveniently that it loses believability, which is the key that made the first film great. There are some scenes in here that are good, but most of the time I am left to wonder when the film is going to end. Unfortunately, I can't see the WOW factor in "Now You See Me 2".

6.5

Central Intelligence

It's not a great film, and its not bad either. But it does what it says on the tin and it does it in style. The chemistry between Hart and Johnson seems a bit awkward, yet plays perfectly into their roles as mismatched 'bros' who have to partner up to save the day. A fast paced story and some predictable yet fun twists ensures you're entertained all the way to the credits. Modern comedies are normally full of hit or misses and this one tends to hit more than it misses.

6.5

Gods of Egypt

Gods of Egypt reminds me of the ridiculous popcorn mythological adventures of the 90's like The Mummy Series, Scorpion King. CGI fight scenes aplenty, adventures to exotic places, hero in distress, women who dress in as little as possible to excite the 12 year old boys in the crowd.

And if you were a twelve year old you would be entertained and look past the strange ways the somehow superhuman Gods seem to be so dim witted and trusting all the time (so as to get themselves killed by being stabbed in the back), the cheesy dialogue, how the characters travel from one place to the next in a couple of scenes.

Ultimately leave your brain at home and kick back and enjoy the CGI popcorn-fest that is Gods of Egypt!

6

The Conjuring 2

This was a good sequel which is very rare for horror movies. I had high expectations from this movie since I did quite enjoy the first one. Although it doesn't have the uniqueness which the first one had, it relies a bit more on jump scares. James Wan again does a stellar job with the direction. The cinematography is awesome which helps a great deal in building up the tension. The acting is great all around. The most important thing is we care about the characters.

If you loved the first Conjuring you should at least like this movie.

Solid Sevens

Money Monster

Strange one this, which again had good potential - plot takes a bizarre twist after the remarkable opening and we discover that the glitch is not the real villain after all. And that knocks the stuffing out of what promised to be a fine spoof on the stock market shows. Within a span of 100 minutes, he supposed "bad guy" has turned from comedian to villain to hero and the transformation is not pleasant to watch.

The problem with the film is that it cannot make up its mind about what it wants to be – a spoof or a detective thriller.

5

A Hologram For The King

Has been slated by reviewers, but I love anything with Tom Hanks. Great actor with an amazing presence, must have seen potential in this movie.

Film criticised for insensitivities towards Islam - I am not easily offended and I found it fine. Yes, there were loopholes, but which movie doesn't have them these days? Having said that, there was huge potential, and after 2/3rd's, the story got lost somehow and took a different turn.

I did like it, but can see how maybe others wouldn't - In summary, it is an insightful and delightful look into the interactions between the personal cultural differences.

7

Kill Zone 2

Went into this blind, as I hadn't seen the first. But hearing Tony Jaa of Ong Bak fame, I pounced on this when shown at my local theatre. It is powerfully presented and beautifully layered but the story seems to be predictable, but does keep your attention til the end.

Movie is nicely written with good cinematography and amazing action sequences. In addition to excellent fight sequences, SPL2 has heart (literally as well as symbolically) which is quite rare these days. Jail Break scene was mind blowing!

In short, this movie is simple yet gripping & certainly one of the best action movies i've seen in a while, and most of all, it was NOT Hollywood!

7.5

Captain America : Civil War

You either love em or hate em. I am sreally starting to despise them, and this in my opinion was the worst of the lot. Not even a fresh faced Spiderman could save it for me!

There were too many characters, messy editing and poorly written; most of all, I was incredibly bored as it was a pretty long affair lasting over 150 minutes.

In short, this movie is for devoted Marvel fanboys only. For everyone else, it is pure torture. Avoid!

2

Demolition

This is not a lighthearted movie, to say the least; yet I found it very real.

It is the complete opposite of a fairy tale and not a sickly romantic chick flick which is very refreshing. It will cause you to think long and hard about your own relationships. You will continue to think about the movie for a while I believe.

If you like thought-provoking movies that have very authentic characters and story lines, then I recommend this movie for you. The movie isn't all dark, it does have it's lighthearted moments and it seems as though that Jake Gyllenhall has carved a niche for himself portraying these wierd and wacky characters after the highly successful, Nightcrawler which is a movie one must watch.

7.5

Bastille Day

Surprised this isn't at least in the 7's on here. Elba is excellent, no cheesy cr@p Bond-esque love interests. Just a proper thriller with some great twists and decent action sequences. Some comical moments in a non Marvel universe cheesy way.

Nothing incredibly new with the plot, but it does keep you interested for the duration. The end hints at a sequel, which could be interesting.

If you like a good action / thriller - this is the best I've seen in a while.

Solid 7

The Jungle Book

Jon Favreau did a fantastic job with this new Jungle Book installment. It is the perfect rendition of a classic movie beloved by many.

For starters, the animation is stunning, and visually, this movie is likely the most beautiful one I have ever seen. It looks extremely real and at no moment was it evident that whole thing was CGI.

Secondly, the casting was perfect. Bill Murry as Baloo was great and his comedic timing helped us remember why we all love Baloo. Ben Kingsley was the perfect Bagheera and Idris Elba's performance as Shere Khan was incredible. Christopher Walken, Scarlett Johanssen also did an amazing job in their roles. Neal Sethi had a very good performance as Mowgli especially considering that he was the only real thing in the entire movie.

Finally the plot and story line was very well done. It had a slightly more serious tone than its 1967 counterpart, but included all of our favorite moments and songs. Overall it was different enough so that the adventure felt new and refreshing, but similar enough for audience to feel nostalgia without it seeming like a copy.

Fantastic rendition of a classic, a great movie for the whole family!

9

Eye in the Sky

I'll leave it to the other reviews to discuss all the ethics/morality stuff.

For me, the main strength of this film was that it was one of those films that's made compellingly watchable by the fact that it just keeps building in suspense, continuously, until the end. You start small, little introductions to characters, then gradually layer upon layer of complication and tension is added. There's not one wasted beat or moment.

Acting, writing, atmosphere, credibility was all just right for a two hour slice of tension building mayhem. Go see it.

8

The Man Who Knew Infinity

So beautifully directed, enthralling from the very first cut. This is so far the finest performance by Dev Patel. Without Jeremy Irons this film would have been toothless. I have never seen a character executed with such panache. Overall a film cannot get better than this, there are some flaws which every film has but are forgivable and probably intended to show the audience that way. Not a film to watch for the entertainment value only but solely for the essence of film watching. A standing ovation to Matthew Brown.

9

10 Cloverfield Lane

10 Cloverfield Lane gives all the development and the meaningful story that its blood relative installment lacked completely. This is not a spectacle full of screams and special effects but one of tension and suspense.

I was extremely hooked from the start. The direction is amazing and claustrophobic. The performances are great, looking up to a surprising Winstead and a unrestrained unforgettable turn by Goodman. The story is gleefully unapologetic delivering chills and full blooded twists (the biggest of all is the intense ending reveal).

Secretly made, impeccably marketed, nicely developed and finally here along with us: 10 Cloverfield Lane promised thrills and delivered it and then some. I was expecting some things that I tasted but I was surprised by a complexity and a twisted sense of horror that I didn't see coming.

8

Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice

A lot of hype has resulted in people being sorely disappointed with this film.

I found it alright to be honest, found it better than the Marvel Avengers film. Preferred the characters in this.

Whilst it had its fair share of flaws, my only other gripe was that in was 30 minutes too long - lots of unnecessary scenes.

Action scenes were good and looking forward to introduction of Wonder Woman played by Gal Gadot who seems like a great, fresh face.

6

Erin Brockovich

Better late than never, it's the first time I saw this yesterday.

Always been a fan of Julia Roberts. This film deserved to win her an Oscar, her performance was superb. She plays the seemingly white trash Erin who may not have the qualifications but does not lack the intelligence. Above all, this is a true story and is quite emotional at times.

Throughly enjoyable and "feel-good."

8.5

Risen

I just came back from seeing Risen, and I have to say, I was actually impressed. This is a very well made movie. They handled the biblical story respectfully, while taking creative license in a way that maintained the spirit and overall message of the gospel.

It puts a very different twist on a story that is rarely told. The film is mostly focused on the events after the crucifixion and shown from predominantly the side of the Romans.

Extremely good acting performances.

7.5

Kapoor and Sons

Kapoor and Sons is magical. You will laugh and cry while watching this movie.

Each and every actor has given 100% in this movie and Hindi Cinema is back to its best after back to back successes with this and my last, Neerja.

Fawad Khan's performance is always delightful and he proves this again in his second Bollywood venture.

Rajat Kapoor and Ratna Pathak performed well and Rishi Kapoor steals every scene where he appears.

Throughly enjoyable.

8.5

Hail, Caesar!

Let's tick off what's good, that's easy and quick: Crystal clear photography (a Coen trademark), and interesting sets & costumes. The bad & ugly are endless.

The few laughs are strained and forever in coming. The movie is less than two hours but it seems endless with dialogue that just drags, scenes that last forever with no point, and actors who listlessly read their lines.

This movie seems to be appealing to a narrow band of reviewers and critics knowledgeable of Hollywood's Golden Age, with some pointing out how stupid the rest of us are for not understanding. That's nice. It doesn't work on any other level.

2

Enemy

Brilliant film, incredibly under rated. I feel the reason it is so badly received by the public is due to the intricate layers within the film. It is a real 'edge of seat' type film while all the time not giving too much away and making the viewer decipher the film for themselves. If you feel you have the deductive capabilities to figure out what is really happening in this film, by all means watch it, but if you are going to watch this and not strain yourself to understand it, you will certainly think the film is terrible.

8.5

London Has Fallen

I think with these things you have to judge and rate a movie according to its genre. This film lacks any kind of intelligent thought, dialogue or plot, it's a whole heap of silliness but "London has Fallen" is a good action movie. It does what it says on the tin. Fast-paced, violent, cliché-ridden, completely unrealistic - its everything you want and expect from this type of film.

Butler is made for this type of role. He's Bond without the class, and that actually makes him more entertaining in some ways. He's the Bruce Willis of our time. I like him as an action hero.

There are no surprises in this film, Freeman is Vice-President, the Americans (of course) save London by identifying the location of the terrorists, Butler takes charge of the SAS and saves the President... I told you, it's a whole heap of silliness but enjoyable silliness nonetheless.

5.5

Neerja

t doesn't always happen in bollywood that a movie stays right on track till the very end. Usually, the ill-fitted humor or obtruded songs take the starch out of the story line.

But this movie is almost free from all such distractions and the director has been very disciplined. Shabana Aazmi has stolen the show with her immaculate acting. I was quite sceptical about Sonam Kapoor's acting capabilities in a movie backed by such a strong script, but thankfully no emotional scenes have been imposed on her and her aptness has been used very smartly by the director!

Inspiring true story. Loved it.

9

Triple 9

The cast for this film really made me want to see this film but unfortunately this film fails to deliver. Casey Affleck plays the good cop in this film and he does a really good job in the role and probably gives the best performance.

Another good performance is by Woody Harrelson who plays the detective and gives a charismatic performance. The story is pretty by the numbers with not much new. There are some good relationships developed but overall pretty basic. Script was very dull and boring with not much going on either dramatically or humour wise. But the film is a drag at times and goes on for a bit too long. Overall this is a really average movie that I wouldn't say is worth seeing.

5.5

Concussion

The acting was Oscar worthy, the science behind the discovery was fascinating, and the fact that it's based on a true story is incredible. It's proof that one person can make a difference. What is more impressive is after watching the film I discovered that this movie was a watered-down version of the original script. Even though Sony tried to avoid legal issues with the NFL by softening the script, I still found it spellbinding.

I will say that I think it's ironic Sony made a movie about a man taking a stand against the NFL yet Sony pictures, with all their resources, are too afraid to do the same.

8

Deadpool

I didn't understand the built-up hype many people had before the movie got released, and I do not understand it after I watched the movie.

OK, so it does not feature a "regular" superhero, but instead an obscene anti-hero who does/tells a lot of obscene stuff. So what? I am a big fan of edgy dark humour, so I laughed a couple of times, but beyond that the movie was not very funny. The fighting scenes were "good", but nothing special.

In the end my opinion is that the movie is just ok. An average 7 from me.

Spotlight

Everything about this movie is outstanding - the performances, the way the true events are handled, the cinematography. In this day of digital news, this movie makes us stand back and realize what we may lose in the way of investigative journalism as we slowly kill off print media. Michael Keaton is really making a comeback!

The lengths the directors go to to achieve a sense of authenticity is remarkable. We are there in Boston in 2001-2002. We get to know enough about each character to make him or her real, but not enough to create side dramas. The focus remains the child abuse scandal in the archdiocese in Boston. That reflects the conflict the characters face and deal with when events make them rethink the focus of their article.

The movie is riveting, though we know the outcome.

8.5

Dirty Grandpa

Obviously not a great movie, but I don't understand all the people claiming it to be the worst movie that they've seen or that they thought it was going to be so much better. If you couldn't tell how this movie was going to go before you watched it, you probably don't know much about movies. The plot was basic, nothing you wouldn't be able to predict happens. All of De Niro's jokes were just him swearing a lot.

In the cinema there were actually a lot of laughs, I think if you go into this movie expecting nothing (like I did) you will be pleasantly surprised.

6

The Revenant

Once you've passed the opening scene and the grizzly scene, feel free to go and refresh your popcorn - you won't miss much. The last hour and a half is incredibly slow paced.

Overall, the film is self-consciously bleak and overdetermined. A better director might possibly have made this a good film.

If DiCaprio gets an Oscar for this it will be because the Academy think they owe him one and possibly because of the hype. This is a film that will be forgotten. Nothing special.

6

Ip Man 3

We do not see much fighting as part of Ip Man's action in here - we see his soul and dedication to China and his values/morals. We see a man with all heart to his wife - ready to give up who he is just to be with her till the last days. We see a father who would do anything, even if that means disgracing his beings, to save his children. We see a citizen that stands up against the bad guys, single-handedly defeating them all to bring peace to the streets. And still, we see a great master.

All fighting scenes are highly precise and beautifully performed, I love the 3-minute versus battle - where 2 genres of martial arts collide and finish in a very fair act of both. Also I enjoy the moments of husband-and-wife, almost shedding a tear in the process. You can find laughter in some parts - which makes the movie closer to real-life.

Very thoughtful film which will be with me for a long time.

9

Wazir

When you have powerhouse of talents like Amitabh Bachchan and Farhan Akhtar in one film, the expectation obviously soars sky high. The trailer of Wazir was taut and crispy. Unfortunately, the film could not leverage the tension and excitement built by its teaser.

Wazir stands on the shoulder of two strong performers who compliment each other in every possible way. Farhan Akhtar delivers an impeccable performance as a man trying to seek redemption. The one-liners from Amitabh Bachchan are alluring and the legendary actor gives an outstanding performance with aplomb. Aditi Rao Hydari looks gorgeous and enacts her part well.

Overall, Wazir is watchable only for two talents Amitabh Bachchan and Farhan Akhtar who saves the film from falling into a rabbit- hole.

6.5

Room

Don't listen to the haters or those that want to chip away at the overall brilliance of 'Room'. What film doesn't have small flaws, they pale into insignificance during the 2 hours of continuous emotional maelstrom that follows. This film wrings every last drop of emotion and drama out of the allotted playtime. Make no mistake, despite short bursts of touching serenity, this films starts up full throttle and doesn't let-up. This is a first rate drama with stand out performances all round, especially from the child protagonist and new sensation, Jacob Tremblay.

9

The Big Short

Another movie that I was really pumped to see, killed by idiots. Shaky cam, quick cuts, bobble-head cam, crash zooms, and horribly edited audio made this unwatchable for me.

I'd like to know who it was that thought, hey lets make a movie about banking, and market it to pre-teens. I found this too boring quite frankly, although well done to the acting performances which were on par. I really like Steve Carrel.

5.

Joy

The biggest failure was the script, which seemed more like a rough draft.

The screenplay was a let down and had so much potential. The whole drama lacked a good score and inspiration and "feel-good" vibes were in short supply.

Jennifer Lawrence was very good, but hard to take seriously after Hunger Games movies, despite success's in similar roles previously.

Slow 1st half, worth a peek though.

6.5