Hobbit beats out Les & Django

[Dec 28-30]
Hobbit beats out Les & Django

1-In a very tight week ,Hobbit did quite a feat by defeating 2 anticipated movies to claim the box office crown for the 3rd week in a row.Hobbit made a strong $33million on its 3rd week.This puts Hobbits Domestic total to $222million.Hobbit is doing great in overseas making $464million.This makes its worldwide total to $686million.The Hobbit will go strong for the next 2 weeks also.

2-Django came second with $30million.The R rated action flick directed by Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds) ,has already collected $64million in its 6 day release.The movie has been getting great reviews and critics have praised Quentin for his direction.The movie is currently rated at 89%.

3-Although it opened well ,Les Miserables couldnt keep the crowds attention during the weekend.It made $28million over the weekend and $67million in its 6days.Tom Hooper's (Kings Speech) musical drama ,boasts of excellent performances from Huge Jackman & Anne Hathaway.Even though the movie has got great reviews ,it couldnt match upto the towering expectations.Its currently rated at 72%.

4-Parental Guidance opened 4th making $14.8million in the weekend.The family comedy which stars veteran comedian ,Billy Crystal ,was a top choice for the family (Django was R Rated while Les Miserables was mostly depressing).But the movie has got poor reviews ,calling the movie predictable and a one time watch.But it turns out to be a good choice for families with younger kids.The movie has a rotten rating of 17%.

5-Jack Reacher only suffered a small fall (10%drop) ,as it made $14million on its 2nd week.The movie has made a worldwide total of $67million ,but is still below the standards for a Tom Cruise action movie.

Meanwhile Lincoln is still doing great domestically and has made $132million so far ,which is Steven Spielberg's highest grossing domestic movie since 2008's Indiana Jones 4.

Life of Pi has made a worldwide total of $303million ,and has become Ang Lee's highest grossing movie.

And finally ,after almost 7 weeks ,Skyfall became the first James Bond movie to enter the Billion Dollar club! The movie made $289million domestically & $710million overseas to become the 14th member & 3rd 2012 movie to make a Billion Dollars ($1000,000,000).Skyfall is yet to open in China ,and is expected to make it into the Top 10 Highest Grossing Movies of All Time.

This week we have 3 new releases ,Texas Chainsaw 3D,The Impossible & Promised Land.I dont think these 3 can break into the Top Spot ,as Django or Les will do it.My pick of the Week will be ---

The Impossible-This is a true story about the tragic incident that took place on Dec 26th 2004 -The Indian Ocean Tsunami.The movie has been critically praised for its acting and direction,and is currently rated at 79%.Even though its a bit gloomy ,this will be my Pick Of the Week

The Promised Land stars Matt Damon and is about 2 salespeople who are sent to a rural town to close a deal.This is a drama movie directed by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Milk).The movie has been getting below average reviews ,saying its a good start but then ends up predictable and cliched.Its currently rated at 49%.

Texas Chainsaw 3D is about a masked serial killer who kills a bunch of teenagers.No reviews are there currently but it looks like usual slash and kill type movie.Its expected to be rotten and if you want to watch a silly horror movie ,this might be the one for you.

Dabangg still on fire in 2nd week

Dabangg 2 [Blockbuster]

After making a powerful first weekend of 60cr ,Dabangg2 managed to make it into the 100cr club just in 6 days.The movie has made Rs.20cr in its 2nd weekend and is currently at Rs.127cr (10days).The movie is now the 3rd highest grossing movie of 2012.With just Rowdy Rathore (Rs.131cr) & ET Tiger (Rs.198cr) ahead of Dabangg2 ,its a safe call to expect it to beat out Rathore by its 3rd week.D2 doesnt have much competition in this week too ,since the major competitors,Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola and Vishwaroop will release only in January 11 2013.

CHRISTMAS WISHES TO ALL

I WISH ALL MY DEAR READERS A MERRY CHRISTMAS !

Hobbit falls, but remains on top

[Dec 21-23]
Hobbit falls, but remains on top

1-The Hobbit fought of 5 new releases on its second week to remain on the top spot.But the movie had a sharp fall and made only $36.7million (57% drop).So far the LOTR prequel has made $149.8million domestically and it looks like the movie wont break any of the Lord of The Rings collections (the lowest of which is Fellowship's $313million domestic and $869million worldwide).

The Hobbit is going strong overseas too ,but its decline is noticeable.The movie made another $91million overseas to bring its overseas total to $284million.Hobbit has made a worldwide total of $433million so far.With movies like Les Miserables & Django coming up ,Hobbit's collection will fall even further in the coming weeks.

2-Tom Cruise's new movie Jack Reacher made a disappointing $15.6million.Jack Reacher is an adaptation of Lee Child's 2005 novel One Shot.The action movie has been getting above average reviews and is currently rated at 63%. Jack Reacher is expected to linger in The Top 10 as long as possible to atleast cover its budget of $60million.

3-The second new movie was Judd Apatow's This is 40 with a disappointing debut of $12million.This is 40 is a spin off Knocked Up.The comedy movie has been getting average reviews and is currently rated at 50%.The movie has a small budget of $35million ,and so its expected to recover through the Christmas season.but for a Judd Apatow movie its disappointing ,although its better than his previous movie ,Funny People.

4-Rise of the Guardians managed to hold on to the Top 5 for its 5th week earning $5.9million.So far the animated movie has made $222million.

5-At 5th place ,Lincoln continued its surprising run by making $5.6million.Even after 6 weeks ,the biopic has exceeded expectations by staying within the Top 5.So far the movie has made $116million in the domestic market.The movie is yet to release worldwide.

The 3rd new release was Guilt Trip.The movie starring Seth Rogen & Barbra Streisand flopped.Debuting at #6 ,the movie managed to make just $5.4million in the weekend.The movie which is about a mother & son, has been getting negative reviews and is currently at 37%.Although critics liked the actors ,the story was the main culprit.Made at a budget of $40million,Guilt Trip will be crushed by the upcoming releases.

The 4th new release ,isnt exactly new.Mosters Inc. was re-released after 10 years ,this time in 3D.Though the movie is a classic ,it failed to garner interest this time.The movie made just $5million and turned out to be the worst debut for a Disney 3D re-release.They should have learnt their lesson with the backlash they received when Finding Nemo 3D crashed.Monsters Inc 3D is nothing but a cash grab ,and theres nothing special in the 3D version.

The 5th new release , Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away opened at #11 earning just $2.1million.The movie which is a 3D concert movie ,opened to limited audiences.The movie has got mixed reviews and is currently rated at 56%.

Even though Skyfall & Life of Pi were pushed out of the top 5, both are making strong collections worldwide.Skyfall made $4.7million domestically and $9million overseas to bring its worldwide total to $974million.Skyfall is bound to hit the $1billion milestone once it opens in China in January.

Life of Pi made $23.2million worldwide to push its total to $235million.

This week we have 2 BIG releases! Tom Hooper's emotional drama ,Les Miserables & Quentin Tarantino's Western action movie, Django Unchained.

Both are strong movies and have A list actors boosting the movie with great performances ,but my pick of the week is....

Django Unchained

Im not a die hard fan of Quentin ,but his movies are always packed with fun and bloody action sequences.With Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) ,Jamie Foxx (Ray) and Leonardo DiCaprio (Inception) ,the acting department has been widely praised with Leonardo stealing much of the praise.And on Christmas Week ,i would prefer some action drama than emotional drama.Django is currently rated a solid 91%.

Les Miserables

Tom Hooper's next after the motivational The King's Speech ,is Les Miserables which is based on the French historical novel of the same name by Victor Hugo.The movie is a musical and stars Hugh Jackman (X-Men) ,Russell Crowe (Gladiator) ,Anne Hathaway (Dark Knight Rises).Anne has been praised for her performance in this movie and is currently the front runner for Best Actress awards of 2013.The movie is currently rated at 71%

But who will come on top, Django or Miserables ? Or will the Hobbit come on top? Wait and watch

Dabangg2 blasts off

Dabangg 2 [going to be superhit]

Although Dabangg2 couldnt register the biggest single day gross (Ek tha Tiger Record -Rs.31cr opening) ,it did break the record for first weekend collection with a solid Rs.63.6cr (previous record- Ek tha Tiger-Rs.57.8cr).

Powered by Salman Khan ,the movie is charging forward towards Rs.100cr ,which is quite easy for it at this stage.

The reviews have been average.The main issue being the story and how its just a remake of the first part,which wasnt so great either (Dabangg 2010).The over the top action scenes and dialogues may only satisfy Salman fans.

[One Time Watch/ Skip It]

Khiladi 786 [Hit]

Khiladi 786 is close to winding up its run.So far the movie has made Rs.70cr

Talaash [Super Hit]

Talaash too wont be hanging around much longer.It might not have made it to 100cr club ,but making Rs.90cr is a good collection for a small budget movie.

End Of Watch (2012)

[a good cop thriller]

End Of Watch (2012)
IMDB- 7.7
RottenTomatoes- 85%
RJG Ratings- 65

A recording of 2 cops adventures on the streets Los Angeles.

Starring- Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena
Director- David Ayer

Both Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena give good performances.At times it does go a bit over the top but its passable considering the type of characters they are playing.Anna Kendrick does a very cute and lovely performance.

the story for End Of Watch is average but has some good twists.The story is about a series of brave deeds and some long talks by the lead characters.While the missions are exciting ,the talks and discussions does start to bore you after a while.

Direction was good but Ayer's idea for handheld style was a failed experiment.The unique feature of the movie is its handheld footage (like Cloverfield,Paranormal Activity etc).While Jake's character explain his reasons for recording with his hand cam ,it starts to get ridiculous towards the second half.In the second half ,many scenes arent even shot through handheld.The climax scenes are even more idiotic when the villains run around carrying camcorders during gun battles.The addition of camera footage just adds to more problems and drags the movie in various scenes.Add to the fact that theres plenty of shaky scenes,it becomes a bit troublesome watching EOW.The movies climax was excellent.The movie has plenty of plot holes too.

Nevertheless EOW is an exciting cop thriller-drama and worth a watch.

Acting- 4/5
Story- 3.5/5
Direction- 3.5/5
Action- 4/5
Thriller- 4.5/5

Chennai Express First Pic

First official pic from Rohit Shetty's Chennai Express, featuring Shahrukh Khan & Deepika Padukone.The movie is set for release in 2013

TDKR FYC Video

Warner Bros have released a 'Dark Knight Rises' Behind the scenes compilation video ,check it out!

http://batman-news.com/2012/12/22/for-your-consideration-behind-the-scenes-of-the-dark-knight-rises-video/

Nolan really deserves some major praise for his work on the Trilogy.Just amazing & beautiful.The more i watch TDKR ,the more i see how much work Nolan has done to close the trilogy into perfection.Nolan ,you are too good :)

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

[a sweet and charming tale about young love]

Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
IMDB- 8.0
Rottentomatoes- 94%
RJG Ratings- 100

Sam & Suzy run away from their homes ,causing their caretakers to make a search party.

Starring- Jared Gilman,Kara Hayward,Bruce Willis ,Edward Norton
Director- Wes Anderson

The cast for Moonrise Kingdom is solid.The leads are played by Jared Gilman & Kara Hayward who play Sam & Suzy.Both do a wonderful job and give their characters the unique style often seen in Wes Anderson movies.The supporting cast includes all A listers ,such as Bruce Willis ,Edward Norton ,Bill Murray and Frances McDormand ,and they all do excellently.Bruce W & Edward N were just great.

The story is excellent.Its short but it holds a much deeper & meaningful tale.The subtle humour and Anderson's usual themes are ever present.The story doesnt rush off ,but slowly reveals its layers.Although the concept of young love ,has been tried plenty of times ,i think Wes Anderson's story is the one that really stands out from the rest.

Direction from Wes Anderson is brilliant.He brings to Moonrise Kingdom his trademark themes and visual styles that we end up loving.His presentation is wonderful and the simplicity of the entire movie ,is a heart warming experience.He once again brings the best out of his cast.The movie has a wacky setting but its all done in good taste.

Overall ,Moonrise Kingdom is a sweet romantic movie.A must watch if you are a Wes Anderson fan.

Acting- 5/5
Story- 5/5
Direction- 5/5
Romance- 5/5
Comedy- 4.5/5
Drama- 4.5/5

This Is The End trailer & Poster

Trailer for This Is The End

Trailer #1

This movie about 6 real life friends ,who are trapped in a house during the end of the world.Dont know how the movie will turn out ,but its great watching these guys !

Best Foreign Movie Contenders

he 9 Movies being considered for Best Foreign Movie Oscar:

Amour
War Witch
No
A Royal Affair
The Intouchables
The Deep
Kon-Tiki
Beyond the Hills
Sister

The main competition will be between Intouchables & Amour
Its great to know India's "copy paste" movie Barfi didnt make it through.

Looper (2012)

[an excellent mind teaser]

Looper (2012)
IMDB- 7.8
Rottentomatoes- 94%
RJG Rating -100

In a futuristic world ,Loopers are people who kill off victims sent from the future.

Starring -Joseph Gordon ,Bruce Willis
Director- Rian Johnson

The movie is powered by Joseph Gordon's performance.He has easily given yet another superb role of 2012 with Looper (the others being Premium Rush,TDKR,Lincoln).Joseph's acting is excellent and joining him is action star Bruce Willis.Bruce Willis plays the older version of Joseph's character.While hes pushed off to a supporting role character ,Bruce still leaves a strong impact on the movie.Emily Blunt's acting was good too but as long as Joseph's onscreen ,no one can or does overtake him.

The story for Looper is its unique factor.it deals with time travel which can be a very messy subject if not dealt with utmost care.But Looper does it with ease.The last movie that made me as intrigued and left me trying to fit the pieces together,as Looper , was Nolan's masterpiece Inception.And being compared to Inception is no small compliment.The story reveals itself layer by layer and gives the audience enough pointers for them to figure out whats happening.On the downside ,the rules arent exactly laid out which could lead to some doubts and confusion while seeing the movie.
Another excellent point was how well it portrayed the 'hero' 'villain' roles.Neither Joseph nor Bruce are the exact heroes ,but their characters are so dark & twisted, that at times we are left considering them as the real villains.All in all ,writing is solid.

Rian Johnson has done an excellent job as the director.Giving Earth's future a bleak look with just the right amount of technology made Looper well balanced in the reality scales.The pacing of the movie was intense from start to finish.And this might be a very minor point ,but i just loved how the title was shown.

How on earth can you envision Joseph Gordon as being Bruce Willis younger self?Well that was something you have to see the movie for.Rian Johnson aptly uses CGI for the transformation.But at times it sort of stands out too much and we are left with 2 Joseph's.One that looks like the real Joseph ,and the one with too much special effects on.But it doesnt matter,since Joseph from the start to finish mimics the famous grins and talking style of Bruce Willis to an A.

Overall ,Looper is not for the weak minded.Its an action movie with a very twisted yet sensible plot,and quite bloody too.Fans of movies like Inception ,Matrix will find Looper to be a quite wonderful ride.

Acting- 4.5/5
Story- 5/5
Direction- 5/5
Action- 5/5
Thriller- 5/5

The Great Gatsby Trailer #2

The Great Gatsby Trailer #2

Starring A list stars such as Leonardo ,Carey ,Tobey ,Great Gatsby looks amazing.Although it might just turn out to be an overdose of drama.

Kai Po Che! trailer

Trailer for Kai Po Che!

Kai Po Che! Trailer #1

Directed by Abhishek Kapoor (Rock On) ,and based on Chetan Bhagat's hit novel - 3 Mistakes of my Life!

Guest Review-The Hobbit (2012)

Special review by Arnab Goswami

The Hobbit (2012)

Peter Jackson's long awaited cinematic adaptation of JRR Tolkien's 'The Hobbit'.

AG Rating : 100

The film

After a really long time, we see middle earth back on the big screen and how ??!! Seeing middle earth in 3d made me really wanting more and wishing if The Lord of the Rings trilogy had come out in 3d too !! Peter Jackson's trademark helicopter shots, sweeping camera work and his epic cinematic grandeur were back with a BANG !!

While the LOTR trilogy was for the most part filled with doom and gloom ( and still amazingly immersive no doubt), this film adds the merriment and joy one encounters while reading Tolkien's books, especially 'The Hobbit'. The result is a delight to see as the dwarves are hilarious and even old Gandalf adds in a joke or two !!

While the pacing may appear to be an issue for some, nonetheless for Tolkien fans like me, it didn't seem to be an issue at all as it appropriately built up the anticipation and excitement for the adventure !!

The visual effects

3d seems to have improved a lot lately as this is the second film I have watched in which the 3d was amazingly immersive with the appropriate depths at the required places. The visual effects were even more vivid, realistic, spot on and coming from Weta, had an element of grandeur to them.

The background score

John Howard has used almost all of the cues of the previous trilogy and places appropriately to great effect. The score compliments Jackson's camera work excellently. Watch out for the lonely mountain song sung by the dwarves ! As in the trailer, this particular sequence was absolutely spell binding and soul stirring and literally gave me goosebumps !!

The direction

I feel that only Peter Jackson truly understands the vision of JRR Tolkien and no one can ever translate his book to the big screen better than he can !!

His camerawork is filled with to the brim with so much grandeur and energy that the viewer gets pulled in by him and I for one was fully energized throughout and not for once did I feel bored. Despite having seen several breathtaking sequences in his films before, I was still awed by many of the sequences he has filmed here : watch out for the battle of the stone giants in the 3rd half ! Now that was jaw dropping !!!

Though I didn't watch it so, I felt the film was made for 48 fps and hopefully in its next version, it will have resolved all of its current problems and will herald in the next generation of cinema !!

The acting

Martin freeman was born to play Bilbo Baggins ! There is absolutely nothing more that once can say. I cannot imagine anyone else on earth playing that role !! Richard Armitage excelled as Thorin Oakenshield. Gandalf was a delight as always. Hugo weaving as Elrond and Cate Blanchett as Galadriel were a delight too in their short roles. All the dwarves were excellent in their roles too !!

The AG verdict

A fitting and worthy addition to the middle earth universe envisioned by Tolkien though it will be enjoyed fully only by Tolkien fans !! A visual delight and a cinematic masterpiece !! I liked it even better than the LOTR trilogy !! ( though that might be because I was seeing a middle earth after a long time but I still feel I liked it much better !!)

Pain & Gain Trailer

And HES BACK ! MICHEAL BAY ! Trailer for the awesome Pain & GAIN ,starring Mark Wahlberg & The ROCK
Trailer1 Link #1

Trailer1 Link #2

just kidding about the excitement,the movie looks like another Trademark Bay flick- Explosions,Hot Chicks ,Male obsession (Last time transformer toys ,this time muscles),some running etc.
But this just might turn out to be a decent flick ,judging by the trailer.And Rock & Mark look great!

Lawless (2012)

[excellent acting powers this bloody movie]

Lawless (2012)
IMDB- 7.4
Rottentomatoes- 68%
RJG Rating- 100

The Bondurant brothers' illegal business is threatened by the new corrupt Deputy.

Starring- Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Jessica Chastain,Guy Pearce
Director- John Hillcoat

Lawless has one of the best casting of 2012.The cast was just amazing and all give superb performances.Shia LaBeouf as Jack Bondurant was great.But the real show stealer was Tom Hardy as the Eldest brother ,Forrest Bondurant.Tom gives hardly a few lines but he gives off an amazing performance.Guy Pearce plays the villain, Charlie Rakes.Guy like the rest of the cast blends in perfectly and gives a menacing performance.Jessica Chastain is one of the best upcoming actresses of the recent years ,and once again she delivers an excellent performance.Supporting cast members ,Gary Oldman,Mia W,Jason Clarke were all noteworthy.

The story of Lawless is based on the novel " The Wettest County in the World " ,written by Matt Bondurant who was the grandson of teh lead character ,Jack Bondurant.Although the movie is much more violent than the book ,i felt it to be amazing and more apt.The movie could have been another one of those dull 'illegal smugglers' movie ,but the writers mix the legends with the real story giving off a pretty intense screenplay.

Direction was excellent.The start was a bit slow ,but we never expect it to suddenly turn into an intense crime war.Even at the halfway mark ,the movie glided smoothly without a hitch leaving a trail of blood and violence.Add to the fact the actors are just amazing ,you have in your hands a very interesting movie.

Overall ,Lawless will surprise you on how well its crafted and by the amazing cast.A must watch.

Acting- 5/5
Story- 5/5
Direction- 5/5
Drama- 5/5
Action- 4/5
Thriller- 5/5

Looper (2012) [Guest Review ]

Special Guest Review by Arnab Goswami

Looper (2012) (Spoilers ahead)
AG rating : 100

A mind bending tale about time travel in the near future and the highly intriguing prospect of a man meeting his future self whom he has to kill. What happens now ??!!

The film

After a long time, we at last see a film that can have the 'inception' effect on you as you watch it. With a strong emphasis on parallel timelines, it beautifully illustrates the cause and effect scenarios......that is if there is an effect, then there has to be a cause. As simple as it sounds, it can lead to some very paradoxical situations as is shown in a key sequence involving Joseph Gordon Levitt and Bruce Willis.

The direction
Time travel is an extremely difficult topic to begin with and the director deserves applause for the way he has tackled it. He has managed to give us the 'inception' effect which is no small feat. The ending though wasn't so inception like.

The acting

With the help of a little CGI, JGL completely transforms himself into the younger Bruce Willis though this wouldn't have been possible without some terrific acting on his part. Bruce Willis was good too though I felt JGL outshone him.

The AG verdict

Despite the fact that the pace slows down significantly when the character of Emily blunt is introduced, it picks up again spectacularly in a jaw dropping sequence and the ending, though not totally unpredictable, still leaves you awestruck. All in all, one of the best sci-fi films ever !!! A must watch for all sci-fi fans !!!!

7 New FYC Ads

TDKR #7

TDKR hit another milestone,as it was honoured as one of the Top 10 movies of 2012 by AFI & TIME.Does this boost its chances to get nominated in the Best Picture Category?
I think TDKR increased its chances.Failure to nominate TDK, 2nd biggest blockbuster of the year ,Recognition for AFI, looks like TDKR has a 70% chance to make it through.

Les Miserables #2

The cinematography list will be a tight race.I think Les Miserables fate lies after its release.Right now i think it has a 30% chance to get nominated.

Lincoln #2-3

While its simple ,its still pretty much a bunch of lazy ads.Is it because Lincoln is guaranteed to make it Big at all the award ceremonies? Lincoln sweeped up 7 nominations at Golden Globes ,and i think its gonna sweep up the Oscar noms too!

Moonrise Kingdom #4

Moonrise will be aiming for the Picture & Writing noms.i dont think it has any chance at cinematography.Not that it was bad (the movie was amazing) ,its just that the race is very tight.

ParaNorman #4

Shockingly ParaNorma was snubbed at the Golden Globes.If you check the new ad, the new ad you can see a small note saying Lovingly made in The USA.Golden Globes is a British affair ,and ParaNorman is hoping the American Academy doesnt snub it. Still ,Paranorman deserves all the praise.Its the best animated movie of the year.

Skyfall #4

British movie ,Skyfall failed to get in at the Golden Globes (except Adele's Theme Song) ,and i think it will be ignored by the Americans as well.Although a Supporting Actor nom for Javier should be considered.

Zero Dark Thirty #3

This is the big movie that is expected to sweep the major awards at the Oscar.Kathryn has done it before with Hurt Locker and she has brought up another thriller with ZDT.Considering its the movie about America's biggest and victorious manhunt,ZDT has a large support behind it.

Star Trek Into Darkness Trailer

Awesome new trailer for Star Trek Into Darkness !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5gdbUC9mWU 

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

[an enjoyable return to Middle Earth]

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
IMDB- 8.7 (Top 250: #88)
Rottentomatoes- 65%
RJG Ratings- 95

Gandalf,recruits Bilbo Baggins to accompany him & 13 dwarves on a grand adventure.

Starring- Martin Freeman,Ian McKellen,Richard Armitage
Director- Peter Jackson

Hobbit is a novel written by JRR Tolkien back in 1937 ,which is a prequel to the events that take place in The Lord of The Rings.Director Peter Jackson had first envisioned The Hobbit as a 2 part movie but as shooting progressed ,he realised the Hobbit could be expanded into 3 movies rather than 2.

Martin Freeman plays the central character ,Bilbo Baggins.Ian McKellen reprises his role as Gandalf.Richard Armitage plays the 3rd central character ,Thorin.These 3 do a wonderful job and give very strong performances.The supporting cast (the other 12 dwarves) do great ,but due to the large number, none manage to stand out.The chemistry between the cast is undeniable and it gives the movie a very strong emotional touch.Andy Serkis returns as Gollum ,but sadly its only a cameo.But he very much steals the show with his terrific acting!

The story for The Hobbit isnt a direct adaptation of the 1937 novel.Being just one short novel ,its division into 3 movies had the audiences wondering how Jackson could pull it off (comparatively ,Lord of The Rings Trilogy was based on 3 novels).Jackson added more story, referring to the appendixes of the Lord of the Rings ,and introduced more characters ,and gave the 13 dwarves more character development.
The result? The story for An Unexpected Journey is not only enough ,it overflows.It has plenty to run upon, but theres a catch to this.It makes Hobbit Part 1 completely dependent on the next two movies.Unlike Fellowship of the Ring (LOTR 1), An Unexpected Journey leaves almost every storyline open for the second movie to continue.Theres no proper conclusion to anything.
Another thing is that much of the depth of the story is only realisable to those who have watched Lord Of The Rings.There are many shots and items that directly relate to the LOTR movies ,and fans will love them.

Peter Jackson once again delivers justice to the material.Although he has altered much of it ,the story still brings you back into the magical world of Middle Earth.
But the major criticism is the length of the movie.An Unexpected Journey is around 2hr 40min long.The fans wont mind sitting and enjoying the whole movie, but the fact that the movie could have been shortened by atleast 20min is undeniable! Many scenes tend to drag on with talks on Middle Earth ,it wont bother the fans,but it might not be very interesting to casual movie audiences.Plus the fact that this movie is entirely dependent on Hobbit Part 2 ,dulls An Unexpected Journey's significance.
The pacing of the movie is average.It isnt fast paced nor dull ,and sticks to a very well balanced presentation.Jackson does brilliant directing and plays with illusions too well.His dedication to the movie ,can be clearly be seen onscreen.

Compared to LOTR ,Hobbit is not as intense ,but is a very enjoyable and light hearted movie.It has its set of brilliant action sequences ,and the extremely beautiful New Zealand landscape will just leave you spell bound.The music is uplifting and amazing.

Now to the technical side.Hobbit is the first movie to be shot entirely in 48fps (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=567947409898854).
I saw it in normal 2d version ,and based on the various shots and sequences i feel 48fps+3D will be an amazing experience.BUT the length of the movie is the major problem maker.At almost 3hrs long, i feel ,Hobbit is too long to watch at one stretch on 48fps and might cause headaches and strain since we arent used to such long duration of high frame rate movie watching.Better leave the 48fps experimentation for the DVD.

Overall,The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is an excellent fantasy movie ,that packs in much drama and fun and is guaranteed to not disappoint any fans of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.The movie is a great watch for families and all.Plus, it sets the grand stage for the next 2 movies.Cant wait for The Desolation of Smaug (2013) !

Acting- 4.5/5
Story- 4/5
Direction- 5/5
Action- 5/5
Drama- 4.5/5

Hobbit strikes Gold!

[Dec 14-16]

Hobbit strikes Gold!

1-The prequel to the epic Lord of The Rings Trilogy ,The Hobbit An Unexpected Journey ,made $84million ,which is a record debut for December.Although this is great ,it was slightly below expectations.Being the much anticipated plus being mainly a 3D movie ,it was expected to make over $100million.But the movie is strong and has already made $138million overseas ,bringing its worldwide collection to $223million!

Unfortunately,Hobbit did not manage to get universal praise like the LOTR trilogy.Many were unhappy about its length (2.45hr) ,and the 48fps failed to make the experience any better.The movie is rated 65%
My review-http://bit.ly/hob112RJG

2-Rise of The Guardians managed to make a stand ,and earn $7.4million.Although the movie had a disappointing debut ,its staying around to recollect its losses.The animated movie has made a worldwide gross of $190million so far.

3-Lincoln is turning out to be a grand hit.The historical drama made $7.2million to bring its total gross to $107million.Lincoln has not yet been released worldwide ,but its a guarantee to be a big hit after getting multiple nominations in major Award ceremonies for 2012.

4-Skyfall made $7million in its 6th week.The movie is the highest grossing movie of the entire James Bond.The movie has grosses $951million worldwide and is slowly nearing the 1billion milestone.Its currently #18 on the worldwide list.

5-Life of Pi came 5th for the 4th time.It made $5.4million bringing its domestic total to $69.5million.The movie's strong point is on its foreign collection.It has made $128 million overseas so far.

This week 2 movies will compete against the Hobbit for the top spot.Seth Rogen's comedy The Guilt Trip and Pixar's Monsters Inc 3D.This is Pixar's 4th re-release of its classics (previous ones being Toy Story 1&2 and Finding Nemo).
My pick of the week will be Guilt Trip.Im a fan of Seth Rogen and wont mind watching his latest flick.
I love Monsters Inc too and have watched it plenty of times ,but i would like to watch a new movie.Monsters Inc is recommended for the family audience.

Khiladi & Talaash hold on for their final week

Khiladi 786

Even though it has racked up horrible reviews ,Khiladi is still running nicely.With no strong release this week,Khiladi made Rs.11cr in its second weekend.The movie now has made Rs.62.5cr.

Talaash

Just like Khiladi ,there was no competition for Aamir's Talaash this week.The movie made Rs.5cr to bring its total to Rs.83.5cr.


With next weeks release,Dabangg 2 ,both Talaash & Khiladi is set to be eliminated from the business.Salman Khan is looking forward to outdo his own Ek Tha Tiger ,and any movies running presently will have no chance to make any more cash.


Jab Tak Hai Jaan
Shahrukh's latest JTHJ might have winded up its domestic business at Rs.120cr ,but its still a blockbuster overseas.JTHJ now has become the 3rd most grossing movie of all time overseas.
The movie has made $13million ,and is behind My Name Is Khan ($22.15million) and 3 Idiots ($23.9million).

Sinister (2012)

[best horror movie of 2012]

Sinister (2012)
IMDB- 6.9
Rottentomatoes- 62%
RJG Ratings- 85

A writer finds a box of shocking videos in his new house.

Starring- Ethan Hawke
Director- Scott Derrickson

Ethan Hawke gives a good performance.The supporting cast too are great.The movie centered around Ethan's character and he gives full justice to his role.

The story of Sinister isnt exactly a new concept ,but its a very disturbing movie to watch.The videos found are the highlight ,and they will definitely make you cringe in shock.On the downside ,the story doest fully explain itself and falls into a bit of cliche towards the end.

Direction was excellent.The entire movie's main attraction is the way its presented.The first half deals with slow horror ,and the second half used some fast horror techniques.The pacing of the movie was a bit slow in the start ,but it picks up soon and is intense till the end.

The music was certainly one of a kind.Its not the usual kind of scary tune ,its different and lends the movie a certain unique touch.It amps up the scary atmosphere of Sinister.

Overall ,Sinister isnt for the weak of heart.Its a very disturbing & excellent horror movie.

Acting- 4/5
Story- 4/5
Direction- 4.5/5
Horror- 5/5
Thriller- 5/5

Hobbit Video Blog #10

Hobbit :Production Video #10 Movie Premiere

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10151375756696807

Golden Globe Nominees

The Golden Globe Nominees were announced today.2012 has to be one of the best years for great movies ,and it shows in the nominees.Majority deserve their nominations while still theres plenty that were completely snubbed.TDKR,Avengers,Hobbit,Skyfall and many movies were completely snubbed.

Lincoln led the way with a solid 7 nominations.The winners will be announced on January 13 2013.

Click to Read The Full List & My Analysis & Predicted Winners

Motion Poster for The Wolverine

Pacific Rim Trailer & Poster

Awesome Trailer & Poster for Pacific Rim

Gigantic Monsters vs Equally Gigantic Robots? Check this out!!!
Trailer #1

Pacific Rim is directed by Guillermo Del Toro (director of Hellboy 1&2 ,Pan's Labyrinth).The movie is set for release on July 11 2013

Special Guest Review - Life of Pi

Life of Pi (2012)

Special Guest Review -Arnab Goswami

AG Rating : 100

A cinematic adaptation of Yann Martel's booker prize winning book, 'Life of Pi'.

After a ship capsizes in a storm atop the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean, young Piscine Molitor Patel or 'Pi' (Suraj Sharma) finds himself adrift on a boat with a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and a Royal Bengal Tiger aka 'Richard Parker'. In the course of events, Pi is left alone with the tiger. Will he get eaten by the tiger ? Or will he survive ? Will he finally get his life back ?

The Film

There aren't enough words in the English language left to describe how 'stunning', how 'captivating', how 'mind-blowing', how 'breath-taking' the film really is. You have to see the film to believe it. Ang lee actually has done the 'impossible' and has filmed the 'unfilmable'. The film deserves all the accolades possible and even more. This is not a film sir, oh no, this is an experience of a lifetime !!!

The visual effects

Once you watch the 3d of 'Life of Pi', all other 3d effects in the typical mass entertainers will look like cheap knock-offs in comparison. Finally, we have a film in which the use of 3d beats that in 'Avatar' hands down !! The 3d works like a true 3d should, i.e. it makes you forget that your watching the film in 3d as it is so immersive !! A special mention must be made for the tiger : it was impossible for me to believe that it wasn't real !!
Also, if you get a chance to see it in Imax 3d, then please go for it!!...I missed it unfortunately.
The direction

Ang lee has made a film that will stick on in your mind for a long time to come. He has filmed in such an artistic way that it really flows along like poetry, something only seen partly in Yash Chopra's 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan'. There are many layers in the film-making and if you see it multiple times, you can derive new meanings and interpretations !!

The Acting

Suraj Sharma as Pi is brilliant !!.....He outdoes everyone else. It was nice to see Irrfan Khan have some screen space here, unlike that in 'The Amazing Spiderman' but he didn't have much to act on. A special mention must be made for Adil Hussain as Pi's father, he was exceptionally good. Tabu also had a good presence. But the stars undoubtedly were Suraj Sharma and the Tiger !!!

The AG verdict

This is truly an experience of a lifetime. I'd say you would be utterly crazy to miss this !!!!

Step Up Revolution (2012)

[a disappointing addition to the series]

Step Up Revolution (2012)
IMDB- 6.2
Rottentomatoes- 43%
RJG Rating- 40

A dance group's neighbourhood is threatened by a real estate developer.

Starring- Kathryn McCormick, Ryan Guzman
Director- Scott Speer

Acting was average.Unlike the first 2 movies ,this one neither had a good lead nor a good chemistry between the leads.The supporting cast was also not up to par.Kathryn McCormick was the only one who stood out and she was the only highlight among the poor cast.

The story was poor and didnt have any power in it.The idea of a Flash mob participating in a Youtube contest lacked creativity.It didnt have any spark at all.The characters were poorly drawn up and had no likeability factor at all.

Direction was average.The main highlight of a Step Up movie is its dance ,music and romance.In all 3 categories it was a fail.The dance sequences are uninspired and not as creative as the earlier movies.The music was bland and just seemed to be mashed together.Romance was poorly captured and it didnt have much effect on the movie.

Overall,Step Up 4 is a disappointment for the series fans.

Acting- 1.5/5
Story- 2/5
Direction- 2/5
Dance- 3/5
Romance- 2/5

Man Of Steel Trailer #2

Epic New trailer for MAN OF STEEL
Trailer #2

a worthy successor to the legacy of The Dark Knight Trilogy? can this be Superman's birth into realistic Superhero movies? answers will be revealed on June 14 2013.

Premium Rush (2012)

[an exciting movie]

Premium Rush (2012)
IMDB- 6.6
Rottentomatoes- 76%
RJG Rating- 80

Wilee ,a bicycle messenger is pursued relentlessly by a man ,who is after an envelope hes carrying.

Starring- Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Director- David Koepp

Joseph Gordon is the highlight of the movie.Its his charisma and style that powers the movie through its entirety.He gives a very convincing performance.The supporting cast were great too.

The story of Premium Rush is one of its drawback.As the plot progresses ,it gets into cliches and poor thinking.Even with all this ,the story is okay and its twists and presentation make it interesting.

Direction was excellent.Koepp made a great work out of this average story.The presentation was great and gave the movie a fast paced progression.The movie is exciting from the first to the very last scene and doesnt get dull whatsoever.The cycling scenes and stunts were choreographed and presented beautifully.

Overall ,Premium Rush is a fun and exciting movie and a must watch for Joseph Gordon fans.

Acting- 4/5
Story- 3/5
Direction- 4.5/5
Action- 4/5
Thriller- 4/5

Magic Mike (2012)

[a fun and enjoyable movie]

Magic Mike (2012)
IMDB- 6.2
Rottentomatoes- 80%
RJG Rating- 85

Mike ,a male stripper introduces his new friend into the business.

Starring- Channing Tatum,Alex Pettyfer,Cody Horn
Director- Steven Soderbergh

This is a complete Channing Tatum powered movie.From the start to finish hes in control of the movie.He might not be the greatest actor in the business ,but hes very convincing.All the supporting actors are good and help Channing push the movie forward.Alex Pettyfer was average ,Matthew McConaughey was good.

The story for Magic Mike isnt much different from that of movies like ,women themed strip dancing movies.Its sort of predictable and there are not many twists.But in no way is the story dull.The story captures most point of views of the business.The story of 2 men ,one an amateur and the other nearing the end his of career ,was an interesting contrast.

Direction by Steven was excellent.He crafted a movie with a simple story into an interesting movie that keeps both male & female audience engaged.The movie had a balanced dose of comedy ,drama ,dance and a bit of romance too.

Overall,Magic Mike is a fun and enjoyable movie for the adult audience.

Acting- 4/5
Story- 3.5/5
Direction- 5/5
Drama- 4/5
Dance- 4/5

AFI TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2012

Nolan's movie once again made it into the AFI's (American Film Institute) Top 10 Movies of the Year ,with The Dark Knight Rises.This is the 3rd consecutive time and overall 4th movie of his (out of 8) that has made an appearance in the prestigious list (2010's Inception ,2008's The Dark Knight and 2001's Memento were the others).

Heres the Top 10 movies of 2012 selected by AFI :-
Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
The Dark Knight Rises
Django Unchained
Les Miserables
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Moonrise Kingdom
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty

New pic from IronMan 3

After Earth Trailer

Trailer #1

Will Smith & Jaden Smith star in M.Night Shyamalan's latest movie,After Earth.The movie takes place in a future where humans live in spaceships.But after a terrible accident ,father & son are stranded in the isolated Earth.

The trailer is quite brilliant and looks like this will break Shyamalan's bad run as a director.
It releases on June 7 2013

Khiladi fails to impress ,Talaash slows down.

Khiladi 786

Akshay's new movie was critically panned ans didnt manage to do an impressive business.The poor humour ,recycled plot and below average performances.

The movie has made Rs.34cr in 3 days and it seems it will fall soon.

[Miss It]


Talaash [HIT]

After making a solid Rs.68cr in its first week ,Talaash made Rs.11cr in its second weekend ,bringing its total to Rs.79cr.This fall can be attributed to Khiladi 786's release.

Skyfall back to #1

1-There was no stopping Skyfall this week ,as it returned to #1 in its 5th week.It made $10.7million to push its domestic collection to $261million.But Skyfall did almost 3times better overseas collecting $656million.This puts its worldwide tally to $918million.Although the gap to the $1billion club is attainable ,the fact that Hobbit arrives this week will make it a hard task.

2-Rise of the Guardians,stood strong and made $10.4million in its 3rd week.The animated movie has so far made $61million domestically and has a worldwide total of $152million.ROG is expected to linger around for a longer time since its a Christmas movie ,but it has been a disappointment to the studio.

3-Twilight Breaking Dawn 2 ,finally stepped down from the top spot after 3 weeks.As expected ,the movie has been steeply falling and managed to make just $9.1million.It has made $751million worldwide and wont make more than 850 in its total run.Breaking Dawn 2 also has become the highest grossing movie in the Twilight series.

4-Lincoln gave another strong weekend ,making $8.9million.The movie has grossed $97million solely from the domestic market.And once it gets Oscar nominations ,it will be a sure fire in the international markets.

5-Life of Pi rounds up the Top 5 ,for the 3rd week in a row.The visual delight has made $8.3million bringing its domestic total to $60million.

The new movie of the week Playing for Keeps bombed at the box office making just $5.7million.The movie has been critically panned and has a horrible rating of just 2%.This is Gerard Butler's 2nd flop in 2months.His last 4 movies have tanked since 2011.

This week ,Hollywood ends its slow weeks and starts the festive season.Hobbit will be the only new movie on release and is expected to make a grand debut of $120+million.After the epic trilogy of LOTR almost a decade ago ,Peter Jackson is back to Middle Earth with The Hobbit.Although Jackson has tried a brand new style of shooting with the 48fps ,this approach has been criticized and my recommendation is to NOT watch it in 48fps.Its better to WATCH it in NORMAL PRINT 3D ,since the 48fps has a lot to be worked upon as of now

FYC Ads

TDKR #6

Out of all the directors of today ,Nolan is the most deserving to be honored with an award.He hasnt been nominated for Best Director till now ,but this might change.Academy might give Nolan a nomination but winning it is a hard deal this year.

Argo #6

Ben Affleck is a guarantee spot for the Best Director.As for winning it ,hes got a 80% chance.

Brave #4

The Brave FYC Ads are quite simple.This might be due to the fact they are highlighting their animation rather than fill up the ad with words.Quite a brave thing to to do 

Cloud Atlas #2

Even though it has got some excellent praise ,CA can miss out on the awards after Time Magazine included it in its list of Worst Movies of 2012.
BUt if CA does make it through it might just get one of the technical nominations.

Django Unchained #1

Quentin has made yet another great movie with Django (according to initial reviews) ,and Leo has been getting some excellent praise.So he can be expected to land in a Supporting Actor Nomination.As for Django ,Best Picture & Director nominations are a guarantee ,but winning them is not possible.

Hobbit #2

While Hobbit is a good movie ,it isnt actually attracting awards friendly reviews.Peter Jackson's Hobbit might feature in technical nominations rather than the major awards.So Peter Jackson getting a Best Director nomination is a 10%guarantee.

Life of Pi #3

The movie has been getting loads of great reviews and will be a guarantee to feature in majority of the categories ,it being a technical and a drama movie (like Hugo) .

Madagascar #3

The Best Animated Movie will be a tight competition this year,and Madagascar 3 has a strong chance to get nominated but wont be a winner.

The Master #1

This movie is one of the STRONG contenders for sweeping the awards.Its been highly praised in all aspects from direction to cinematography.So its guaranteed to collect loads of nominations and might end up as the winner of the Oscar night.

Moonrise Kingdom #3

This small budget movie has wowed the audience and critics alike and will be a favourite among the jury.The original screenplay is its strongest factor.

Silver Linings Playbook #1

David Russel has made another strong movie like his previous ,The Fighter.Jennifer Lawrence is guaranteed to get a nomination for Best Actress ,but Bradley Cooper might not make it through.

 

Skyfall #2,3

Skyfall is the best & the highest grossing Bond movie ,but this wont have any leverage on its success at the Oscars.With a strong competition this year ,Skyfall might miss on Best Picture & Director.The theme song was brilliant and has a good chance to get nominated.

Ted #1

Ted will only be looking for a Visual Effects Nomination.But unfortunately it has 0 chances (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=564735510220044)

Zero Dark Thirty #1

Kathryn did it before with Hurt Locker and she has done it again with ZDT.The true story behind the hunt for Osama ,is another strong contender for the major awards.According to initial reviews ,ZDT is a guarantee nominee for Best Director,Picture,Actress. Winning them depends on the jurys state of mind.