Chennai Records

SRK has finally made his way back to the top!! After smashing records in its opening week ,Chennai Express has now become the HIGHEST GROSSING DOMESTIC MOVIE (India) beating 3 Idiots' 4 year record.Making Rs.203.3cr Chennai is now on top ,and still going strong despite new releases.

At this rate ,its just a matter of days ,before Chennai takes down 3 Idiots in the matter of worldwide gross too.

CHENNAI EXPRESS SMASHES RECORDS!!!

CHENNAI EXPRESS SMASHES RECORDS!!!

The success of Chennai is no small one!Its a big victory for Shahrukh ,Rohit & Deepika.After being #2 to Salman Khan for the last many years ,Shahrukh made a triumphant entry into the BoxOffice with Chennai.The movie broke several records in the opening day itself and now has become the FASTEST movie to make Rs.100cr in INDIA ,and thats in 3.5 DAYS!For a close comparison .the second and third place are Salman movies ,Ek Tha Tiger & Dabangg2 which took 6 days to make 100cr.

As usual SRK is still king of the overseas.Chennai became the biggest debut for a Bollywood movie to open in American Box office.It made a fantastic $2.2million.In UAE itself ,the movie made $0.5million ,which is the highest debut for a Indian movie.

This was SRK's 4th consecutive 100cr movie ,the others being Ra.One,Don2,Jab Tak.

Also its Rohit Shetty's 4th consecutive 100cr movie as well ,the others being Golmaal 3, Singham and Bol Bachchan.

But the biggest winner was for Deepika for whom its her 3rd consecutive 100cr movie ,all which has been in this year itself! Yeh Jawaani and Race2 were her other movies.

How strong the movie will continue to run is doubtful though,average reviews and a strong competition next week in the form of Once Upon A Time2 ,will decide Chennai's final fate.As for now ,the Express is running at full speed!

Read my Review -https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=705619616131632

Elysium takes a narrow lead ,Chennai creates a storm

Elysium takes a narrow lead ,Chennai creates a storm

[Aug9-11]

#1- It was a crowded weekend as 4 new movies went head to head.Elysium came on top with $30million.This is a moderate start for the scifi thriller and it might head towards disaster if its overseas collection doesnt brighten up.Elysium has so far made a worldwide gross of $41million ,and still has a long way to go to recover its $115million budget.

Starring Matt Damon and directed by Neill Blomkamp of District 9 fame ,the movie failed to get the critical and the financial love of District9.Elysium which is about a futuristic Earth separated by the rich and the poor ,managed to get above average reviews.Most were disappointed that it didnt match upto District9's potential ,but also agreed that its a good scifi movie on its own.Its rated 65%.

#2-The real winner of the week was the R-rated comedy ,We're The Millers ,which made $26.5million in the weekend.With a small budget of just $37million ,the movie easily can recover its budget.Starring Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis ,the movie has been getting below average reviews ,currently rated at 41%.

The movie which is about a fake family trying to smuggle drugs was mainly criticized for its poor jokes.

#3-The animated movie ,Planes made a satisfying debut with $22.5million.The movie which is a spinoff from the Pixar's Cars series ,had no problem getting the kids into the theaters ,even with competition from last weeks Smurfs2.With a budget of $50million ,Planes wont have much trouble recovering its cost ,and considering this was a movie that was supposed to go straight to DVD ,Disney is pretty happy with its success.A sequel is on its way!

The movie however was universally panned.Critics pointed out that the movie had poor concepts and ideas disguised under the colourful world of talking Planes.The movie has a rating of 24%.

#4-Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters crashed making just $14.6million.The sequel to the 2010 movie ,Percy 2 couldnt improve the series any better.Although,Percy 1 was critically panned and a moderate success at the box office ,a sequel was green lit.With Percy 2's poor response ,Fox Studios might learn from their mistake.The sequel was critically panned with a 34% rating.The critics blamed the poor story structure and the overload of characters.The movie has a budget of $90million ,and has already recovered $33million worldwide ,but it looks like it will take a miracle for Percy 2 to escape from being a Flop.

#5-making way for the 4 new releases ,last weeks #1 ,2 Guns slipped to #5 ,making $11million.The action comedy has made $48million so far from the domestic market.

Bollywood's Chennai Express had a solid start in the American Box Office.The movie opened with $2.2million ,which is the highest debut for an Indian movie.Chennai Express is a big hit both in and outside India.The movie easily collected over Rs.60crores in a matter of 2 days ,and is headed to the Rs.100cr club with lightening speed.

2013 Top 5

#5-Monsters University -$637million

#4-Man Of Steel -$647million

#3-Despicable Me 2-$745million

#2-Fast & Furious 6- $782million

#1-Iron Man 3 -$1.212 billion (#5 on all time grossing list)

This week 4 more movie go head to head,heres my quick analysis:

Paranoia-The movie boasts of actors such as Harrison Ford & Gary Oldman ,but i think its just another recipe for a flop.The movie is lead by Liam Hemsworth.The movie is about corporate spying and such stuff.

RJG says SKIP IT

Lee Daniels' The Butler-The historical drama is about a butler at the White House who serves 8  American Presidents over the course of 30 years.The trailer looked good and seemed to be selling what looks like Oscar potential movie.Reviews have been positive ,currently rated at 85%.But from what i hear ,its a good movie although its not exactly a cheerful one.This movie has a strong chance to win next weekend.

RJG says WATCH IT if you like drama

JOBS-An indie movie thats got a lot of publicity over Ashton Kutcher playing...Steve Jobs!His performance has been said to be satisfactory but the movie has not been RJG says WAIT for the DVD

And this brings us to the 4th movie and my PICK OF THE WEEK--KICK ASS 2

Kick Ass 2- AUG16

story-More costumed vigilantes hit the street ,and Kick Ass joins a group in order to take down Red Mist.

+ The first part has turned into a cult movie ,and with its type of action and comedy ,the sequel is a hot movie of this year.Trailers looks great.Jim Carrey's inclusion is a major positive!

- Following up on a critical movie is a hard task.The trailers dont have that spark the first movie had.

So whats your pick?

Remember to check out the 2013 Movie Guide

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=597324636961131

Chennai Express (2013)

[a masala movie for the SRK fans]

Chennai Express (2013)

IMDB- 6.8

RJG Rating- 65

Rahul gets on the wrong train taking him through an adventure of a lifetime.

Starring- Shahrukh Khan,Deepika Padukone

Director- Rohit Shetty

Shahrukh leads the movie with his usual charm.But at most times he goes a bit over the top.But this can be ignored as the movie requires him to spoof himself and his past characters for comic relief.SRK is great at comedy and he hits the notes at the right times.Deepika Padukone gives a good performance as well.She gives a much more controlled take on the role than SRK.Both have a good chemistry which gives the movie the much needed push.

The story for Chennai Express is nothing great.It has some new elements but the proceedings are the old usual ways.The story is predictable and mostly leans on SRK to carry the movie forward.The comedy was entertaining in the first half and dry up in the second giving way to romance and some drama.The second half pales in comparison ,but somehow manages to take the movie to the end.It doesnt take itself too seriously and knows its a masala movie at heart.So expecting a deep story is a bad idea.

The music was surprisingly average.The constant crooning "Chennai ai ai ai Express" was irritating and there was a song overload in the second half.The songs were all good and the sequences were colourful and fun.

Direction by Rohit is below average.Chennai is just like his previous movies ,predictable and over the top.The movie skips through various scenes ,and some shots look very amateurish.Some scenes are plain time fillers and have no real purpose than to dish an odd joke or two.The movie even suddenly sprouted some message/moral from nowhere at the climax.

The main attraction to Chennai is definitely Shahrukh.It isnt his best but its sort of a new type of role and he makes the movie bearable for his fans.Rohit has made Chennai Express with the sole intention to market the movie for the huge SRK fan base.

Overall ,Chennai Express is ONLY for Shahrukh fans, others might not enjoy this one bit.Its a one time watch ,a timepass movie.

Acting -3/5

Story- 2/5

Direction- 2/5

Comedy- 4/5

Romance- 4/5

Drama- 3/5

Chennai Express (2013) Arnab Review

Chennai Express (2013)

(Guest Review by Arnab Goswami)

AG Rating: 70

The Basics

A Rohit Shetty brand of cinema almost all the way with a unique SRK touch!!

Plot one liner:

A 40 year old mans journey from Mumbai to Rameswaram and all that ensues!!

The AG analysis:

The signs of a Rohit Shetty film were all there: the scorpios, the tom and jerry cartoonish antics, the one liner plot, the abundant pool of one liners and the over the top action sequences. And yet, in many ways, Chennai Express isn't really a Rohit Shetty film in the way the Golmaal series and Bol Bacchan were. The combination of SRK and Rohit Shetty had been creating buzz right from the start of the project and rightly so, because believe it or not Rohit Shetty for once had to adapt to the filming technique off the star he was filming and not just simply go ahead with his usual brand of tomfoolery. Several scenes of the film are shot with such finesse that I had a bit of difficulty in believing that this indeed a Rohit Shetty film. Of course, I am not saying that the film doesn't have its annoyances. Rohit just cant seem to help himself with many of the sequences but a majority of them are saved by the magnetic SRK.

The Film:

It starts off quite nicely and chugs along relatively smoothly until the end of the 1st half. Some one in the rohit shetty team must have pulled the chain for as the second half begins, things start to look a bit forced and even SRK is not able to save some sequences. Then it thankfully picks up speed and the last 30 mins of the film turn the film into unexpectedly a non-Rohit Shetty for believe it or not, this film does seem to have a message after all unlike any of the past Rohit Shetty films. And then came the climax which I must say is a treat for SRK and Rohit Shetty fans. The combo does live upto the hype at the end.

The Acting:

SRK is back!! well, almost!! SRK attempts to do something very new and different for the first time in his career and for that alone the film is worth watching once. He does comedy, woos the girl and kicks some serious ass as the 40 year old Rahul. Also, I must say that he has to be commended for doing something which no other actor I think has ever had the guts to do. I leave that something for you to find!!

Also, SRK fans who were disappointed with his romantic avatar in Jab Tak Hai Jaan will be relieved to see him back with his arms outstretched crooning Titli, Kashmir Main and One two three four. Also, don't forget to stay back for Lungi Dance, SRK looks very reminiscent of his younger self in this one.

Equally commendable is Deepika Padukone for her accent and her performance. Fans of Deepika will see her do a very different role.

The music and score:

The presence of Vishal-Shekhar ensures that the score actually resonates with you and the music is peppy, catchy with all the usual Rohit Shetty trademarks and yet they stick!! Watch out for One two three four, Titli, Kashmir Main Tu Kanyakumari and of course Lungi Dance (though this one wasn't composed by the duo).

The Direction:

For once, Rohit Shetty has made a film with a message and for that he must be commended.

The AG Verdict:

A Rohit Shetty film brushed energetically by SRK and also happened to have an actual message!! AG recommends that you watch it once!!!

Chennai Express!

New Poster & First Trailer for Chennai Express!

Trailer #1

Starring Shahrukh & Deepika ,CE is directed by Rohit Shetty.

My thoughts on the trailer are not so positive.Barely understood Deepika ,while SRK seems to be over the top.What are your thoughts on the trailer?

Anyways lets wait and watch-August 8 2013

Posters for Chennai Express

 

 

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