Hotel Transylvania (2012)

[a childish & bland movie]

Hotel Transylvania (2012)
IMDB- 7.1
Rottentomatoes- 43%
RJG Rating- 30

Count Dracula ,builds a lavish hotel to house the monsters from their

Starring- Adam Sandler,Andy Samberg,Selena Gomez
Director- Genndy Tartakovsky

Animation is quirky and colorful.The characters are nicely created ,but arent so great.Its the usual bland set of characters.It doesnt try to be innovative in any way and just settles for what is easily available.

The story is very poor.The concept was good but it was poorly built upon.It is too childish and doesnt take upon any twists.It actually is a poor mash up of various movies.From start to finish its predictable and there is absolutely nothing new.

Direction by Genndy Tartakovsky is poor.He takes the easy way out by catering this movie only for kids. And being a comedy-horror movie ,its neither.There is hardly anything funny throughout the duration of the movie.The pacing of the movie is fast though, it makes full utilization of its 90min.

Overall ,Hotel Transylvania is a poor movie but will be fun for the kids.

Animation- 3/5
Story- 1/5
Direction- 1/5
Action- 3/5
Comedy- 1/5

Zero Dark Thirty makes a big surprise

Zero Dark Thirty makes a big surprise 

[Jan11-13]

1-Even though Zero Dark Thirty has been playing in limited cinemas for a couple weeks since Christmas ,it opened nationwide on the weekend.And the movie has made $24million ,which is well above all expectations.After this weeks Oscar nominations ,ZDT managed to pick 5 nominations ,and this is one of the reasons for the movies great opening.The movie has been critically praised ,and Jessica Chastain has already won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for ZDT.The movie has a rating of 93%.

2-A Haunted House made a good opening too.With $18.8 million,Haunted House came 2nd.The movie has already been given the title of the Worst movie of 2013.With a rating of just 09% ,its been universally panned.But with a budget of $2.5million ,the movie is already reaping profits.

3-Gangster Squad opened below expectations with $16.7 million.Though stylish and action packed ,the movie was said to be suffering from a weak script and poor direction.With a rating of just 34% ,the movie will drop steeply in the coming days.

4-Django Unchained managed to make just $11million on its 3rd week.With this the movie has made $125million domestically ,making it Quentin's highest grossing movie in the US.

5-Les Miserables made $10million to bring its worldwide gross to $238million.The movie might have a good hold for the next couple weeks after Huge Jackman & Anne Hathaway's win at the Golden Globes.

Hobbit 1 has now made a worldwide total of $886million ,and has overtaken Fellowship of the Ring($869million). Next in line is Two Towers with $923million.

This week we have 4 different movies.My Pick Of the Week will be---

1-Silver Linings Playbook:This movie has been running in limited cinemas for a couple of weeks and it has racked up excellent reviews.Also this is the first movie in almost 30 years to get nominated in all 4 acting categories for the Oscars.Directed by David Russell (the Fighter) ,this is a comedy/romance/drama movie and has a rating of 91%.This is RJG's PICK OF THE WEEK

2-Mama is a horror movie produced by Guillermo del Toro.The story is about 2 girls who are found in the forest after their mother was murdered.No reviews are out for this movie but after seeing the short movie on which this movie was based on ,Mama might turn out to be good.

3-Broken City features A-List Actor ,Mark Wahlberg & Russel Crowe.Directed by Allen Hughes (Book of Eli) ,this is crime thriller.This looks like a movie with nothing great to offer ,its not being promoted very well either.No reviews out yet.

4-Finally we have The Last Stand ,which is action superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger's first lead movie after 2003's Terminator 3.This action movie is looking to make a big debut ,but it also looks like nothing new or innovative.No reviews out yet.

2013 Golden Globes Winner

The 2013 Golden Globes kept all happy ,awarding all the major movies.Argo & Les Miserables were the highlights though.

Ben Affleck was snubbed earlier this week by the Oscars ,but he was selected as the Best Director for his movie Argo.The movie later went on to nab The Best Film Drama as well.
Les Miserables was another big winner winning Best Film- Musical/Comedy.Huge Jackman (Best Actor Musical) & Anne Hathaway (Best Supporting actress) won too.
Django Unchained grabbed 2 deserving awards for Best Supporting Actor (Christoph Waltz) & Best Screenplay (Quentin).
Lincoln ,Zero Dark Thirty & Silver Linings won awards for Best Actor Drama, Actress Drama & Actress Comedy respectiveley.
Life of Pi got the Best Score while Skyfall's theme song won Best Song.Brave suprisingly won the Best Animated movie.

In the TV section, Homeland ,Game Change & Girls were the big winners.

Click to read the Full List

Flight (2012)

[powerful movie by Denzel & Robert]

Flight (2012)
IMDB- 7.4
Rottentomatoes- 77
RJG Rating- 85

A pilot miraculously crash lands a plane ,but further investigations bring up troubling evidences.

Starring- Denzel Washington
Director- Robert Zemeckis

Denzel Washington is the heart of the movie.Its his performance thats powers the movie from start to finish.Being an excellent actor he doesnt disappoint at all.Kelly Reilly as Nicole ,gives a good supporting role too.The rest of the cast ,Don Cheadle ,John Goodman & Bruce Greenwood ,all give good performances too.

The story for Flight is an interesting look into alcohlism. These story is nicely written.Its dramatic and intense.The character Denzel plays ,Whip Whitaker ,is excellently developed in the course of the movie.

Robert Zemeckis, returns to live action direction after almost 12 years,(his last live movie being Castaway).Once again his direction is excellent.Just like Tom Hanks in Castaway ,Robert brings the best out of Denzel Washington for Flight.Robert captures the dual natured behavior of the hero in his fight against alcoholism.The first half which is about the Plane crash is exciting and quite intense ,while the second half is about the hero's fight against alcoholism which is dramatic.On the downside,Flight lags a bit in the second half ,and seems a bit too long.

Overall ,Flight is an engrossing drama powered by Denzel. A must watch if you like character movies.

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

Oscar Nominations -2

Best Actor- Denzel Washington
Best Original Screenplay- John Gatins

Great News for Jurassic Park Fans!

The team behind Jurassic Park 4 have confirmed that the movie will be made and will be released on June 13, 2014.

It has been almost 12 years since the 3rd part ,and fans have been waiting for a 4th anxiously.But things got worse when ,writer Michael Crichton passed away.
But Steven Speilberg hired writers to churn out a script and now it seems ,everything is ready.
But Speilberg ,who directed JP 1 & 2 ,will not be directing since he has his hands full with Robopocalypse.Joe Johnston (director of JP3) isnt confirmed either ,but he says that JP4 will be a totally new approach compared to the previous 3 and will feature new characters.

This is 40 (2012)

[more of a drama than a comedy]

This is 40 (2012)
IMDB- 6.4
Rottentomatoes- 51%
RJG Rating- 60

The changes in a couple's lives as they near the age of 40.

Starring- Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann.
Director- Judd Apatow

Leslie Mann & Paul Rudd do an excellent job as the lead actors.Both are fantastic comedy actors and they succeed at giving weight to the comic as well as dramatic sequences.Megan Fox has a short ,but she gives good support to the leads.Maude & Iris Apatow do a great job as well.All in all ,the cast is solid.

The story not only has a good concept ,it has enough substance in it too.But both arent mixed together very well.Comedy is light and almost disappears by the second half.And at more than 2hr ,the movie seems too long.

Judd Apatow usually brings out meaningful comedy,but this time he screws it up.He brings out the best from the cast ,but the story is a letdown.While the usual Apatow comedy is present ,it lacks the punch.The movie is not a full blown comedy ,but more of an adults drama mixed with Apatow gags.And towards the second half it drags quite a bit.On a more positive note ,the music selection was quite good.

Overall ,if you expect a comedy movie of the likes of Knocked Up or 40 year old Virgin ,you might be disappointed,but its still worth a watch.

Acting- 4/5
Story- 2.5/5
Direction- 3/5
Drama- 3.5/5
Comedy- 2/5
Romance- 3.5/5

News on Interstellar

At the moment, its almost certain that Christopher Nolan has taken up on the Interstellar project.

As earlier reported ,the original story was written by Jonathan Nolan, in 2009, for Steven Speilberg.But as Steven wont be directing the movie ,Christopher Nolan will be taking up the story and re-writing it.Its being said that Chris will merge his brother's story ,with a story he already had in mind.The brothers have earlier collaborated the writing duties in movies such as Prestige ,The Dark Knight & more recently The Dark Knight Rises.

So far the synopsis of Interstellar:

A heroic interstellar voyage to the furthest borders of our scientific understanding.


Sounds a bit like Inception!

85th Academy Award Nominees

Best Picture

Amour
Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Django Unchained
Lincoln
Les Miserables
Life of Pi
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty

Expected Winner-Lincoln
RJG Pick-Life of Pi

Check out the rest HERE

Nolan's next movie -INTERSTELLAR ?

Christopher Nolan being one of the best directors of all time,and after his ground breaking movies ,the public is awaiting his next project with bated breath.

Rumors have it that ,Christopher Nolan will tackle a sci-fi movie by the name of INTERSTELLAR next.
The story is said to be written by his brother Jonathan Nolan and is based on the scientific theories of Kip Thorne ,a astrophysicist.

The story will be about a group of explorers who travel through wormholes into different time dimensions.

This sounds like a movie ,Nolan usually tackles.His earlier movies have tackled different dimensions (Inception,Prestige).With Jonathan writing (He has written for Memento,Prestige,TDK ,TDKR) ,and being a science lover himself ,this might be Christopher Nolan's next big movie!


Kip Thorne's theories first led Steven Speilberg to make a movie about wormholes and explorers.In 2007,the story was written by Jonathan and now ,Christopher Nolan was said to take the project up.As of now it is unclear whether Steven will be involved in the movie or not.

Like- https://www.facebook.com/INTERSTELLAR.NOLAN

Dredd (2012)

[short,bloody and intense]

Dredd (2012)
IMDB- 7.2
RottenTomatoes- 78%
RJG Rating- 85

Judge Dredd & a new recruit,Anderson ,are trapped in a large building controlled by a fearsome gang.

Starring- Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby
Director- Pete Travis

Karl Urban as the title character has done a both good and a kind of negative approach to the role.Dredd is a character that is a tough as nails type of guy.While Karl has done a spot on take on Dredd ,watching Karl as Dredd is equal to seeing a wooden face on screen ,barely moving.Karl still delivers his lines perfectly.Olivia makes up for the missing face of Karl.She does a great job ,and at times steals the show from Dredd.Lena Headey as the villain is great too.Very rarely do we get a powerful female villain like Lena's character.

The story is great ,but for those who have seen the Indonesian action flick ,Raid Redemption ,Dredd will give you a strange sense of deja vu.Both movies are very different ,but many scenes and settings are almost exactly from Raid.Anyways Dredd has a good story and the concept of the futuristic cities were well presented.The punchlines were terrific and Karl delivered them excellently.

Direction by Pete Travis ,has been pretty great.Bringing a character such as Dredd into the big screen is a difficult job that can usually end up as an over the top action movie without much sense.But _ has made a movie that not only sets the right atmosphere ,but also has a fast pace ,short,bloody and intense.

Overall ,Dredd is an excellent supercop action movie.

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

News from Pacific Rim & Sin City 2

1-It has been confirmed that Joseph Gordon will play a role in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.The movie will also star Bruce Willis,Mickey Rourke, Rosario Dawson,Jessica Alba,Clive Owen and more.Joseph will play the part of "Johnny," a gambler who disguises a darker mission to destroy his most foul enemy at his best game.The part was earlier rumored to have been offered to Johnny Depp.

2-Second Trailer for Pacific Rim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewefDmy44tM
This is one of the most anticipated movies of 2013.This is also Del Toro's first movie after his 2008 movie ,Hellboy 2.

Dabangg2 fires ahead

Table No.21 [Average]

Table No.21 was the only movie that managed to stand out from the new releases this week.It has made around Rs.6cr in the weekend.The movie which is a mix of romance and thriller has been getting mixed reviews ,with many liking its concept but hating the loopholes and other issues.Overall its a one time watch thriller.

[One time Watch]


Dabangg 2 [Blockbuster]

Salman's Dabangg had no problems this weekend as it charged ahead on its 3rd week.The movie made Rs.7.45cr this weekend for a grand total of Rs.152.65cr.The movie had collected Rs.37.6cr in its 2nd week ,and is expected to earn around Rs.13cr this week.

Dabangg will face some competition this week in the form of Imran-Anushka's Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola and Kamal Haasan's Vishwaroop.

Texas Chainsaw brings Hobbit & Django down

[Jan 4-6]
Texas Chainsaw brings Hobbit & Django down

1-Texas Chainsaw 3D made $23million to debut in the first place.The low budget horror movie was the top choice for the audience ,although it has been getting negative reviews.Currently rated at 21% ,Texas Chainsaw will soon be going down without leaving much of an impact.

2-Django Unchained kept its 2nd position from last week with $20million this week.The movie ,which has a budget of $100million ,has already made its production cost within 13 days.The movie is still going strong with the excellent reviews its been getting.Django is all set to be Quentin's highest grossing movie (Inglourious Basterds is currently his biggest domestic movie at $120million).

3-Hobbit continued to defy expectations as it still goes strong in its 4th week.It made $17.5million this week.With a strong overseas collection of $561million,Hobbit has made $824million worldwide since its release.The prequel to the Lord Of The Rings Series is set to overtake Fellowship Of The Rings ($869million) within 10days.

4-Les Miserables had a fall ,as it made $16million in its 2nd week.Les Miserables has made $103million domestically and has so far made $67million overseas.For a musical ,Les Miserables doing excellent business.The movie has made a worldwide gross of $170million from a budget of $61million.

5-Parental Guidance had an average fall as it made $9.3million.The movie has been a big hit for Fox Studios ,as it has already made $68million ,from its $25million budget.

2 other releases failed to make big numbers.Promised Land ,which stars Matt Damon made only $4.6million.The movie has been getting average reviews and is currently rated at 50%.

The tsunami based movie ,The Impossible ,made just $2.76million.But the movie has been a big hit overseas ,and has already made $67million.The movie is expected to rise up the charts ,once the awards season starts since Naomi Watts is expected to get some nominations for her acting.

Skyfall is now the #13th highest grossing movie of all time with $1.023billion.

This week we have 2 thrillers and one comedy.My pick of the week is 

Zero Dark Thirty- After her successful war movie The Hurt Locker ,Kathryn Bigelow is back with yet another war thriller.Based on the true story behind Bin Laden's capture ,ZDT has already made a big impact on the Awards Season.The movie has a solid 94% rating too.This will be my Pick Of The Week!

Gangster Squad-This movie was supposed to be released in July 2012 ,but after the Colorado shootings during TDKR's premiere ,Gangster Squad was postponed for its violence.The movie has a solid cast of Ryan Gosling (Drive),Sean Penn (Mystic River) ,Josh Brolin and Emma Stone.The movie is directed by Ruben Fleischer of Zombieland fame.

A Haunted House ,is a comedy/horror movie starring the Wayan.Its a spoof of recent horror flicks ,and is to be AVOIDED at all costs.If Marlon Wayan's past is checked ,its filled with idiotic movies and parodies and Haunted House trailers shows no difference.Save your money and watch something else.

Life Of Pi (2012)

[a beautiful & thoughtful movie]

Life Of Pi (2012)
IMDB- 8.3 (Top 250 #185)
RottenTomatoes- 89%
RJG Rating- 100

A ship wreck leaves a boy and a zoo tiger on a boat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Starring- Suraj Sharma
Director- Ang Lee

Based on Yann Martel's famous novel ,Life of Pi was considered unfilmable without losing much of its core values.So does Ang Lee's Life Of Pi do justice to the novel?

LOP has a strong acting department.Suraj Sharma does an incredible job as Pi in his debut performance.His acting his very natural and simplistic and never goes over the top.Adil Hussain & Tabu as Pi's parents give a great supporting act.The first portion of the movie is powered by their performances.Irrfan Khan as the narrator gives another excellent supporting act.He eases the viewers into this extraordinary tale.

The story for LOP is its strongest aspect.LOP is a story of hope,survival and of faith.Pi's story is hilarious,thrilling and thoughtful.The main story is that of Pi & the Tiger.Though it has a sense of unrealism to it ,the climax will make you want to relive through the whole journey.While on the surface its a survival movie ,beneath its a religious movie as well, which tests our beliefs.Its a movie that must be seen atleast twice,to be truly understood.

Ang Lee hits the bullseye with his direction.Its perfect and brings out the best from the story.Adapting the novel ,while retaining its morals was a hard task in itself ,but not only Ang does it brilliantly ,he presents it so beautifully that it gives LOP an entirely different viewpoint.The movie caters to everyone!Young and old ,action lovers & especially to those who love their brains to be put to work.

The cinematography and visual effects are excellent.Many movies use 3D without reason ,but LOP's 3D use is justified.Seeing it in any other format drains the movie of much of its beauty.LOP is a must watch on 3D.
The visual effects are amazing.The vast ocean,its sealife ,the various animals & ofcourse the Tiger are so realistic and will leave you speechless.The scenes with the Tiger are thrilling and some send a chill up the spine.The visual effects just add to the whole movie watching experience.

Overall,Life Of Pi is a must watch movie ,that should be seen with friends and family.

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

TDKR Screen Snaps

31 Screen snaps from the TDKR Extras Bluray CD

click to check them out