LUCY: Enjoyable mash-up of chaotic Creative Junk & high-on intellectual trash! [2.5/5]

Human Brain has endless possibilities and a kind of galaxy of information that make us better and more sensible than any other living souls on this planet. But if Newton could push his to unravel the mystery of gravity after the ‘apple’ effect or the Wright brothers could manage to pull out their aeronautical inventions; trust me, they all were using just 10% of their mind. Naturally, we the average people don’t even hit that level. Now think, if mere 10% can make someone a Newton or Leonardo Da Vinci or Aryabhatta, what magical excellence a 100% would produce? LUCY, I say and that’s the cynicism one develops while watching Luc Besson’s science-fiction thriller LUCY. Trying to sound multifaceted, intricate and advanced like THE TREE OF LIFE and look slick-pacy & pulsating as LA FEMME NIKITA, LUCY actually ends up in being not more than a chaotic creative junk mixed with high-on intellectual trash.

Lucy, played by the ever-startling Scarlett Johansson gets in trap of a Korean mob during an involuntary drug delivery mess. Soon, she finds herself as one of the human drug carriers with a pack of highly synthetic CPH4 powder positioned in their lower abdomen in a surgical operation. Much before she could be transported to her planned destination, an unwanted brawl lends her in a serious problem or magical transformation in disguise. The pack gets burst and now the invincible chemical reactions start stimulating human mental powers to reach its maximum. No wonder, Lucy is now a superwoman who needs to walk the path of retribution and revolution, later!

From the very speedy time-lapse shots to the earth evolution theory getting reproduced on screen with amazing visuals, LUCY at places looks a distant cousin to THE TREE OF LIFE, though the depth and connect go missing at large. But if it is not into its National Geographic Mode, it is sure a thriller that never loses the steam. Monologues by Morgan Freeman, playing a neurology expert scientist talking about magical capabilities of a human mind and how evolution can become revolution followed by the same getting applied on Lucy’s situation is nicely interwoven. With just a 90 minute of duration, this is in fact too much jam-packed in one box. Film doesn’t think much before slipping and swapping genres of all kinds. At one if it joins the league of science-fiction, minutes later you will find it covered as a regular Hollywood action-thriller. No wonder, you don’t really feel like connected to any.

Having said that, it is not an unwatchable film at all! Scarlett Johansson alone is capable of pulling it off for the most, her earlier performance in HER shouts out loud to prove the point. Morgan Freeman is as usual extremely sincere and charismatic, one of my favorites. Besides, the visual effects are never involved and incomprehensible like we see in most of Hollywood’s regular Friday flicks but simplified or I would say over-simplified. Film’s action sequences are average. Drama is almost overshadowed by the cerebral investigations and research theories. I doubt if even Luc Besson had his share of 10% implied on this film. This is not a piece of information you would like to keep in your mind but having a good time with it, is completely different. Watch out for Ms. Johansson! [2.5/5]

EDGE OF TOMORROW: Cruise’s own GROUNDHOG DAY! A fantastic fun!! [3.5/5]

If you could repeatedly go back in to your past, possibilities are that you could master yourself in dealing with the hitches & glitches of life you are destined to face but will that alone be able to temper or alter the upcoming written in bold? That’s a different subject matter altogether. Daug Liman’s sci-fi alien-human war film EDGE OF TOMORROW settles its premise on the very same. Living same day again and again till you learn how to get out of this fascinating but suffocating time-loop. This is Tom Cruise’s own GROUNDHOG DAY with an absolutely engaging plot, effective action and thoroughly enjoyable humor as added bonus.

William Cage [Tom Cruise] – a ‘behind the desk’ officer in US Army Media Relations who can hardly see a pool of blood with his eyes wide open is thrown to fight in war against an alien race with prospects to bulldoze humanity from earth. In the middle of early mental-establishment of the situation, Cage gets killed and finds himself waking up where the day had just started. Now, he has to go by the day all over again to find and save a war-hero Rita Vratasky [played by Emily Blunt] who’s entirely aware and sympathetic about the entrapment Cage is in. Now, together they have to spot the way out but not without retaking the journey hundreds of times to mug up, master and overcome all the obstacles around.

In a cleverly crafted plot when you see a non-performing soldier by chance Cage taking over the situation as per his prior indulgence and presence in the circumstances before, there is no chance you wouldn’t find it gripping and winning. Also, the pre-combat practice sessions when Cage fails miserably and Rita has to kill him over and over again to restart the day, how can you not laugh over Cage’s helplessness? The action sequences are well designed and in synced with 3D effects to maximize the effect but it’s the tighter screenplay that doesn’t leave much to complain. Crisply edited sequences and the humor that comes handy with how everything just ends up in the same ‘been there-done that’ arena time and again are totally born-entertainment. There is also a breezy layer of unsaid-unexplored love between the two but thankfully Daug doesn’t dare himself to travel on that path long enough and sticks to the promise to give you an unadulterated action entertainer in true sense.  

Tom Cruise is known to bring the charm of a star along with him but in comical scenes, you have to experience it yourself. Emily Blunt is terrific and the kind of physical energy and strength she puts in her character is amazing. Together they both flash the desire to see more of them in a more romantic exposure.  

All said and done; though we have seen the allure of time-loop earlier in more than a couple of movies before, the fact that Daug Liman gives us an authentic action film that is best enjoyable in 3D overshadows the lack of novelty in the plot. It’s a fantastic fun if action, science-fiction and creature movies don’t really mean a put-off situation for you! [3.5/5]

DIVERGENT: …this hunger game needed more on entertainment! Still a good watch!! [3/5]

Not all Sci-fi action thrillers are heaving with meticulously detailed and extensive visual recreations of a futuristic world only can be constructed from the immeasurable usage of creativity and technology. Some play it subtle, delicate and translucently in synced with human emotions at the base. Neil Burger’s DIVERGENT is one such science-fiction based on the bestselling novel of same name by Veronica Roth.

In the futuristic society of Chicago, natives get segmented in five major factions based on their human instincts of selflessness, tranquility, honesty, intelligence and courage. A classified social structure that gives everyone a well-deserved chance to actively take participation in the growth and smooth run of the culture looks more than just impressive at first but it starts losing its sheen soon when a girl [Shailene Woodley] of her own set of fears and complexities gets identified as an another kind who doesn’t fit any of the five factions. From the time she had to choose for her preferred faction to the heartless phase in the training camp, this so-called ‘Divergent’ girl constantly fights with her inner uncertainty about her identity, abilities and the emotional strength that could drive her to any extent till she smells conspiracy against the more human-less mechanical ‘Divergents’.

‘DIVERGENT’ represents an ultra-modern version of a society that is very much identical to our caste-system where every group has its responsibility well-designed, defined and pre-decided but technology-driven. It also dares to question our missing sensitivity and compassion against each other. The combatants are being produced endlessly like on a conveyor belt but with literally no sense of right and wrong. Film slips assertively into a human-emotional drama rather going the way awe-striking action sequences charm our regular sci-fi viewers. And that makes us uncomfortable in our seats sometimes because of its a bit stretched duration and a pace that rebels to move story ahead. Though the film has a cautionary declaimer as ‘all the stunts seen here have been performed under expert supervision and it is advised to do not attempt this at your own’, leave a couple of scenes in the first half and you would hardly notice any such pulsating action sequences to fulfill the promise. Lacking in the entertainment quotient here is a big letdown.

On the performances, Shailene as a puzzled individual about her identity carries the film on her shoulders. Her character graph promises a good wide playground to perform varied emotions and she utilizes that very efficiently. Theo James supports her well as Four-the instructor at the training camp. Kate Winslet plays an important cameo and does it beautifully. Film’s biggest strength is the comforting cinematography, bright music score and visual effects that transit you in a futuristic world that’s less complicated and very much relatable. 

At the end, Neil Burger’s DIVERGENT is a good watch despite its occasionally dead pace and the shortage of jaw-dropping action sequences but not for regular hardcore science-fiction lovers. [3/5]       

KRRISH 3: Unimaginative, unoriginal, borrowed and a bigger disappointment! [2/5]

If you heard something like, “agar mera yeh experiment kaamyaab ho gaya, main yeh-main woh…” you should never be in doubts that you are watching a science-fiction movie (…from Bollywood ofcourse). But thrice?...in the whole 2 hour 33 min of duration filled with inspired yet uninspiring visual effects?? Really?? Then sure you ought to have your uncertainties on gravity of the skilled writing.

In other scene, when a superhero supposedly killed by the evil returns inexplicably or rather in a scientific breakthrough too suitable to sound plausible, a kid confronts the shocked & shaken baddie played by Vivek Oberoi as, “kyun? Phat gayi kya?”. Well, the audience laughed but I couldn’t as if we really want our kids to grow in such shape. Though eventually it is a family entertainer, Rakesh Roshan’s KRRISH 3 can’t be declared sole responsible for that but definitely for being least original, least entertaining & for shamelessly taking cues from the past hits of the west. On one hand, Sr. Roshan tries to woo you with extensive visual effects never seen before in India, but also never lets his gluttony go off to encash the Indian sentimental spree. So, the plot goes for the toss in order to swing aimlessly between the both!

Krishna (Hrithik Roshan in a tailor-made role) is trying his hard to balance his life in Mumbai with his father Rohit (Jr. Roshan again in a comparatively more charming role) & wife Priya (Priyanka Chopra in a regular), between his normal routine and the disappearing ‘superhero’ acts as Krrish to save people’s lives. Meanwhile, an evil mind named Kaal (Vivek Oberoi in a menacing character interestingly modeled on the similar lines of Sir Juda in Subhash Ghai’s KARZ) is busy creating an army of MAANVARs (Mutants from the fusion of humans with animals) to rule the world and regain his powers. Rest is all about how the two clash & collide with their own set of intentions to destroy buildings, demolish towers and make people (especially viewers more than the ones on screen) suffer not only physically but mentally and emotionally too.

Theoretically, a superhero movie needs an upper hand on the VFX front. KRRISH 3 fulfills that basic rule by creating some of the unseen effects in Indian cinema but ‘is that enough’ is the biggest question. There is not one single action/ VFX sequence in the film that comes with an ‘original’ tag…and I bet if you can show me at least one! I wish if the team of writers would have sit more on the plot to make it inspiring rather than deciding on what all effects we can borrow from Hollywood Hits to thrill the audience! KOI MIL GAYA has proved in the past that if incorporated smartly in the plot, even the emotional quotient would work as a strong share of interest, but sadly here in KRRISH 3 it was all done just for the sake of it. Novelty is gone already and now the sensibility too.

On the performance side, there is no second thought on Hrithik being the crowd puller. He maintains the level he has achieved. He charms you with his intensity, his ability and his skills as a complete performer. Vivek as Kaal is strictly average. Kangna as his one of the mutants has an interesting role to pull out. She is poised. She is confident. She is promising. Priyanka Chopra incidentally has nothing new to surprise.

In an advanced world of technology, where even kids have opened all the possible windows to access latest landmarks in the said field, I am not very sure if KRRISH 3 would be able to make it to their appreciation. It only makes you believe in an unsaid rule that medium can never rule out the message, especially if it is borrowed, clichéd, corny, tacky and unimaginative. Think twice before buying your tickets! [2/5]  

GRAVITY: 3D gets a new dimension! And we, a chance to live our dreams to be in space! [4.5/5]

Days are not quite out of sight when the human race will have residential colonies on extraterrestrial zero-gravity space stations but in its own time. And till the time, when advanced science & the technology constantly making headways in getting breakthroughs achieve that, we have another power to experience what may suggest the future in its own way…the vision to create, replicate, reproduce and design the ‘dream-come-true’ ultramodern set-up into another brilliant piece of art never less than the predicted and the expected one.

For Alfonso Cuaron’s sci-fi thriller GRAVITY (3D), adjectives like breathtaking, heart-pounding, awe-inspiring, spine-chilling, nail-biting are not merely some words mentioned in the phrase book but an experience at large. Or else you can say that these words look just plain simple formation of random alphabets when the jaw-dropping visuals of GRAVITY happen to you in the most extraordinary way that has never been tried before. It’s ‘out of the world’ in literal and every sense.

In an unpredictably splendid scenic celestial beauty, when the crew of a space-shuttle undergoes with a critical accident caused by destruction in another satellite, 2 crew-members find themselves detached from their space-stations to float around in the vast environs of zero gravity world. Oxygen level is dropping down persistently. Connections to the base are lost. Hopes are the only survival instinct. Undying Spirit is the only way out. But aren’t these the rules of earth they have left long way down?

Filtering GRAVITY to extract one hero, to credit its success in the name of, will not be an achievable choice. Camerawork that makes you believe what all you see is never done in a comparatively tiny little studio covered in green, is absolutely picturesque and mesmerizing. Watch out for the opening sequence of a 10-12 min long one shot and you will be submerged into thoughts that how could they even think of it. Visual effects and the 3D technology have really gone beyond expectations. They don’t just make you jump or cringe into your seats for the sake of it but they grab & grasp you firmly to enjoy every bit of it like you are in there in all of your flesh and with your entire soul.

Oscar award winner Sandra Bullock earns all your emotions to be with her character in all good and bad times. Her commitment to excel is very much visible through her emoting muscles and in physical appearances also. George Clooney plays an ‘out and out’ charismatic astronaut who, even in the worst case scenario, doesn’t lose his calm and the pleasurable flirtatious attitude. Don’t miss the softer moments between them…of love ‘in no air’.

After Stanley Kubrick’s philosophical sci-fi drama ‘2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY’, this is the most astonishing 90-min long trip to space, no one should give a miss. I am not sure how many of us will make it to the futuristic space-colonies in their lifetime but here’s a chance to live your dreams like never done before. Watch it in IMAX 3D if you have the privilege! [4.5/5]

Special Note:

Don’t forget to cheer when you hear a crew-member at space-shuttle singing ‘mera joota hai Japani’!

WORLD WAR Z : a horror film? yes, but not a regular one! [3/5]

The very existence of human race is in danger…again. This time, it is not about aliens or some creepy creatures but man-eater zombies who are spreading all over like some terminal biological syndrome, ready to bring down the world in the most gruesome manner, identical to the plague of locust’s attack!

Based on a novel by Max Brooks, Mark Forster’s WORLD WAR Z scares the hell out of you, especially with its horrific visuals. You may not get frightened and panicky as regular horror flicks do in a prescriptive routine sequencing of the events but the spine-chilling imagery it creates of world being wiped out of mankind itself keeps you on the edge of your seat for most of the time. 

In an apocalyptic circumstance, ex-UN investigator [played by the producer Brad Pitt] is back on mission to find the root-cause of worldwide zombie-attacks and the search for clues and crumbs to reach on substantial buoyancy in fighting it back. The race to save is against the time. And the film does really good in keeping you on your toes through constant interesting twists in the plot and a taut screenplay. First 20 minutes in the film and you know where this ‘thrill that chills’ sci-fi horror film is headed to.

The best part about it is that it doesn't restrict itself to be a typical horror film but tries its level best to overwhelm you with the intelligence of a thriller. The effort shows but sadly doesn't always pay off and it becomes only an acknowledgement for first rate cinematography specifically while using aerial shots and a good direction in bringing out some of the nastiest zombie attacks on screen ever. A good one-time watch for people who can admire even a ‘world coming to an end’ movie without much of loud action & heavy VFX construction! [3/5]