Reviews

The First Omen goes incredibly hard. It's downright fantastic, chillingly effective retro, and an immensely stylish horror experience that is sure to get people talking. Nell Tiger Free is stupendous - man, she gives it her all, and Arkasha Stevenson's direction is flawless. It's one of those rare sequels/prequels that is not made for cash grab purposes or made for the sake of it. In fact, this horror affair is made with great style, panache, and real care. Even though you know how the story ends, The First Omen is a relentless thrilling experience and a near perfect entry into the Omen Franchise.

I Loved it.

Veronica (2017), this Spanish-language chiller, while doing nothing new, is wonderfully atmospheric and stylish. It gives you the necessary creeps that you want from such a flick. Apparently based on a true story, what makes this film stand out is the dramatic heft that it possesses. You really feel for Sandra Escecana's Veronica as she battles on multiple fronts, from taking care of her sisters alone due to a near-absentee mother, to the death of her father, as well as the entity that is stalking her. Overall, Veronica was a very decent, effective chiller for a lazy night at home. Fans of possession horror flicks should have plenty of fun with "Veronica".

Denis Villeneuve's Dune Part 2 is immense in every sense of the word. It's a monstrous cinematic spectacle made with great care, finesse, and sheer artistry. It's an experience, albeit a heavy one, that delivers epic thrills and some real, circa "Game of Thrones" manipulative shenanigans. If Dune Part 1, which I think was better paced, was laying the groundwork and is a masterpiece in its own right, Dune Part 2 is a full-blown sci-fi war epic full of breathtaking visuals, flawless sound design, exhilarating out-of-this-world sequences, and some superlative acting. Dune Part 2 breathes and screams cinema and should be seen on the biggest screen possible. Bring on Part 3!

"Prisoners," boasting a remarkable cast including Hugh Jackman, Viola Davis, Jake Gyllenhaal, Terrence Howard, Maria Bello, and Paul Dano, is a superbly crafted, inherently bleak thriller by Denis Villeneuve with superlative performances. Hugh Jackman, as Keller Dover, steals the show and then some, demonstrating that there is no line he will not cross to get his child back. The morality dissipates in this thriller, which is equal parts gut-wrenching, depressing, chilling, and riveting. While kidnapping dramas and thrillers are not a novel concept, Villeneuve's assured hand and technical craftsmanship ensure that "Prisoners" becomes one of the best in the genre. It's greatly atmospheric, with a pervasive sense of unease throughout; even in its slow moments, the movie doesn't let you relax. Also, here, your heroes become anti-villains or downright villains, giving this thriller an added edge due to its moral ambiguity. Paul Dano is excellent as the suspect, and the scenes between his character and Jackman's are a brutal, engrossing watch. Jake Gyllenhaal is as solid as ever in his role as the cop assigned to find the missing children.

With "Prisoners," here is another proof that Denis Villeneuve is one of the best directors going around.

In light of the Dune 2 release next week, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to review some of Denis Villeneuve's works, which finally led me to watch Blade Runner 2049. It had always been one of those movies I planned to watch but never got around to, and I was all the poorer for it because this film is a masterpiece-a spectacle in every sense of the word. Nothing about it feels cheap; it's like you're watching a piece of art and beauty. The 164 minutes of pure artistry from Villeneuve mesmerized, hypnotized, and enchanted me for every minute. Like Nolan, Villeneuve also doesn't take his audience for idiots; he creates a thinking man's blockbuster with all the popcorn flare, panache, and seriously heavy themes, concepts, and next-level technical artistry. Nothing about their movies feels half-cocked or done without care; everything, including this masterpiece, feels like pure spectacle and pure genius.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024) has an almost dreamlike, enchanting quality that keeps you mesmerized throughout its eight episodes of the first season. There is no flashiness or exuberance as seen in Doug Liman's movie. This remake is extremely understated, with the focus on relationship drama rather than providing outright action thrills. While action does come into play, it is not the primary focus of this adaptation. This approach works well for the show, as it is not a mere copy-paste of the movie; it offers something different, something deeper, and more unique than the original, which was great in its own right. Donald Glover and Maya Erskine are stupendous, their chemistry and quirkiness making the show truly stand out.

Madame Web is not as bad as everyone is claiming it to be. People were ready to criticize it long before the release, and this movie has been torn apart by critics and audiences alike. It's far from perfect, but it certainly doesn't deserve a 17% Rotten Tomatoes rating. It exudes a very '90s thriller vibe with an extra helping of cheese and corniness-it's essentially a superhero movie with a Terminator twist, an aspect that I loved. Dakota Johnson is solid and likable, as is the rest of the cast. It may not reach the heights of superhero movie greatness, but it's definitely better than Thor: Love and Thunder, Venom 2, Echo, and a few other recent superhero offerings. It may be haphazardly put together, a little insipid here and there, it may be cheesy and corny, but it's definitely not the worst movie ever made, as everyone is touting it to be.

Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya is clunky at times but thanks to its magnetic stars, its inherent sweetness, and its unique enough concept make sure you have a decent time at the cinema. "Teri Baaton" has an uneven start & takes a while to get going but once it does and the shenanigans begin especially when "SIFRA" meets the family then the real fun begins and the movie doesn't look back from there on culminating in a pretty exciting, quite dark & unexpected finale. I found the 2nd half to be extremely strong & it kept me engaged throughout. Shahid Kapoor & Kriti Sanon make a seriously charming pair & their chemistry & strong performances make sure that you ignore the movie's weaknesses & this romcom ends up entertaining you quite a bit.

Anyone But You heavily relies on the insane charisma of its lead pair, and the movie is worth the price of admission for Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell alone. It has a very '90s romcom feel, an aspect that I loved. There are no real surprises, and the story goes pretty much the way you expect it to. I mean that in the best way because sometimes there is nothing better than a mushy, cheesy, and yet edgy feel-good romcom to take all the worries away, and 'Anyone but You' delivered that in spades. Also, I say again, Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell are seriously magnetic; they lift the entire movie and then some.

Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi absolutely slay in "Merry Christmas." It's a quirky, extremely stylish, and wonderfully retro mystery that is just an inherently enjoyable watch from start to finish. It has a bit of everything - from romance to thrills to some deliciously wicked humor. It's a very character-centric story, and Sriram takes his sweet time building the characters who have many secrets, making us truly care about them before the main story and shenanigans start. Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi are just stellar in this - their performances are worth the price of admission alone. It's a really fun whodunit full of thrilling and comedic shenanigans, made with extreme panache and style that makes you feel truly enchanted and captivated by the film's beauty. The twists and turns are fun to watch as well, and although the film may be characterized as a thriller, for me, it turned out to be a romcom with a really dark edge. A seriously fun watch!

David Ayer's "The Beekeeper" has Jason Statham going full John Wick and full Equalizer. This movie is 90 odd minutes of relentless, unhinged, pure escapist fun, with Statham doing what he does best - taking out bad guys like it's nothing and looking uber cool while doing it. He does that here in spades, in the most brutal and ridiculously entertaining ways. Yes, you need to throw believability aside, but if you are a fan of 80s and 90s action thrillers where it's one man against all, you will love this, just like I did. This movie really was a blast and a half, and then some. A great way to start 2024 movie season. I loved it. Pure escapist entertainment.

Napoleon is essentially a Seth Rogen movie set in 1700s France. It could have been nominated for a musical/comedy at the Globes given its tonal absurdity . The film is a strange misfire that is just about saved by the excellent performance of Kirby, a goofy Phoenix, and a couple of exhilarating battle sequences. However, it truly functions as an outright parody of the historical figure, portraying him as an absolute insecure manchild. The film becomes increasingly boring and monotonous as it progresses . I've heard there is a 4-hour version to be released-who will watch that? Overall, it's a farce of a movie by Ridley Scott.

A concept centered around a haunted pool would always be a challenging task for a movie, and 'Nightswim' is proof of that. While it's made competently enough, it's so tepid and mundane that you almost zone out many times. There are hardly any real scares or thrills, and the movie struggles to maintain any kind of tension, despite the cast trying their best to keep some interest alive. It has a very direct-to-video feel as well, as the movie does the bare minimum without going for the jugular and providing an unhinged, bonkers experience. This is the same complaint I had from last year's 'The Boogeyman' and 'Insidious: The Red Door'-all these movies, including 'Nightswim,' feel so restrained, something a horror movie should never be.

Leave The World Behind may not be for everyone, but from its very first scene, I was mesmerized by it. The sense of unease, relentless dread, and mystery it presented throughout its 136 minutes were masterful and surreal in equal measure. It's a slow burn, more of a character study than an outright apocalyptic disaster thrill ride, but the immense suspense and tension the movie delivered were downright unnerving at times. Additionally, it benefits from being directed with panache and style by Sam Esmail and boasting a cast to die for, all bringing their A-game. The lack of answers or payoff may be frustrating for some, but I didn't care because the journey itself was movie-making at its suspenseful best. I loved it.

Obliterated is like '24' meeting the juvenile sensibility or hysterics of 'American Pie' and 'The Hangover.' It's crass, juvenile, and full of R-rated humor, but all that is part of its charm. It's just a fun, consistently entertaining show where you can shut off your brain and enjoy all the shenanigans it has to offer. It's mindless fun. I laughed a lot throughout its eight episodes, and despite the show's shortcomings, it definitely won me over and then some. The show delivered what it promised: a great, hilarious escape full of over-the-top action, juvenile characters plucked right out of '80s movies, as well as a game cast who knew what they were in for.

James Wan's "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" is a delightfully silly, cheesy, goofy screwball, circa 80s buddy action comedy that is just plain fun. It's no masterpiece; it's choppy and all over the place. However, like the 80s action films, there is something very comforting and entertaining about this movie. I had a ball of a time, actually, as the camaraderie, chemistry, and banter between Momoa's Aquaman and Wilson's Orm made sure that you consistently have a good time despite the movie's inherent shortcomings. Their chemistry and the duo's performances are worth the price of admission alone. "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" is just goofy, fun escapism and nothing else.

John Woo's "Silent Night" has no right to be this good; it's an emotionally devastating, brutal action flick that truly hits you hard and then some. The movie, devoid of dialogue which never gets annoying or irritating is filled with immense emotional heft, and it delivers ridiculously entertaining, ludicrous almost john wick style action. While the storyline is a variant of "Punisher" and "Death Wish," it's crafted with such style and panache that you're utterly captivated throughout. I was pleasantly surprised-Joel Kinnaman is an absolute force in this.

It was like being transported back to the 90s.

Monk was one of my family's favorite pastimes for many years. So when the movie was announced-a last hurrah, as it were, for Adrian Monk-I was terribly excited. It was a warm, funny, and endearing show with one of the greatest characters ever created for TV, Tony Shalhoub's Monk. It became such a huge part of my life, and this movie is a near-perfect, downright beautiful goodbye to this wonderful character and show. Tony Shalhoub's acting is also tremendous in this; he fits right back perfectly into the character we all love. Honestly, the movie is quite emotional and really gives you all the feels and then some. Tony Shalhoub, come Emmy season, should be a serious consideration because of his stupendous, highly endearing performance. He was so good in this that I didn't even care about the case; he was enough for me. You could see the pain in his eyes in every scene, and hope dwindling at every turn, but the ending is inherently satisfying and perfect. Fans of the show and the character will be extremely satisfied - it was great to see Adrian Monk do his thing one last time.

"Talk to Me" is an effective, brutal, and disturbing horror flick, quite gnarly with scenes that completely put you at unease and deliver necessary jolts and shocks. The movie is bloody and gory, definitely not for the weak-hearted. Additionally, it is extremely depressing and relentlessly bleak, where nothing good happens for any of the characters from the movie's first scene to the very end. However, this sinking feeling works well for the movie, although you may feel a little let down by the lack of resolution. Like A24's "Bodies Bodies Bodies," my issue with "Talk to Me" is also that it relies on people making continuous stupid, idiotic decisions to move the plot forward, which is my biggest criticism of the movie.

Finally got around to watching Ti West's highly acclaimed film 'X,' and I have mixed feelings about it. It definitely boasts a fantastic retro vibe and a creepy, dreamlike atmosphere that lingers with you. There's a palpable sense of unease and impending doom throughout, which I absolutely loved. Additionally, Mia Goth delivers a stupendous performance in both her roles as Pearl and Maxxine. Her character, Pearl, is undeniably creepy and scary. The movie also features some brilliantly unhinged kills.

However, the film does suffer from a disjointed narrative and, at times, feels like a parody. It gives the impression of being a collection of scenes rather than a cohesive movie. Furthermore, there are moments where it seems to strive for excessive artistry, which can be overwhelming.

"Barbarian" is an imperfect but wild ride. I didn't enjoy all the tangents the story took, but its absurdity, craziness, along with its dark, vicious humor & nature won me over by the end, making me truly appreciate this quite vicious horror flick. It's one of those films that's inherently better if you go in blind, as it enhances the experience. It's definitely not a movie for everyone, but it's undeniably something unique. The way the creators fully committed to bringing something unhinged deserves credit. Overall, it's an enjoyable, crazy, messy ride with nothing insipid or boring about it.

Thanksgiving is totally my jam. It's cinema for me. Eli Roth has delivered a throwback whodunnit slasher that thrills aplenty. It's a little choppy in parts, especially with the editing, but it's consistently entertaining and delightfully unhinged that you just don't care. The movie definitely earns its R-rating for gore, as a new slasher icon, "John Carver," takes on hapless "victims" - ahem, "Victims." Some of the kills will put the "Saw" franchise to shame. It's not perfect, but it kind of is in its own screwed-up way. The cast does a decent enough job, and the movie is quite campy, funny, and full of hammy dialogues at times- in the case of the vibe that "Thanksgiving" was going for, it most definitely works. Bring on part 2, which has just been announced.

James Mangold's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is the epitome of old-school, popcorn blockbuster action entertainment, and boy, does it deliver. Given the mixed reviews, my expectations for the movie weren't that high, but this film serves as another testament to the fact that critics these days are completely out of touch and have become overly hypercritical and sensitive to truly enjoy a movie. This movie provided 150 minutes of pure fun that never let up. The action sequences, which were relentless and packed with energy, kept me exhilarated every minute. These 150 minutes flew by in an instant. Harrison Ford is as great as ever in his portrayal of Indy, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge is truly impressive as well. I honestly don't understand what the critics were talking about. The latest installment of Indiana Jones excites and entertains to the fullest. Watching it in IMAX only enhanced the experience even further.

Animal is a heightened, over-the-top, cartoonish experience that celebrates the monstrosity of its titular character in spades. The movie is a mess, but an entertaining one nonetheless. It has pacing issues, it's all over the place and extremely choppy at times. Even at 3 hours and 22 minutes, you feel the father-son dynamic wasn't explored properly, as Anil Kapoor is completely sidelined. We all know this is a Ranbir Kapoor movie, but the way Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol are treated as afterthoughts is frustrating. Also, the movie has tonal issues aplenty; some of the writing, especially the dialogues, is painfully bad and it has absolutely no moral center. However, Ranbir's stupendous performance as this monster, the action sequences, and the film's overall story keep you captivated enough to make it just about a decent time at the cinema. The ending, which is a cliffhanger of sorts, does bring in some more excitement even though it doesn't make an iota of sense.

Overall, Animal is not a good movie - in fact, its quite an ugly film and quite a mess, but sometimes, messes are also entertaining to watch.

"Jawan" is the ultimate Shahrukh Khan film that showcases his star power like no other, while the film entertains you endlessly. A complete, relentless masala crowd-pleaser through and through. Shahrukh Khan roars, roars, and roars-I loved every beautiful, mad 169 minutes of it. If "Pathaan" was the appetizer, "Jawan" is breakfast, lunch, dinner, and some delicious leftovers combined. This is the kind of cinema I have started appreciating more and more these days-great escapist, over-the-top masala entertainment that takes all the worries away, even if it's just for a few hours. But even in this genre, "Jawan" was next level and something truly special. A mad film!