vikramsamal Reviews

Sita Ramam (2022)

Goosebumps

[10/10 · 10 September 2022]

Sita Ramam evokes multiple emotions in you. A True blue passionate romance that strikes numerous chords in your heart and leaves you speechless and choked. Loved every minute of it. Rarely a movie makes me want it to continue. This is that movie. The main leads have tremendous chemistry and you fall in love with both Sita and Ram. Brilliant cinematography and lovely scenes of Kashmir just makes it a memorable movie, one that will stay with me for a while. Be prepared for few tears as you pine for the lovers in their fight to stay together.. The direction is good and so is the music but what remains with you how effortless the two leads Dulquer and Mrinal have made us fall in love with Ram and Sita.

Samaritan (I) (2022)

Samaritan is good fun

[8/10 · 26 August 2022]

If you love movies of the superhero genre and have some time to kill then this movie is good fun. A decent story which at times is reminiscent of Unbreakable but with a twist and good action this makes for nice time pass.

The Cursed (2020)

These Korean series are something else

[10/10 · 23 March 2022]

This Korean series that have been watching recently are something else. Entertaining from start to finish.loved it.lovely concept with brilliant performances and highly engaging music and thrill. Complete package this series. Must watch.

Hunter Killer (2018)

Why the hate?

[9/10 · 30 May 2021]

Its everything you need as an action fan. A good story, some plot holes, very very good action, edge of the Seat thrill, some nail biting moments, a big scale and very good bgm. Loved every minute of it.

WandaVision: Previously On (2021) Season 1, Episode 8

How Wanda became..

[10/10 · 26 February 2021]

Probably the best episode of the series. It establishes how Wanda became Scarlet Witch. Only being capable of spontaneous creation. Loved everu second of it. Now the wait for the finale has become tough multitudes.

Bunraku (2010)

Why isnt this a cult classic yet?

[8/10 · 23 November 2020]

This in the first watch is a cult classic for me. Set in Sin City mode this is a fantastic action fantasy set in a dystopian alernate universe where there are no guns. Wonderful use of light, camera angles and wierd storytelling makes it an instant classic. And some dialogues are so powerful that they stay with you for long.

Must watch.

Mortal (2020)

Great movie

[8/10 · 21 November 2020]

And much better than its Imdb rating. Combines mythology with fantasy very well. Absolutely entertaining. We need a part 2.

Your Honor (I) (2020– )

So bad its bad

[3/10 · 7 November 2020]

Couldnt go past 3 episodes. Irritating acting by the lead characters, slow drawn out confused story. I am surprised by so many 10s in the rating. Must be all crew members. Save your time and stay away.

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020)

Very moving yet strong film

[9/10 · 19 August 2020]

Dont go by the biased reviews. This is a movie thats worth the 100 minutes it takes. Bringing a true chapter from one of India's glorified girls and presents to us in a very simple yet moving way, the movie has everything you would want in a biopic.

Highly recommended.

Your Honor (I) (2020– )

Couldnt go past 3 episodes

[3/10 · 3 August 2020]

Concept is good but ruined by some poor execution and acting. Jimmy sheirgill was overawed by his character and fails miserably. So do other actors but the worst has to be the guy playing abeer. Man that character was the most irritating and i am pretty sure he wasnt meant to be this way. And honestly judges are not treated like this by policeman, like friends? Seriously? Have you seen a high court judge and the respect he commands? This series I had high hopes from because of the nice mix of actors but thats what failed it.

My Spy (2020)

If you like these kind of movies then you will love this

[7/10 · 31 July 2020]

My thing is simple. this is a typical movie no two words about it . a typical movie in this genre but those who are watching this movie I am sure know what kind of movie this is going to be.they definitely enjoy this genre and I'm pretty sure you'll love this movie too.

Ignore the bad reviews. They were expecting Godfather.

Artemis Fowl (2020)

Felt like an unfinished movie

[3/10 · 4 July 2020]

With all those glossy scenes and vfx what the movie hides in any depth into the story and strangely it felt as if this was an unfinished movie. Actors were poor as well. And direction felt incompetent.

Fractured (I) (2019)

Forget the reviews

[8/10 · 1 May 2020]

Initially I was swayed away from watching the movie due to the low imdb rating but the story line intrigued me and I decided to give it a go. And wasn't I pleasantly surprised. This is a solid thriller with very slow but good undertone that keeps you hooked all throughout. You may be able to predict the twists but the movie makes you sit all through it and gladly so.

Forget the rating and reviews and give this a go. Won't be disappointed.

Extraction (2020)

Thin storyline saved by amazing action

[6/10 · 24 April 2020]

It's one line story. No browny points for that. But what's very good is the action. Its raw, its fast paced, its in your face and its edge of the seat kind. What I didn't like was there is hardly any connect between the kid and Helmsworth yet the kid chose him over his father's known aid played wonderfully by the very dependable Randeep Hooda. Had the story been a little more layered with certain emotional connect then it w o uld have been a terrific film. Entertaining it is. No doubt but it could have been more. And the way they have shpwn Dhaka police being completely controlled by the Drug Lord is way over the top and the gear they have shown the police is unimaginable in Bangladesh.

Any way watch it for Chris Helmsworth. One of therare Non Thor movies that we have seen him recently and he kicks ass.

Hellboy (2019)

B grade

[3/10 · 12 April 2019]

Absolutely gutted because HellBoy series have been one of my favourites and Guillermo DelToro took it to different heights with his imagination and this one is an absolute B grade product. Expected so much what they deliver is a cheesy gory product with appaling VFX. And David Harbour looked his part but was let down by shoddy writing.

Gravity (2013)

Best movie of the year

[10/10 · 10 October 2013]

"Gravity" defies its genre. Its a science fiction, yet feels head spinningly real. From the first frame to the last, Alfonso Cuaron takes his audience right into a place 600km above earth and you are bound by the taut tale of two marooned astronauts. The story isn't new, actually the story is just a single line, but the visualisation, the imagination, the cinematography, the background score, the special effects are probably the best I have ever, and I mean 'ever' seen. This is not movie but an experience which no movie lover should ever miss. And if 3D was invented for some reason, it was for this movie. Now my premature predictions for this years' Oscars: Best movie, best direction, best cinematography, Best Special effects, best sound mixing, best actor in a supporting role are a bare minimum.

10/10.

Madras Cafe (2013)

Best movie of the year: Well almost

[9/10 · 24 August 2013]

Madras Cafe: A realistic take on the life of spies and RAW agents. Its not really as stylish and bed of roses as depicted by Bond et al. And they don't always win. And it must be scary to know that one wrong movie on your part, the country's defense can be compromised. Madras Cafe is a tale of the Tamil surge in SriLanka, rise of LTTE and the subsequent side effects ending in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. Its a docudrama, showing most true incidents that happened behind one of India's most tragic events. A taut script, fantastic BG score and wonderful direction makes Madras Cafe nearly the best movie of the year. And after somewhile I really enjoyed a John Abraham performance. More than anything, hats off to John for producing this movie. All Kashyaps, Motwanes watch out, cause Shoojit Sircar really knows how to make serious topics in mainstream. And his Journo background must have held him in good stead while making this.

My entry into the Oscars this year.

9/10

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013)

Sikh flies, movie doesn't take off

[6/10 · 12 July 2013]

I am so happy they made Milkha Singh's biopic. In my opinion he is the greatest athlete India has ever produced. PT Usha comes a distant second. A life filled with emotions that just calls out to be adapted onto the big screen. A life which has ups, downs, triumphs, disappointments, rejections all rolled into one. I was really happy to see Farhan transform so closely into Milkha Singh. I was very happy with the Zinda song. Coming to the movie, its like a very very sweet dish, which you enjoy in the beginning, then its sweetness jars your mouth that you cant take it any more and yet wished and hoped that you could have eaten more of such an enjoyable dish but you cant. Its beautiful in every frame, the story highlights most of Milkha's triumphs and I was happy Rome Olympics was not the finale. It would have left a sour taste. The movie is over indulgent, no two ways about it. It drags and drags and at 188 mins, it becomes too slow to test the patience at times. It could and should have been a good 30 mins shorter. And come to think of, lip synced songs in a biopic?? Looked odd and wasted time as well. I was sad they didn't show his love story with his wife and wasted 20 odd mins on an one night stand. Rakesh Mehra's vision is fantastic, he chose the best parts of Milkha's life to highlight. Whats questionable is the screenplay and editing. Background score is very good, songs were average barring Zinda. Farhan breathes life into Milkha Singh's character. Its a near perfect role barring the inconsistencies of the beard.

Finally a movie that could have been so so much better had it been handled with a little more dexterity, a potential epic gone bust. A Sikh that flies, but movie didn't exactly take off.

6/10.

Man of Steel (2013)

Totally worth it

[10/10 · 14 June 2013]

He is the biggest superhero. A superhero who is complete in each and every respect. Sadly never has any of his movies been the biggest. Finally Superman gets a movie he deserves. Man of Steel is totally worth it. It has a hero who is alien yet human. Who is invincible, has emotions, feels human love and yet is the flag bearer of his race. A villain who is as big as the hero. Sometimes you feel for the villain as well. The story takes us to the beginning and has every ingredient to make a die hard superhero fanatic happy, very happy. The action sequences are awe inspiring, best that I have ever seen. 3D is not all that great and the shaky camera kind of irritates at times. Not withstanding the movie is pure Superman from start to finish. We see him in all his glories, his powers and his evolution from Kal L to Clark Kent to Superman. The background score is fantastic and the final 40 minutes are some of the best action you will ever see. And those complaining of not much humor, boys this ain't the tin man. This is the Man, SuperMan sans that red undergarment. And for those asking, Henry Cavill looks nearly as good as Chris Reeve.

9.5/10.

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

A Shadow of the original!!

[6/10 · 29 June 2012]

The Amazing Spiderman: Those of us who have been brought up on Sam Raimi's masterpieces, know what a true superhero movie is!! Time was when Super heroes were befuddled by Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher, Sam Raimi stood up and gave us the true blue super Hero movie with Spiderman, a hero with a heart and who bleeds as well..A fantastic interweave of Emotions with bravura..The only thing it lacked was the Hero's heroine..Kirsten Dunst was never upto the mark..Then after so many years, we get TASM with Andrew Garfield as Spiderman..Directly coming to the point, TASM lacks a coherent script..It doesn't know if it wants to remake the original or go with a new story and in the midst it just becomes a poor shadow of the original..The Villain is good and so is the heroine, but Andrew Garfield doesn't have the innocence that Tobey Macguire brought to Spiderman..The effects in 3D are good but the script lets everyone down..BG score could have been better..As a pure super hero fanatic I was left unsatisfied..

5.5/10

Mystic River (2003)

Climax let down..

[7/10 · 7 June 2010]

I just adore Clint Eastwood as a director..Mystic River is one of those difficult tales to tell..Three friends with a difficult childhood unite under precarious situation after the daughter of one is murdered..The three character played by Sean Penn(the wild one), Kevin Bacon(the subtle one) and Tim Robbins(the quiet one) as as different as chalk and cheese and brilliantly enacted..

The story is twisted and presents the mental conflicts of the three friends wonderfully as they deal with their personal problems and the harrowing situation..Its told very well but the ending is where it dips..In such a movie you expect the ending to elevate the impact, but the ending here is quite tepid when compared to the rest of the movie..It could have been much better..

In the end it turns out to be more of a character study of the three characters rather than a story well told..The diffusion of good and evil becomes such that there is no poetic justice and you feel sad for the wronged in the end..But brilliant effort by Penn and Robbins who more than deserved their Oscars..Brilliant direction by Eastwood barring the climax..

Recommended..

7/10.

Secret Window (2004)

Tepid.

[5/10 · 10 April 2009]

Stephen king+John Torturro+Johnny Depp..A seemingly invincible combination but Secret Window finds ways of falling flat..Its a psychological thriller which was supposed to startle you by its sinister proceedings and subtle ending but not quite..40 minutes into the movie and you know where its heading and the ending too, which makes a tepid proceedings thereon..Depp is good but then I feel he is Johnny Depp in every movie he acts and needs to get out of that image..Kings story must have fascinating as a short but as a feature it falls flat on its face..The director even tries to go surreal at one point but to no avail..

Missing this wont hurt actually..

5/10.

8 x 10 Tasveer (2009)

Brilliant just brilliant..

[8/10 · 3 April 2009]

The moment the opening credits show on screen you know that you are not going to watch any typical Bollywood movie..That mood stays all throughout the movie,that of a haunting, mesmerizing and fantastically paced thriller..Any typical Bollywood film fan a request stay away..It has got no songs, no comedy and no slapstick..Its a classic Whodunnit with some very gripping moments..Its a brilliant mix of supernatural with a near perfect murder mystery..Some scenes are just awe-inspiring.Like the Akshay's Houdini act.Wow..Brilliant camera work,fantastic musical score and a perfect well paced Akshay Kumar far from anything you have seen him in till date..Nagesh Kukunoor proves again that he is one of India's best and most underrated..

If any friend of yours comes and tells you anything about the story just run away from there..You wouldn't want to miss the thrill..

In my opinion one of the best thrillers of all time in Hindi cinema..

9.5/10.

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

A gritty tale of rags to riches..Feel good cinema at its best..

[8/10 · 24 December 2008]

When you watch a highly acclaimed American movie then you expect nothing but the best and you are more hooked if its about India. But I held my apprehensions intact because I sincerely feel the Americans only love poor and hungry Indians fighting for survival..Look at past Oscar nods for Indian films(Salaam Bombay, Lagaan) the same aspect has been resplendent..

Slumdog Millionaire is one of those films which deal with a very tried and tested formula but the way it has been dealt with is what makes it different..Its the story of rags to riches of a Slumdog(a boy brought up by the atrocities of a Slum and thereabouts), his grit, his head on take of adversities and the way he triumphs in the end..Its feel good cinema from start to finish and will put a smile on your face throughout and you would love to root for the "Slumdog"..

The narrative and screenplay is what makes Slumdog Millionaire so different..Its a non linear interplexed way of story telling which basically revolves round the super success of a "Slumdog" in a reality game show and side effects thereof..But Slumdog Millionaire is the most realistic take on BPL India and no two ways about that..What astonishes me that an American director has put across a face so realistic of Indian poor diaspora which no Indian had ever managed to represent so convincingly and entertainingly..

Dev Patel the protagonist playing Jamal Malik is brilliant and the word doesn't exactly suffice..He is a revelation..He deserves all the accolades he is getting..The only problem I had with him is his British accent which actually sticks out sorely..Anil Kapoor is brilliant as well and I am happy to see him finally getting his due..Irrfan Khan and Frieda Pinto are good..But the scene stealers really are the kids who play the protagonists in their respective young ages..They are lovable and have been directed brilliantly..

Danny Boyle who somewhat got lost after the similar gritty Trainspotting redeemed him self somewhat with Sunshine last year and with Slumdog Millionaire he proves that he is one of the very best in Hollywood..His thought provoking cinematography is brilliant and as previously mentioned he has managed the non-linear graph of the story quite brilliantly..

And a special mention for A.R.Rehman who just makes Slumdog Millionaire a treat..Each and every interlude is just magnificent and so well thought about..Even the ringtone in the protagonist's mobile phone is excellent..

A must watch and highly recommended but I just wish that Americans would look beyond the anorexic starving Indians and make a film on Indian glory and more so because our very own director are impotent enough to do that..Kudos to Boyle and wish him luck at Oscars..

9.5/10.

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)

Visual,Auditory Bliss.....

[10/10 · 3 December 2008]

Some films are made to entertain, some films to loath and then there are film like this which are meant to satiate all your senses such that the final feeling is akin to a bliss..

Perfume:Story of a Murderer is not simply a film, its poetry on celluloid and a very strange one at that. How difficult it is to portray a psychopathy through poetry without actual lines being intermingled..I saw that in Sweeney Todd but the situation is entirely different..The setting is medieval France with biography of an extraordinarily and weirdly talented man who has some mysterious power, power of eternal olfaction...The story of how he starts of a queer individual to be a man who has a certain goal to desperately fulfilled is presented in a most perplexing, incomprehensible, puzzling, enigmatic, unexpected, remarkable way..The movie is a visual bliss, auditory beauty and only thing you would crave till the very end would be to actually smell the perfume that the protagonist invents..Such is its impact..Watch out for the climax and the end was more fitting than what I could have ever imagined..Ben Wishaw playing the lead was sadly ignored for the Academy Awards which goes to prove that we have respecting some morons who call them jury of world's most prestigious cinematic awards..

I was wanting to read the novel for some while but after watching the movie I am even more drawn..

Words don't suffice actually and I don't have a perfume to feel you the bliss..