Taare Zameen Par

Ishaan Awasthi is an eight-year-old whose world is filled with wonders
that no one else seems to appreciate; colours, fish, dogs and kites are
just not important in the world of adults, who are much more interested
in things like homework, marks and neatness. And Ishaan just cannot
seem to get anything right in class. When he gets into far more trouble
than his parents can handle, he is packed off to a boarding school to
‘be disciplined’. Things are no different at his new school, and Ishaan
has to contend with the added trauma of separation from his family. One
day a new art teacher bursts onto the scene, Ram Shankar Nikumbh, who
infects the students with joy and optimism. He breaks all the rules of
‘how things are done’ by asking them to think, dream and imagine, and
all the children respond with enthusiasm, all except Ishaan. Nikumbh
soon realizes that Ishaan is very unhappy, and he sets out to discover
why. With time, patience and care, he ultimately helps Ishaan find
himself.

Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic

Ranbeer Talwar (Saif Ali Khan), one of the country’s top industrialists, is a loner, not by choice, but because he lost everyone he ever loved. He is now faced with a very peculiar and uncomfortable situation. In a rare and landmark court verdict, he is to look after 4 orphan children.The orphans hate him and want revenge from him.

The children do not want to live with a man they hate; he too cannot face them or look them in the eye for certain reasons.Their life together is very unhappy, one day they pray to God for help and he does help them. He sends his most mischievous, childlike, lovable angel to the rescue, with a mission to bring Ranbeer and the kids together.

Geeta (Rani Mukerji) comes bicycling down a rainbow… and bursts into Ranbeer’s house as the self-proclaimed new nanny.
And then starts the roller coaster ride of fun, emotions, magic and love.
An angel who doesn’t know what love is.
A man who always lost love.
Four orphans who need love.
All come together to bring you a film with fun, excitement, masti, tears, magic and love.

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Directed by
Ron Howard

Writing credits (WGA)
Akiva Goldsman (screenplay)
Dan Brown (novel)

Genre
Drama / Mystery / Thriller

Plot
While in Paris on business, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (‘Tom Hanks’) receives an urgent late-night phone call: the elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum. Near the body, police have found a baffling cipher. Solving the enigmatic riddle, Langdon is stunned to discover it leads to a trail of clues hidden in the works of Da Vinci – clues visible for all to see, and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter. Langdon joins forces with a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou), and learns the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion – an actual secret society. In a breathless race through Paris, London and beyond, Langdon and Neveu match wits with a faceless powerbroker who appears to work for Opus Dei – a clandestine, Vatican-sanctioned Catholic organization believed to have long plotted to seize the Priory’s secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle in time, the Priory’s secret – and a stunning historical truth – will be lost forever.

Cast
Tom Hanks …. Robert Langdon
Audrey Tautou …. Sophie Neveu
Ian McKellen …. Sir Leigh Teabing
Jean Reno …. Captain Fache
Paul Bettany …. Silas
Alfred Molina …. Bishop Aringarosa
Jürgen Prochnow …. André Vernet
Jean-Yves Berteloot …. Remy Jean
Etienne Chicot …. Lt. Collet
Jean-Pierre Marielle …. Jacques Sauniere
Marie-Françoise Audollent …. Sister Sandrine
Seth Gabel …. Michael

Language
English / French

The Benchwarmers

Cast  : Rob Schneider, David Spade, Jon Heder, Jon Lovitz, Craig Kilborn, Max Prado, Molly Sims, Bill Romanowski, Sean Sailsbury
Director  : Dennis Dugan
Screenwriter  : Allen Covert, Nick Swardson
Studio  : Sony Pictures

A baseball comedy in which three adults together form a baseball team and compete against children in the sport.

Clark played by Jon Heder is a paperboy who is not into sport at all. He is over 21 and still depends on his mother for his favourite food, macaroni and cheese. Richie (David Spade) works in a video store and he is obsessed with porn movies. Moreover he recommends pornographic movies to his female customers. Gus (Rob Schneider) makes his living by mowing lawns and he is somewhat athletic and has a beautiful wife.

The trio, Gus, Richie and Clark, form a baseball team called “The Benchwarmers” and they challenge young kids in a baseball game. But these middle-aged losers find a billionaire sponsor named Mel (Jon Lovitz). Mel declares a trophy of “Build a new ballpark” for the winning team of the region that plays with “The  Benchwarmers”. Find out more about this baseball comedy.

Director Dennis Dugan tries hard to narrate a funny tale that should be interesting to both adults and children alike. Even though he is a veteran comedy film maker, this time it is a total disaster. The director seems to have  no idea or direction as to who should be the audience that he is trying to reach.

Jon Heder as Clark do justice to his role. On the other hand for David Spade and Rob Schneider the roles are not challenging enough.

As a whole it is a boring comedy, but it has some funny moments. Many will suggest that it is mindless movie making without any regard to the enjoyment of the public. As a matter of fact these three guys should have sat on the bench just as ‘Benchwarmers”. It is not worth your trip to the theater for this one.

V For Vendetta

Cast  : Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, Ben Miles, John Standing, Eddie Marsan, Clive Ashborn, Ian Burfield
Director  : James McTeigue
Screenwriter  : Larry Wachowski, Andy Wachowski
Studio  : Warner Brothers

 Based on the graphic novel illustrated by David Lloyd, it is a comic book thriller that deals with oppressive government and terrorism.

The film is set in a near future Britain under the dictatorship of Chancellor Sutler (John Hurt). He tries to control public life from top to bottom and the people are living in constant fear of his authority. He enforced a curfew and denied all civil rights including the freedom of speech of the public.

Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman) is a young lady working for the government owned British TV network. One day she was harassed by the corrupt police officers who arrested her and almost raped her. Just in time she is rescued by a masked man known as “V” (Hugo Weaving). He is a self proclaimed vigilante who has been urging the citizens to join him to fight the corruption and tyranny of the dictatorship.

V convinced Evey to join him and takes her underground. V made her a trustworthy lieutenant in his fight against the oppression and corruption as well as to topple the dictator and give back the people, the freedom that they used to enjoy before. V started to eliminate the bad guys one after another. Find out more about these  freedom fighters.

Director James McTeigue skillfully narrates a political thriller that deals with religious freedom, freedom of speech as well as terrorism. He has very carefully developed the characters and made the film more enjoyable by injecting a bit of romance in it. He emphasizes the theme- that of people’s liberty and freedom from a corrupt government.

Natalie Portman as Evey presents an excellent performance. As a young lady in transformation she has very well enacted her fear and anxiety. Her British accent is notable. Rest of the cast also have done a good job.

It is a visually thrilling film with all the heroes being self proclaimed vigilantes or terrorists. The film has a very thin line to separate a vigilante from a terrorist so it is up to the audience to classify a character and recognize in which category he belongs. As an entertainer, it is an enjoyable film.

The Sentinel

Cast : Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria, Martin Donovan, Ritchie Coster, Kim Basinger, Blair Brown, David Rasche, Josh Peace, Ron Lea
Director : Clark Johnson
Screenwriter : George Nolfi
Studio : 20th Century Fox

The Sentinel is the story of a Secret Service agent accused of plotting to kill the President.

Michael Douglas plays Pete Garrison, the head of the security team guarding the first lady Sarah Ballentine (Kim Basinger). He is not only protecting the first lady but also having an affair with her and they are apparently in love.

David Breckinridge (Kiefer Sutherland) is the chief investigator of the Secret Service. Pete and David used to be good friends but they turned out to be enemies as David suspected Pete having an affair with his wife also.

The word came out that there is a mole in the Secret Service who is plotting to assassinate the president. All the agents closely associated with the President and the White House are forced to take the polygraph test and Pete happens to fail the test. Now he is afraid that he may be forced to admit his affair with the First lady and
become a scapegoat in the assassination plot. Pete decided to run and David started to chase him. Find out who the real mole is?.

Director Clark Johnson tries his best to narrate a classic story of conspiracy and mystery. But as the story unfolds it becomes very easy to predict the end result. He succeeds in putting together a number of high flying stars but he fails to utilize them to the best.

Michael Douglas as Pete puts up a decent show. It is good to see him back in action flicks. Kiefer Southerland as David, the chief investigator, do justice to his role. David Rasche as the President doesn’t have much to do.

The film has many tense situations and daring escapes but on comparison with other films of the same category ‘The Sentinel’ is not that great. The cat and mouse chase between the potential assassin and the Secret Service agent is over done. If you are a fan of Michael Douglas you will enjoy it.

Saif may act as a soccer player

Saif Ali will be seen playing the role of a soccer player. Priyanka will be playing his love interest in the film. This is a unique idea and is the first time that a film will be based on football. It will have a big star cast. The film is not based on any soccer legend. The entire film will be shot in Europe during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The film will be directed by Vivek Agnihotri under UTV production.

In the film undergoes many obstacles involving locker room politics. But gradually he emerges as a triumphant and better human being. The production house intends to hire premiere coaches to give the actors an inkling of the technicalities and lifestyle of a soccer player. The scriptwriters are Vikram Motwani and Anurag Kashayp. This one definitely sounds like an interesting film and role won't be any cool character like khan do.

36 China Town

Everyone today has to make money to survive, to live, to thrive. And everyone who is trying to make money can be categorized in one of three categories: The first includes those people who earn money and also do good to Society at large. The second category is of those people who are earning money for themselves alone. The third category is of people who commit heinous acts to earn money and are harmful to society.

36 China Town promises to be an entertaining film about all three kinds of people, with different motivations.

Raja and Priya are two important protagonists who want to help society by earning money. While another couple, Vicky and Soniya, want to make money and don’t want to do any service to Society.

Madam Sushmita is the owner of a casino. She is corrupting society, but for her, it’s only business. Madam has a 5-year-old son who disappears.

Madam Sushmita places ads in the papers offering a handsome reward for the child’s recovery. Raj and Priya find the child, and these are the same characters who have been desperately looking for ways to make money, and also have the good of Society at heart.

So Raj and Priya, who are strangers to each other, become business partners just for the reward money. Because of the kid, they become friends too. The child gets attached to them. The child starts calling them papa and mama, addressing them as father and mother. They pretend to be a married couple. While on their way to return the child, Raj and Priya fall in love.

Raj and Priya take the child and reach Madam Sushmita palace at midnight and find a hand of a corpse. Petrified, they vanish from the premises, and even forget that they have left their suitcase behind. Along with, of course, their footprints.

Because of their footprints and their suitcase, they are declared the killers of Madam Sushmita.

The case gets even more complicated and two lovers with good intentions find themselves on the run from the police and the dons. What follows is a romantic thriller through unexpected turns and twists leading to a spectacular climax!

Directed by super-successful and consistent directors Abbas Mastan, who have become masters of their genre of the commercial Hindi film thriller, 36 China Town stars Akshaye Khanna, Kareena Kapoor, Shahid Kapur, Isha Koppikar, Paresh Rawal, Johnny Lever, Payal Rohatgi and others, and introduces Upen Patel.

Music by Himesh Reshammiya
Lyrics by Sameer
Art Direction by R Verman
Editing by Husain
Sound by Rakesh Ranjan
Cinematography by Ravi Yadav
Executive Producer Raju Farookhi
Director duo Abbas-Mastan
Produced by Mukta Arts

Aamir Khan to star in Hindi remake of Tamil hit

Latest buzz from tinsel town is that Aamir Khan might star in the Hindi remake of the hit Tamil movie Ghajini .

The action-packed Tamil hit was directed by A. R. Murugadas. It starred Surya , Asin and Nayanthara in the lead roles.

As learnt, Aamir recently saw the film at a special screening in Mumbai with wife Kiran Rao, whose knowledge of South Indian languages helps Aamir to understand films in those languages.

Aamir was reportedly impressed by the Tamil movie and is said to have expressed interest in acting in the movie’s Hindi remake.

Murugadas, too, is learnt to be thrilled at the idea of making his first Hindi movie with Aamir in the lead. He plans to cast a new female face opposite Aamir in the movie.

For the time being, the director is learnt to be making certain changes in the script to make it more palatable to the Hindi cinegoers.

Murugadas plans to shoot the Hindi remake in a single schedule and release it by this year-end.

If that is the case, Aamir will commit to this project after completing the shooting of Kunal Kohli’s movie Fanaah he is presently busy with.

Fanaa – Martyred in Love

Aamir Khan , Kajol , Rishi Kapoor , Tabu , Lara Dutta , Shiney Ahuja , Kiron Kher

Aamir Khan says he was bowled over by the story of Fanaa the first time he heard it.

It takes an extraordinary script for any filmmaker to get Aamir’s nod. And when Kajol , who had willingly gone into hibernation after her marriage, decides to make a comeback to the silver screen, it means there is certainly something exceptional about the movie.

Fanaa not only marks the return of Kajol, the movie also brings together Aamir and Kajol as a pair for the first time. The two had previously acted in Ishq but they were not cast opposite each other in the film.

Many things about Fanaa are quite striking. Firstly, the story of the movie is set in Kashmir. Aamir’s character in the film has interesting polarities. He is the man who has love in his heart, but he is also a terrorist.

Kajol plays a blind girl who studies at a university. She is Aamir’s love interest.

Although the makers of the movie and its stars are tightlipped about the story’s plot, sources say the movie is about how love brings about a change of heart in a man given to a violent mission.
The movie’s title ‘Fanaa’ literally means martyred in love.

The film also stars Tabu , but there is not a clue known about her character in the film. Some reports speculate that she plays Aamir’s accomplice in his terrorist mission.

‘Fanaa’ also features two songs by Aamir and Kajol. The songs, titled ‘Mere Haath Mein’ and ‘Chanda Chamke’, have been composed by Jatin-Lalit and their lyrics are written by Prasoon Joshi.

‘Fanaa’ has been shot in Kashmir, Delhi, Kulu Manali and Poland.

Directed by Kunal Kohli and produced under Yash Raj banner, ‘Fanaa’ will hit the theatres in May this year.