Special 26

Neeraj Pandey's Special 26 (India, 2013) - RATING: 3.5 - Based on a real life group of con artists who pulled off many clever robberies during 1980s, and robbed famous businessmen and politicians by pretending to be the CBI or Income tax officers and conducting raids, on the pretext of conducting raids they would take away all the black money hoarded by them.

Man Of Steel

Zack Snyder's Man of Steel (US, 2013) - RATING: 3.5 - An unapologetically supersized reboot of the Superman franchise, Man Of Steel doesn’t lack for spectacle, but after a while its emphasis on grand gestures and unwavering gravitas stops feeling heroic and begins to seem like overkill. Director Zack Snyder has fashioned a brawny, science-fiction-heavy action movie that’s far removed from the charming, understated tone of the original Christopher Reeve films of 30 years ago, and the boldness of that vision — aided by a quietly compelling turn from Henry Cavill — has its merits. But despite being intermittently gloriously thrilling, Man Of Steelstruggles to juggle all its many ambitions and plot strands, resulting in a film that never quite soars like a bird or a plane.

2013 Brief Notes on Cinema

Principal photography has begun on Michael Mann’s untitled feature starring Chris Hemsworth, Viola Davis, Tang Wei and Wang Leehom for Legendary Pictures.

Ivan Sen's Mystery Road (Australia, 2013) - Prrmiered at 2013 Sidney Film Fest, this thrilling Australian western is about an aboriginal cop who try to solves a brutal murder of an aboriginal girl in the outback. 

Paul Wright's For Those in Peril (UK, 2013) - 2013CANcw - RATING: 3.5 - In a small Scottish fishing town, the lone survivor of a tragic boating accident that claim 5 young lives, must deal with his guilt with tragic consequences.

Alfonso Cuaron's Solo Con Tu Pareja (Mexico, 1991) Nominated 4 Ariel Award, the film stars Daniel Gimenez Cacho as a playboy who mistakenly diagnose with AIDS, want to end his life but instead he found love in unexpected way.

Zero Focus

Yoshitaro Nomura's Zero Focus (Japan, 1961) - RATING: 3 - Teiko, a young newlywed, bids farewell to her new husband, Kenichi, in a Tokyo station, as he leaves to conclude business in Kanazawa, promising to return on December 12. But the 12th comes and goes with no word from Kenichi. Teiko’s only clue to her husband’s whereabouts is a couple of strange postcards she finds among his belongings. When Kenichi’s employers invite her to Kanazawa to help them locate him, Teiko finds herself embroiled in a complicated mystery.

2013 Top Bollywood Films

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Race 2, Aashiqui 2, Special 26, Shootout at Wadala

1. YJHD topping this list is no surprise with the extensive marketing and pre release promotions undertaken by the production house. Though the much talked about lead couple, Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone already added horse power to the buzz around the film, the publicity and promotions have gotten the film smashing records on its very first weekend. Madhuri Dixit's much talked about dance number and the top charting music of the film did the rest.
2.  Race 2 - Critics may have slammed this film, but the BO collections proved it to be a super hit. Who more than the star studded cast and the much hyped promotions can be credited for the same!
3. Aashiqui 2 -  Aashiqui was a blockbuster back in the 90's. Could it's sequel repeat the magic that too with newcomer leads in Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor, when the Bhatt camp was not getting their cards right? It certainly did and made the two the new heartthrobs in town. The music and promotions worked wonders, made the film a BO success.
4. Special 26 - A well conceptualized and executed film with smart and intense promotions. You could not miss the mention of Special 26 around you. Add to it a real incident based story, Akshay Kumar's debut as a singer and the next film by the Wednesday director, Neeraj Pandey. Special 26 got their plan right on the target.
5. Shootout at Wadala -  Three item numbers, the firsts of Priyanka Chopra and sunny Leone, and another sizzling one by the super hot Sophie Choudry. The much spiced up dialogues and action. And a love making scene to spice up this gangster saga with extensive promotions. There was nothing that could stop SAW from stealing the BO show.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Ayan Mukherjee's Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (India, 2013) - RATING: 4 - Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is the story of the relationship between two characters, Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor) & Naina (Deepika Padukone), at two separate but defining times in their lives... first, when they are just out of college and standing on the crossroads of multiple decisions that will shape who and what they become... and then later on, in their late-twenties when they meet again, holding on to certain fulfilled and certain unfulfilled dreams, at a crossroads of another nature this time... how these two characters affect, change, befriend and eventually fall in love with each other is the journey the film aspires to take us on...

After Earth

M, Night Shyamalan's After Earth (US, 2013) - RATING: 2 - An intriguing but decidedly underwhelming mixture of genres, tones and sensibilities, After Earth has the benefit of being one of this summer’s crop of aspiring blockbusters that isn’t a sequel, prequel, reboot or based on existing material. But that supposed originality doesn’t mean much when the execution is this scattershot, as director M. Night Shyamalan and stars Jaden Smith and Will Smith deliver a trite sci-fi adventure that’s probably too intense for younger viewers and not sophisticated enough for adults. (SCREEN)