Summer Sequels:Kung Fu Panda 2

A few films can claim the titles like "The return of awesomeness" and manage to get away with it. Such a kind of movie is kung fu panda 2 , the kaboom of doom.A movie which uses the same ingredients in same amount with same execution and still not sounding repetitive, now that's pure genius . Jack Black voices the character of our beloved panda "Po" and the furious five return with a light cameo by master shifu .New villains, new scenarios and new jokes add spice to the movie which captures your attention in glorified 3D.

Here's a short synopsis to get your fist hungry -
Po is now living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five. But Po's new life of awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. He must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins; only then will Po be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed .

The success of Kung Fu Panda 2 lies solely in its lovable character PO who mesmerizes us with his humility,humor and kick ass awesomeness.An imperfect hero thrown into a perfect world is just the right combination to keep you alive. Sometimes it reminds me of the quirky success Jackie Chan had entertaining us through action intertwined in Humor. Most scenes are memorable and share no resemblance with its predecessor , as the latter movie dealt with the relationship between Po and master shifu, while the sequel deals with Po's self discovery.Even the the Villain played by a fancy peacock and is minions are quite funny.In short its one heck of a ride into the world of awesomeness. This is one series i would like to see continue like the shrek and ice age series.Long live the Dragon warrior.

Details-
Directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Produced by Melissa Cobb
Guillermo del Toro (Executive)
Written by Jonathan Aibel
Glenn Berger
Starring Jack Black
Angelina Jolie
Gary Oldman
Dustin Hoffman
Jackie Chan
Seth Rogen
Lucy Liu
David Cross
James Hong
Michelle Yeoh
Danny McBride
Dennis Haysbert
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Victor Garber
Fred Tatasciore
Music by Hans Zimmer
John Powell
Editing by Clare Knight
Studio DreamWorks Animation
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date(s) May 2011 (2011-05)
Running time 91 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $150 million
Gross revenue $572,723,91

Theater seen from- Escape cinemas, Chennai
Audience recommended to-All Kung fu panda lover, children of all ages , adults looking for a good weekend
3D rating - 4/5 awesome

Final word-
I am going for 3.5/5 for Paramount Pictures "Kung Fu Panda ", awesomeness has truly returned .

Summer Sequels:X-men: FIrst Class

Professor Xavier: "killing will not bring you peace"
Magneto : "peace was never the option"
These two strong line forms the very foundation of the 5th installment in the x men series after wolverine origin.Been a geeky comic book fan of both X men and Magneto , the ever eager film buff(me) hits the theater to catch first class(thankfully not in 3D). My hopes were not on their highest neither was my adrenaline levels cause of the promos and lackluster cast been employed(an X men movie without wolverine ,,,,comeon....),so as i embarked on my journey into the sequel that is actually the prequel to all the other X men movies .

Here's a short synopsis to bring out that mutation in you-
Before mutants had revealed themselves to the world, and before Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Not archenemies, they were instead at first the closest of friends, working together with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to prevent nuclear Armageddon. In the process, a grave rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto's Brotherhood and Professor X's X-Men.

The main character of the movie is Erik Lensherr played by Michael Fassbender who for those of you don't know have appeared in movies like 300 and inglorious bastards, is the driving force behind first class. His characters dark past, his steely glare and his unending quest for vengeance just keeps you on the edge of your seat all the time, making you admire the steely resolve that will soon become magneto.

Charles Xavier on the other hand James McAvoy (whose acted in last king of Scotland) plays a cool, calm headed and compassionate Professor X ,who balances all the equations put out by magneto.The very fact there is a super villain in the form of Sebastian Shaw (kevin bacon) who can take on both Xavier and magneto together itself plays out superbly for the movie. The best scene is the one where our good old Mr claws (you know who i am talking about ) shows up just adds to the classiness of X men first class .The plot of the cold war and how mutants get entangled in it gets presented so perfectly that you don't find it cheesy even in the most world domination style schemes at all.

Details-
Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Produced by Gregory Goodman
Simon Kinberg
Lauren Shuler Donner
Bryan Singer
Screenplay by Ashley Edward Miller
Zack Stentz
Jane Goldman
Matthew Vaughn[1]
Story by Sheldon Turner
Bryan Singer
Starring James McAvoy
Michael Fassbender
Rose Byrne
January Jones
Jennifer Lawrence
Oliver Platt
Kevin Bacon
Music by Henry Jackman
Cinematography John Mathieson
Editing by Eddie Hamilton
Lee Smith
Studio Marvel Entertainment
Dune Entertainment
Bad Hat Harry Productions
Donners' Company
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s) June 1, 2011 (2011-06-01) (United Kingdom)
June 3, 2011 (2011-06-03) (United States)
Running time 132 minutes
Country United States
United Kingdom
Language English
Budget $140–160 million
Gross revenue $336,815,632

Theater seen from- Calicut Crown
Audience recommended to- Every little kid,big adult, old senior you can find cause everyone's gonna enjoy this one.

Final word-
I am going for 4/5 for 20th century fox "X men first class" which indeed is first class

Summer Sequels:Pirates of the Caribbean- On Stranger Tides

"Your Forgetting one very important thing mate,am captain Jack sparrow" and also the fact that no matter how many movies the pirates franchise churns out, we all will flock out in hordes to catch captain jack in action again, wont we.So when Jerry Bruckheimer brought out pirates 4 , an over excited film buff (me) went for the first show of pirates , to catch our favorite pirate in the awesomeness of 3D.But as they say "with great power(fan following) comes great responsibility(putting on a good show).So did jack bring back the magic without the help of orlando bloom and keira knightly (both whom i detest in the other movies) . Well lets see-

Here's a small synopsis to make you walk the plank-
When Captain Jack Sparrow crosses paths with the enigmatic Angelica, he's not sure if it's love -- or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the "Queen Anne's Revenge," the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard, Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know whom to fear more: Blackbeard or Angelica, with whom he shares a mysterious past.

Stranger tides starts of with a new adventures of Jack sparrow on his own without the annoying pair of will turner and Ms swan,the aim of every pirates movie been a focus on adventure and laughter which track the escapades of Jack . All the ingredients seem to be right in this movie (zombies,mermaids,black beard,barbossa and the Spanish) and yet it seems to lack that magic.The main factor should also be attributed to the use of 3D in this movie, which finds itself as more of a liability making the whole movie look dull and hazy without adding to the special effects.Its a movie where you go expecting a lot out of it but ends up been a no show .But as they always this will be remembered as the time when jack sparrow almost flopped , i say again almost , cause Johnny depp just manages to single handly rescue the movie and the franchise(rumor mill: pirates 5 to come) .

Details-
Directed by Rob Marshall
Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer
Screenplay by Terry Rossio
Ted Elliott
Based on On Stranger Tides by
Tim Powers
Starring Johnny Depp
Penélope Cruz
Ian McShane
Geoffrey Rush
Music by Hans Zimmer
Cinematography Dariusz Wolski
Editing by Michael Kahn
Studio Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures
Release date(s) May 18, 2011 (2011-05-18) (United Kingdom)
May 20, 2011 (2011-05-20) (United States/Canada)
Running time 137 minutes
Country United States
United Kingdom
Language English
Budget $150[4]–250 million
Gross revenue $1,012,136,968

Theater Seen from- Crown,Calicut city
3D effects- Below average

Final word-
I am going out of 2.5/5 for Walt Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean- On Stranger Tides" purely out of my love for Captain Jack Sparrow .

Summer Sequels:Fast Five

Well its that time of the year again between spring and summer, when the flowers bloom, the rainbows form and the movies come out in drizzles of golden showers.Its the time for sequels in Hollywood and no ones more merrier than the movie buff.Riding on the wave of sequels of fast and the furious,cars,pirates of the Caribbean,hangover,kungfu panda,X men(actually a prequel) and the transformer saga.Its just one of those film festivals enough to drive the movie manic into madness again.'So we start off with the high octane sequel to Fast and the furious "Fast Five".

There's a thing about fast cars and lots of biker babes that seems to attract the boyish urge that still resides in us , that feeling of one would describe as the need for speed .....That is the one driving factor for the fast and furious franchise. The franchise brings back Vin diesel and Paul walker to that winning throttle .

Here's a short synopsis to Drive you crazy....
Since Brian O'Conner and Mia Toretto broke Dom Toretto out of custody, they've blown across many borders to elude authorities. Now backed into a corner in Rio de Janeiro, they must pull one last job in order to gain their freedom. As they assemble their elite team of top racers, the unlikely allies know their only shot of getting out for good means confronting the corrupt businessman who wants them dead. But he's not the only one on their tail. Hard-nosed federal agent Luke Hobbs never misses his target. When he is assigned to track down Dom and Brian, he and his strike team launch an all-out assault to capture them. But as his men tear through Brazil, Hobbs learns he can't separate the good guys from the bad. Now, he must rely on his instincts to corner his prey... before someone else runs them down first.

The franchise takes you to Rio and involves more plot while still maintains the high octane action expected out of it.The stunt sequences are amazing and the fact that they didn't waste time trying to make it 3D just puts more raw action in your face.As usual there's little to the characters and more to the cars.The females provide you with enough eye candy and the director manages to squeeze in that all necessary scene of a bikini shot.The "Rock" Dwayne Johnson fills the shoes of the good yet bugging protagonist out to catch Walker and diesel .Their chemistry appealing to the macho man crowd and action sequences filling the thirst of the adolescent adult .

Details-
Directed by Justin Lin
Produced by Neal H. Moritz
Vin Diesel
Michael Fottrell
Written by Chris Morgan
Starring Vin Diesel
Paul Walker
Jordana Brewster
Dwayne Johnson
Music by Brian Tyler
Cinematography Stephen F. Windon
Editing by Kelly Matsumoto
Fred Raskin
Christian Wagner
Studio Original Film
One Race Films
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date(s) April 20, 2011 (Australia)
April 29, 2011 (United States)
Running time 130 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $125 million
Gross revenue $596,925,140

Theater seen from-Crown theater , Calicut
Crowd recommended to - The ultimate macho man , racer movie of the summer

Final word-
I am going for 3 out of 5 for Universal pictures "Fast five" ,a sequel which manages to carry the same good old wine in a new bottle.

I am number 4

Science Fiction movies are genre which time and time have upheld their standards in most times, so when you place your money and time on them your most likely to be on the safer side when inside the cinema hall.But in rarest of circumstances you end up glancing at the door with the exit sign. It was in such a predicament that i found myself in "I am number four". This movie is another addition to the fact that most movies are nowhere close to been good as the books they are based on.

Here's a short synopsis four(error intended ;) you-
An extraordinary young man, John Smith, is a fugitive on the run from ruthless enemies sent to destroy him. Changing his identity, moving from town to town with his guardian Henri, John is always the new kid with no ties to his past. In the small Ohio town he now calls home, John encounters unexpected, life-changing events -- his first love, powerful new abilities and a connection to the others who share his incredible destiny.

The plot which promises to be as good as any X men movie or one which promises a sequel as we expect these Super Humans each numbered kinda excites you as it suggest a series ahead. But once inside the movie hall all you do is wait for someone to just arrive and finish off the main character in the movie as the Film lacks any kinda of drive, action or pull to keep you engaged throughout.The important thing when your trying to build a franchise movie is that you build a bond between the audience and the central character which the X men series did successfully with Hugh Jackman as Wolverine . John Smith rarely impresses and the female lead which i guess was intended to bring about a twilight kinda of scenario is rarely worth it and the villains are preposterous . So don't bother ,even if your an ardent Sci-Fi Fan.

Details-
Directed by D. J. Caruso
Produced by Michael Bay
Steven Spielberg
Chris Bender
J. C. Spink
David Valdes
Screenplay by Alfred Gough
Miles Millar
Marti Noxon
Based on I Am Number Four by
Pittacus Lore (Jobie Hughes & James Frey)
Starring Alex Pettyfer
Timothy Olyphant
Dianna Agron
Kevin Durand
Teresa Palmer
Callan McAuliffe
Jake Abel
Music by Trevor Rabin
Cinematography Guillermo Navarro
Editing by Vince Filippone
Jim Page
Studio Reliance BIG Entertainment
Bay Films
DreamWorks
Distributed by Touchstone Pictures
Release date(s) February 18, 2011
Running time 114 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $50 million
Gross revenue $123,868,000

Audience recommended to-Really Jobless bums... and the occasional trapped Movie Buff
Theater seen from - Escape Cinemas, Chennai

Final word-
I am going for 1/5 for Dreamworks "I am number 4" . My advice , run away from that ticket counter while you can.

Red Riding Hood

Fairy tales, there's a funny twist to them isn't there . They are our favorites when we are growing up but once we reach a respectable age we show utter aversion to them in whatever form they might be. Thats one of the reasons why i was reluctant to watch Alice in wonderland even with Johnny Depp in it. But if you manage to bring a twist and a turn to an otherwise subtle and fairy plot of a fairy tale you might end up striking gold like The movie Tangled saw showed us earlier . So thats what exactly Catherine Hardwicke director of The Twilight movie did in new age adaptation of Red Riding Hood.

Here's a short synopsis to send you Riding into the movie-
For decades, the people of the village of Daggerhorn have maintained an uneasy truce with the werewolf, who prowls at every full moon, by offering the beast a monthly animal sacrifice to quench its appetite. But under a blood red moon, the wolf changes the stakes by taking the life of one of their own.

The victim is the older sister of Valerie, a beautiful, young woman, who has just found out that her parents have arranged for her to marry Henry, the scion of the town's wealthiest family. But Valerie wants only Peter, the poor woodcutter she has loved all her life. Unwilling to be parted, the couple was planning to run away together, but, in a horrifying instant, the wolf changes everything.

As the townspeople hunger for revenge, famed werewolf hunter Father Solomon is summoned to Daggerhorn to kill the beast once and for all. But Solomon's arrival brings only more turmoil as he warns everyone that the werewolf takes human form by day and could be any one of them. No one is above suspicion. Panic grips the town as the death toll rises with each red moon, tearing apart the once close-knit village. But it is Valerie who discovers she has a unique connection to the wolf that inexorably draws them together, making her both suspect... and bait.

The movie probably appealed to me more than it should be cause i went in with my very low expectations and also maybe that i have a weakness for werewolf movies. At first i didnt even think there would be an actual werewolf but more of a serial killer. But (spoiler alert) there is an actual werewolf and a very mean one too, so this one's good for your money. With a deep background score and an exciting quest of trying to guess which of the villagers might be the actual werewolf keep you engaged throughout the movie . I personally loved the way the movie ended, the way every fairy tale should in happily ever after but in a very weird and dark sense of way.

Details-
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke
Produced by Leonardo DiCaprio
Jennifer Davisson Killoran
Julie Yorn
Written by David Leslie Johnson
Starring Amanda Seyfried
Gary Oldman
Billy Burke
Shiloh Fernandez
Max Irons
Virginia Madsen
Lukas Haas
Julie Christie
Music by Brian Reitzell
Alex Heffes
Cinematography Mandy Walker
Studio Appian Way Productions
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release date(s) March 11, 2011
Running time 100 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $42 million
Gross revenue $32,043,889

Theater seen from- Escape Cinemas, Chennai
Audience Recommended to- Couples mainly and also twilight fans and the occasional bored movie buff

Final word-
I am going for 2.5/5 for Warner Bros. Red Riding Hood cause it manages to take the fairy-ness out of the fairy tale and still ends up been worthwhile .

Hall Pass

The ever perennial question of why comedy and sex go together so well .Well one of the reasons maybe that sex is so well hidden in our society , its nice to see certain people use it as a means of breaking the ice on the issue or the fact that sexual jokes have a sense of thrill and mischief when you crack them. Whatever be the reason , they are quite good fodder to keep the cinema halls as the series of american pie movies have demonstrated till now. But after sometime , such movies just became a sleaze fest losing their bearings from epic movies such as Euro Trip which epitomized the sleaze comedy Genre . Most sequels ended up been a far-cry from their originals.So now that brings us to Hall pass , another sure to thrill you sleaze comic movie starring owen wilson.

Here's a short synopsis to pass your time-
Rick(wilson) and Fred are best friends who have a lot in common, including the fact that they have each been married for many years. But when the two men begin to show signs of restlessness at home, their wives take a bold approach to revitalizing their marriages: granting them a "hall pass," one week of freedom to do whatever they want... no questions asked. At first, it sounds like a dream come true for Rick and Fred. But it isn't long before they discover that their expectations of the single life--and themselves--are completely, and hilariously, out of sync with reality.

Here's why i think hall pass has got what it takes to be a winner-
1. Its the exact oppsite of a chick flic , its a dude comedy, a one to enjoy with the Bubs
2. It combines the humour of movies like hangover into an american pie style storyline
3. Maintains the perfect sleaze ratio, eye candy with the right amount of storyline and morals
4. Pure entertainer and relaxing time pass at the best like Grown Ups

so now you know what my 4 reasons were to put hall pass on my checklist . I wouldnt recommend watching it with your parents or you nieces/nephews but other than that a great movie to catch alone, with your buds or your Girlfriend/soul-mate.

Details-
Directed by Bobby & Peter Farrelly
Produced by Charles B. Wessler
Bradley Thomas
Benjamin Waisbren
Written by Bobby & Peter Farrelly
Pete Jones
Kevin Barnett
Starring Owen Wilson
Jason Sudeikis
Stephen Merchant
Jenna Fischer
Christina Applegate
Studio Virtual Studios
Distributed by New Line Cinema
Warner Bros.
Release date(s) February 25, 2011
Country United States
Language English
Budget $36 million
Gross revenue US $47,777,779

Theater seen from- Escape Cinemas, Chennai
Audience recommended to- The Dudes, The Gangs and the one with the ladies.

Final word-
I am going for 3/5 for this sleaze fest comedy which manages to reignite the once lost Genre.