Captain America: The Winter Soldier 3D - Movie Review

The events in CAP 2 takes place 2 years after the 'New York Incident' (Avengers Climax). Steve Rogers (aka Captain America) is still getting adapted & used to the modern world 'mediocrities'. One day Director of S.H.I.E.L.D [
Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division] introduces Cap to a highly secretive 'Project Insight' which consists of 3 Helicarrires that works as Drones, analyses data communications and predicts future crimes and take preemptive actions against possible threats. On understanding the possible ramifications the project can have, Fury decides to shut it down. His convoy gets ambushed and Fury gets killed by a new enemy 'Winter Soldier' who had a past with CAP. Rogers gets branded a 'fugitive' for withholding info about Fury. CAP is on a run to save his country & his life from the unholy elements that has infiltrated the agency and to get to the bottom of the 'Winter Soldier' mystery, with the help of 'Black Widow' & 'Falcon'

After IronMan, CAP is my favorite super hero character among the films that came so far in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Like the previous film this too is more closer to reality and is not CGI heavy like the other installments in MCU. There are more hand to hand fights, chase, in ground action unlike super hero movies. Its more real at the same time has the elements that one would expect from such a movie.

CAP stories have always been related to real events, in the past or the futute, which is the most important aspect of this franchise IMO. While in the prequel it had WW 2 backdrop, here it deals with the current political scenario. Can see NSA, Spying, drones, Snowden like issues being addressed here. Even though 'Winter Soldier' is in the title, the character fails to get that much importance in the films.



Russo brothers have done a great job directing the movie, balancing between super hero prerequisites and keeping the character close to reality. Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, who also wrote Thor 2 & CAP 1, have added all the elements that we except from a Marvel movie - tongue in cheek humor, action, racy-entertaining narration etc. Cinematography is very good, even though as always the post converted 3D is tacky. Background score was decent.

Chris Evans has done a great job as Steve Rogers and Captain America. Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L Jackson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie etc have also done their part well. Robert Redford impresses as the main antagonist.

In all CAP 2 will be a good summer treat for Marvel fans and a nice time pass action flick for others. Those who have reached super hero movie saturation better stay away, as its nothing unique or different like Dark Knight.

As always there are 2 end credits scenes, and one introduces 2 new characters who will play an important role in Avengers 2: Age of Ultron.

Rating: 3.25/5

Verdict: Good

Need For Speed 3D - Kerala Release Paper ad with theater list

Need For Speed 3D - Kerala Release Paper ad with theater list

Thor 2: The Dark World - Movie Review

'Thor 2' takes place roughly a year after the incident in New York aka 'The Avengers' climax. Thor and his friends are busy settling the issues in their own world. 'Aether' a red colored substance of immense power, like the 'tesseract' which Thor's grandfather kept hiding some where in the dark in the past, some how ends up inside of Dr.Jane Foster. This awakens the dark evil forces, who were in 'suspended animation' after losing the battle with Odin's father years back. The dark forces lead by 'Malekith' are in search of 'Aether' which could help them bring back darkness, as  the nine realms are getting ready for convergence. And once again its 'Earth' which is athe center of it all.... Will God of Thunder and co able to save the day once again forms the rest of the story.

Story wise it just another super hero movie, and infact has many plot similarities with films like Man of Steel, Into Darkness, Transformers 3 etc. It doesn't push boundaries or give you something unique. But as a part of a large cinematic universe it definitely provide good leads to the future installments of Phase 2 and 3 of Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

The most interesting scenes in fact comes at the very end, the very last scene &  mid-credits scene [teaser for 'Guardians of Galaxy' & 'avengers 3']

The scripting is racy and intelligent. Writing is efficient with plenty of humor, tongue cheek one liners etc. Jane Foster, who didn't had much role to play in the prequel in fact is at the center of all happenings this time around. Loki fans also will be in for sure treat as its him that walk away with most of the clap worthy scenes. Loki teaming up with Thor, with his mood changing from bad/mean, the usual self, to a son seeking revenge to a prankster has been efficiently portrayed onscreen by Tom Hiddleston [Loki might be the only villain with more fans than the hero, that too ladies fans]. Kat Dennings also gets an extended role this time, mainly for comic relief. 

The VFX is once again top notch. The direction is crisp and fast paced. Visuals are outstanding. Giving good company is the background score. The movie doesn't lag or drag, thanks to a wonderful job by the editor. 

Saw the 2D version, which is enough for this movie I think, unless you don't mind paying extra money. 

So all in all a good prelude for Avengers 2/3, Guardians of the Galaxy. A satisfying movie for the fans of the 'Marvel Cinematic Universe' and a treat for fans of Thor/Loki.

 Rating: 3.25/5

Box Office: Already a Blockbuster !!

PS: Don't miss out the surprise cameo by the first avenger

Kochadaiiyaan - Exclusive First Look Teaser Trailer, Posters & Stills

Posters 

Teaser Trailer

 

 

 

The Wolverine - Kerala Release Paper AD with Theater List

 The Wolverine - Kerala Release Paper AD with Theater List

Hollywood Box Office 2013 - Half Year Report - Top 10 Films

Hollywood Box Office 2013 - Half Year Report -  Top 10 Films

No.	Name	Domestic Gross	International Gross	Worldwide Gross	Budget
1	Iron Man 3	$405.5 Million *	$804.6 Million *	$1.2 Billion *	$200 Million
2	Man of Steel	$248.7 Million *	$271 Million *	$520 Million *	$225 Million
3	Oz The Great and Powerful	$234 .8 Million *	$257 Million *	$492 Million *	$215 million
4	Fast & Furious 6	$233 .3 Million *	$449 Million *	$642 Million *	$160 million
5	Star Trek Into Darkness	$220.76 Million *	$218 Million *	$438 Million *	$215 million
6	The Croods	$184.5 Million *	$393 Million *	$578 Million *	$135 million
7	Monsters University	$175.5 Million *	$129 Million *	$305 Million *	$215 million+
8	The Great Gatsby	$142.5 Million *	$179 Million *	$321 Million *	$105 million
9	Identity Thief	$135 Million	$39 Million	$174 Million	$35 million
10	World War Z	$124 Million *	$135 Million *	$259 Million *	$190 million

* Still running in theaters
- Data as on June 30 2013



As far as Indian Box Office is concerned, Iron Man 3 took the 2nd best opening ever & is the biggest hit this year so far. Fast & Furious which took the 3rd biggest opening ever is the 2nd biggest hit. Man of Steel, world War z has an above average run. The Croods was the biggest animation hit of the year so far. Epic took one of the biggest opening for an animation movie in India. The much awaited Hang Over proved to be a dud. Last year's Life of Pi continued its tremendous run in 2013 too, completed 200 days in many centers where even local movies didn't had such a long run for quite a while.

Magadheera, Eega Director SS Rajamouli goes Digital for his next 'Baahubali'

Format wars, Film vs Digital, even though not even a topic of discussion here in India, its a hot topic back in Hollywood. Many claims the death of 'film' is Imminent. Even documentaries has been made on the topic with views of world's top directors. Christopher Nolan is one the prominent supporter of film format [He hates 3D too, prefers Imax instead]. According to him

“For the last 10 years, I’ve felt increasing pressure to stop shooting film and start shooting video, but I’ve never understood why. It’s cheaper to work on film, it’s far better looking, it’s the technology that’s been known and understood for a hundred years, and it’s extremely reliable. I think, truthfully, it boils down to the economic interest of manufacturers and [a production] industry that makes more money through change rather than through maintaining the status quo. We save a lot of money shooting on film and projecting film and not doing digital intermediates. In fact, I’ve never done a digital intermediate. Photochemically, you can time film with a good timer in three or four passes, which takes about 12 to 14 hours as opposed to seven or eight weeks in a DI suite. That’s the way everyone was doing it 10 years ago, and I’ve just carried on making films in the way that works best and waiting until there’s a good reason to change. But I haven’t seen that reason yet.”

 The director with 100%, not just hit but blokbuster, record SS Rajamouli, regarded as Indian Nolan was also a supporter of Film format till recently. All his films were shot entirely [except bits & pieces] in the 'pure' format even though most others migrated to digital. Now for his latest project 'Baahubali' he has opted Digital for filming, making his entry into the format of the future. SSR clarified few things via twitter

Lots of rumours regarding #Baahubali being shot on IMAX cameras. No. We are not!!! We are using arri alexa XT. using digital cameras for the first time. Though shot in Tamil and telugu #baahubali will release in Hindi and Malayalam too. Also in other foreign languages. The first schedule will be shot for a week, in different outdoor locations in and around Hyderabad.. Imax is very expensive.There are only 6 IMAX cameras that are manufactured and heavy competition for their booking..I shot very few shots with digital cameras in eega. But yes, #Baahubali will be my first fully digitally shot film. Nothing to do with Vfx. The latest digital cameras are better than conventional film cameras in many aspects. Am not a fan of 3D technology. It is cumbersome & restrictive to shoot with the rig. Very few theatres. All these factors deter me from 3D

Shooting of 'Baahubali'' has already commenced, the reported budget of the film is 100crores. The film will star Prabhas, Anushka Shetty, Sathyaraj, Rana Dagubbati etc.Eventhough the plot has been kept under tight wraps Reportedly Baahubali is a war movie in the likes of '300' in which Prabhas will be playing the role of Rajput King Prithviraj Chauhan, Anushka playing his love interes Sanyogita . The film is set in the time period 1000 AD. The film will be releasing sometime late next year.