Star Cast: Blake Lively, Anna Kendrick

Director: Paul Feig

Another Simple Favor Movie Review Synopsis:
ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR is the story of a famous author and influencer who gets into trouble yet again. A few years after the events of the first part, Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) is now an author and also dabbles in solving criminal cases. She has even written a book about her experience of getting involved in the disappearance and fake death of Emily Nelson (Blake Lively). Sadly, her book is not doing well, as intended. At a book-reading session, Emily arrives. She was in prison and was released all of a sudden. She also informs Stephanie that she’s getting married to Dante Versano (Michele Morrone), an Italian bigwig. Dante asks for another favour – she asks Emily to be her maid of honour at her wedding in Capri. Stephanie is in two minds. This is when Emily threatens to sue her for writing about her in her novel without her consent. Hence, Stephanie reluctantly agrees to join her. At the wedding venue, Stephanie learns that Sean (Henry Golding), Emily’s ex-husband, is also invited along with Emily’s mother Margaret McLinden (Elizabeth Perkins) and her aunt Linda McLinden (Allison Janney). Dante’s mother Portia (Elena Sofia Ricci) hates Emily. The situation is volatile and on top of it, a murder takes place on the island. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Another Simple Favor Movie Story Review:
Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis’s story is full of twists and turns. Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis’s screenplay is fast-paced and unpredictable. However, it gives the feeling of been-there-done-that. The dialogues, like the first part, are hilarious and savage.

Paul Feig’s direction is effective. He tries his best to make sure that the USPs of the first part are repeated in the sequel. Hence, the electrifying chemistry between the two female leads and the sassy exchange of words between them are present in abundance. The tension that arises at the wedding also keeps the interest going. There’s a major twist in the second half which will be unexpected.

However, the way the suspense unfolds could have been better. Moreover, the second half is when the film turns into the story of the character being wrongly framed for murder in a foreign country. This whole plot point and the way it happens are cliched and this takes away the charm of the film to a great extent. The first part worked big time as nothing was commonplace; that same factor, sadly, is not present here.

Another Simple Favor Movie Review Performances:
Anna Kendrick yet again delivers an entertaining performance. This time, her character has evolved as life happened to her. Yet, she’s still naive and this balance has been nicely achieved by Anna in her act. Blake Lively, as expected, is fiery yet again. She keeps her act mysterious and she does full justice to her part. Henry Golding dominates the show, despite limited screen time. Elizabeth Perkins, Allison Janney and Elena Sofia Ricci lend able support. Michele Morrone doesn’t get much scope. Alex Newell (Vicky) leaves a mark. Ian Ho (Nicky) is okay. It’s shocking that the makers ignore him in the middle of the film, especially when he goes through a devastating life episode. Andrew Rannells (Darren), Bashir Salahuddin (Detective Summerville), Lorenzo de Moor (Matteo), Max Malatesta (Detective Antonio Lucchese) and Taylor Ortega (Agent Irene Walker) are fair.

Another Simple Favor movie music and other technical aspects:
Theodore Shapiro’s music is in sync with the film’s theme. Indian moviegoers will be surprised as the Italian song ‘L’Italiano’ is played; a popular Bollywood song was lifted from this Toto Cutugno composition. John Schwartzman’s cinematography is charming but the lensman makes sure not to focus too much on the beautiful locales. Renee Ehrlich Kalfus’s costumes are striking and will be talked about. Martin Whist’s production design is rich. Brent White’s editing is slick.

Another Simple Favor Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR benefits from an intriguing script and a series of unexpected twists. However, the cliched developments in the second half hold it back. Nevertheless, its whodunit appeal and strong casting are likely to drive promising viewership.

Star Cast: Florence Pugh, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Wyatt Russell, Lewis Pullman

Director: Jake Schreier

Thunderbolts Movie Review Synopsis:
THUNDERBOLTS is the story of a team of antiheroes. Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) works for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and does her dirty work. She is depressed over the tragic death of her sister and feels quite lonely. Valentina is the director of the CIA and was formerly the head of the OXE Group. She is accused of several human rights violations while working on human trials. Valentina refutes all the allegations. Knowing that she can be in trouble, she asks Yelena to go to a secret vault in a hilly region of the USA and destroy the OXE servers so that she can’t be convicted. Yelena reaches the vault and realizes that it’s a trap as she is confronted by John Walker (Wyatt Russell) and Ava (Hannah John-Kamen). They were also sent to the vault for the same reason. Soon, they learn that Valentina wants to finish them all as their existence can also put Valentina in trouble. While trying to find ways to escape, they are also bewildered as they meet Bob (Lewis Pullman). He’s no mercenary and is wearing hospital clothes. Moreover, he has no memory of how he landed in the vault. However, he seems to have some extraordinary abilities. All four escape, with the intention of disappearing so that all-powerful Valentina can’t trace them. As luck would have it, they are compelled to be a team thanks to Bucky (Sebastian Stan). The team expands as Yelena’s father Alexei aka Red Guardian (David Harbour) also gets enlisted. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Thunderbolts Movie Story Review:
Eric Pearson’s story is exhilarating and different from the recent films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo’s screenplay is captivating although the writing slips in some places. The dialogues add to the fun and madness.

Jake Schreier’s direction is impressive. He executes the film in Marvel style but also gives the narrative a nice touch. The characters are well fleshed out and he also makes a comment on mental health. While doing so, he maintains a balance and ensures that the film doesn’t get too depressing. Meanwhile, the humour is present in abundance. The intro scene is decent and the real fun begins once the antiheroes realize they are sent to the vault to get killed. The manner in which they escape will raise a lot of laughs. The chase sequence at the highway is also hilarious and it ends on a clapworthy note. Post-interval, the madness goes high by many notches. The pre-climax is nail biting. The final scene, however, will lead to hoots and claps as it sets the base for the future films of the MCU. In fact, the ending is very exciting and the craze that it’ll generate will remind one of the good old days of MCU. And that’s not all. The lengthy post-credit scene further contributes to the film’s plusses.

On the flipside, the climax is not a typical one. It works but at the same time, it gets a bit lengthy and even dragging. There might be moments where you’ll think where the film is heading. The sudden tonal shift also makes the experience slightly underwhelming.

Thunderbolts Movie Review Performances:
Florence Pugh plays the part of the lead actress with panache. The way she got her accent right is admirable. Her struggle with loneliness seems authentic; the scene where she breaks down in the second half is memorable. Julia Louis-Dreyfus delivers a fine performance without going over the top. Wyatt Russell is entertaining but Hannah John-Kamen doesn’t have much scope. Lewis Pullman has a crucial part and the way he gets into the skin of his character is seen to be believed. David Harbour is adorable while Sebastian Stan, as expected, is dependable. Wendell Pierce (Congressman Gary) and Geraldine Viswanathan (Mel) lend able support.

Thunderbolts movie music and other technical aspects:
Son Lux’s background score has the trademark Marvel stamp all over. Andrew Droz Palermo’s cinematography does justice to the scale of the film. The action is not disturbing, except for a couple of shots, while the VFX is top-notch, especially in the scenes of The Void. Sanja Milkovic Hays’s costumes are stylish yet realistic. Grace Yun’s production design is grand. Angela Catanzaro and Harry Yoon’s editing is satisfactory in most parts of the film. A few scenes could have been slicker.

Thunderbolts Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, THUNDERBOLTS successfully revives the former glory of the MCU, powered by strong performances, sharp humour, tense moments and a commendable focus on mental health. The film concludes on an exhilarating note, which will create a craze in cinemas, especially among die-hard Marvel fans. As a result, it has the potential to surprise at the box office.

Star Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat

Director: Kookie Gulati, Robbie Grewal

Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins Movie Review Synopsis:
JEWEL THIEF – THE HEIST BEGINS is the story of a perfect crime. Rehan Roy (Saif Ali Khan), an expert jewel thief, is in hiding in Budapest. He has purposely chosen the Hungarian capital as India can’t extradite him from there. Sadly, Rehan has to risk his life and return to India at the insistence of a dangerous goon-turned-businessman Rajan Aulakh (Jaideep Ahlawat). Rajan wants to steal the Red Sun, a diamond worth Rs. 500 crores. The Red Sun will be housed in a well-known museum, Fortcrest Art Centre, in Mumbai for a few days and Rehan is ordered to rob the diamond failing which there’ll be serious consequences. The museum is well equipped with the latest security. Breaking into the place and stealing the Red Sun will be next to impossible. Meanwhile, Vikram Patel (Kunal Kapoor) of STF is on Rehan’s trail. On top of it, Rehan is also in a spot for the sake of his family. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins Movie Story Review:
The story has too many cinematic liberties but has also its share of twists and turns (The opening credits shockingly don’t mention the name of the story writer). David Logan’s screenplay is engaging, especially in the second half. But the writer should have taken care of certain plot points. Sumit Arora’s dialogues are normal; a few one-liners raise laughs, especially the references to the original JEWEL THIEF [1967] and Saif’s royal lineage.

Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal’s direction is entertaining. They place this film in the zone of films like DHOOM, FAST & FURIOUS, etc. From the very start, they make it clear that this is one of those films where you have to place your brains aside. Once you do so, you’ll be in for a great ride. A few scenes are quite smart. The manner in which Rehan cons the officers, Gaurav Chaddha (Chirjyot Singh Kohli) and Shekhar (Vinay Sharma), sets the mood. The museum angle also keeps viewers invested. However, the makers reserve the best for the second half. The entire episode on the aircraft is novel and hence, would be loved by the audience.

On the flipside, the film gets a bit in the nonsense zone at times. A Prince of a country takes the risk of flying on a commercial flight because his private jet malfunctioned. It’s strange why his home country didn’t dispatch a spare private jet for him and the diamond’s safety. It is also laughable to see Vikram having zero idea about the change in plan, though he has been tracking the whole angle thoroughly. In fact, his character is the most predictable and cliched aspect of the plot. One knows that this cop will never win, no matter how hard he tries. That’s not all. The character is a man of his wishes; he can fly wherever he wants and he doesn’t seem to report to anybody. The aircraft sequence is interesting but adding the layer of the UK High Commission is a bit too much. It spoiled the otherwise engaging third act. Lastly, the antagonist gets defeated a bit too easily in the end.

Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins | Saif Ali Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat | Official Trailer | Netflix

Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins Movie Review Performances:
Saif Ali Khan looks dashing and his act gives a nice déjà vu of his memorable performance in films like RACE. Performance-wise, he’s first-rate. Jaideep Ahlawat is brilliant as the antagonist, as always. The character needed an actor of his calibre and he did full justice. Nikita Dutta (Farrah), as always, delivers a sincere performance. Thankfully, she has a crucial part to play in the narrative. Kunal Kapoor is decent but is heavily let down by the writing. Chirjyot Singh Kohli and Vinay Sharma raise laughs. Kulbhushan Kharbanda (Jayant Roy), Sumit Gulati (Chunky) and Gagan Arora (Avi) lend able support. Meenal Sahu (Nikki; hacker who helps Rehan) is fine but her character is not properly established. Dorendra Singh Loitongbam (Moosa), Peter Muxka Manuel (Prince Gamunu), Paayal Nair (Jennifer Lobo; museum director) and Ayaz Khan (Manish Ashar; pilot) are fair.

Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins movie music and other technical aspects:
None of the songs sadly have a shelf life, be it the title track, ‘Jaadu’, ‘Lootera’ or ‘Ilzaam’. Shezan Shaikh’s background score is exhilarating.

Jishnu Bhattacharjee’s cinematography is splendid and gives the film a big-screen appeal. Madhur Madhavan and Swapnil Bhalerao’s production design is very rich. The costumes are appealing, especially the ones worn by Saif Ali Khan and Nikita Dutta. Parvez Shaikh, Riyaz-Habib and Kecha Kamphakdee’s action is exciting and not too gory. Phantom Digital Effects and Prime Focus’ VFX is satisfactory. Aarif Sheikh’s editing drags in the middle but overall, it’s appropriate.

Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, JEWEL THIEF – THE HEIST BEGINS is a fun-filled heist film which works due to the performances and twists and turns, especially in the second half. Thanks to the genre and the casting, it’s sure to amass huge viewership.

Star Cast: Ella Rubin, Michael Cimino, Odessa A’zion, Ji-young Yoo, Belmont Cameli

Director: David F Sandberg

Until Dawn Movie Review Synopsis:
UNTIL DAWN is the story of a group of friends stuck in a time loop. Melanie (Maia Mitchell) disappears all of a sudden, leading her sister Clover (Ella Rubin) to become depressed and suicidal. A year later, she decides to trace her journey, hoping to find some answers. She is joined by her ex-boyfriend Max (Michael Cimino), friends Nina (Odessa A’zion) and Megan (Ji-young Yoo) and Nina’s boyfriend Abel (Belmont Cameli). They reach the town from where Melanie sent a video message, the last form of communication from her side. Enquiries from a local resident revealed that a lot of people have been reported to have disappeared from a place uphill called Glore Valley. Clover and her friends head to this place. They reach a beautifully designed abandoned house in the middle of nowhere called ‘Welcome Center’. The friends enter the house and suddenly, they get attacked by a vicious monster. All get killed. In no time, they find themselves being alive. Soon, it comes to light that they are stuck in an endless time loop. Each time, they are being killed in different ways by the faceless villains. However, they don’t have unlimited lives and at some point, they’ll have to succeed in defeating the villains. Or else, they’ll be stuck in the hell hole forever. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Until Dawn Movie Story Review:
UNTIL DAWN is based on a video game of the same name. Blair Butler and Gary Dauberman’s story is hatke. There have been films on time loop before but this one stands out. Blair Butler and Gary Dauberman’s screenplay is captivating but also has its share of minuses. The dialogues are conversational.

David F Sandberg’s direction is okay. He does justice to the eerie setting and character development. He also manages to induce fear. Several scenes have absolutely no background music or any kind of noise. It adds to the scare value. A few scenes are also funny and it helps break the tension.

On the flipside, though the concept is novel, the film doesn’t entice as intended. The protagonists, from the very start, are aware that the place is unsafe and mysterious – it is raining everywhere else around except the area where the house is located. Any sane person would have escaped. But these characters, instead, chose to explore the house! Moreover, there are scenes where they don’t seem to be that terrified of the situation they are in. Moreover, it is bewildering that none of the earlier victims ever succeeded in getting out of the loop. All of them seem to have ventured alone to the place. One of the victims is a child; how they all turn up at the place is not explained. Lastly, the villain track is also confusing and the way things happen at convenience in the end is difficult to digest. It seemed like the makers wanted to just finish the film soon.

Until Dawn Movie Review Performances:
Ella Rubin plays the lead role with panache. Michael Cimino is impressive. Ji-young Yoo gets to play a very fascinating character and she does well. Odessa A’zion and Belmont Cameli lend able support. Maia Mitchell is okay in a cameo. Peter Stormare (Alan Hill) leaves a mark.

Until Dawn movie music and other technical aspects:
Benjamin Wallfisch’s music is minimal and impactful. Maxime Alexandre’s cinematography is satisfactory. Jennifer Spence’s production design adds to the horror element. Julia Patkos’s costumes are glamorous yet realistic. Michel Aller’s editing is functional.

Until Dawn Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, UNTIL DAWN piques interest with its novel concept and promising setup. However, the potential is impacted due to inconsistent writing and underdeveloped execution.

Star Cast: Pratik Gandhi, Patralekhaa

Director: Ananth Narayan Mahadevan

Phule Movie Review Synopsis:
PHULE is the story of a legendary social revolutionary and his equally legendary wife. The year is 1848. Jyotiba Phule (Pratik Gandhi) is an English-educated scholar who lives in Poona with his wife Savitri Phule (Patralekhaa), father Govindrao Phule (Vinay Pathak) and brother Raja Ram Phule (Sushil Pandey). Jyotiba belongs to the lower caste and has been ill-treated by the members of the upper castes his whole life. But thanks to education and exposure to the happenings in the Western world, he realizes that this discrimination is unfair. He decides to work for the betterment of society and his first step is to educate girl child, an unheard-of concept in those days. The Brahmins are completely against this idea. Yet, a kind-hearted Brahmin, Vishnupant Thatte (Asit Redij) agrees with Jyotiba’s vision. Vishnupant allows his mansion to be utilized as a school for girls. They secretly even manage to enrol six girls. Soon, more and more girls secure admission. All is going well until one day, Vinayak Deshpande (Joy Sengupta) and other Brahmins of the area learn about the school. They vandalize the property and even bash Jyotiba. The Panchayat head (Amit Behal), also a Brahmin, orders Jyotiba to shut down the school or face the consequences. Jyotiba doesn’t want his family to feel the heat. Hence, he and Savitri leave the Phule residence and start living with Jyotiba’s childhood school friend Usman Sheikh (Jayesh More). Usman has educated his sister Fatima (Akshaya Gurav), just like how Jyotiba educated Savitri. Hence, Usman understands Jyotiba completely and supports him in his endaevour. Jyotiba once again decides to open a school and this time, he changes his strategy. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Phule Movie Story Review:
The story is incredible and inspiring. Ananth Narayan Mahadevan and Muazzam Beg’s screenplay is a mixed bag. A few scenes leave an impact but many scenes fail to give a sense of high. Muazzam Beg’s dialogues are hard-hitting, but only in some places.

Ananth Narayan Mahadevan’s direction could have been better. To give credit where it’s due, he brings to celluloid the story of a man whose contribution to our country has been immense. Hence, it’s particularly heartening to see how Jyotiba Phule brought change in society despite numerous challenges. A few scenes stand out like Jyotiba being dragged to court, Jyotiba leaving his house but making sure that his property share remains intact, Jyotiba opening a school by the banks of a river with the help of Lahuji Raghoji Salve (Dhanjay Madrekar), etc. Two scenes that also deserve special mention are when Jyotiba keeps walking while Vinayak and his friends try to avoid his shadow and Savitri admonishing the same group for not stopping the discrimination.

On the flipside, the film suffers majorly due to its lacklustre treatment. Except for the aforementioned scenes, the rest of the film doesn’t pack a punch. One doesn’t get totally invested in their journey because of the execution. As it happens with many biopics, PHULE also has an episodic approach; so, the director moves from one episode to another without letting the viewers process it. A few instances are not properly presented. Jyotiba Phule is also a municipal contractor but this aspect is merely talked about. We never get to see how he managed that work while also fighting social evils. The sequence of barbers giving up tonsuring widows is too quick to make any impact.

Phule | Official Trailer | Pratik Gandhi & Patralekha

Phule Movie Review Performances:
Pratik Gandhi is excellent and constantly rises above the weak script and direction. It’s praiseworthy to see the subtle changes in his body language once he gets older. Patralekhaa gets a bit overshadowed by Pratik’s towering performance. But there are scenes where she manages to hold on to her own and deliver an effective performance. Jayesh More and Akshaya Gurav are too good and get to play extremely interesting and adorable characters. Darsheel Safary (Yashwant) is horribly wasted. A character like this should have had more to do than just be a bystander. Vinay Pathak leaves a mark. Joy Sengupta is decent but after a point, his act gets repetitive. He’s simply staring angrily and getting rebuked by Jyotiba for almost the whole film. Alexx O’Nell (Ribbs Jones), Ellie (Ribbs Jones’ wife) and Sara (Cynthia Farar) lend able support. Dhanjay Madrekar, Sushil Pandey, Amit Behal, Asit Redij, Vishal Tiwari (Tatyasaheb Bhide) and Akanksha Gade (Kashibai) are decent.

Phule movie music and other technical aspects:
Rohan-Rohan’s music doesn’t have a shelf life. Both versions of ‘Saathi’ are forgettable. ‘Dhun Lagi’ is catchy to some extent. Rohan-Rohan’s background score is well-woven into the narrative.

Sunita Radia’s cinematography is appropriate. Aparna Shah’s costumes and Santosh Phutane’s production design are reminiscent of the bygone era. Rounak Phadnis’ editing could have been slicker.

Phule Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, PHULE tells the story of a legendary social revolutionary and rests on the towering performance of Pratik Gandhi. But the film greatly suffers on account of a weak script and lacklustre direction. At the box office, it’ll largely go unnoticed.

Star Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Sai Tamhankar, Zoya Hussain

Director: Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar

Ground Zero Movie Review Synopsis:
GROUND ZERO is the story of a brave soldier. The year is 2001. Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey (Emraan Hashmi) is a BSF Deputy Commandant stationed in Kashmir. The ‘pistol gang’ has become quite active in Srinagar. It involves misguided college-going students brainwashed into killing soldiers at point-blank range. For every jawan killed, they are paid Rs. 5000. While gathering information on them, the BSF learns that a bigger attack is being planned by the trainers of the ‘pistol gang’. Narendra is able to correctly guess that the attack is planned to target a high-profile minister. Accordingly, he takes the Chief Minister of Kashmir to a safe house. But he sadly gets the place of attack wrong. The attack was planned for Delhi and it takes place in the Parliament on December 13, 2001. The responsibility for the attack is taken by Jaish-E-Mohammed and a message, claiming responsibility, is sent to news channels by its master, Ghazi Baba. Ghazi Baba is a mysterious figure; neither the Army nor the Intelligence Bureau know of his whereabouts or what he even looks like. Narendra, nevertheless, keeps digging. As luck would have it, he comes across a poor brainwashed youth, Husain (Mir Mehrooz). He tries to kill Narendra but the latter stops him from doing so and helps him change his path. This young boy helps Narendra with crucial info. But the challenges remain, especially the lack of evidence about his theories. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Ground Zero Movie Story Review:
Sanchit Gupta and Priyadarshee Srivastava’s story is inspired by real-life accounts and has a lot of substance. Sanchit Gupta and Priyadarshee Srivastava’s screenplay is engaging but the writing stagnates in between. It also gives a feeling of been-there-done-that in some scenes. Sanchit Gupta and Priyadarshee Srivastava’s dialogues are fine but a few one-liners are memorable.

Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar’s direction is decent. He executes the film in a very no-nonsense manner. Hence, the focus is on the mission at hand and in catching the elusive Ghazi Baba. One roots for the protagonist even though he suffers minor defeats on the way. The film also raises an important point through the character of Husain – the solution to peace involves winning the hearts of the common man. The climax is also gripping; the film ends on a clapworthy note.

On the flipside, the film gives a déjà vu of films like URI: THE SURGICAL STRIKE [2019], BABY [2015], ARTICLE 370 [2024], etc. The climax, meanwhile, might remind heavily of ZERO DARK THIRTY [2012]. Also, the engagement level is not consistent. In some places, the interest level drops.

Ground Zero | Official Trailer | Emraan Hashmi | Saie Tamhankar | Zoya Hussain

Ground Zero Movie Review Performances:
Emraan Hashmi looks dashing and delivers a stupendous performance. He doesn’t indulge in unnecessary histrionics and keeps his performance believable. Mir Mehrooz has a crucial role and delivers an impactful performance. Sai Tamhankar (Jaya) is decent but does well in the pre-climax. Zoya Hussain (Aadila) is hardly there in the first half and is fair later on. Ekluvya (Chand Khan), Rockey Raina (Ghazi Baba) and Qazi Faiz (Hakeem) are great in cameos. Mukesh Tiwari (Sanjiv Sharma), Rahul Vohra (IB Chief), Deepak Parmesh (Binu Ramachandra), Lalit Prabhakar (Praveen) and Hanan (Ahmed; who brainwashes Husain) lend able support. Ram Avatar (PM Vajpayee) looks ditto like the former Prime Minister.

Ground Zero movie music and other technical aspects:

All the four songs of the film – ‘So Lene De’, ‘Lahoo’, ‘Fateh’ and ‘Pehli Dafa’ – are forgettable. John Stewart Eduri’s background score exhilarates impact.

Kamaljeet Negi’s cinematography is spectacular in the aerial and fight scenes. But some of the tight close-ups were unwarranted. Shashank Tere’s production design is satisfactory while Kirti and Maria’s costumes are authentic. Vikram Dahiya’s action is straight out of life and not too gory, except for one scene. Chandrashekhar Prajapati’s editing could have been sharper in some scenes.

Ground Zero Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, GROUND ZERO is a no-nonsense, action-packed thriller that benefits from Emraan Hashmi’s restrained yet impactful performance and a gripping final act. If supported by positive word of mouth, the film has the potential to enjoy a steady run at the box office.

Star Cast: Michael B Jordan Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton

Director: Ryan Coogler

Sinners Movie Review Synopsis:
SINNERS is the story of one wild night. On October 15, 1932, the twins Smoke (Michael B Jordan) and Stack (Michael B Jordan) arrive at their hometown – Clarksdale, Mississippi – after amassing a lot of money in Chicago. They buy an old abandoned mill and plan to turn it into a juke joint the same night. They go around the town to get people on board for their venture. Their cousin, Sammie (Miles Caton), son of a pastor, is employed as a blues singer. An old friend and expert piano and harmonica player Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo), is also recruited. A Chinese couple Bo Chow (Yao) and Grace (Li Jun Li) are asked to paint the board. Smoke’s ex-wife Annie (Wunmi Mosaku) comes on board to cook food and Cornbread (Omar Benson Miller) is hired as the doorkeeper. The twins promote the opening of the joint in the town. Hence, they get a decent turnout. All is going well and everyone is making merry. But suddenly, two mysterious men and one mysterious woman arrive and all hell breaks loose. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Sinners Movie Story Review:
Ryan Coogler’s story is imaginative and creative. Ryan Coogler’s screenplay is comprehensive and has many twists and turns. The dialogues are sharp. Thankfully, the subtitles are present which makes it easier to decipher the difficult dialect.

Ryan Coogler’s direction is supreme. The first and second halves of the film are very different from each other. The director uses the first half to establish the characters and setting and how they all turn up in the newly established club. At the same time, he also hints at how things are going to be messy and gory. The scene just before the interval point is gripping. In the second half, the film moves slowly but also keeps one captivated and even terrified.

On the flipside, a few aspects are confusing. The first half is a bit slow. The mid-credit scene is too long and though it’s novel, it doesn’t leave the desired impact. Lastly, the hype is limited for the film in India.

Sinners Movie Review Performances:
Michael B Jordan plays the role of the twins with panache. It’s also praiseworthy how he subtly makes sure that both characters are a bit different from each other. Miles Caton is very impressive and he has a crucial part in the narrative. Wunmi Mosaku, Delroy Lindo, Hailee Steinfeld (Mary) and Jayme Lawson (Pearline) leave a huge mark. Omar Benson Miller, Yao, Li Jn Li and Helena Hu (Lisa) lend able support. Jack O’Connell (Remmick), Peter Dreimanis (Bert) and Saul Williams (Jedidiah) are terrific as the villains. David Maldonado (Hogwood) also does very well.

Sinners movie music and other technical aspects:
Ludwig Göransson’s music is an intrinsic part of the production and is well woven into the narrative. The blues-style background score goes well with the film too. Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s cinematography is stunning. Hannah Beachler’s production design and Ruth E Carter’s costumes are very authentic. The VFX is classy while the action is very gory. Michael P Shawver’s editing could have been slicker.

Sinners Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, SINNERS leaves an impact thanks to its novel idea, supernatural touch and bravura performances.

Star Cast: Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan, Ananya Panday

Director: Karan Singh Tyagi

Kesari Chapter 2 Movie Review Synopsis:
KESARI CHAPTER 2 is the story of a man who shook the foundations of the British empire. On April 13, 1919, a group of protesters assemble peacefully at the Jallianwalla Bagh, Amritsar to protest against the Rowlatt Act. General Dyer (Simon Paisley Day) reaches the spot with his armed troops and instructs them to fire at the people without warning. It leads to the loss of hundreds of lives. The press is censored from talking about it. The official version given is that the protestors were armed and hence, General Dyer had to open fire. To calm down the criticism, the British government puts together an enquiry commission. Sir C Sankaran Nair (Akshay Kumar) is the only Indian in this commission. Though he’s an Indian, he believes in the British justice system. He’s such a devout servant of the Crown that the government has even made him a part of the Viceroy’s Council. He begins the inquiry and realizes that the British are trying to suppress facts. A chance meeting with a young revolutionary boy, Pargat Singh (Krish Rao), changes his viewpoint. He further has a change of heart when he talks to a law student, Dilreet Gill (Ananya Panday). Hence, he decides to go to Court and sue General Dyer for genocide. In an unexpected move, the Crown appoints Neville McKinley (R Madhavan) as the defence lawyer. Sankaran and Neville have a rough past and the latter is all set to hit back at the former through this case. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Kesari Chapter 2 Movie Story Review:
KESARI CHAPTER 2 is based on the book ‘The Case That Shook The Empire: One Man’s Fight For The Truth About The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre’ by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat. Karan Singh Tyagi and Amritpal Singh Bindra’s story is incredible. Many are aware of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre but not about the case. Karan Singh Tyagi and Amritpal Singh Bindra’s screenplay moves at a decent pace and is replete with riveting dramatic and confrontational moments. Sumit Saxena’s dialogues are arresting.

Karan Singh Tyagi’s direction is uncomplicated, though he uses a back-and-forth narrative in the beginning. At a basic level, it’s a hero vs villain story. The hero is fighting a gigantic antagonist who has the full support of an unjust system. Hence, one can’t help but get disgusted by the villain and root for C Sankaran Nair all along. A few scenes that stand out are Sankaran Nair being stopped for accessing the courtyard as ‘dogs and Indians are not allowed’, Shankaran’s visit to Pargat and Dilreet filing the case with Shankaran’s sudden appearance at the court. Post-interval, the Martha Stevens track is very memorable. The climax might seem predictable and yet, it packs a punch. The film ends on an exhilarating note.

Kesari Chapter 2 – Official Trailer | Akshay Kumar | R. Madhavan | Ananya Panday | Karan S Tyagi

On the flipside, it’s strange that C Sankaran Nair, until the massacre, fully believed the British justice system and he never had any doubts about them. The courtroom drama follows a set template and hence, one might anticipate where the film is moving. Moreover, it’s an urban film and doesn’t offer much to the masses. The ‘A’ rating is also unwarranted for. Ideally, a film like this should have been awarded a U/A rating for a wider reach.

Kesari Chapter 2 Movie Review Performances:
Akshay Kumar delivers a stupendous performance. His change of heart and also the way he mouths powerful lines in the court make for a great impact. Ananya Panday proves her worth, especially during the Martha Stevens track and when she meets C Sankaran Nair at the railway station. R Madhavan has a late entry but dominates some of the scenes in the second half. Regena Cassandrra (Parvathy Nair) is wasted. Simon Paisley Day plays his part with perfection and steals the show with his villainous act. Krish Rao has an important part and he leaves a huge mark. The same goes for Amit Sial (Tirath Singh). Steven Hartley (Judge McArdie), Sammy Jonas Heaney (Harold Laksi; jury member), Mark Bennington (Michael O’Dwyer), Alexx O’Nell (Lord Chelmsford), Rohan Verma (Jaan Nisar), Alexandra Moloney (Martha Stevens), Jaipreet Singh (Kirpal Singh) and Luke Kenny (Appeal court judge) also do very well.

Kesari Chapter 2 movie music and other technical aspects:
KESARI CHAPTER 2 hardly has any songs. ‘O Shera’ is memorable but a film like this deserved a hit soundtrack considering that KESARI’s [2019] songs are remembered even today. Shaswat Sachdev’s background score is very arresting.

Debojeet Ray’s cinematography is appropriate. Rita Ghosh’s production design and Sheetal Iqbal Sharma’s costumes are reminiscent of the bygone era. Futureworks’ VFX is top-class. Florian Hotz and Sunil Rodrigues’ action is disturbing but it’s the requirement of the script. Nitin Baid’s editing is slick.

Kesari Chapter 2 Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, KESARI CHAPTER 2 is a hard-hitting courtroom drama and works due to the performances and treatment and also because it tells an untold and shocking chapter of Indian history. At the box office, it will need a strong word of mouth to sustain and emerge as a profitable venture. The adults only rating might restrict its business to some extent.

Star Cast: Babil Khan, Rasika Dugal

Director: Amit Golani

Logout Movie Review Synopsis:
LOGOUT is the story of an influencer and a fan. Pratyush Dua (Babil Khan) stays in Delhi alone, away from his family. He’s a massive phone addict and also a popular influencer who goes by the name ‘Pratman’. His follower count is about to reach the 10 million mark. However, another popular influencer, Ankita (Anisha Victor), is also all as set to cross the coveted mark. The netizens are charged up to see who gets 10 million followers first. Pratyush’s friend and manager JD (Gandharv Dewan) insists that Pratyush should win the race. If that happens, a popular company will sign him up for a tempting deal, that will change things for him. But they would sign Ankita if she manages to get 10 million followers before Pratyush. As part of the strategy of getting more followers, Pratyush meets Bhuvan Bam at an event and shoots a collab video. He gets heavily drunk and goes live on his social media, asking his followers to help him amass 10 million followers. The next day, Pratyush wakes up only to find that his phone is missing. Since he was intoxicated the previous night, he’s unable to remember where he kept his phone. He opens his PC to track his device. This is when he gets an email from a girl whom he had met in Gwalior a year back, Aabha. She claims that she called his number and a cabbie happened to pick the call. She further claimed that Pratyush forgot the phone in the cab and that she’d help him get his phone back. Pratyush is relieved that his phone’s whereabouts are known. She makes him pay an amount to the driver, so that he can come all the way to his residence to deliver the phone. But while transferring the money, the OTP is sent to Pratyush’s phone. With no other option, Pratyush gives his phone password to Aabha, so that the driver can access the OTP. Soon, Pratyush realizes that he didn’t leave the phone in the cab and that Aabha is the one who has his phone. What’s worse is that Aabha is not her real name; she refuses to divulge her identity. She claims to be his biggest fan and wants to spend time with him; or else, she’ll expose him on social media. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Logout Movie Story Review:
Biswapati Sarkar’s story is terrific and very relevant for today’s times. Biswapati Sarkar’s screenplay is very captivating until the middle of the second half. To engage the audience when there’s just one actor on screen 90% of the time and the other character’s voice is heard is not easy. But the writing is very tight and hence, one doesn’t get bored. However, the climax leaves a lot to be desired. Biswapati Sarkar’s dialogues are conversational and realistic.

Amit Golani’s direction is supreme. To begin with, the various social media and email accounts shown in the film are all fictitious and inspired by real-life apps and websites. But this bit is depicted in a very authentic manner. Secondly, there are a lot of nail-biting moments in the film and it’s impressive they managed to do that since the setting is very unconventional. Moreover, it looks convincing when Pratyush divulges his phone’s password and he believes the fan. Also interesting is how Pratyush uses his brain to understand who this fan can be.

Sadly, the makers mess up the film in the second half. One of the biggest problems with LOGOUT is that one never comes to know under what circumstances Pratyush loses his phone. The makers chose not to present this crucial aspect at all. They also conveniently forget what happened to Pratyush’s ex-girlfriend Smriti, especially after the caller tried to harm her relationship with her fiancé. The climax tries to raise an important issue but the message doesn’t come across neatly.

Logout Movie Review Performances:
Speaking of performances, Babil Khan shines. He’s visible in most of the scenes and he makes good use of the opportunity to prove his worth. The character goes through a lot and Babil’s expressions, body language and his way of emoting are spot-on. Nimisha Nair (caller) has limited screen time and is quite good. She is seen less and heard more and her dialogue delivery is praiseworthy. Rasika Dugal (Pratyush’s sister) is lovely, as always, in a cameo. Gandharv Dewan, Anisha Victor and others are fair.

Logout movie music and other technical aspects:
There’s only one song in the film – ‘Tipi Tipi Tap’ – and it’s forgettable. Haroon & Gavin’s background score, however, adds to the tension. Pooja Gupte’s cinematography is appropriate. Sukant Panigrahy’s production design is cool, especially the interiors of Pratyush’s house. Special mention should go to the VFX team and graphics – the scenes of the computer screen are classy. Pampa Biswas’s costumes are straight out of life. Atanu Mukherjee’s editing is slick but could have been sharper in a few places.

Logout Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, LOGOUT raises an important issue and features a gripping, nail-biting first half, with Babil Khan’s impactful performance serving as the icing on the cake. However, the weak second half and underwhelming climax dilute some of its overall impact.

Star Cast: Ben Whishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Antonio Banderas

Director: Dougal Wilson

Paddington In Peru Movie Review Synopsis:
PADDINGTON IN PERU is the story of a bear trying to locate his lost aunt. Paddington (Ben Whishaw) is happily staying with the Brown family in London. However, he notices that everyone in the family has gotten distant, leading to a breakdown in communication. One day, he receives a letter from Reverend Mother (Olivia Colman) from Home for Retired Bears, Peru informing Paddington that his aunt Lucy (Imelda Staunton) is acting strangely. Hence, Reverend Mother requests Paddington to visit her. Paddington decides to take the trip and he’s joined by the Brown family, hoping that it’ll get the family back like the good old days. As soon as they reach Home for Retired Bears, they are informed that Aunt Lucy has suddenly gone missing. Paddington finds a map in Aunt Lucy’s room, which indicates that he should start his search at a place in the nearby Amazon Forest called Rumy Rock. Paddington and his family go to the nearby town where they meet Captain Hunter Cabot (Antonio Banderas) and his daughter Gina. (Carla Tous). Both run a boat for tourists. At first, they decline the request to go to Rumy Rock but agree when Paddington informs them about her aunt’s disappearance. Through Cabot, they also learn that Rumy Rock is the starting point for many travellers while trying to discover the lost golden city of El Dorado. Paddington is confused as Aunt Lucy is not someone who’ll run away to find gold. Meanwhile, Cabot has a hidden agenda to accompany Paddington on this trip. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Paddington In Peru Movie Story Review:
Paul King, Simon Farnaby and Mark Burton’s story is in the same zone as the previous two films. Mark Burton, Jon Foster and James Lamont’s screenplay is weak in the middle but manages to engage viewers in the second half. The dialogues are appropriate.

Dougal Wilson’s direction is simple. He tries his best to up the laughter and the emotional quotient of the film and succeeds to an extent. A few comic scenes emerge unexpectedly. For instance, when Paddington is told about El Dorado, he assumes that the Captain is speaking about the namesake eatery in London. The twist in the tale in the second half also keeps the interest going. The finale is emotional.

On the flipside, the writing suffers once Paddington and his family begin the expedition in the river. The way they get lost in the forest and the way they blindly trust Paddington to know the way is very unconvincing. The interest levels come up only when Paddington and the Captain reach the Incan fort. Secondly, some of the family members are there just for the heck of it. Lastly, the film has shockingly got a very delayed release in India. In certain regions, the film is already out on PVOD and it’s astonishing why such a raw deal was meted out to an important market like ours.

Paddington In Peru Movie Review Performances:
Ben Whishaw, as always, is perfect as the voice of Paddington. The same goes for Imelda Staunton. Hugh Bonneville (Henry Brown) is entertaining. Emily Mortimer (Mary Brown) is lovely though one can’t help but miss Sally Hawkins, who played the same character in the first two parts. Olivia Colman is aptly cast and her wicked smile takes the cake. Antonio Banderas, as expected, is quite entertaining. Carla Tous lends able support. Madeleine Harris (Judy Brown) and Samuel Joslin (Jonathan Brown) are wasted while Julie Walters (Mrs Bird) is lovely. Jim Broadbent (Samuel Gruber) is added just for the heck of it.

Paddington In Peru movie music and other technical aspects:
Dario Marianelli’s music adds to the impact. Erik Wilson’s cinematography is spectacular and the locales of Peru are very well captured. The VFX is top-class, especially the lead character. Andy Kelly’s production design and Charlotte Walter’s costumes are satisfactory. Úna Ní Dhonghaíle’s editing is slick.

Paddington In Peru Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, PADDINGTON IN PERU has its share of cute and emotional moments. However, the extremely delayed release in India, limited buzz and competition from new and holdover releases will affect its prospects.

Star Cast: Nushrratt Bharuccha, Soha Ali Khan

Director: Vishal Furia

Chhorii 2 Movie Review Synopsis:
CHHORII 2 is the story of a woman trying to save her daughter. Seven years have passed since the events of the first part. Sakshi (Nushrratt Bharuccha) now lives with her daughter Ishani (Hardika Sharma) peacefully. Ishani suffers from a condition that can burn her skin if she is exposed to sunlight. Hence, Sakshi has taken a lot of care to protect Ishani. She stays with Inspector Samar (Gashmeer Mahajani). After killing her husband Rajbir (Saurabh Goyal) and his family, she went to the nearest police station to surrender. That’s where she met Samar. But since the bodies were never found, no case was filed against Sakshi. Meanwhile, both got closer and started living together. All is going fine until one day, Ishani and Rani Ma (Pallavi Ajay), who also stays with them, are possessed by an evil soul. Then, they get kidnapped by Rajbir’s villagers. Sakshi is devastated and she and Samar reach the village to rescue Rani and Ishani. Here, Sakshi is kidnapped by the evil residents and kept underground in a dungeon. They have a sinister plan in mind which can lead to Ishani’s death. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Chhorii 2 Movie Story Review:
Vishal Furia and Ajay Jagtap’s story has all the trappings of a scare fest. But Vishal Furia and Ajay Jagtap’s screenplay is weak and hence, the desired impact is not generated. Divya Prakash Dubey and Muktesh Mishra’s dialogues are normal.

Vishal Furia’s direction is not upto the mark. To give credit where it’s due, he manages to create an eerie atmosphere. Certain moments like the existence of a creature like Pradhaan, a complex evil maze beneath the ground and the ritual that the villagers want to follow, all make for an interesting watch. Yet again, the makers raise an important point about female infanticide.

On the flipside, the narrative is full of bewildering scenes. Sakshi escapes from her lock-up and yet the villagers don’t even get a whiff. In fact, no one cares to check on her. A few scenes seem too similar to THE SHINING and other famous horror films. The VFX is shockingly tacky. The character of Samar is laughable as it seems like he enters the place in the second half without a gun though he very well knows how dangerous the villagers are. Lastly, the climax is too quick and the cliffhanger ending doesn’t really work.

Chhorii 2 – Official Trailer | Nushrratt Bharuccha, Soha Ali Khan | Prime Video India

Chhorii 2 Movie Review Performances:
Nushrratt Bharuccha, however, gives her hundred per cent to the role and tries to rise above the script. Soha Ali Khan (Daasi Maa) is damn good and proves why she deserves to be seen more. Hardika Sharma is cute and performs well. Gashmeer Mahajani gives a sincere performance but is let down by the writing. Saurabh Goyal and Kuldeep Sareen (Taau) leave a huge mark. Pallavi Ajay and Siddiqui Arifa and Imtiyazul Hasan (Shaleen) pass muster. Mukul Shrivastava (Pradhaan Ji) looks scary as per the requirement of the script.

Chhorii 2 movie music and other technical aspects:
CHHORII 2 is a song-less film. Adrija Gupta and Rob Della Fortuna’s background score adds to the scare. Anshul Chobey’s cinematography is satisfactory. Sheetal Duggal’s production design is appealing while Priyanka Mundada’s costumes are realistic. Ajay Thakur’s action is passable. White Frames Technology’s VFX is very bad. Abhishek S Ojha’s editing could have been slicker.

Chhorii 2 Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, CHHORII 2 rests on fine performances and a strong message but suffers due to a weak script, underwhelming climax and tacky VFX.

Star Cast: Rami Malek, Laurence Fishburne

Director: James Hawes

The Amateur Movie Review Synopsis:
THE AMATEUR is the story of a man trying to find his wife’s killers. Charles Heller (Rami Malek) works in the Decryption and Analysis department of George Bush Center for Intelligence, the headquarters of CIA in Langley, Virginia. His wife Sarah Horowitz (Rachel Brosnahan) goes to London for work for 5 days. She asks Charles to join her but he declines, citing work. A group of terrorists attack the hotel where Sarah’s conference is held. Sarah is taken hostage and a terrorist kills her. Charles is devastated. He uses his surveillance devices and his intelligence to identify the killers and even the whereabouts of one of them. He submits the report to CIA Deputy Director Alex Moore (Holt McCallany). However, his findings are not taken seriously. This is when he cleverly blackmails Alex and his associate Caleb Horowitz (Danny Sapani). Charles asks them to help him train so that he can go after his wife’s murderers and eliminate them; or else, he’ll expose their wrongdoings, which he has access to. Alex has no option but to comply. Charles is sent to the CIA training facility, Camp Peary, where his handler is Robert Henderson (Laurence Fishburne). Alex and his team are obviously unhappy with being blackmailed and they vow to destroy his life. Charles not only has to outsmart them but also train well so that he can face his wife’s killers, who obviously are professionals and hence, much more dangerous. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

The Amateur Movie Story Review:
THE AMATEUR is based on the book of the same name by Robert Littell. The story is fantastic and different from the rest of the action and spy films. Ken Nolan and Gary Spinelli’s screenplay is tight but suffers due to several cinematic liberties.

James Hawes’ direction is engaging. The writing is such that one marvels at the smartness of the lead protagonist. At the same time, the protagonist is an amateur, as the title suggests. Hence, he even falters in places. Both these contrasting aspects are brought about wonderfully. The track of him losing his spouse is moving but the film goes on a different level once he starts to train. A few scenes that stand out are madness in the allergy clinic in Marseille, the chaos that ensues in the Madrid hotel and the chase sequence in Turkey.

On the flipside, the writing is also that of convenience. It is difficult to believe that after one of their officers went rogue, the CIA were left twiddling their thumbs. Agreed that the protagonist is super-smart and learnt his tricks, thanks to the CIA. Yet, to see the CIA being so helpless seems unconvincing. The protagonist also finds it easy to defeat his opponents. Lastly, the climax, though unexpected, fails to give a high.

The Amateur Movie Review Performances:
Rami Malek plays a complex and unconventional role with panache. His character is not a killer but he has gone out to kill. Hence, we see him hesitating and even chickening out at times. The way he brought out these aspects looks realistic. Laurence Fishburne, as expected, is too good but he’s let down by the writing. Caitríona Balfe (Inquiline) leaves a huge mark in her limited screen time. Holt McCallany and Danny Sapani are decent while Julianne Nicholson (CIA director Samantha O’Brien) makes her presence felt. Rachel Brosnahan is lovely. Jon Bernthal (Jackson; secret agent) is wasted. Marc Rissmann (Mishka Blazhic), Michael Stuhlbarg (Horst Schraeger) and Barbara Probst (Gretchen Frank) do well. Barbara needs special mention as her France scene is very memorable.

The Amateur movie music and other technical aspects:
Volker Bertelmann’s music is generic. Martin Ruhe’s cinematography is spectacular. The film has been shot in various parts of the world and it adds to its visual appeal. Maria Djurkovic’s production design is rich while Suzie Harman’s costumes are realistic. The VFX is very rich. Jonathan Amos’s editing is satisfactory but the narrative could have been crisper.

The Amateur Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, THE AMATEUR works due to its clever script, a few edge-of-the-seat scenes and Rami Malek’s performance.

Star Cast: Sunny Deol, Randeep Hooda, Viineet Kumar Siingh

Director: Gopichand Malineni

Jaat Movie Review Synopsis:
JAAT is the story of a crazy hero and a ruthless villain. The year is 2009. The rule of the Jaffna Tiger Force (JTF) ends in Sri Lanka. Ranatunga (Randeep Hooda) is a poor labourer who comes across gold biscuits left behind by JTF. The Sri Lankan army tries to stop him from retaining it. He and his men ruthlessly kill the army men after which he arrives in Andhra Pradesh, India. Soon, he establishes a criminal empire in and around the village of Motupalli. Ranatunga is ruthless and doesn’t think twice before killing his opponents. Hence, even the authorities fear taking action against him. In the present day, a mysterious man (Sunny Deol) is on his way from Chennai to North India by train. After his train stops in Chirala, Andhra Pradesh due to an accident ahead, he leaves his train to have a meal. At a roadside eatery, while having idli, some goons push him and hence, his snack falls down. He asks the goons to apologize. They refuse and try to attack him. The mysterious man single-handedly beats up all of them. They inform him that they are the men of Ram Subba Reddy, a local politician. The mysterious man attacks Ram Subba Reddy; the latter reveals that Somulu (Viineet Kumar Siingh) is like his brother. The man now assaults Somulu who threatens him by taking the name of none other than his elder brother, Ranatunga. The mysterious man is in a remote, hostile, lawless land and moreover, he is all alone. On top of that, he has got into the bad books of one of the most dangerous men in the country. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Jaat Movie Story Review:
Gopichand Malineni’s story (writing team: M Vivek Anand, Nimmagadda Srikanth, Srinivas Gavireddy, Mayukh Adithya, Krushna Hari) is simple but the plot point in the first half adds a nice touch. Gopichand Malineni’s screenplay is a case of old wine in a new bottle. Yet, the writing keeps one gripped. Moreover, the backstory of Ranatunga and the reason why the protagonist fights the villain is very different from the rest of the mass-appealing films. Saurabh Gupta and Sai Madhav Burra’s dialogues are entertaining. But except for the hard-hitting dialogue in the police station, the dialogues in the rest of the scenes doesn’t pack a punch.

Gopichand Malineni’s direction is damn good. He has mounted the film on a grand scale and has ensured that the film has enough clapworthy and whistle-worthy moments. The first half is very amusing, especially the way the protagonist goes to insane lengths for an apology. It will also raise laughs. The other strength of his execution is that he gradually opens up the flashback. That helps maintain the intrigue value. The police station scene in the second half is powerful and will create a frenzy in theatres.

On the flipside, the film has too many disturbing scenes, which might put off a section of the audience. It is understandable that certain such shots were required to show the terror unleashed by Ranatunga. But some visuals are needlessly added. After the intermission, the film drops. The item song is forced.

Jaat Movie Review Performances:
Sunny Deol is presented in an avatar which will be loved by his fans. It is the apt film for him after the monstrous GADAR 2 [2023] and performance-wise, he’s outstanding. Randeep Hooda is apt for the villainous role. He looks quite menacing and is convincing as the opponent of an actor of the calibre of Sunny. Viineet Kumar Siingh, as expected, is terrific and does justice to his character. Regina Cassandra (Bharati) is a surprise. She uses her mere expressions to induce terror. She’s sure to be noticed by the Hindi film industry after this role. Saiyami Kher (M Vijayalakshmi) leaves a tremendous mark. Swaroopa Ghosh is over the top but it works for her character. Upendra Limaye is too good and adds to the massy appeal. His entry scene will be well received. Ramya Krishnan (President), Zarina Wahab, Makarand Deshpande and the actor who plays the school girl do well in supporting roles. Others who are decent are Jagapathi Babu (CBI officer Satyamurthy), Mushtaq Khan (kind-hearted cop), Babloo Prithiveeraj (inspector C H Sunil Kumar) and the actor playing the corrupt central minister. Urvashi Rautela looks sizzling in the item song.

Jaat movie music and other technical aspects:
Thaman S’s music is forgettable. The title song fails to entice. ‘Oh Rama Shri Rama’ works due to its picturization. ‘Touch Kiya’ is forced. Thaman S’s background score takes the mass appeal many notches higher.

Rishi Punjabi’s cinematography is splendid and adds to the film’s scale. Ram-Laxman, V Venkat, Peter Hein and ANL Arasu’s action is gory in some scenes but overall, it works for a film in this zone. Avinash Kolla’s production design is grand and gritty. T Vijay Bhaskar’s costumes for Sunny Deol are stylish while Rajesh Kamarsu’s costumes for the rest of the actors are earthy. Navin Nooli’s editing is appropriate.

Jaat Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, JAAT is an explosive paisa vasool entertainer that thrives on its power-packed mass moments, thoroughly entertaining first half, razor-sharp execution, and above all, Sunny Deol’s electrifying star presence. At the box office, it has the potential to set single screens ablaze, paving the way for strong collections and sustained audience applause.

Star Cast: R Madhavan, Nayanthara, Siddharth

Director: S Sashikanth

Test Movie Review Synopsis:
TEST is the story of three people and how their life changes during a five-day Test match. Arjun (Siddharth) is a top Indian cricket player but since the last few matches, he’s not in his best form. The Board wants to drop him from the upcoming Test Match between India and Pakistan, which will be held in Arjun’s hometown, Chennai. There’s also pressure on him to retire. Arjun somehow manages to convince the Board to let him play the Test Match. But there are murmurs that this could be the last time he will be playing ever. Arjun’s son Adi (Lirish Rahav) is an aspiring cricketer and his favourite teacher in school is Kumudha (Nayanthara). Kumudha’s deceased father was Arjun’s coach during his struggling days. Hence, she has extra affection for Arjun. Her hubby Saravanan (R Madhavan) wants government approval to create environment-friendly hydrofuel. But he’ll have to bribe to get his file sanctioned. He’s also in debt as he has sold a canteen, which he used to run and from where he used to earn a living. Kumudha is not aware of this major development. She’s going through her own battles. She wants to be a mother and has registered at an IVF clinic. She needs to pay Rs. 5 lakhs for the procedure; she assumes that Saravanan has the said amount but he doesn’t. Meanwhile, a betting syndicate has been activated in the city and they want Arjun to play as per their wishes. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Test Movie Story Review:
Suman Kumar and S Sashikanth have written a story that must have sounded interesting at the conception stage. But Suman Kumar and S Sashikanth’s screenplay fails to involve the viewers completely. The goings-on are very superficial and hence, one doesn’t root for the characters. Suman Kumar and S Sashikanth’s dialogues are normal.

S Sashikanth’s direction is okay and the execution suffers as the writing is below par. On the positive side, he extracts fine performances. Moreover, to get R Madhavan, Nayanthara and Siddharth in one film itself is an achievement and it adds to the film’s appeal. A few developments are unexpected and it makes for a nice watch. The final scene is clapworthy.

On the flipside, a few scenes appear disjointed. Some of the character’s actions seem unconvincing and even childish in some scenes. A helpless mother falls on the floor out of shock and exertion. The husband sees her fainting and he simply walks off; she lies there until she finally comes back to her senses. Such moments lead to unintentional laughter. There’s a major shift in the personality of a character at mid-point. It does arrest attention but at the same time, it becomes difficult to digest. The character of Kutty (Aadukalam Murugadoss) and his association with Saravanan also is not convincing. The way two secondary but crucial characters get eliminated before the audience can even realize it shows that the execution is just not right.

Test Movie Review Performances:
R Madhavan emerges as the best actor of the lot. Despite his character’s questionable actions in the second half, one can’t deny that he has delivered a power-packed performance. Nayanthara looks stunning and also delivers a powerful performance. Siddharth underplays his part aptly. Lirish Rahav essays a difficult part with panache. Aadukalam Murugadoss is strictly okay while Meera Jasmine (Padma; Arjun’s wife) and Kaalivenkat (Bharani) lend able support. Vinay Varma (Dharmesh), Denver Anthony Nicholas (Dimello) and Shyam Kumar (Isaac Aghilan; cop) are passable. Nasser (ICF member Ramasamy) is wasted; one wonders why an actor of his calibre was asked to play such an inconsequential role.

Test movie music and other technical aspects:
Shakthishree Gopalan’s music is forgettable. But Shakthishree Gopalan’s background score is exhilarating.

Viraj Singh Gohil’s cinematography is satisfactory. Poornima Ramaswamy’s costumes are realistic; Anu Vardhan’s costumes for Nayanthara are beautiful. Igene’s VFX is fine and special mention should go to Eunoians Studios’ opening title sequence animation; it’s quite classy. Madhusudan N and Shweta Sabu Cyril’s production design is appealing. T S Suresh’s editing is decent but overall, the film could have been shorter.

Test Movie Review Conclusion:
Overall, TEST relies heavily on its casting and the presence of three talented performers — R Madhavan, Nayanthara and Siddharth. However, the film fails to captivate due to a weak script and subpar storytelling.

Star Cast: Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Sebastian Hansen, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks

Director: Jared Hess

A Minecraft Movie Review Synopsis:
A MINECRAFT MOVIE is the story of five misfits in a mysterious world. Steve (Jack Black) resides in Chuglass, Idaho and is a doorknob salesman. He’s bored with his life and decides to follow his passion and get into mining. He enters a local mineshaft and starts digging. There, he stumbles upon a mysterious cube and an orb. He puts the cube into the orb and he is instantly transported to the fascinating Overworld. Here, he has the time of his life as the cubic wonderland thrives on imagination. Hence, he goes all out and creates magnificent structures. He also befriends a wolf, Dennis and makes him his pet. All is going well until one day, Steve is imprisoned by an evil piglin queen, Malgosha (voiced by Rachel House). She stays in a dangerous portal called Nether. Before getting caught by her guards, Steve instructs Dennis to go to Earth and seek help and also hide the orb. This is because Malgosha requires the orb to fulfil her evil plan. Dennis reaches Earth as instructed. One thing leads to another and the orb gets into the possession of Garrett aka The Garbage Man (Jason Momoa), a former gamer champion who is now in debt. He along with local broker Dawn (Danielle Brooks) and two new residents of Chuglass, Henry (Sebastian Hansen) and Natalie (Emma Myers) get sucked into Overworld. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

A Minecraft Movie Story Review:
A MINECRAFT MOVIE, as the name suggests, is based on the popular video game ‘Minecraft’ (by Mojang Studios). Allison Schroeder, Chris Bowman and Hubbel Palmer’s story is very entertaining. Chris Bowman, Hubbel Palmer, Neil Widener, Gavin James and Chris Galletta’s screenplay is fast-paced and peppered with a lot of humour and adventurous moments. The dialogues add to the fun.

Jared Hess’s direction is engaging. He doesn’t waste time at all and in 100 minutes, he packs in a lot while also spending time on the back stories of the principal characters. Though the game ‘Minecraft’ has a huge fan base, there’s a possibility that not many might know about its salient features. Yet, it is not a problem as the director has simplified the goings-on. Also, there’s a lot of madness and humorous stuff happening every now and then. Hence, it’ll be loved by a wide range of audiences. The first half is all about setting up the story and describing how the characters meet each other. The second half starts with a bang. The fight at the Midport village and Woodland Mansion are hilarious. However, the scene where Garrett, Steve and Henry fly towards the Woodland Mansion takes the cake; it’ll bring the house down in cinemas.

On the flipside, despite the plusses in the second half, it is predictable. The twist regarding Garrett in the end is easy to guess. A few developments are convenient and even childish. Steve could have hidden the Orb in Overworld. His idea to ask Dennis to hide it in his Earth residence was far-fetched and difficult to digest. Lastly, the villain track is weak.

A Minecraft Movie Review Performances:
Jason Momoa steals the show with his antics, comic timing and outlandish costumes. Jack Black disappears in the middle of the film but manages to leave a mark. His sudden entry at the midpoint is applause-worthy. However, he goes a bit overboard in some scenes. Sebastian Hansen, Emma Myers and Danielle Brooks lend able support. Jennifer Coolidge (Vice Principal Marlene) is the surprise of the film and raises a lot of laughs. Jemaine Clement (Daryl) and the actors playing school bullies are decent. From the voice cast, Jared Hess (General Chungus) is best followed by Rachel House.

A Minecraft Movie music and other technical aspects:
Mark Mothersbaugh’s music is appropriate. Enrique Chediak’s cinematography is functional. The VFX is apt – it matches global standards and also has the feel of a retro video game. Lucy McLay and Amanda Neale’s costumes are fine and quite appealing in the case of Jason Momoa. The action is a bit too gory for a film appealing to kids. James Thomas’s editing is slick.

A Minecraft Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, A MINECRAFT MOVIE is a fun-filled entertainer, aimed at families and kids. At the box office, its limited pre-release buzz may affect collections to some extent. However, the film stands to benefit from a clean release window and a higher-than-expected screen count, thanks to SIKANDAR’s underperformance.

Star Cast: Salman Khan, Rashmika Mandanna

Director: A R Murugadoss 

Sikandar Movie Review Synopsis:
SIKANDAR is the story of a man with a heart of gold. Sanjay Rathod (Salman Khan) belongs to the royal family of Rajkot. He’s happily married to Saisri (Rashmika Mandanna). While flying to Rajkot from Mumbai, Sanjay beats up a man, Arjun (Prateik Babbar) for outraging the modesty of a woman (Neha Iyer). Arjun turns out to be the son of the Home Minister (Sathyaraj). The home minister seethes with rage and deploys a cop, Prakash (Kishore), to nab Sanjay and give him a hard time. Prakash’s attempts are futile as Sanjay is too popular in Rajkot thanks to his humanitarian efforts. Hence, arresting him is next to impossible. Meanwhile, Sanjay’s life takes a shocking turn, and he is compelled to move to Mumbai. As luck would have it, it is also the turf of the home minister, leading to madness and chaos. What happens next forms the rest of the film. 

Sikandar Movie Story Review:
A. R. Murugadoss’ story (story discussion team: G Jagannathan, P Kinslin, N S Ponkumar) holds much promise. A. R. Murugadoss’ screenplay fails to do justice to this superb plot. Except for a few well-etched scenes, the rest of the script is full of loopholes and cinematic liberties. A R Murugadoss’ dialogues (additional dialogues by Rajat Aroraa, Abbas Dalal, Hussain Dalal) are substandard. A film like this needed to have many more hard-hitting and seeti-maar dialogues.

A R Murugadoss’ direction is shockingly disappointing, given his great body of work. He has tried his best to pepper the narrative with loads of crowd-pleasing action and dramatic scenes. There’s also an unexpected moment in the first 45 minutes which will astonish moviegoers. Also, what works the best is Salman Khan’s entry scene. It is terrific, and it’s not there just for the heck of it; it’s also a part of the story.

But after a great start, the film goes downhill. Except for the scene at the hospital and the scene at Vaidehi’s (Kajal Aggarwal) house, the rest of the scenes don’t leave the desired impact. The narrative also seems haphazard; it gives a feeling that several scenes have been chopped off, too badly. Certain developments don’t make sense. The scene where Arjun asks the cameraman to pan the camera on Sanjay defies logic. In another scene, the kid is sitting in the open without his shirt when he has just gotten his lung transplant done. The slum dwellers were poor but they were also benevolent and would not allow a sick child to roam around in such a manner, that too in a polluted environment. The film is replete with such sequences which will be panned by the audience. On top of it, the villain track is weak. A film like this ought to have many more confrontational scenes between the hero and the villain. 

Sikandar Official Trailer – Salman Khan, Rashmika | Sajid Nadiadwala | A.R. Murugadoss

Sikandar Movie Review Performances:
Salman Khan looks dashing and plays a role which is in sync with his ‘Being Human’ image. As a result, his fans will surely lap it up. However, he seems stiff in a few scenes and doesn’t seem to have given his hundred percent. Rashmika Mandanna looks ravishing and is the soul of the film. Sadly, her screen time is limited. Sharman Joshi (Amar), Kishore, and Jatin Sarna (De Niro) lend able support. Sathyaraj fails to impress. Prateik Smita Patil is over the top, but it works for his character. Kajal Aggarwal (Vaidehi) is decent, but her track should have been simplified. Anjini Dhawan (Nisha) and Sulbha Arya (Savithri) are hardly there. Sanjay Kapoor (Sriram) and Nawab Shah (Virat Bakshi) are wasted, while Ayan Khan (Kamaruddin) is cute. Neha Iyer, Dhanya Balakrishna (female staffer in Sikandar’s team), Vishal Vashishtha (Vaidehi’s husband), Vijayant Kohli (Sudarshan), and Rajesh Jhaveri (Seshadri; Vaidehi’s father-in-law) are fair. 

Sikandar movie music and other technical aspects:
Pritam’s music does have a shelf life. ‘Zohra Jabeen’ is the best of the lot as it is catchy and fan-pleasing. The title song is okay. ‘Sikandar Naache’, ‘Bam Bam Bhole’, ‘Hum Aapke’ and ‘Taikhaane Mein’ don’t impress. Santhosh Narayan’s background score is much better and exhilarating.

S Thirunavukarasu’s cinematography is functional. RedChillies.VFX’s VFX is below par. Kevin Kumar’s action is superb. In a rare instance, he has been credited as one would mention a debutant actor. Amit Ray and Subrata Chakraborty’s production design is tacky. Alvira Khan Agnihotri’s costumes for Salman Khan are stylish. Meagan Concessio’s costumes for Rashmika Mandanna are glamorous, but the one she wears in her entry scene is awkward. Puneet Jain’s costumes for the rest of the actors are functional. Vivek Harshan’s editing is not up to the mark. 

Sikandar Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, SIKANDAR attempts to deliver a powerful social message and showcases Salman Khan in a role that’s sure to resonate with his fanbase. However, the impact is diluted by a weak script and erratic direction. At the box office, the film will initially benefit from the Eid holiday and the lack of competition, but sustaining momentum in the long run will be a tough challenge.

Star Cast: Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett

Director: Steven Soderbergh

Black Bag Movie Review Synopsis:
BLACK BAG is the story of an intelligent agent and his dangerous game while trying to find a traitor. British intelligence officer George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) investigates the leak of a top-secret software program code-named Severus. The list of possible suspects includes his wife Kathryn (Cate Blanchett), who is also an intelligence officer. He invites the other four suspects, also spies, to his house for dinner. These four suspects are satellite imagery specialist Clarissa (Marisa Abela), agency psychiatrist Zoe (Naomie Harris) and managing agents Freddie (Tom Burke) and James (Regé-Jean Page). Their food is drugged to lower their inhibitions. A lot of secrets tumble out during dinner. George continues to investigate all of them and feels extremely suspicious of his wife, especially when she leaves for Zurich for an undisclosed mission. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Black Bag Movie Story Review:
David Koepp has written a story, which is based in the spy world but is unlike the other films made in this space. David Koepp’s screenplay is very confusing and also doesn’t involve viewers completely. David Koepp’s dialogues are conversational.

Steven Soderbergh’s direction is not as engaging as intended. To give credit where it’s due, he keeps the duration in check (94 minutes) and also assembles a talented star cast. The film begins on an intriguing note. The dinner table scene, interestingly, gives a deja vu of KHEL KHEL MEIN [2024] though soon, things take an unexpected turn.

After this dramatic sequence, the film goes downhill. There’s so much happening that if one doesn’t pay attention for a second, one will fail to understand the goings-on. The narrative style is also complex and it becomes tedious after a point to join the dots and remember the events and the intentions of the characters. The climax arrests attention but is not impactful enough. Lastly, the release period is also questionable.

Black Bag Movie Review Performances:
Michael Fassbender delivers a subtle performance and it goes in favour of his sharp-minded and clinical character. Cate Blanchett, as expected, is very impressive. Marisa Abela is the surprise of the film and she dominates the other veteran actors in several scenes. Tom Burke’s performance stands out due to his character. Naomie Harris and Regé-Jean Page lend able support. Gustaf Skarsgård (Meacham) and Pierce Brosnan (Arthur Stieglitz) leave a mark.

Black Bag movie music and other technical aspects:
David Holmes’ music has a mysterious and dramatic feel and goes well with the theme of the film. Peter Andrews’ cinematography is appropriate.

Philip Messina’s production design is rich while Ellen Mirojnick’s costumes are appealing. Mary Ann Bernard’s editing is slick.

Black Bag Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, BLACK BAG rests on the strength of a talented star cast with a respected writer and director at the helm. However, the film suffers considerably due to its confusing narrative, which takes away from its overall impact. While it was released worldwide on March 14, a day-and-date release in India would have been ideal. Releasing it during the SIKANDAR and L2 EMPURAAN week is a miscalculation that will likely dent its box office prospects.

Star Cast: Mohanlal, Prithviraj Sukumaran

Director: Prithviraj Sukumaran 

L2 Empuraan Movie Review Synopsis:
L2 EMPURAAN is the story of a mysterious man. Five years have passed since the events of the first part. A check dam is being built in Kerala on an existing dam. This project threatens to displace thousands of villagers and hence, there is a lot of resistance to it. The chief minister of the state Jathin Ramdas (Tovino Thomas), however, seems to support it. He has also become autocratic and in no way close to the way his late father, P K Ramdas aka PKR (Sachin Khedekar) used to function, which causes uproar in the party, IUF. Jathin holds a special meeting and keeps the agenda hidden. At the meeting, he informs that he is leaving IUF as he’s unhappy with the party members and their activities. He decides to float his own party called the IUF-PKR. Moreover, he joins hands with a communal leader, Baba Bajrangi (Abhimanyu Singh). The decision shocks the people and political class of Kerala as they fear that it’ll prove detrimental to the ideals of the state. Govardhan (Indrajith Sukumaran), the journalist-cum-activist, appeals to Stephen Nedumpally (Mohanlal) to return and save God’s Own Country. Stephen disappeared from Kerala 5 years ago and his present-day whereabouts are uncertain. The mention of Stephen scares Jathin and he instructs CIB officer Karthik (Kishore) to ensure that Stephen won’t meddle in the affairs of the state. Sadly for Jathin, Stephen decides to return to save his homeland. He’s once again joined by Zayed Masood (Prithviraj Sukumaran), who has a personal vendetta against Baba Bajrangi aka Balraj. What happens next forms the rest of the film. 

L2 Empuraan Movie Story Review:
Murali Gopy’s story has a lot of elements compared to the first part, LUCIFER [2019]. Murali Gopy’s screenplay is gripping. The best part of the writing is that there are a lot of subplots but he puts all of them together very nicely. Murali Gopy’s dialogues and their Hindi translation are likeable.

Prithviraj Sukumaran’s direction is cinematic. LUCIFER was also a grand film but L2 EMPURAAN goes many notches higher in this regard. It is not easy to have a film that talks not just about the politics of a state but also about the chaos in the world of spies. Prithviraj blends both of them neatly and hence, it doesn’t give an impression that either of the tracks is forced into the narrative. Moreover, it’s also a brave film as it talks about communal politics and its dangers. The film begins on a shocking note and it nicely serves as a base. The back-and-forth narrative is also done stylishly and yet, it’s easy to understand what is going on. A few scenes that stand out in the first half are Jathin leaving IUF, Stephen’s entry and the interval point. Post-interval, the scene of Priyadarshini Ramdas (Manju Warrier) at the public meeting is memorable. But the scene thereafter is even more entertaining and would be greeted with whistles and claps. The climax is also quite massy.

L2 Empuraan Trailer (Hindi) | Mohanlal | Prithviraj Sukumaran | Gokulam Gopalan | Antony Perumbavoor

On the flipside, it is compulsory to watch LUCIFER before watching L2 EMPURAAN. But it’s difficult to say how many people have seen the first part in the Hindi-speaking belt. As a result, they might not be able to fully get involved in the proceedings as they will not be able to comprehend the goings-on in the absence of the back story. Secondly, this is a rare film where the main hero’s entry happens at the 61st minute, that is, almost after an hour! It might make people restless, especially his fans. The run time of 179 minutes is also a bit of a downer, especially during the extended climax. Lastly, the lack of buzz and release period can affect the prospects of the Hindi version. 

L2 Empuraan Movie Review Performances:
Mohanlal makes up for the late entry with his subtle yet impactful performance. The way he communicates with his eyes is seen to be believed. Prithviraj Sukumaran has less screen time, just like last time, but yet again, he rocks the show. This time, viewers get to know more about his character and it adds to his performance. Special mention should also go to Karthikeya Dev, who plays the young Zayed. Tovino Thomas and Manju Warrier leave a huge mark. Abhimanyu Singh is terrific as the villain. Sukant Goel (Munna) also makes his presence felt. Sachin Khedekar is decent in a cameo. Indrajith Sukumaran, Andrea Tivadar (Michele Menuhin), Jerome Flynn (Boris Oliver), Eriq Ebouaney (Kabuga), Nikhat Khan (Subhadra), Fazil (Father Nedumpally), Saikumar (Mahesha Varma), Baiju Santhosh (Murukan), Alexx O’Nell (Robert McCarthy) and Mikhail Novikov (Sergei Leonov) do well. Saniya Iyappan (Jhanvi), Nyla Usha (Arundathi) and Giju John (Sanjeev Kumar) are wasted. 

L2 Empuraan movie music and other technical aspects:
Deepak Dev’s music has no scope. ‘Phir Zinda’, however, is well-utilized. Deepak Dev’s background score is powerful and elevates impact in several scenes.

Sujith Vaassudev’s cinematography adds considerably to the scale of the film. Stunt Silva’s action is disturbing but also mass-appealing. The scene in the jungle especially will be loved by the audience. YFX Studios, Labyrinth Studios- Mumbai, Binary Circus, Paperplane, Ident and DTM’s VFX matches global standards. Prithviraj Productions’ production design is of superior quality. The same goes for Sujith Sudhakaran’s costumes. Akhilesh Mohan’s editing is slick but also dragging in some places. 

L2 Empuraan Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, L2 EMPURAAN has its share of mass-appealing scenes, grandeur, powerful subject and impressive performances by Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran. However, its business in Hindi might be affected due to the SIKANDAR wave and limited buzz. It’ll need positive word of mouth in the Hindi-speaking markets to spring a surprise at the box office.