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Film Review: Force 2

Date: November 18 2016

Director: Abhinay Deo

Cast: John Abraham, Sonakshi Sinha, Tahir Raj Bhasin

Rating: 3 stars

The film opens to news of assassinations. Three RAW agents have been shot down in China. The head office of the intelligence agency/ Raj Babbar suspects national threat. One of the deceased/ Harish is hero police inspector Yashwardhan/ John Abraham’s friend. Harish before being shot down couriers a clue to his friend.

Yashwardhan suspects there’s a mole in the system that is leaking secrets and requests the agency to let him carry out the mission.It is against the rule so he is paired with a RAW agent, KK/ Kanwaljeet Kaur/ Sonakshi Sinha.

The mole/ Tahir Raj Bhasin turn out to be a brat and lead the duo on a wild goose chase all over Buddapest. There is frenzied car and bus chase, crazy street fights as heroes jump over roofs, rope walk and breaking into homes and accounts. Not to miss the regular dose of bullets firing on wind shields and home windows.  Vehicles are stylishly blown into fire balls cut to Caucasian girls sizzling to remix of Bollywood numbers.

The first half is packed with thrills and gripping quite like a bond film presenting exotic locations, dare devil action and intrigue.There is a stunning sequence where strangers cross paths and exchange codes wordlessly. The pace is the magical and the credit goes entirely to the director, Abhinay Deo.

The second half becomes predictable packaging back stories to the characters. The script is unfair to Sonakshi Sinha who was marvelous in a similar genre/Akira. The intention was to break a stereotype which is why she is addressed as KK but is lost in translating into the character.

Upcoming actor Tahir Raj Bhasin is impressive but repetitive of his role in Mardani. Genelia Dsouza makes a brief appearance but leaves a mark.

Force 2 is better than Force and for those who enjoy spy thrillers. It is worth it for John Abraham’s master action and director Abhinay Deo’s craftsmanship

@bhawanasomaaya

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Film Review: Rock On 2

Date: November 11 2016

Director: Shujaat Saudagar

Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Shraddha Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Purab Kohli, Shashank Arora

Rating: 3 stars

In the year 2008 Excel produced Rock On that had the country jiving to Shankar Ehsan Loy’s music.  It told the story of four likeminded friends Joe – Adi – Rob and KD who come together to form their own band and create magic! Then like it happens in all relationships, conflict led to separation of friends until Adi’s wife brings them together again. There is some resistance and awkward moments but not for long.

Eight years later Rock On 2 brings back some old and some new characters. A few years older and wiser Joe/ Arjun Rampal, wife/ Shahana Goswami, Adi/ Farhan Akhtar, wife/ Prachi Desai and KD/ Purab Kohli are still friends and as passionate about music but have different callings.

Now guitarist Joe is the owner of a prosperous music company often spotted as celebrity host on reality shows, KD is still a practicing music engineer and Adi, the lead singer of Magik Band has retired to a life of farming in Meghalaya.

Rock On was about conflict in friendship and also about struggle for success, Rock On 2 addresses demons from the past, about coping with stardom that comes after success.

Both have music from Shankar Ehsaan Loy and are written by Pubali Chaudhari and Abhishek Kapoor but the impact is not the same.

The sequel has too many past and present stories scattered within the narrative. It is unconvincing that Farhan Akhtar should live away from the family in a remote place. The fire at Meghalaya is exaggerated and also the emotional involvement of Adi’s friends in the crisis. The first half is bombarded with information, is too slow and too grim. The film is about music and the first song appears only 30 after minutes.

What works about the film is the second half, the climax and the performances – Farhan, Shradha , Arjun, Purab, Shashank and a special mention of new face Priyanshu Painyuli who stays with you long after the film is over.

Rock On 2 will try your patience initially but you will eventually come out of the theater smiling.

Bhawanaa Somaaya/ @bhawanasomaaya

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There is one more chip of the old bloc and that is Hiten Paintal, son of versatile actor Paintal. Hiten plays Psycho in his upcoming film. 30 Minutes is a short film with mostly newcomers and playback by a number of big artistes like Asha Bhosle, Shaan and Kunal Ganjawala. Not that it is going to be easy for Paintal or any of his young generation in show business but they are lucky that they will continue to be starred in short films till the big magic happens.

@bhawanasomaaya

My previous posts can be visited on the following link:

http://bhawanasomaaya.blogspot.in