Star Wars : The Force Awakens [2015]

Language - English
Director - J.J. Abrams
Run Time  - 2 hours, 15 minutes
Genre - Drama/Sci-Fi
Starring - Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, etc

The most awaited movie of the year finally arrived, and lo, it did not disappoint at all. All of us were crushed after watching Episodes 1-3 came out because they were soooooo BAD! But, the Force Awakens is a brilliant sequel to a brilliant franchise, one that was long pending.

There was no doubt of JJ Abrams talent, as we saw how admirably he revamped the Star Trek series. And he proved his mettle once again. It was refreshing to see new characters, and Oh did we love them like we loved Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, Darth Vader and the rest. Rey, Fin, Kylo Ren, Poe, and BB-8 are great characters to build the next stage of the franchise.

JJ Abrams kind of played safe here, with the film kind of mirroring A New Hope, but isn't that what we all wanted anyway? The film is packed with great action, stunning visual effects and the new characters add a lot of energy missing in the last 3 movies. The little quips in between also add a pleasant dimension to the film.

The Force Awakens picks off after the events of 'Return of the Jedi', wherein the dark side was finally defeated. It has been many years since, Luke Skywalker has disappeared, and the dark side has grown stronger, seducing innocent young minds towards its side (Kylo Ren). There are some new faces in the fight between the good and evil, with each side looking to find the last JEDI - Luke.

There is not one moment in the movie which feels like a drag, as it keeps you enthralled all throughout. And the best part is the number of times the movie has paid tribute to the original trilogy. Its a must watch for every Star Wars, Sci-Fi fan or anyone for that matter who likes going to the movies.

Go on, and May The FORCE be with you.

My Rating - 8.5/10

Bajirao Mastani [2015]

Language - Hindi
Director - Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Run Time - 2 hours, 38 minutes
Genre - Drama/Romance/Biopic
Starring - Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra

Rarely does one get to say that a Bollywood movie has been shot so well, and I can say this about Bajirao Mastani. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has always been a director with a vision of grandeur and splendor, and he does manage to captivate us with this visual masterpiece. Every shot, every scene has been shot with ultimate perfection and richness.

But it doesn't end there, the movie is aptly aided by the brilliant acting of its lead characters, Ranveer Singh as Peshwa Bajirao, Deepika Padukone as Mastani and Priyanka Chopra as Kashibai. All three have given a splendid performance deserving an applaud. The sizzling chemistry between Ranveer and Deepika has earlier been witnessed in Ram-Leela, and they continue to charm us. Priyanka Chopra also performs admirably as the supporting character.

The movie is a biopic of Peshwa Bajirao, the second greatest person of interest of the vast Maratha empire, after Shivaji himself. It is based on a novel which gave greater focus towards his relationship with his wives, Kashibai and Mastani.

The movie goes on the similar lines of Jodhaa Akbar, but is not able to match it as it falls short of content. The movie could have been made better if it could have been shortened a bit, as by the end it sort of feels like a drag. And there were numerous, unnecessary songs which could have been done away with.

All being said, one should go watch this movie, as it is better than most Bollywood movies which are nonsensical, predictable and unoriginal. Just go to admire Sanjay Leela Bhansali's artistry and the amazing chemistry of Deepika and Ranveer.

My Rating - 7/10