Ragini MMS 2

  Since her ghostly encounter, Ragini is now locked up in an asylum, yet her MMS has gone viral, prompting a film director to make a film based on her using the same haunted house.

Director:

 Bhushan Patel

Writers:

 Tanveer Bookwala (story), Ishita Moitra (dialogue)

Stars:

 Sunny Leone, Saahil Prem, Parvin Dabas | See full cast and crew » 

     

Storyline

The film revolves around a haunted house where an infamous MMS is shot on a girl called Ragini which goes viral. the girl kills her boyfriend and claims that a witch had killed him. She ends up in a mental asylum. Later a film is planned based on the story, the same haunted house being the location of the film. Sunny Leone is cast to play the role or Ragini. Sunny goes to meet Ragini to understand her role better. But the meeting turns out violent. On one hand Ragini's doctor tries to solve the mystery and on the other hand shooting starts with unexplainable events. Junior artists get killed one by one. At last the scriptwriter Satya and Dr. Dutta have to fight the ghost to stay alive and save Sunny.Written by Anonymous

      

       Ragini MMS 2 movie  Reviews

     The camera-footage films was popularized by Hollywood film Paranormal Activity which was later utilized in Ragini MMS, touted to be the India's first film to do it. Ragini MMS 2 kicks off from where the first part ends but is saddened by over-the-top performance and lame script.

After brutal incident at a farm house which killed Uday and left Ragini in unstable condition, a director is inspired to shoot the film at the same farm house based on unfortunate events.

The trailer of Ragini MMS 2 was catchy and interesting but when you will watch the film, you will be flabbergasted to watch half-porn sleazy skin show with no spooky moments enough to scare the hell out of you. In fact, the movie will remind you early 80's Ramsay' classics like Purana Mandir and Veerna which had C-grade actors , blazing lights, big-old broken house. Screenplay is weak with no sense of storyline. Cinematography is bad. Art direction is worse. Editing is loose. Sunny Leone gets ample scope to show her well-curved figure but that is it. She is still has long way to go in terms of acting. Other actors are pathetic including talent like Divya Dutta. Songs are the only silver- lining in this boring flick with "Baby-Doll" and " Chaar Bottle Vodka" being pick of the lot.

Overall, The original Ragini MMS was fun to watch with enough scary moments and fabulous acting. The sequel is a disappointing follow-up. Forget it .Poor 1/5

Read more »

You Must Be Scared

    Pahwa is a film buff. He watches every new release in the night show on the first day itself. Just as he readies himself to visit a nearby theatre to catch the new release Darna Mana Hai, ...

Directors:

 J.D. Chakravarthi (as Chekravarthy) , Manish Gupta, 5 more credits »

Writers:

 Ashish Deo, Manish Gupta, 4 more credits »

Stars:

 Amitabh Bachchan, Arjun Rampal, Anil Kapoor |See full cast and crew »

   

Storyline

Pahwa is a film buff. He watches every new release in the night show on the first day itself. Just as he readies himself to visit a nearby theatre to catch the new release Darna Mana Hai, his mother cautions him against taking the route via the graveyard. It also happens to be Friday the 13th and Amavas ki raat (new moon). Pahwa dismisses his mother's plea since he doesn't believe in ghosts and goes through the graveyard, making fun of the dead and hitting a tree in the cemetery. The movie is boring and ends with no incident, but on the way back, for some reason he's a little more nervous than usual. He hears strange noises and someone seems to be pursuing him.Written by gavin@sunny_deol2009@yahoo.com

      

You Must Be Scared movie Reviews

     Darna Zaroori Hai the sequel to Darna Mana Hai starts off with a brilliance and ends in not so brilliant way. The theme is the same as before, so one can easily come to a conclusion how it will end even before getting the ticket to the film, So no complaint the way it ended. If Manoj Pahwa's was brilliant in portraying horror, Amithab's episode touched the peak with the background-score, if Arjun Rampal's was do with beautiful horror, then Rajpal yadav's was to do with fear, if Anil Kapoor's was to do with bluffing, then Randeep Hooda's was on revenge. So we had all the flavors of POSSIBLE horror in the film with excellent performance from all most all the people in the lead. The Maturity of each actors helps the film to reach at least half-way where it was heading. Did it deliver that good at the right content, well that of course depends on how much you were horrified. After the film i started counting at how many instance i felt a Shock/Tremor/Horror. When i finished counting it wasn't even two digit number but it wasn't zero either. The film does at least triggers a small shake in your body, for me it was with the episode with Amithab Bachan, the others where tilted towards the comic side but the lesson in those stories to learn was don't play too much with others when you don't know how much they can handle. As far this film goes except few scenes you can handle most of them. You cant expect every frame with blood on it to say its a horror film, this film will horrify you provided you see the film without expecting when will you be horrified meaning concentrate on the drink and pop-corn rather on the story and at the end count the pop-corn on the floor that's the number of time you where horrified.

 

Read more »

Ragini MMS

    Out to relax and have fun at a farmhouse, a couple experience horror at the hands of an unknown entity.

Director:

 Pawan Kripalani (as Pavan Kirpalani)

Writers:

 Vaspar Dandiwala (story), Pawan Kripalani(story), 4 more credits »

Stars:

 Kainaz Motivala, Rajkummar Rao, Rajat Kaul |See full cast and crew »

     

Storyline

Ragini MMS is a sensuous paranormal film, shot as if in real time! The quintessential couple, Ragini and Uday, set out to have a dirty weekend at a friend's farmhouse on the outskirts of Mumbai. The weekend getaway quickly changes gears as they find themselves in a house that has been rigged with cameras in Bigg Boss style. The cameras that were meant to capture love-making are witness to something that is beyond the realm of human understanding...something metaphysical.... Within the confines of this house, Ragini and Uday are now at the mercy of an unexplainable paranormal force. With sundown approaching, what will the new entrants of the house do? Positively, among the most keenly awaited films of the season, Ragini MMS, a hybrid of fact and fiction, is thrilling voyeurism from the producers of Love Sex Aur Dhokha. The scariest date movie, buffering in Theatres on Friday the 13th May! Written by Anonymous

    

Ragini MMS movie Reviews

  It was only matter of time before Bollywood get into the found footage genre.

Ragini MMS (2011) Hindi movie, no need for any subs, as most of the times they speak in English!

Two couple who go to farmhouse and most of time think of having Sex, then when get into the mood, there friends come, thing stat to get be scary in the house.

This movie do show the ghost here and there, it is shame cause it take the tension away from the movie, however there some scene which were surprising good and bit jumpy.

Near the end after some descent scene from the movie, it loses tension again , which makes the movie down hill.

This is actually Bollywood version paranormal activity 4 out of 10 I think worth watching for least once! (Just for laugh) 

Read more »

Raaz 3: The Third Dimension

   When an ingénue's sudden popularity threatens to shove her out of the spotlight, a movie star uses black magic in an attempt to derail her career.

Director:

 Vikram Bhatt

Writer:

 Shagufta Rafique

Stars:

 Emraan Hashmi, Bipasha Basu, Esha Gupta |See full cast and crew »

    

Storyline

The story revolves around Shanaya (Bipasha Basu), an actress at the height of her success. She gets offered the best roles and wins all the awards she's nominated for. In addition, she also has a passionate affair with a handsome director named Aditya (Emraan Hashmi). This all ends when a younger actress, Sanjana (Esha Gupta) makes her film debut. Suddenly, Shanaya seems forgotten and everybody only wants to work with Sanjana. Soon enough, Aditya also leaves Shanaya for Sanjana, and Shanaya sees her career fading away and she slowly becomes crazy. She begins to turn to black magic and makes it her goal in life to destroy Sanjana and get back the man she loves, Aditya. Written by Raaz3

     

 Raaz 3 movie Reviews

     "Raaz 3" cleverly utilises the success of the franchise and ropes in from the original the director Vikram Bhatt and actress Bipasha Basu (thank God, Dino Morea was permitted to stay away!). 

Writer Shagufta Ali fences the plot quite well - a waning actress who can go any lengths to retain the crowning glory and succumbs to making use of black magic as a weapon of destruction. 

Bipasha gives her best shot however appears she was over-doing it and if I may dare say flaunting her body she has toned over the unemployment years. Emraan Hashmi's character is not well etched out. Eesha Gupta manages a decent performance considering she is a newbie in comparison. And yes, Bipasha & Shagufta as half-sisters - bad writing. 

Songs are OK carrying the signature Mahesh Bhatt feel. Director Vikram Bhatt who has developed core competence in the genre of horror does a decent job. On that note, the writer could have polished the edges to give that sheen it warranted.

  

Read more »

Get Hard

   When millionaire James King is nailed for fraud and bound for San Quentin, he turns to Darnell Lewis to prep him to go behind bars.

Director:

 Etan Cohen

Writers:

 Jay Martel (screenplay), Ian Roberts(screenplay), 4 more credits »

Stars:

 Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, Alison Brie |See full cast and crew »

   

Storyline

When millionaire James King is nailed for fraud and bound for San Quentin, he turns to Darnell Lewis to prep him to go behind bars.

   

Get Hard movie Reviews

      I love Will Ferrell in my opinion he is the funniest actor working today, I even liked Semi-Pro and feel it is severely underrated. When i heard he was doing a film with Kevin Hart i thought it was a genius idea. The trailers had me laughing.. the premise seemed funny.. until i found out what it really was. That being said this film is extremely racist in parts and the rape jokes really are too much, there comes a time when the line needs to be drawn. Although despite this there are some real laugh out loud moments and both Ferrell and Hart do a great job with their delivery in both physical and dialogue based comedy. When the jokes hit they really do hit.. but some jokes just feel kind of awkward.

I wont go into too much detail because most of you probably already know the premise. Will Ferrell plays a racist stockbroker who assumes that because of the colour of his skin Kevin Hart's character has been to jail and he asks for his help to survive in prison so he doesn't get sexually assaulted.. and yes this is honestly the plot. I expected the film to have a fair amount of rape jokes but there really is a time in the film where i got tired of this and it gets a little uncomfortable. One of the more uncomfortable moments has Will Ferrell attempting to perform oral on a gay character.. to me it just went on way too long. That's not to say there is no good moments. The first half of this movie was actually really enjoyable for the most part. Seeing Kevin Hart train Will Ferrell in his own home was great and the set design was actually great. One scene in the film where Ferrell attempts to pick a fight in the park with some much bigger men had me laughing out loud for a while.

A big problem with the film is that it completely changes course in the last act. The training scenes were fun to watch but then Ferrell and Hart enlist new people (Hart's cousin played by TI) to help him out and the film got slow and started to fall apart before we are treated to a predictable ending. The two comedians are on top form with what they are given and Get Hard isn't a bad way to spend 90 minutes, I didn't hate the film at all but I hope these two work together again some time in a movie that will have a bit more potential to be funnier. I felt we could have been given more but it is what you would expect.. plus the prison riot really was a well-shot and funny scene, more scenes like it would have been great but this film isn't terrible so there's that.

Read more »

Focus (II)

   In the midst of veteran con man Nicky's latest scheme, a woman from his past - now an accomplished femme fatale - shows up and throws his plans for a loop.

Directors:

 Glenn Ficarra, John Requa

Writers:

 Glenn Ficarra, John Requa

Stars:

 Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Rodrigo Santoro |See full cast and crew »

    

Storyline

Nicky Spurgeon is an extremely accomplished con man who takes an amateur con artist, Jess, under his wing. Nicky and Jess become romantically involved, and with Nicky's profession of being a liar and a cheater for a living, he realizes that deception and love are things that don't go together. They split, only to see each other three years later... And things get messy.

     

 Focus (II) movie Reviews

    If you stopped for an hour and dissected this film you WILL find problems, like how the audience is meant to root for borderline sociopathic criminals or how the structure isn't what they're used to... HOWEVER, if you go in just expecting to be entertained and if you have a particular fondness for hustle movies, this is one enjoyable movie. The charming but not over-the-top humour consistently keeps the story entertaining and by not following the usual structure of a movie this kind, and ultimately the one the trailer promised, it offers something new to the mix. I can see the multiple twists as a turn off for some expecting a deeper film but if you know what you're in for I think the multiple twists in the film's final act will one-after-another bring a smile to your face and even have you laughing. Will Smith harnesses his charm to success in this flick and Margot has effectively proved herself as not being a one-hit-wonder. This is not a bad film, though I do believe your enjoyment hinges on your expectations when going into it. Don't expect the next Ocean's 11, expect a charming, funny, well acted, smartly written, hustle movie that will undoubtedly be drowned out by mixed reviews from people expecting gold and can't appreciate really good silver. 

Read more »

Pixels

    When aliens misinterpret video feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war, they attack the Earth in the form of the video games.

Director:

 Chris Columbus

Writers:

 Timothy Dowling (screenplay), Tim Herlihy(screenplay), 2 more credits »

Stars:

 Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan |See full cast and crew »

   

Storyline

In Pixels, when intergalactic aliens misinterpret video-feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war against them, they attack the Earth, using the games as models for their various assaults. President Will Cooper (Kevin James) has to call on his childhood best friend, '80s video game champion Sam Brenner (Adam Sandler), now a home theater installer, to lead a team of old-school arcaders (Peter Dinklage and Josh Gad) to defeat the aliens and save the planet. Joining them is Lt. Col. Violet Van Patten (Michelle Monaghan), a specialist supplying the arcaders with unique weapons to fight the aliens.Written by Sony Pictures Entertainment  

Read more »

The DUFF

    A high school senior instigates a social pecking order revolution after finding out that she has been labeled the DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) to her prettier more popular friends.

Director:

 Ari Sandel

Writers:

 Josh A. Cagan (screenplay), Kody Keplinger(novel)

Stars:

 Mae Whitman, Bella Thorne, Robbie Amell |See full cast and crew »

   

Storyline

Bianca is a content high school senior whose world is shattered when she learns the student body knows her as 'The DUFF' (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) to her prettier, more popular friends. Now, despite the words of caution from her favorite teacher, she puts aside the potential distraction of her crush, Toby, and enlists Wesley, a slick but charming jock, to help reinvent herself. To save her senior year from turning into a total disaster, Bianca must find the confidence to overthrow the school's ruthless label maker Madison and remind everyone that no matter what people look or act like, we are all someone's DUFF.Written by CBS Films

    

The DUFF movie Reviews

    the American movie industry really got some serious problems. we often encountered their formulaic products describing the present education system a complete failure, otherwise we won't have so many movies about schools in different levels full of punk-thug-like male students or highly materialized heartless, mean, vicious female bimbos, dressed and make-up like prostitutes. when movies about high school students, all the characters, male of female, are just like these types. we almost could never see any good persons in these movies. these vicious and heartless kids never showed us what the education really did good for them, the schools are no different from the American prisons, once entered, the only education you'd have is to make you become a meaner, more heartless, more materialized bullies who prey on those who really like to have some real education that enable them to advance and enhance them for a better future. all these movies only focus on the meanness, the cruelty of some specific groups who attend schools only to insult or victimize the good students, even the teachers. 

the American movie producers, screenplay writers and directors seem only to be interested in the abnormal species in our schools. just take this movie for an example: none of these so-called high school seniors look like normal high school students. these females all look over 18 years old, dressed like high priced prostitutes, they are nothing but female thugs in the school. you may find it quite watchable just because these so-called high school seniors are eye-candy pretty, but to me, they are just so unrealistically ugly. why always like to use school to replace the prison and making the students like inmates, the tough and vicious ones always victimize and prey on the weak and the soft. American education and school system do not like this, and if you think they are indeed, god help America and your kind.

Read more »

Home

    Oh, an alien on the run from his own people, lands on Earth and makes friends with the adventurous Tip, who is on a quest of her own.

Director:

 Tim Johnson

Writers:

 Tom J. Astle (screenplay), Matt Ember(screenplay), 1 more credit »

Stars:

 Jim Parsons, Rihanna, Steve Martin |See full cast and crew »

    

Storyline

When Oh, a loveable misfit from another planet, lands on Earth and finds himself on the run from his own people, he forms an unlikely friendship with an adventurous girl named Tip who is on a quest of her own. Through a series of comic adventures with Tip, Oh comes to understand that being different and making mistakes is all part of being human. And while he changes her planet and she changes his world, they discover the true meaning of the word HOME. Written by 20th Century Fox

      

Home movie Reviews

    I'm baffled by some of the reviews on here saying this movie was "amazing". It was boring and pitifully unoriginal.

My eldest daughter is 12, so I've seen a lot of this kind of movie, and "Home" was really nothing special; just another instantly forgettable generic plot that was stretched so thinly it was tragic. It reminded me a lot of "The Croods".

We were in a huge cinema with kids of all ages and so many of the 'jokes' fell flat to absolutely no laughing whatsoever, I was looking around for the tumbleweed. At one point I heard a child behind me say out loud "was that supposed to be funny?" at the "number three" gag.

The writers were obviously so pleased with themselves over one particular joke involving the name of a slushie that they kept repeating it over and over, desperately hoping for a laugh. It didn't get any that I heard.

Read more »

Love, Rosie

   Rosie and Alex have been best friends since they were 5, so they couldn't possibly be right for one another...or could they? When it comes to love, life and making the right choices, these two are their own worst enemies.

Director:

 Christian Ditter

Writers:

 Juliette Towhidi (screenplay), Cecelia Ahern(novel)

Stars:

 Lily Collins, Sam Claflin, Christian Cooke |See full cast and crew »

 

Storyline

Rosie and Alex have been best friends since they were 5, so they couldn't possibly be right for one another... or could they? When it comes to love, life and making the right choices, these two are their own worst enemies. One awkward turn at 18, one missed opportunity... and life sends them hurling in different directions. But somehow, across time, space and different continents, the tie that binds them cannot be undone. Will they find their way back to one another, or will it be too late? Based on Cecelia Ahern's bestselling novel "Where Rainbows End", LOVE, ROSIE is a modern comedy-of-errors tale posing the ultimate question: Do we really only get one shot at true love? Written by anonymous

   

Love, Rosie movie Reviews

    The original source material,'Where Rainbows End' was a very good book and you can see why Hollywood came calling to turn the story of Alex and Rosie through the ages into a film.

Sadly they didn't do a good job. At all. The basic plot remains the same but there are so many liberties taken that fans of the book surely must be shaking their heads and going 'where is the story we fell in love with first time around?'. The author says in the DVD interview that she welcomed the changes but what's left is a very by the numbers romantic comedy that verges awkwardly between cliché and dull.

The book had charm, it had warmth. This version is rude and sweary to the point where I stopped caring about the characters.

The only bright spot (and I really had to search for it) was Lily Collins who captures many of the qualities that made Rosie so endearing in the book.

From a very good book comes a very average film. A missed opportunity if ever there was one.

Read more »

The Gunman

     A sniper on a mercenary assassination team, kills the minister of mines of the Congo. Terrier's successful kill shot forces him into hiding. Returning to the Congo years later, he becomes the target of a hit squad himself.

Director:

 Pierre Morel

Writers:

 Don MacPherson, Jean-Patrick Manchette (novel),2 more credits »

Stars:

 Sean Penn, Idris Elba, Jasmine Trinca |See full cast and crew » 

    

Storyline

A sniper on a mercenary assassination team, working for an unknown client, kills the minister of mines of the Congo. Terrier's (Sean Penn's) successful kill shot forces him to go into hiding to protect himself and the members of the team from retribution. This includes abruptly abandoning his girlfriend who has no idea what is going on. The assassination, paid for by a foreign mining company, triggers wide spread chaos and death in an already inflamed Congo. Terrier returns to the Congo years later working for an NGO, but eventually finds himself to be the target of a paid hit squad somehow connected to the ministers assassination. This leads to immediate deaths and the endangerment of the people working around him, and forces him back into hiding. In trying to discover who has put a price on his head, he begins to reconnect to the members of his old assassination team, including his old girlfriend. Always aware there is no path to redemption for his crimes, he is also periodically ... Written by RSailor

     

The Gunman movie Reviews

    From start to finish, this movie was out of sorts. It couldn't build up a head of steam and thus in the process failed to deliver any sort of impact. Javier Bardem was on point in his brief cameo, and even Sean Penn managed to pull off the traditionally burly action hero enigma, but everything else was frail and flavorless. I usually watch my movies with concentration, but this one was hard to pay attention to, thus I allowed myself some shut eye in between. The protagonist's motive to fight was not strong, and things were happening too conveniently for my liking. The action sequences were somewhat realistic, and the cinematography was nice. But that's almost it. Pretty disappointing.

Read more »

Run All Night

    Mobster and hit man Jimmy Conlon has one night to figure out where his loyalties lie: with his estranged son, Mike, whose life is in danger, or his longtime best friend, mob boss Shawn Maguire, who wants Mike to pay for the death of his own son.

Director:

 Jaume Collet-Serra

Writer:

 Brad Ingelsby

Stars:

 Liam Neeson, Ed Harris, Joel Kinnaman |See full cast and crew »

     

Storyline

Professional Brooklyn hitman Jimmy Conlon is more commonly known as THE GRAVEDIGGER. Jimmy was a mob hit-man, who was best friends with his boss Sean Maguire. But when Jimmy's son, Michael, is marked for death by the mob, Jimmy must go up against Sean to protect Michael at all costs. Together, he and Michael must avoid corrupt cops, contract killers and the mob to survive the night.

      

Run All Night movie Reviews 

         I went to see this because I found out last minute that "It Follows" was only limited release and I'M GLAD I DID! When you go see "Taken 2" or "Walk Among the Tombstones" you expect crazy action which you definitely get with Run All Night. But what you're not expecting is above average story and acting. There was great suspense with solid characters that you start to care about. There's some larger than life feats that Liam pulls off as usual, but it's done well.

Giving it a 9 out of 10 might be a little high, but I feel it deserves bonus points for surprising the heck out of me and breaking the recent trend of over the top Liam movies.

Don't wait for video on this one; it's a wild ride for the theater.

Read more »

Cinderella

 


       When her father unexpectedly passes away, young Ella finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and her daughters. Never one to give up hope, Ella's fortunes begin to change after meeting a dashing stranger.

Director:

 Kenneth Branagh

Writer:

 Chris Weitz (screenplay)

Stars:

 Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden |See full cast and crew »

   

Storyline

A girl named Ella (Cinderella) has the purest heart living in a cruel world filled with evil stepsisters and an evil stepmother out to ruin Ella's life. Ella comes one with her pure heart when she meets the prince and dances her way to a better life with glass shoes and a little help from her fairy godmother of course.

     

Cinderella movie Reviews

    Remakes are regular things nowadays, but carbon copies are rare. This is a lift in terms of dialogue, shots almost everything at times. The big question is why? As a film in its own right it's not terrible but comparing it to the original it literally pales in comparison (despite being a live-action rip!). Why did we need this – sure on some level it may reach those who haven't seen the original and don't want to watch an 'old' anime. But really – why should we indulge the multiplexers who refuse to watch anything made before 2005?

It's not bad – it's poor a poor relation of the original. In the UK we often get 50th anniversary etc re-releases of old films nationwide (admittedly not in all cinemas), in fact 'Cinderella Monogatari' was out a few years ago. So the idea that a cheap copy is good because it'll help open it up to new audiences.

The cast are all OK – until you watch the original anime. Overall it's so-so as a film. However when you compare it to the original it's really a poor show and, because it's a carbon copy, you can't help but compare it line for line, scene for scene, actor for actor.

Read more »

Insurgent

     Beatrice Prior must confront her inner demons and continue her fight against a powerful alliance which threatens to tear her society apart with the help from others on her side.

Director:

 Robert Schwentke

Writers:

 Brian Duffield (screenplay), Akiva Goldsman(screenplay), 2 more credits »

Stars:

 Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Theo James |See full cast and crew »

   

Storyline

One choice can transform you-or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love. Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships. Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so. Written by howardjake17


     

Insurgent movie Reviews

     Setting your expectations low for a movie is always a good idea. That way you never come out disappointed. With Insurgent, I figured it was just the same film as Divergent, just rehashed. It's not exactly a fresh and bold new idea, but it did feel different than the first. And definitely better. With newcomers Octavia Spencer and Naomi Watts the film gets elevated by terrific performances across the board. The cast is great but the CGI doesn't look as fake and the story is less(ish) confusing than Divergent. I will say it didn't bother me at all later in the movie, but it was quite funny and awkward to see Ansel Elgort, Miles Teller, and Theo James all with Shailene Woodley on screen together, considering they have each been a film love interest.

The main problem with Divergent was the screenplay. I thought it was too confusing for someone who wasn't familiar with the book series. While Insurgent will be puzzling for newcomers, I felt less confused this time around than last. There's a lot going on. Whole lot of characters that fall in and out of the story without much to do at times, but the performances saved the film. I think if you try to forget about the unexplainable elements of the film your viewing experience is enhanced. For example, I don't remember too much about Tobias' back story or even the exact intentions of Jeanine, but I let the movie play out without complaining. Jai Courtney's character, though terminator like, was an improvement over the one-note character in Divergent. I also thought the chemistry between the leads of Miles Teller, Theo James, and Shailene Woodley were much better this time around. Woodley one again gives an emotionally powerful performance, even if not all of it is actually real, it felt legit. I keep talking about her ability to cry on screen but it's true, the woman can shed a tear.

I think one of the main problems with the film is the inconsistencies with some character decisions. I didn't read the books but I just became baffled with some of the directions that Miles Teller and Ansel Elgort's characters. There is too much back and forth for my liking. Kate Winslet and Naomi Watts both steal each of their respected scenes. And although for the former there isn't a whole lot to do, I enjoyed watching her character arc unfold. The ending is a big animal to tackle. And without spoilers I cant talk too much about it, but I will say I was pretty indifferent. I almost feel like they could end the franchise right there. But at the same time I guess there is more of this world to explore, no pun intended. So with a few unneeded characters and with plenty of confusing character decisions, Insurgent turns out to be an okay sci-fi. It's nowhere near as poor as the reviews and much better than the first, but there's still plenty to improve on for the next.

 

Read more »