Dune - Resurrected

 In a huge improvement from David Lynch's version, Denis Villeneuve brings the realpolitik of Dune back to the big screen. Uncluttered and far more nuanced than the likes of Star Wars, with none of the pedantic Star Trek genre nor the incessant intrigue of Game of Thrones, Dune is faithful to the storyline. Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) flee from the aftermath of a Harkonnen plus Federation attack, to regroup and reclaim what is owed to him, through an alliance with the Fremen. After a long time, a movie thats definitely a must watch

16/20

We' re back

The universe is about to be taken over by the First Order. Led by Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), the First Order looks like it will overwhelm the Resistance, and then some. The experience of Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and General Leia (Carrie Fisher) come to bear, but it will require all the energy, resourcefulness and courage of Rey (Daisy Ridley), scavenger on the planet Jakku, Finn (John Boyega), the reformed stormtrooper, and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) to save the day and find the way to Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). The seventh edition - and this time a sequel - Star Wars - The Force Awakens - is a perfect blend of familiar Star Wars elements while doing enough to keep the storyline fresh and what increasingly looks like timeless. And yes, no review of this movie would be complete without a mention of the resourceful droid BB8, that takes the droid quotient of the series to an all new level

15/20

Punched Down

If I interpret Sucker Punch as the generally mindless action entertainment genre, full of innuendo and game-like action sequences, the movie is a pretty solid achievement. On the other hand, if the movie was meant to be an insight into the overly imaginative workings of a girl’s mind, who is the victim of just about all the abuse and mis-accusations that a human can bear, this movie makes a mockery of Baby Doll’s (Emily Browning’s) condition. So, staying on middle ground, if the movie is simply an uncomplicated meshing of erotic action genre meets loosely scripted morality tale, this movie is a reasonably entertaining watch. Babydoll is institutionalized by her stepfather, in a mental institution. While in real life she mesmerizes audiences with a particularly erotic dance routine, behind the scenes she and a small band of fellow inmates plot an escape. Every stage of the execution of the plan is depicted as a clichéd action sequence played out in Babydoll’s overly active imagination. Zack Snyder unfortunately does not quite pull off this one into 300 and Watchmen-class exceptional category 12/20

Until Lambs become Lions

The latest edition of Robin Hood is about how Robin Hood, the outlaw, came to be. Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe), later Robin Hood, fought alongside King Richard the Lionheart (Danny Huston) in the Crusades. When King Richard dies in battle, Robin and a small band of fellow-soldiers end up in custody of the royal crown, and Robin, in the guise of Sir Robert Loxley of Nottingham, a knight killed in the same battle, maes the journey to Nottingham. Robin soon brings back life to the hamlet and wins the affections of Robert’s widowed wife Marion Loxley (Cate Blanchett). The peace is not to last, however – renegade English knight Godfrey (Mark Strong) is planning a French invasion of England even as he pillages English towns in succession for the collection of taxes for the royal coffers. The paths of Robin and Godfrey cross, with tragic consequences for Godfrey and his nefarious plans. But, the subsequent adulation of Robin Longstride, and his views on empowerment of the people of England, are taken none too kindly by newly crowned Prince John (Oscar Isaac). This is an under-rated movie, the reception of which was marred by expectations from the Robin Hood mush camp.

15.5/20