***½ The Lightning Thief (2010)

Like the original Harry Potter which was just PG, the kids will like the movie.

The tale of accident-prone teenager who discovers he's the son of Poseidon and is needed when Zeus' lightning is stolen. He must master his skills in order to prevent the war between the Gods that could devastate the entire world and save his mother.

One liner: In the line of Harry potter series.
Cast: Logan Lerman, Pierce Brosnan, Alexandra Daddario, Uma Thurman etc
Category : Adventure, Fantasy

*** The Time Traveler's Wife (2009)

A Chicago librarian suffers from a rare genetic disorder that sends him through time whenever he is under extreme stress force; despite the fact that he vanishes frequent and lengthy intervals, he attempts to build a future with his love.

One liner: Watch with your spouse when he has nothing to complain.
Cast: Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams etc
Category : Drama

***½ Couples Retreat (2009)

A couple racing to salvage their marriage invites three other couples to join them at a tropical island resort. Upon arriving at the island paradise to enjoy some carefree fun in the sun, the other couples are disturbed to discover that participation in therapy sessions is mandatory if they hope to remain at the resort.

One liner: Watch with your spouse.
Cast: Vince Vaughn, Jason bateman, Kristin Davis, Kristen Bell etc
Category : Comedy, Drama

*** Naanayam (2010) - Tamil

A corrupt bank official sets a trap to get even with his blackmailer who in turn saves sensitive documents in the same bank the official is employed. Though the movie has so many twists and turns (Also to distract viewer identifying the original english movie) went down in spiral to deliver what it was originally planned.
Prasanna does a decent job and Sibi fails even to immitate just like his father.

One liner: Twists and turns never got untangled.
Cast: Prasanna, Sibiraj,SPB, Ramya Raj etc.
Category : Drama, Mystery

*** Noel (2004)

Different characters look for understanding and compassion during Christmas season to find the meaning of life they live in.

One liner: Feel good movie.
Cast: Penélope Cruz, Paul Walker, Susan Sarandon, Alan Arkin, Robin Williams etc.
Category : Drama

**** Corporate - Hindi

The power games between two industrialists draws the gameplan to see who wins the lead. The plot is so powerful to see how the gameplan shifts it's phase though each one wants to win. The political play in this corporate games mingles very well to show how govt plays in everything.

I heard about Madhur Bhandarkar and his movies have a different tone and this is the first movie I watched in his direction. Still in the pipeline: Jail, Fashion, Traffic Signal, Page 3, Men at Work, Satta and Chandni Bar.

One liner: Powerplay.
Cast: Bipasha Basu, Kay Kay Menon, Raj Babbar, Dharmesh Marwah etc.
Category : Drama

*** Perfect mismatch (2009) - Hindi

Another bollywood wedding drama with all colorful flavours.

A talented architect (Punjabi), raised by his Uncle has all the love and care a family could offer, even if he doesn't care for. His life takes a beautiful turn when he bumps into the perfect girl Neha who comes from Gujarathi background.

When the families meet, Sparks fly and put the lovers to wonder how to bring the 2 families togeather and it all ends well.

One liner: Watch for Anupam and Irani.
Cast: Anubhav Anand, Nandana Sen, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani.
Category : Comedy, Drama

*** Nothing Like the Holidays (2008)

Family drama about the importance of relationships in one's life. Rodriguez family is celebrating this year with youngest sibling who has recently returned home safe and sound after fighting in the war overseas. There is a strange sense of tension with each family member and how hope brings them all togeather.

One liner: Mexican Christmas.
Cast: Freddy Rodriguez, John Leguizamo, Debra Messing, Alfred Molina
Category : Comedy, Drama

*** Love Happens (2009)

A widower who gives seminar for others to get better in life is not satisfied with his life. He meets and fall for a floral designer, a discovery that leads him to face up to the fact he has not fully reconciled the loss of his wife.

One liner: Jennifer Aniston :)
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Jennifer Aniston
Category : Drama

***½ Food, Inc. (2008)

Somethings are good to leave behind to imagination when the reality would scare you.
This documentary explores where the food we purchase at the grocery store really comes from, and what it means for the health of future generations. The truth on the following items : relationships between business and government, agencies that were suppose to protect the public USDA and FDA , Government regulatory agency putting profit ahead of consumer health, the American farmer, worker safety and the environment. The problems are reasons are discussed on genetically engineered chicken and tomatoes, new strains of E. coli every year, obesity and diabetes proportions. After watching the movie one might wonder what's left to eat that does not come under corporate exploitation.

One liner: Makes you think before you put anything in your mouth.

***½ Tamil padam (2010) - Tamil

A complete family entertainer that makes parody of the typical and traditional tamil cinema scenes. Although it's fun to watch, unless you know and can relate the movies mockery, you may not enjoy the movie. Many popular movie/actor were complied to form a full story line and the parody were well mixed. Except for Trisha and Bhagyaraj everyone else were indirectly targeted.

Kamal was the only actor the movie praised for his efforts to film industry.

One liner: The reality is laughing at ourselves when we praised the same scenes that were made fun of.

Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009)

Though this is a tribute, I am not willing to rate the DVD.

Michael Jackson, the international legend planned to take the stage one last time and the compiled rehearsal footage is dedicated to the fans around the world. Behind the scenes of the mastermind prepare for the concert would have crowned his entire career. The 3D version of the new thriller and all the favourite hits rehearsed are worth the watch.

One liner: Gives goosebumps to watch MJ.

**½ Vettatam (2009) - Tamil

Revenge story with expected story twists and turns. Songs are a surprise treat in the movie. Picturisation of "Kangal Pesum" song is different and a good attempt.

Cast: Ajay, Remya Nambeesan, Madhulika

Category : Revenge, Drama

1 - Are you that bored to watch this movie
2 - Very average
3 - Could have been made better
4 - A must watch
5 - You must be crazy to miss this one

*** I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell (2009)

One liner: Hangover made in medium budget.

Cast: Matt Czuchry, Jesse Bradford

Category : Comedy

1 - Are you that bored to watch this movie
2 - Very average
3 - Could have been made better
4 - A must watch
5 - You must be crazy to miss this one

*** GOA (2010) Tamil

Venkat prabhu missed his hatrick with venturing on GOA (fun trip for the crew). A thin line story of 3 villegers having a midset to go GOA and get fixed themselves with foreigners and settle their life just like their common friend. No fun intended unless you are core fan of Premji amaran.

Nothing new, infact most of the scenes are boring. Sampath and Akash characters are new in tamil cinema.

One liner: Fun for the movie crew.

Cast: Premji, Jai, Sampath, Akash, Sneha, Piyaa etc

Category : Comedy

1 - Are you that bored to watch this movie
2 - Very average
3 - Could have been made better
4 - A must watch
5 - You must be crazy to miss this one

**½ Surrogates (2009)

Read the Gamer review and replace gamers to human bodies. I think the 10 year old kid would say how the next scene would turn to be.

One liner: Want to play how each scene ends, try this movie.

Cast: Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell

Category : sci-fi

1 - Are you that bored to watch this movie
2 - Very average
3 - Could have been made better
4 - A must watch
5 - You must be crazy to miss this one

**½ Gamer (2009)

Reality and video games merge sci-fi action thriller. Mind-control technology allows humans to control the actions and movements of other humans, "Slayers" is the ultimate video game mass-scale, multiplayer online first-person shooter that's controversial in both the real and gamers world. Knowing that no man escapes the Slayer game, the gamer negotiates his avatar to do no action on what he belives is a death trap to end him. Well, the rest is as expected.

One liner: Only for hardcore video game fans.

Cast: Gerard Butler, Amber Valletta

Category : sci-fi

1 - Are you that bored to watch this movie
2 - Very average
3 - Could have been made better
4 - A must watch
5 - You must be crazy to miss this one

**½ The ministers (2009)

A New York City Homicide Detective unknowingly becomes involved with one of the men who murdered her father thirteen years with the only evidence was a pamphlet for a mysterious religious "The Ministers."

One liner: Another movie which impress you watching the trailer.

Cast: John Leguizamo, Harvey Keitel

Category : Thriller, Mystery and Suspense

1 - Are you that bored to watch this movie
2 - Very average
3 - Could have been made better
4 - A must watch
5 - You must be crazy to miss this one

**½ The invention of lying (2009)

Everyone in the world tells the truth except for one who discovers the act of lying, milks it to become the world's most phenomenal performer.

One liner: Gervais Oscar had more laughs.

Cast: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner

Category : Comedy

1 - Are you that bored to watch this movie
2 - Very average
3 - Could have been made better
4 - A must watch
5 - You must be crazy to miss this one

* * * The Great Buck Howard (2008)

A teenager(Troy) dropped out of law school is pondering his next move who has an interest in working in the entertainment business. He gets an oppurtunity to work as a personal assistant for a celebrity performer. He meets the glorified Buck Howard (John Malkovich), a once-famous mentalist who appeared on The Tonight Show 61 times during Johnny Carson's reign as host. However, Howard hasn't been doing much lately, who grooms himself for a comeback. Troy is fascinated with Howard's creaky but still effective act, his boss has enough personal quirks and absurd demands to give anyone second thoughts about working with him for long.

One liner: Sarcastic laughs.

Cast: John Malkovich, Colin Hanks.

Category : Drama, Comedy

1 - Are you that bored to watch this movie
2 - Very average
3 - Could have been made better
4 - A must watch
5 - You must be crazy to miss this one

* * * ½ Ayirathil oruvan (2009) - Tamil

Thanks to Dinamalar, thatstamil, Indiaglitz and behindwoods to make me understand the second half of the movie (Ofcourse each one had their vision of the story). A scene can be explained without dialogues (pesum padam), with music (kathalukku mariyathai, sethu) but the second half of the movie is very difficult to understand without dialogues and horibble music. As much I critize, the attempt to make such a fantasy movie should be well appreciated.

Selva, one of my favorite director failed to express what he had in his mind to the script and finally to the scene that everyone can understand.

Parthiban role didn't stand-up to the hype. Karthi, Andrea has been equally wasted. Reema sen has done the role sensibly. Most of the scenes didn't make any sense to the flow of the movie. CGI fails to impress. I wouldn't agree to simply say it was done best with what we have when a nation is known for technical expertise.

One liner: Hard to digest.

Cast: Karthi, Reema sen, Parthiban.

Category : Drama, Mystery and Suspense

1 - Are you that bored to watch this movie
2 - Very average
3 - Could have been made better
4 - A must watch
5 - You must be crazy to miss this one

* * ½ Afterwards (2008)

An attorney haunted by his past as the survivor of a near-death experience and a witness of his own baby's death is faced by the mysterious doctor who has a vision to inform someone is about to die. When the doctor meets him, he doesn't believe until the strange event make him believe and the mystry saga continues to prepare himself to be a victim.

One liner: Very predictable.

Cast: John Malkovich, Evangeline Lilly

Category : Mystery and Suspense

1 - Are you that bored to watch this movie
2 - Very average
3 - Could have been made better
4 - A must watch
5 - You must be crazy to miss this one

* * ½Adthey neeram athey Idam (2009) - Tamil

An upperclass attempt of Devadathayai kanden which went awfully wrong on the seond half of the movie. A theme that could have made better failed to make a mark due to the lack of acting and screenplay.

One liner: Director not knowing how to end the movie.

Cast: Jai and Vijayalakshmi

Category : Drama

1 - Are you that bored to watch this movie
2 - Very average
3 - Could have been made better
4 - A must watch
5 - You must be crazy to miss this one

* * * Sultanes del Sur (2007) - Mexican 01/16/10

Gang of thieves steal 12 million from a Mexican bank and plot to launder the money in Argentina. When the job goes awry, the thieves work to root out the traitor in their midst. Getting the money was the easy part; the real challenge is living long enough to spend it.

One liner: Average movie except for the end plot

Cast: Ana de la Reguera, Jordi Mollà

Category : Mystery and Suspense

1 - Are you that bored to watch this movie
2 - Very average
3 - Could have been made better
4 - A must watch
5 - You must be crazy to miss this one

* * * * The Hurt Locker (2008) 01/15/10

Hurt locker is the story of a team that tactfully navigates the streets of Iraq to dispose the constant threat of death from bombs and sharp-shooting snipers. The Army is working to make the city a safer place for Americans and Iraqis, so when dismantling explosive, the crew is always on their game. But protecting the public isn't easy when there's no room for error, and every second spent dismantling a bomb is another second spent flirting with death. Almost for a chance of powerful documentary that it could have become, the screenplay carefully navigates not to have such a feeling and makes little sacrifice to be made a movie.

One liner: Not the typical war movie but never to miss.

Cast: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie

Category : Drama

1 - Are you that bored to watch this movie
2 - Very average
3 - Could have been made better
4 - A must watch
5 - You must be crazy to miss this one