The Critique

Dir: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Don Cheadle, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olson, Paul Bettany, Josh Brolin, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldanha, Dave Bautista, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan. Dur: 2 hrs 40 mins Genre: Superhero – Action Rating: 8/10 Perhaps one of the most eagerly awaited films of the decade. Avengers: Infinity War packed a huge punch (quite literally). Not only did it showcase an ensemble of the finest Marvel characters to hit the screen in recent times, it did so with such comfort and flair that you couldn’t help but take notice. All the more if you were enchanted by the last Avengers outing. At first sight, it seemed that Infinity War had bitten too big a piece of pie but it grew a huge jaw to chew it up nicely. DC’s attempt at bringing together a group of heroes ended up in a thick mess ( Justice League was nothing short of a f...

Dir: Jake Kasdan Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas and Bobby Cannavale Dur: 1 hr 59 mins Genre: Adventure Rating: 9/10 If you saw Dwayne’s and Kevin’s last film together, Central Intelligence , you would have a good idea of what a humorous combo they are. Now add, Jack Black to this duo and you are sitting on a laugh-bomb waiting to explode. Jumanji delivers the goods. It is an action-packed adventure with more than a fair share of stomach-clutching laugh-out-loud moments. The beginning is a bit mysterious but things play out quite well. Young people are sure to enjoy this film since it is made in a very appealing way. Karen Gillan came as a surprise to me. Although this is the first film I’ve watched in which she is acting, I was impressed enough to wish she is picked up more often for great films. The acting is highly convincing. Direction and photography deserve a pat on the back. The animations are really well done and ...

Dir: Shoojit Sircar Starring: Varun Dhawan, Banita Sandhu, Gitanjali Rao Dur: 1 hr 55 mins Genre: Drama Rating: 2/10 This is the second Shoojit Sircar film I watched. I didn’t like the first one (Piku) and I didn’t like this one either. I really don’t get what he was trying to show in either of the films. I understand the key idea to some extent, but the delivery, performance and final product are far from satisfactory. In Piku , he dwells on the idea of a motion that sets in motion a family drama with some added characters for comic relief. Here he dwells on the theme of suffering but in the worst way imaginable. I get the film is about grief and loss but you don’t have to make all of it one long drudgery! Honestly, I wonder with what nerve he decided to stretch this insipid story for nearly 2 hours! The material was just enough for the first hour. The remainder was pure arrogance that demanded you sit in your seat just because you paid for it. To be frank I enjoy...

Dir: Ridley Scott Starring: Matt Damon Dur: 2 hrs 21 mins Genre: Sci-fi Drama PG: Some foul language Rating: 5/10 Outer space is intriguing and has served as the location for some of the most memorable films of all time. I am quite skeptical about the whole outer space thing especially when it comes to the science of it. Frankly, I sat through the whole film thinking it’s all just superfluous humbug but was surprised to later read that the science of the film is pretty solid. The only exaggeration that is claimed is the storm winds that resulted in astronaut Watney (Matt Damon) being left behind on Mars. With this cleared up, the film takes on new meaning and significance. It serves as quite an educational source. It is quite long and pretty dull at time, since a major part involves Matt Damon talking into a recording camera. The animation is extremely well-done even though at times it gives an unreal visual. The soundtrack is not the best. The film would be better ...

Francis Sullivan, Charisms and Charismatic Renewal , Dublin: Gill and Macmillan 1982, ISBN 0 7171 1237 3, pp. 184, Cost not mentioned. The Charismatic Renewal took the Church by storm. Its rapid growth excited many but also raised a lot of eyebrows regarding its authenticity and theological uprightness. While droves of people happily embraced it as a refreshing change from ‘dry’ liturgical or para-liturgical celebrations, other were quite uncertain and suspicious about the whole affair. Fr Sullivan’s work, in the words of Cardinal Suenens “comes at the right time”. Though it may be old now, its ideas are still pertinent and arguments relevant. Fr Sulilvan is/was a professor of dogmatic theology at the Gregorian University in Rome and has systematically and in scholarly fashion subjected the charismatic renewal to the theological lens of scrutiny. He presents a brief history of the movement but offers more in terms of its theological and scriptural base, its impact on the Chu...

Dir: Derek Cianfrance Starring: Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander Dur: 2 hrs 12 mins Genre: Romantic - Drama PG: Few kisses and a couple of intimate scenes Rating: 6.5/10 It is said that people seek happiness and it is quite true. Nearly every action of ours is aimed at achieving happiness, it may not seem like it now but down the line we believe happiness is there waiting for us with open arms, ready to comfort us for all the sacrifices we’ve made and difficulties overcome. But what about happiness that comes at the cost of someone else’s happiness. Is it justified? Is it outrageous? Meet Tom Sherbourne (Michael Fassbender) a war veteran who is tormented by such thoughts after rescuing and ‘illegally’ detaining a baby lost at sea. Tom and his wife, Isabel (Alicia Vikander) have lost 2 kids in three years and find their marriage straining with each loss. Just when it seemed like despair had clouded the sky, the shrill cries of a washed up infant cut their melancholi...

Dir: Joe Wright Starring: Gary Oldman, Dur: 2 hrs 5 mins Genre: War Drama Rating: 8/10 It not very often that you come across a thrilling historical drama. The team that worked on this project gave it their all to produce perhaps the best drama film of the year. The film received numerous accolades and was chosen as the Best Film by Critics. The film has a poignant character and weighs heavy with the tension of World War II. It basically chronicles Britain’s political leaders struggle to grapple with the degrading situation brought on by Nazi Germany and the World War. It begins with the ousting of PM, Neville Chamberlain and the handing over of the reins to Winston Churchill. Make no mistake, Churchill is hailed as one of the greatest PM of all time but the film tries to stay true to the facts, which basically consists of he not being a very popular person especially in the upper echelons of British government. The film is centred around the character of Churchill, and...