One of the much awaited and talked about Hollywood film this year, ‘The Fate of the Furious’ has been well received in the country. It is the eighth movie in the popular action franchise and has grossed Rs 71.06 crore in its opening weekend in India, reportedly.
According to PTI, the film has broken its own record set during ‘Furious 7’ release to become the first Hollywood movie to earn so much in its opening weekend in India. ‘Furious 7′ had earned Rs 70.83 in its opening weekend, according to a release by Universal Pictures.
Fast and Furious 8’ opened in theatres on April 12, 2017, and is helmed by F Gary Gray. The film zoomed to an estimated USD 532.5 million global debut over Easter weekend, including USD 100.2 million in the US and a USD 432.2 million overseas.
The film marks the return of Vin Diesel as Dom and Michelle Rodriguez as Letty while Charlize Theron is the latest addition to the cast. It has an interesting ensemble cast of Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, Scott Eastwood, Nathalie Emmanuel, Kurt Russell and Charlize Theron.
Category: Hollywood
Stories from Hollywood
By Bhumika Rawat
Hollywood is a place known for high end fashion and new fashion trends. The latest hot new trend in town is ‘the vagina dress’. The vagina dress is a risqué fashion trend adopted by the bold and beautiful in the Tinsel Town.
Wearing a Vagina Dress requires a lot of courage to wear and attitude. The vagina dress showcases the intimate tan line of the celebrities. More appropriately called the double slit dress even fails to cover the crotch area of those wearing the vagina dress.
Celebrities found wearing a vagina dress include Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, Nina Agdal, Ciara and Giulia Salemi. No Bollywood actress has been spotted wearing a vagina dress till date.
By Meetali Kutty
Title: Kong Skull Island
Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Actors: Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, John C. Reilly, Samuel L. Jackson
It seems director Jordan Vogt-Roberts was correct when he said that his version of the Kong tale would be unlike its predecessors. This well-known story, about a gigantic ape, living on Skull Island, has been given a fresh treatment and the result is a fast paced, humorous tale that sets up the future planned Kong Vs Godzilla film.
This film is set in 1973, with America just withdrawing from Vietnam post the war. A military escort (Samuel L. Jackson),still upset at the outcome of the Vietnam War, sets off for the island with a war photographer (Brie Larson), scientists (Tom Hiddleston, John Goodman) and some soldiers to explore this unchartered territory. John Goodman’s character, Bill Randa, is a conspiracy theorist who secures funding for a fact finding mission to the island.
Luckily for the viewers, it isn’t long before they encounter King Kong (larger than ever before!) who swats at planes and lays waste to many humans. However, this giant ape isn’t the ferocious human enemy some of the explorers think he is. In fact, the island is full of fearsome creatures (and amazing effects!) like super large spiders, wooly mammoths and the Skull Crawlers, who pose an equal (if not larger) threat.
The star of the film is John C. Reilly’s character, Hank Marlow, an American soldier, who, in the prologue, was shown crash landing on the island. He has been stranded there for 30 years. Reilly’s character embodies the comedic center of the film, and has some truly rip roaring one-liners which audiences will enjoy. Tom Hiddleston is good as the dashing leading man, while BrieLarson isn’t given much to do. Thankfully the love angle is done away with, only finding some nostalgia when Kong takes a liking to her. In fact, the fleshing out of the characters in the film is sacrificed for the more exciting action sequences involving King Kong. There are also a number of side plots which tend to deviate focus from the main attraction- Kong.
This film is full of dazzling special effects. The action is rapid, with a few sad deaths of certain characters. This film also plays out as a deeper exploration on war, as well as environmental preservation and kindness as a weapon combating hatred. The breathtaking visuals will immerse the viewer and immediately grab their attention. There is a wonderful scene which showcases the arrival at Skull Island with all the helicopters swooping into formation, which is sure to draw a few gasps.
The climactic showdown between Kong and the reptile like Skull Crawlers is a riveting, if slightly long battle, that will make action fans rejoice. However, it is humans who are the true threat with their bombs disturbing the ecosystem of the island and making these Skull Crawlers rise up, and with one set of the explorers deeming Kong the enemy.
All in all, this film is a perfect set up for summer blockbusters- action packed, entertaining and a great way to spend an afternoon. A departure from past King Kong films (even excluding a visit to New York City), this refreshing new take on the tale is bigger and better. Be sure to stay in your seats for an exciting post-credits scene that will set up future monster movies.
Ratings: ***
By Bhumika Rawat
Hollywood is gearing up Geostorm this fall. The movie starring Gerard Butler, Abbie Cornish, Alexandra Lara and Andy Garcia imagines a world where the climate is controlled by satellites. In a futuristic world the climate technology goes awry, causing a massive disaster across the globe.
The movie teaser for ‘Geostorm’ is out in March itself. The teaser looks promising and To seems to be VFX-heavy spectacle-driven adventure. Check out the teaser and judge yourself.
By Bhumika Rawat
Nicki Minaj left the audience at Paris Fashion Week shell shocked with her bare breasted dare. She attended the PFW for the Halder Ackermann Autumn/Winter show on Saturday wearing an asymmetrical top which unleashed her boobs.She managed to draw attention with one of her left breast literally hanging out and her the modesty of her nipple covered by a stick-on pasty. She was also wearing sunglasses inside and looked simply badass.
She also posted a picture of her in front of the Eiffel Tower and posted the images on her Instagram account to break the internet. All you fashionistas here in India do don’t even try to copy her here coz it is not safe anywhere in this part of the globe to wear such provocative outfits. But if you’re so driven to ape her look then for their information the boob baring top is from Mugler and the pasty is from Agent Provocateur.
By Meetali Kutty
Film: Logan
Director: James Mangold
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, Boyd Holbrook, Richard E.Grant
Genre: Superhero, Action
The final chapter in Wolverine’s story is a befitting swan song for a character that has helped popularize the comic book movie genre immensily, thanks in no small part to the way the role has grown in the hands of the very capable Hugh Jackman. The first comic book film of the year has set a very high standard for the rest to follow, and indeed is a pitch perfect way to end the story of a character we have grown up watching and feeling for.
Much grittier and grown up than previous outings for the X-men franchise, this R-rated film has plenty to keep viewers riveted- amazing action sequences where every punch, kick or slice feels well thought out, enough dark humour laced with profanity, (with Patrick Stewart also filming his role as Professor X for the last time, and showcasing a foul mouth we haven’t seen on him before) and of course, very real stakes that pack a huge emotional wallop.
Set in 2029, the future is bleak with stark landscapes dominating the screen. Mutants have been almost all wiped out, and we are introduced to Wolverine, who is going by Logan, a broken down version of the character we have seen at his fiercest in previous instalments. He has taken to drinking with a vengeance, his health is slowly failing him, and thoughts of dying plague him. He spends his days driving customers in his limo, and looks after Professor Xavier, whose mental facilities are failing as well. Professor Xavier is a fragile version of the empowered leader we are used to seeing, and has to be kept sedated to prevent him from harming those around him. Wolverine is aided in this by the mutant, Caliban (Stephen Merchant).
However , Wolverine’s plans at retirement are put to a halt when he encounters a young mutant girl, Laura (X-23, as fans of the comic book series may be familiar with), who shares Wolverine’s healing factors and has her own set of claws. She is being targeted by mutant bounty hunters, led by Donald Pierce (Boyd Holbrook), head of a group known as the Reavers. Wolverine has to set aside his plans and help the girl, fighting a very unlikely opponent (we won’t spoil it for you), in less than ideal physical conditions.
This film is a much more mature take on the genre, more in keeping with The Dark Knight than with other X-men films. There are plenty of heart wrenching moments so be prepared to shed a few tears, but the story never falters and keeps you hooked from beginning to end. This is a fitting tribute to the character of Wolverine, and a high way for this legend to go out on.
Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman and Dafne Keen all showcase their acting chops, especially Jackman who showcases raw emotions and a side of the character that is far more human then we are used to. The heart of the movie is the father-son dynamic between Professor X and Wolverine, and the latter’s reluctant paternal role with the young Laura. The movie focuses on the story and on the action elements, eliminating unnecessary side plots and useless love angles, giving viewers the Wolverine story they’ve always wanted. The action sequences are gory and brutal, and one of the highlights is watching X-23 show off her own fighting skills. James Mangold provides a masterful ending to Logan’s emotional journey, and proves that he is the comic book film director to beat. One has to bow their heads to Jackman’s Wolverine who has truly gone out in a blaze of glory.
Verdict:****
Movie: Bang Bang!
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Danny Denzongpa, Jaaved Jaffrey
Genre: Action-Romance
Bang Bang! is a remake of the Hollywood movie, Knight and Day. I am positively against the Bollywoodian remake of Hollywood movies as they usually end up as a bitter concoction of a story headed neither here nor there. The greek god Hrithik Roshan and Indian (with an accent) Barbie doll Kartrina Kaif have a fiery chemistry as they proved in ‘Zindagi Milegi na Dobara’. And in Bang Bang! their chemistry is only factor setting the screens on fire, of course, besides the blown up cars and bullets firing everywhere.
Now, grudgingly I have come to accept, action movies can never be filmed realistically. I have made my peace with- bullets firing everywhere but none hitting the hero, cars overturning and getting blown up but our hero is still safe (you see, he is the Hulk!) and the heroine having nothing better to do but to be lovey-dovey with the hero admist all this shor-sharaba. So I knew what I was getting into with Bang Bang! Rajveer Nanda, a criminal, steals ‘Kohinoor’ diamond from London for Interpol’s most wanted criminal Omar Zafar (Danny Denzongpa). The deal is fixed for 5 million and a meeting is fixed in Shimla. But at the last minute Rajveer decides to back out as he wants more money now. Then the cat and mouse chase ensues where Rajveer transforms into spider man to superman to what not, as he climbs up buildings and jumps down roofs with snow clad scenic mountains in the backdrop. Harleen Sahni (Katrina Kaif) is a bank receptionist is tricked by Rajveer into believing that he is her bind date and somehow (Iam still not sure exactly how) the villains and the government spies now believes that the Harleen is Rajveer’s accomplice. So now what do to? They have to keep running from city to city risking their lives. (I feel so tired even thinking about it.)
Bang Bang! is an ‘okay’ movie, it’s neither great nor bad. For action lovers, well the movie will serve you the right amount of explosions, fancy cars and guns. If you were expecting some extra ordinary acting, eerr sorry then! Hrithik’s acting is average at best because the character does not need him to explore his acting, and Katrina Kaif’s character is only there in the movie because come on! now, our hero needs to romance somebody (aaaww..). The cinematography of the movie is superb, as the audience is taken from London to Shimla to Abu Dhabi and Greece. The songs have been shot in some very picturesque locations and elaborate sets and are good enough to swing along with. All in all it is an interesting package, maybe just not the best one.
Iam going to neither suggest nor reject this movie for you. There are some really good things about the movie and some not so good. Take your pick and make your decision to watch this or something else. Either way, you weekend fun has been ensured off. Enjoy!
My verdict: ***
