guptaraghav-24 Reviews

Infinite (2021)

Such a Waste.

[3/10 · 13 June 2021]

No Spoilers. Frankly nothing much in the movie one could spoil.

There are two types of Action Movies:-

The usual type wherein the script is barely one page, the idea is barely a line and the whole movie is all explosions here and there with some style. This covers almost all the movies out there.

And then there are these movies based on revolutionary ideas (like the Matrix) that can be a part of your life experience (like Inception) and transform a persons' life forever.

This Movie - Sitting on a lottery, based on a book (the idea was literally being fed to writers of this movie) and then puff.

Let me paint a picture how this movie was. You give a person 1 million dollar. That person goes and buys a Lamborghini. Takes it out of the showroom (without an insurance obviously), revs the speed and hits a tree and puff (as the joker says) its gone.

My Last words - A beautiful concept, should have taken it seriously and nurtured every aspect of the idea. Would had been at least like the movie - 'The Cloud Atlas'.

Billions (2016–2023)

Fell faster than a roller coaster

[3/10 · 14 May 2020]

If you are looking for a show with characters having great fashion sense, elegant cinematography, look no further, this show has it all. A great budget and the characters who might wear those dresses. Just start watching this series but don't forget to mute it.

Don't get me wrong, but if you are into small things like the script, acting etc., then post Season 2, this is not a show for you.

In all fairness, the acting of Damien Lewis and Paul Giamatti is something worth watching. But the thing is, script is so bad and there is so much referencing to various other movies, series and events going on in virtually every viable sentence, that it loses its originality.

Story is twisted to such profound ways, just to make a statement. And then, when its time to join the points of the story, it all becomes a great mess.

Its sad to say that shows like 'Billions' gets an extension to run season after season while several great shows gets cancelled. To summarize, go for season 1&2 and move on.

Joker (I) (2019)

Future theatre will have a chapter on this movie

[10/10 · 12 October 2019]

No Spoilers necessary. It's not the story line that defines this movie but everything else.

Never thought i would be so engrossed in a movie.

An honest to God, stupendous acting, in ways that sends shivers down one's thought pool.

Storyline though simple but the direction was so smooth along with the editing that by the end of the movie one has to rediscover the place one was sitting in. Joaquin Phoenix has shown his mettle in this movie by challenging the very roots of foundation laid by Heather Ledger who played the Joker. Background score played a brilliant role to make it a more immersive experience.

Be a part of history in the making.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)

Genuine Action Thriller !

[9/10 · 27 July 2018]

Worth every Penny....this movie.

This movie has set a new benchmark in the genre of Action movies.

On paper, the actions scenes are the same as so many other action movies.

But.....

The sheer attention to detail being emphasized for every action scene is just .....it takes the audience to a new level....must closer ...and its breathtaking.

This time, they have done it right. Telling a story is not the purpose here. The purpose is to take the audience to the edge of their seat.

Enjoy the movie...!

Condor (2018–2020)

An Amazing Action Series after such a long time

[9/10 · 23 June 2018]

Surprised...... !

Surprised over the fact that some of the people are still stuck in those action drama that is more of the flare and fantasy world while in this series the whole story sounds genuine rather than complete BS.

Without giving away the story line, just wanna stress here that the story gives 1) a fresh outlook of things with 2) just the right pace and 3) covers every aspect of the waves that any event creates in a persons life.

Acting is decent, suspense in the story keeps it real enough.

This series comes from some seriously BIG production studios thus the stage set up for each action scene and camera work along with editing is just make it worth watching.

Among all the recent action TV Series out there this year, glad to find this one in the shadows.

This Is Us (2016–2022)

Authentic, Colorful and just Fabulous...!

[10/10 · 25 February 2017]

Fortunate, i consider my self to have stumbled upon this masterpiece TV series.

The writers & creators of this TV series have been able to diffract the life of one family in such a beautiful spectrum of life events in every episode, its breathtaking to see it all happen.

Roles played by most of the primary cast in this series is so different (and so intense) than the previous roles that each of them has played, which just exemplifies the talent in the cast.

Most of the events that a person faces in a life time includes a series of 'non verbal communication' which takes place between the current state of mind, influenced by the peers and the judgment call, molded by the experiences faced by that person in the past - for example when a stranger becomes a part of your family, job pressure coincides with duties as a father, mother, brother, sister or as a friend - what will a person do then.

The thing to point out here is the 'non verbal communication' part that the directors and the editors have been able to throw a spotlight on (and which has made many movies of the past legendary), makes this show Authentic.

Every show vibrates at some cultural frequency to mimic or amplify that fantastic or realistic story driven by the certain perception in the society.

And after seeing this show, what makes one proud is to admire the fact that we are finally in that amazing phase emerging in the society where we can learn to live in the moment in what ever form life has to offer and learn to adopt the same in our lives.

And the last thing that i want to add here is the surreal background songs chosen, never knew those artists and that music existed.

The Great Wall (I) (2016)

All together a decent and refreshing movie

[7/10 · 4 February 2017]

There are awesome movies on one side while dreadful movie on the other and then there is this decent movie. The concept in this movie was at large not much different from LOTR but the director along with the writers, portrayed the magnificence of The Great Wall in a great fashion through a great angle view of the wall, through enemy creatures and the army itself which is refreshing rather than going on and on about the size of the wall (which is quite common these days in numerous movies and extremely annoying). Also there was this sprinkle of light but good jokes which captures the mood.Thus the movie in a nutshell was decent and entertaining.

Designated Survivor (2016–2019)

Where in the hell is the freaking seriousness in this show....?

[2/10 · 10 October 2016]

If we hear some news in the media about an accident in the the corner of the street, the whole social structure reorganize itself to show some kind of respect and showcase some characteristic emotion that defines that moment.

But sad to say in this case, in the wake of such a disaster that tends to call upon the designated survivor, the seriousness, the emotions on the faces of the actors is just not there.

Even the characters defined in dramas like CSI files have better reasons to be a bit more concern.

The title of the series is strong and carries a great new concept but when we are living in times post series like House of Cards, the writing cannot be sloppy.

Another thing that is bugging is the flow. Any good story has a way of presenting a great new challenge (one challenge at a time) and providing solutions to it in ways that is elegant and matches with the frequency (no body like the a long question to be answered in plain yes or no)

Kiefer Sutherland enjoyed that story line in the memorable series '24' which unfolded one chapter at a time rather than touching all chapter at once unlike in this series.

In short, there are several Original series to follow, don't waste time on this.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Never been more disappointed ....!

[1/10 · 8 May 2016]

I like to blame 'Christopher Nolan' who raised the level of 'Batman' to such great heights that made this movie hardly watchable.

Except for mindless (and fruitless) action scenes (the best i could come up with) and wonder women (a pleasant surprise there), the movie had nothing one could vouch for whether its the .........

1. Acting (Ben Affleck was surely forced to play his role and was certainly stuck in his Batman suit; Eisenbergs' role of Lex Luther was way out of his skill set; Henry and Amy had nothing to go with in terms of script in the first place),

2. Direction (must be busy in some other projects),

3. Production (should have read the script of the writers at least),

4. Editors (that's what 4 days straight late night outs does to you - can't concentrate on work the following day anymore),

5. The moral stand of the characters (felt more like two children fighting on a world stage)

6. Sound Track (Zack surely hit a wall there)

To summarize .....there are so many other 'GOOD' movies out there, leaving this one alone....!

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

One step from ridiculous to sublime...and this movie took that step....what a 'Marvel' to watch this movie....!!!

[8/10 · 8 May 2016]

Super hero/ comic adaption movies are a big gamble - either it will turn out to be a Great Movie which will make its mark in the history (like 'The Avengers') or a serious disappointment ('Transformers', Spiderman 2,3, 'Fantastic Four' to name a few).

To be completely Honest, after the recent movie 'Deadpool' of the same genre, which had an exciting and perfect comic timing and considering the past Captain America movies (sequels have a bad reputation and the last 'Vs' tag movie - Batman Vs Superman didn't raise any expectations), i didn't had much hope for this one but was glad it proved to be wrong.

As expected, the movie was an Action packed one with great stunt scenes and visual 3 D effect but what was captivating about all this was it had a story to back all that action and a realistic touch to it.

To elaborate further, each character had a time-line, a deep (and turbulent past) but which stuck seamlessly with the time-line of the other character (and there were so many such characters in this movie).

Another interesting thing is that it adds flavor by involving the viewers/ fans into this movie and let them decide which side to be on - 'Captain America' or 'Iron Man' with each team having its own moral stand.

Looking forward to more of such movies from Marvel studios...!

Spectre (I) (2015)

Success of James Bond Movie without a Script.......A Myth Indeed !!

[4/10 · 27 November 2015]

In the defense of the the producers, may be they wanted to save on the budget and the only one they could find were the "Script Writers" because the story-line is just everywhere and purpose of James Bond in the movie was no where to be found.

James Bond being an Action Packed Movie, acting of the actors matters at few instance only and no stones were left unturned there as the acting of both Daniel Craig and Christoph Waltz (primarily) was top notch. Also good to see the role of Andrew Scott in the movie.

But here i would like to point out is that with the above actors in line like Daniel Craig (seen as a perfect James Bond in Casino Royale and Skyfall), Christoph Waltz (Potential to act in character of a villain who is Impassive/Impenetrable with worlds most tough directors)and Andrew Scott who single handedly carried the role of the villain in the spectacular "Sherlock" - there was just so much that could have been done, making (most of the Oscar nominated) movies opening in December a run for their money The only thing to look forward to in this movie is well the Opening Song and the New Aston Martin DB10.

Hope the Next James Bond has something better to offer

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

Just (Awfully) Plain Surprised !!!.....

[1/10 · 7 December 2013]

the tile of the movie should be "re-run of lost" but with different characters.

forget about getting a climax in any part of the movie, it took the movie most of the pre interval to relieve itself from the past (so that it can be in continuation with it first movie) and then it started to create the plot for the movie which took some time of the post interval as well.

all of the scenarios presented in the games (which finally began when the people were about to leave) were just modified form of big boss.

the action scenes were cut paste from movies like the planet of apes, the jungle, the rundown, lost (as mentioned) etc.

just when the plot of the movie was getting thicker, it ended !!!

to put it in a nutshell, life is short, so wait for other movies to get released and don't go by the fact that this movie made big bucks, twilight had a similar run (which is still an unsolved mystery *$&!!!).

Man of Steel (2013)

It had its moment....but that doesn't makes it a complete movie

[16 June 2013]

To be brief about it, the movie had some real and subtle flow and moments that were really trying to string together a somewhat (known to all) concept of SUPERMAN but in a new and different way. The sound effects, the story being told in the present as well as from the past was all making the audience feel comfortable in their seats, but...

But for some reason the climax of the movie was either wasn't there or there was only climax there on after (somewhat like transformers - the whole motion picture just thrown into a blender) and this is where the interest becomes wage and one starts to feel the weight of the 3D glasses. So if the concept was cultivated further and fabricated it a more differential way, it would have had been an amazing ride..........