Jawad Daud PK

I came to know about Jack Black after Kung Fu Panda. When I saw him on 'Be Kind Rewind,' I watched it with high expectations. If you have seen it, you know how I felt about it.

When I heard of Gulliver's Travels and saw the trailer, I thought it would be pretty decent. I wish I had known they had cramped the highlights of the movie in the trailer (which means 2:30 or so).

I will not go into great lengths with this. Just one quick thing that forced me to write the review: I feel I completely blew my money on 3D version. Didn't feel a thing with those glasses on. It is painful when you pay top dollars and walk into the theater expecting some mind blowing 3D effects but all you get is a 1D film.

From the director of A.W.O.L, Double Impact and The Last Warrior comes a picture that falls flat on its face and turns out to be a forgettable movie due to various reasons.

The Order starts in 1099 A.D. and narrates the story of a warrior who lived to unite Christians, Jews and Muslims who had been fighting among themselves in the name of religion. This warrior formed an 'Order' comprising these religions and his disciples undertook to spread the word of peace. The warrior composed a code of ethics for his disciples to follow, of which the last chapter goes missing.

Fast forward to the present time where Rudy (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a common-day thief. When news of his father who has gone missing, reaches him, he goes to Tel Aviv on a lead, where he joins forces with Dalia (the adorable Sofia Milos) and sets on a mission to track his father. With the help of his martial-arts expertise, Rudy finally succeeds in locating his old man but discovers that the kidnapping was actually held to drag Rudy to the city.

Van Damme's action is the only salvation in thethe movie where the pace is fast. Also starring Charlton Heston, as the vile Professor Finley. Overall, The Order is a movie fit for a single watch and tends to turn off interest sporadically.

A comedy in essence and originally a Mexican movie titled La Gran Vida, Living it up is a fun movie starring Martin (Carmelo Gsmez). A bus driver, Martin is bored with his life. One fine day when he can't take the pressure any more, he stops the bus and runs to the edge of a bridge to commit suicide. Here he meets a mysterious character Salva (Fernando Valverde) who proposes to Martin the perfect way of ending his life — borrow 100 million dollars from the mafia for a week on fifty percent interest markup, live it up and then commit suicide after blowing the cash. In return Salva asks for 15 percent for his services.

With nothing to lose, Martin accepts the offer and gets the money by offering his life as collateral. He lives lavishly, spends millions at the drop of a hat, throws parties for complete strangers; which is where he meets the lovely Lola (the ravishing Salma Hayek). Martin falls for the waitress only to realize that it's too late for him to back out of his deal. The week is up, the money is gone and he can, in no possible way, repay the outstanding amount as, now, he doesn't want to die.

Although a dubbed movie, Living it up has seldom a dull moment. The lines are intelligent and director's grip turns it into a thoroughly enjoyable movie. Comes highly recommended for romantic cum thriller buffs though romance exceeds the thrills!