SumanShakya

90s saw the remakes or influences from several Hollywood movies, most of which didn't fare very well in the box-office. Well, "Agni Shakshi" is one of the few movies that were accepted by the audience. It's based on "Sleeping with the Enemy," which saw three consecutive remakes including "Yaarana" and "Daraar."

"Agnisakshi" is the story of a woman who fakes her identity to escape from her abusive husband, which isn't revealed till the second half of the film shrouding a suspense. The film has both ups and downs for which I have a mixed response for this film, but still I feel it's a welcome entry for the 90s which grew tired of the regular pot-boilers. The film too has stale gimmicks and nuances are lacking. Yet the film can't be fully criticized for the superb performance of Manisha Koirala and Nana Patekar (though the film belongs to the latter). There are some fine moments, thrills, but not enough to liberate it fully from its mediocrity.

Rating: 1 star out of 4.

80s tried to devour box-office through face values of the stars, and Yash Chopra was no exception to it with his attempt on multi-starrers including Faasle (wasn't that bad), Vijay and Parampara, which all bombed at the box-office. Until the story is good or logical, the stars aren't able to save a movie, that's what all these flops showed us.

Vijay has an ensemble of top stars, but it still doesn't work. The first reason is the implausibility of the story, which feels illogical at several instances. The second reason is the casting with Anupam Kher miscast as an aged business tycoon, who looks much younger on screen to Rishi Kapoor cast as his grandson or to Rajesh Khanna cast as his son-in-law. (though he won the Filmfare award for the role, how???). The film should have left its impact had the role given to Dilip Kumar or Sunil Dutt (who both appeared in Yash Chopra's earlier films). The third reason is obviously the clichés over Yash Chopra's fabulous direction, which don't work either, may that be the cheaper villains, the songs, or the romantic interludes which all are a misfit in the film. The result is the film fails to grip despite few taut scenes in between and remains one of the forgettable films of Yash Chopra. But that doesn't matter, as he bounced back with "Chandni," "Lamhe,' and "Darr," which returned his essence on the screen.

Rating: 1 star out of 4.

After watching "Like Father, Like Son" last week, turned into this Hirokazu Kore-eda's film and just like the former film, I was totally mesmerized watching this wonderful film. Like many of the Kore-eda films I watched, it explores the voids in family relationships and its redemption.

This time it's about the desires of two brothers living separately with their divorced parents and their deep desire to complete the family, which takes you the fabulous world of childhood filled with innocence and untold aspirations. Just like some relationships that fail to mend and only some miracles can do the wonders, the two brothers fantasize a miracle to wish on when two bullet trains pass through an intersection for which they make a strategy which far surpasses the tactics of an adult. Aside the wonderful story it weaves, the Japanese lifestyle it depicts through the place of Shinkanshen in people's life does the wonders in the film. Leisurely paced and beautifully acted, the film is to stay with you for days for the love the film is made with.

Rating: 3 stars out of 4.