Sachin Chatte

Directed by Mohit Suro, Saiyaara is a love story that seems to exist solely within the realm of cinema. Where else can you see a character stating, “Dil se banaya gaana hain, feelings hain isme” (The song is crafted from the heart, it embodies emotions) with a straight face and in all seriousness? Or lines like, “Tumse milne ke baad mera dard beh gaya” (My sorrows have washed away after meeting you), as Vani Batra expresses to Krish Kapoor.

Following the release of Man of Steel (2013) and the critically panned Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), which failed to perform well at the box office, the Kryptonian superhero was granted a hiatus. This film has been in the works for some time; however, when Justice League (2017) encountered production difficulties, the sequel to Man of Steel was also sidelined. James Gunn, who directed the three Guardians of the Galaxy films for Marvel, has transitioned to D.C. with this new Superman project. Although Guardians franchise featured a team of superheroes while this one primarily focuses on a solo hero (with the Justice gang making a brief appearance), there is a significant difference in the tone of the two movies. Guardians was predominantly a light-hearted film that utilized humor to navigate its narrative, whereas Superman does not follow the same pattern. He faces a serious mission to thwart the nefarious schemes of Lex Luthor. With Lois Lane present, there is an opportunity to incorporate some romantic elements, and some of the most delightful moments arise from Krypto, the Superdog. . But otherwise, Superman plays it by the numbers.

When Steven Spielberg directed Jurassic Park (1993), inspired by Michael Crichton’s novel, it marked a significant turning point in cinema. Never before had such visual effects been used combined with a thrilling story told in a masterly manner. Although technology has advanced over the years, the depiction of dinosaurs remains largely unchanged, and the storytelling has not seen any remarkable enhancements.

When Anurag Basu made Life in a….Metro (2007) it was like a fresh breeze of air. The narratives of individuals within a city possessed a unique charm, and the storytelling effectively captured your interest. Metro… In Dino serves as a spiritual sequel to that film, adhering to the same format of an anthology of stories. However, with a runtime exceeding 160 minutes, it loses momentum in the latter half, undermining the foundations laid in the first half.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, who previously directed the Top Gun sequel a few years back, F1: The Movie features a sportsperson (can a Formula 1 driver truly be referred to as a ‘sportsperson’?) returning from retirement in pursuit of glory. While the premise may not seem particularly original, it is the storytelling that sustains this film throughout a significant portion of its 155-minute runtime.

The zombies have returned following a significant hiatus. Although it did not initially present itself as a zombie series in 2001 with 28 Days Later, it gradually evolved into one. Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland stepped away from their respective positions for the sequel 28 Weeks Later (2007), but they have returned for 28 Years Later, a stylishly crafted post-apocalyptic thriller.

A film that entertains, tugs your heart strings, addresses important societal issues and retains the feel-good factor, has become increasingly rare in Bollywood. Even though it is a remake of the 2018 Spanish film Champions (which also had a Hollywood remake with Woody Harrelson, a few years later) Sitaare Zameen Par, with all its highs and lows, manages to come out triumphant.

Stolen is a rare film in Hindi cinema that maintains a clear focus on its central issue and is executed with precision. There is no unnecessary meandering, nor are there any subplots that detract from the main narrative – this is a meaty film.