Shaun of the Dead (2004) (6/10)

A British comedy about ordinary folk in extra-ordinary conditions viz. surrounded by zombies. Some parts are funny, most others are mundane. But its different. Sometimes it is difficult to tell apart the zombies, and that is one of the points. Its only 99 minutes and would have been a drag had it dragged on. The romance aspect is what keeps the world together, whether you are alive, half-alive, about to be zombified, or actually a zombie. And Shaun is no exception ...

Prometheus (I) (2012) (5/10)

A thoughtless movie about alleged origin of humans (or human DNA to be precise) seeded from "far flung dark part of the universe" which is of course a constellation within our own Galaxy. The journey to this place is actually completely uneventful with a wealthy geriatric, a commander, two scientists, two engineers, three people running the ship and an obviously HALsque persona.

On the distant planet (or its moon actually) which they reach without encountering anyone else, they meet strange things which I will not go into to save the suspense except for saying that advanced species are unlikely to do that (they may, no, will, have wars, but this wasn't war - it seemed to have no purpose). The good thing was that they do not conjure up additional people who will get killed when the time comes (like in 'Lost').

Clearly there is to be  a sequel. Saying that all will be revealed there is equally senseless if the first movie is simply meant as an intro to the characters and ill-posing the question itself. Overall, a blot in the name of sci-fi (or even sci-fantasy). What, you say its just about aliens? May be so, but apart from a different location, and an alleged different purpose, what is the difference? 

Looper (2012) (5/10)

The movie has an interesting premise - sending unneeded people back in time to be killed by hired guns. The people sent back are sent back with payment for the "job". Sometimes you have to have this killers killed and that is precisely where the problem begins - as one would expect.

If they had restricted themselves to the loops and created as many paradoxes and complexities as they wanted, it would have been fine. But they bring in the supernatural in terms of telekinesis which takes the plot for a ride and makes the movie passe from potentially good.

The Thirteenth Floor (1999) (7/10)

It starts with an intriguing concept of building a simulation of the past with lifelike beings. It naturally shifts to allowing the programmers to interact with this unreal world. So far nothing out of the ordinary. But then there are hints of the beings in the simulated world realizing that they may not be real. The fun starts there with one such being in particular wanting to climb into the real world.

The way the consciousnesses are exchanged between the two worlds, it makes interesting things possible, and the story is built around that with many loops, seeming exceptions, and a good handling of the concept. The simulation part is in a vague way like that in 'matrix', but the mechanism bears a closer resemblance to  'Being John Malkovich' and definitely to many aspects in 'The Mind's I'. How do I know I am not someone's dream.

talaash तलाश (2012) (5/10)

talaash तलाश is a Aamir Khan movie in which he seems to hang the principles people seem to suppose he possesses. Some spoilers after this sentence completes, so don't read beyond the fullstop if you plan to watch the movie but just be warned that it is not worth watching anyway. The acting is good, the story seems good initially but then it starts clinging to supernatural stuff, the last thing the Indian masses need from someone like Aamir. The movie is slow in the middle though it keeps moving. Some inexplicable bits are interspersed and some mysterious ones, essentially deliberate wrong leads.

The dog right at the start suggests something supernatural but it seemed more alien like - but I guess that is a bit too much to expect. Mediums, and ghosts, and opening car doors inside water despite the large pressure. This is not what one has come to expect from Aamir. But he is a showman, said someone. Really? Isn't he in idol? The review may be a bit misdirected, but somewhat on purpose. तलाश - द लाश.