Movies This Month: Dark Shadows, Department, Ishaqzaade and Men in Black 3

Dark Shadows

Eat your shorts Edward Cullen, there is a new vampire in town and his girl will blow Bella out of the water

If blood is what does it for you, there is a little bit of a buffet waiting for you this month. The extremely talented Mr. Johnny Depp dons the role of blood-sucking vampire and Depp’s face with white make-up, is far more realistic than Cullen’s I have never seen the sun or tan look. That however isn’t the reason you will be watching the movie – no sir, it’s Eva Green (the Bond lass from Casino Royale) essaying the role of Angelique Bouchard and of course the fact that it’s a Tim Burton film.

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Based on the book of the same name, the movie features time transcending tale of Barnabas Collins, a vampire from the 18th century. An American playboy, he crosses paths with a witch who curses him to become a vampire. Unearthed in 1972, Barnabas finds himself thrown in the uneasy company of his 19th century relatives – a middle-aged man, his suspecting wife and two American siblings. Things get spicy when the witch re-appears as a powerful businesswoman, still infatuated with Barnabas, hoping to get some after a dry spell that has lasted centuries. Now, Barnabas must fight off her sparingly subtle seductions.

Dark Shadows hits the theatres on May 11, 2012.

Department

Another film from RGV that delves upon the subject ‘Mumbai’. Need we say any more!

In keeping with Ram Gopal Verma’s higher calling in life – making a movie on everything even remotely interested about the Mumbai underworld comes another movie celebrating Mumbai’s dark side.

To break the monotony of his previous work, director-cum-producer has tried to do a Richie – introduce just a smidgen of humour as is evident in the role of Sarjerao Gaikwad, a gangster-turned politician played by Amitabh Bachchan. Just imagine Sarkar with a sense of humor and that should do it.

Belonging to the ‘Messiah Police Department vs Criminal minds of Mumbai’ genre of movies, the movie features Sanjay Dutt – as the know-it-all veteran cop of Mumbai police force, assisted by Rana Daggubati – the faithful recruit.

The teasers show some gruelling action shots, gangsters with a twisted sense of humour, racy encounter scenes and a quirky politician with an interesting perspective on things. The score is racy and loaded with deafening beats. Made on a budget of approximately ₹20 crore, Verma will be tied up in knots hoping this one doesn’t go the Sholay way.

Department is out on May 18, 2012.

Ishaqzaade

Is a beard all it takes to become a young superstar these days? Arjun Kapoor is banking on it

Yash Raj Films –the ones with dancing around the trees and introducing new talent fame are back with a new face – the fat to fit Arjun Kapoor. The movie though is not about how Salman Khan taught him to work out, but a boy and a girl who are born to hate each other, however, over due course of time they fall in love. The girl in this case happens to be Praneeti Chopra (from Ladies Vs Ricky Behl).

It is then the actual tumultuous journey unfolds in a rural setting where people are drawn apart by dirty politics and politicians. Sounds like any other run-of-the-mill film? Frankly, it’s not the most original concept - but you’ve got to do something on weekends.

Making up for the lacklustre chronicle, Yash Raj Films brings on board award-winning crew to give the best treatment. Amit Trivedi who has composed tracks for films like Dev D and Udaan – Chokra Jawaan and Qawwali are already topping charts - gives a rustic-feel to the album, keeping in mind the setting. Sham Kaushal known for films like Krrish and Kaminey has directed the highly intense action scenes.

Pitted against Hollywood flick Dark Shadows, it has an upper hand at the box office, as it has more mass appeal than Depp’s vampire movie.

Ishaqzaade is out on May 11.

Men In Black III

The guys in black suits are back. And unlike the American Secret Service they don’t care about Puerto Rican Hookers.

The original bad asses who make boring black suits look good are back after 10 long years with their cool cars, their secret elevators and their grimy opponents. This time they are going back in time to kick alien asses or whatever it is that they crap out of.

Will Smith returns as Agent J who must travel back in time to 1969 to save his partner Agent K aka Kevin Brown played by Tommy Lee Jones (the younger K is played by Josh Brolin). An alien criminal murders the young Agent K changing the timeline and Agency and putting the Earth in grave danger. Agent J has to travel back in time, on time to save Brown and thereby achieve his regular objective – saving the earth from certain Annihilation.

Just like American Reunion, the cast and crew return to bring back the experience created by the first flick. This one though is like everything else in the times we live in – 3D.

The third installment in the Men In Black series, which was based on Marvel’s comic book of the same name, also stars Emma Thompson, Alice Eve and Jemaine Clement in the cast. Barry Sonnenfeld makes a comeback as the director, while Steven Spielberg once again keeps the accounts.

The trailers have received mixed reviews, with some criticising it for twisting the established facts, changing the location of the headquarters and not selecting the right actors for the young characters. But MIB is a bit like Terminator- you’d still watch it at least once no matter how bad they screw it up.

MIB 3 is out on May 25

From the May 2012 issue of FHM India.