Karthik calling Karthik, Teen Patti hit theatres today

Farhan Akhtar and Deepika Padukone starrer Karthik Calling Karthik releases this weekend alongwith Amitabh Bachchan and Ben Kingsley starrer Teen Patti. Hollywood has a line up of three movies this weeekend including Invictus, It's Complicated and Disney's The Princess and the Frog. Take your pick.

Hollywood-New Releases

Invictus

Clint Eastwood’s Invictus tells you many things about Nelson Mandela. That the revered ex-South African leader is a bully, a crook, an unrepentant terrorist. Only joking. It tells you that he’s a great statesman, a generous-hearted visionary, healer of a wounded nation. There may be some churls and BNP followers who’ll screw up their faces at this latter interpretation. Telegraph

Taking its name from William Henley's admittedly trite poem, which Mandela quotes here and there over the action, Invictus may occasionally be corny, but then there's no genre better suited for cheese than the sports drama. As Damon leads his team charging onto the field, we want our buttons to be pushed - the harder the better - and Clint doesn't disappoint. Mirror.co.uk

Where the film does drop the ball is in its absolute refusal to portray Mandela as anything other than a modern secular saint. However much you admire the man himself, when there's nothing but sunlight behind him your eyes begin to hurt. Independent

View the trailer here

It’s Complicated

The film is the latest from writer-director Nancy Meyers, who's been working through her issues on screen for at least 20 years, starting with Baby Boom in 1987 through Something's Gotta Give in 2003. But the vulnerability and smartness as well as the funny, with which she infused those films, are harder to find here. Instead she's given us her thinnest slice of comic relationship angst yet. Tonight
View the trailer here

The Princess and the Frog

The graphic work is simple and exquisite, Randy Newman's songs are lilting and amusing and there are sequences centring on Dr Facilier's black arts that are as scary as anything in Snow White and Pinocchio, which I intend as high praise. Guardian

It takes well over half an hour for the waitress and a visiting prince to be turned into amphibians by a voodoo witch doctor, and after that the writer-directors can't think of anything to do with them except turn them back again. But it's still a bright, peppy, lushly animated musical. If Disney is ever going to recapture some of the old magic, then The Princess and the Frog is a hop in the right direction. Independent

The princes, princesses, and of course the frogs that you would expect to see are there in all their glory, but the traditional fairy story has been given a new, vibrant lease of life. This incarnation takes place in 20s New Orleans with a voodoo shadow man, an alligator that plays jazz better than most people and a lovesick Cajun firefly. What more could you ask for? Varsity
View the trailer here

Bollywood-New Releases

Karthik Calling Karthik

he screenplay does tend to get a bit clunky and the drama somewhat heavy as the director looks for text book resolutions of the teasing problem. But, by and large, there is a thrill factor that keeps the momentum on.
In the mood for serious cinema? Watch Karthik Calling Karthik. The Times of India

For those familiar with Hollywood, this concept is an idea too late; you might not find Karthik calling Karthik all that exciting, having watched several films along the same lines. For others, this story may seem a fresh incentive indeed.
Either way, the film is worth your time for the gripping storytelling and marvelous performances. Recommended! Sify

Writer-director Vijay Lalwani has made KCK with a lot of love. Its Hollywood style treatment is good and so is the editing. It's an old story in a new format, but the humour in the dialogues makes it watchable. The cinematography also does the trick.IBNLive

View the trailer here

Teen Patti

The film is a taut thriller that's not only done with loads of style and attitude, it also showcases a fine ensemble cast of youngsters who represent the edginess of today's youth. And if that's not enough, there's further enticement in the character and currently in-form status of Amitabh Bachchan, who is hell bent on a second, third and fourth coming. The Times of India

A number of sequences are deftly executed. But how one wished Leena would learn the art of narrating stories within commercial parameters. Aseem Bajaj's cinematography is striking. The visuals are simply incredible. Screen India
View the trailer here

DVD Reccomendation

For those who would like to laze around this long weekend, Stuff India recommends The Hangover

The Hangover

You’ll probably watch this movie with high expectations, given its immense popularity. But do yourself a favour, and keep those hopes down. It’s a hilarious movie, don’t get us wrong, but don’t spend your time waiting for the next joke. Just watch and enjoy. (Reccomendation by Yooti Bhansali, features editor, Stuff India)

View the trailer here