Ghost in the Shell - Movie Review

By: Hamza Shafique

 

 

 

Rupert Sanders’ Ghost in the Shell has been out for a while now and a lot of reviews are available already. So, to adjust my expectations, I checked Chris Stuckman’s (a famous ‘You Tuber’ with whom I agree the most) review of the film before going to cinema. There I found that this film is actually based on a Japanese animation. Chris Stuckman review of the old animated movie was so good that it automatically raised my expectations with the film. I automatically assumed this movie to be the next Matrix, with mind boggling plot, super high tech future and innovative action sequences. Ghost in the Shell is a brilliant film and has all expected elements but unfortunately due to few elements doesn't reach the level of Matrix .

 

May- Playlist (Movie Suggestions from May releases)

By: Hamza Shafique

May is yet again another an amazing month for cinema goers. The only thing is that there is no Indian or Pakistani film on my May playlist as there is no Pakistani release planned for UAE in May and I have excluded the only Indian release "Sarkar", purely because I don't like Ram Gopal Verma's style of film making. Also with the two big franchise releases, it became almost impossible for me to choose only 4 films for 4 Fridays of May (in line with the 1 film every Friday format of the segment). Some times I wonder that I have designed these segment formats, just to make things hard for my self, anyway here are top 4 movies which I have selected from my origional top 7 picks:

Throwback Thursday: Chitwan National Park Dec-2014

By: Hamza Shafique

An Elephant sand bathing - Elephant Breeding Center Chitwan National Park Nepal

I have so much to share from my past experiences (mostly travel) that I think it’s good to start a throwback segment. As Thursday is usually considered a day for Throwback, hence the name Throwback Thursday. For the very first post in this segment I have selected Chitwan National Park.

Sang-e-Mar Mar - Drama in Focus

By: Hamza Shafique

Regardless of what our politicians say but some things are reality. Bollywood films are famous across the border and similarly Pakistani dramas are also loved beyond boundaries. The proof of this is Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, the lead of Hum TV network drama serial “Humsafar” getting projects with Bollywood’s big names like Shahrukh Khan and Dharma productions.
Hum TV network has an official YouTube channel which makes it possible to watch legally it’s productions anywhere in the world. Pakistani dramas now a day have become repetitive and seems like following the pattern of Indian soaps. The protagonist is always very high on morals and antagonist is always the evilest being on earth. The balance of both that makes us human is usually missing but Sang-e-Mar Mar is different.

Noor - Movie Review

By: Hamza Shafique

Sunhil Sippy's Noor is a very down to earth coming-of-age drama in fact down to earth element is a lot more than subject requirement. Noor is adaptation of Saba Imtiaz 's book “Karachi, You Are Killing Me”, I haven’t read the book so can’t say how much creative liberty makers have taken here but Noor’ screenplay dwindles badly in second half. Noor is about a 28-year-old ambitious journalist who is struggling at every front in her life whether it be work, love life or any other daily routine stuff like a water heater. In her ambitious approach to find a story that can give her a big break, she messes up big time. Story then shifts focus from her millennial issues to her realization of mistakes and amending what has been done.

Chalay Thay Saath - Review by Aniq Arshad

"As the film didnot release in UAE so I asked one of my friend from Pakistan who runs a very successful Lollywood films blog to review it for me. I will offcourse review it once it will release here but for now check out what he has to say about the film."

Review By: Aniq Arshad

Chalay Thay Saath is different compared to usual Lollywood stories with main focus on bonds formed by love and friendship.

Social Connect with Osama Tahir

By: Hamza Shafique

Chalay Thay Saath is Lollywood or as you may call Pakistan’s Film Industry new hope to break the streak of Flops recently. Film has been released and winning hearts already. We have already done the social connect with Kent S. Leung and Faris Khalid. So to complete the trio ,here I have Social Connect with the last leading male cast member of the film, Osama Tahir.
  

Social Connect with Faris Khalid

By: Hamza Shafique

Chalay Thay Saath is Lollywood's or as you may call Pakistan’s Film Industry new hope to break the streak of Flops recently. With principal cast on promotional Pakistan tour, Chalay Thay Saath is becoming quite a sensation with in Pakistan. So, it’s natural for us to know more about cool people we see all over media and this automatically makes them perfect candidates for our Social Connect segment. We had already done the social connect with Kent S. Leung, and Faris Khalid also agreed when we contacted him over Instagram.

Light on Pocket but Heavy on Taste Dine-In Experience with Operation Falafel

By: Hamza Shafique

We have recently discovered Operation Falafel Dubai Boulevard and it has fast become one of my family's favorite dine in place in the area. Its location, ambience, food and cost all work superbly well for us and here is why.

Life Lessons from Dear Zindagi

By: Hamza Shafique

“Dear Zindagi” is a Gauri Shinde extravaganza, written, directed and produced by her and like her previous film “English Vinglish”, is thought provoking on so many levels. I am simply amazed by the way she manages to deal and present important issues entertainingly on silver screen.  

Life - Short Movie Review

By: Hamza Shafique

Desi Ratings: 3/5 Stars

I know I am bit late in writing review for Life and usually I don’t write reviews If I am this late in review game but I made an exception for Life only because It's super awesome. After a long while I have experienced some good suspense on screen. I will not call this movie a horror science fiction as all the elements of space technology and alien life form are believable and feel close to reality.

Fast and Furious 8 - Movie Review

By: Hamza Shafique

Desi Ratings : 3/5 Stars

Directed by: F.Gary Gray
Produced by: NEal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel, Michael Fottrel, Chris Morgan
Written by: Chris Morgan
Starring: Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson,Chris 'Ludacris" Bridges, Scott Eastwood, Kurt Russel, Charlize Theron

When did fast and furious evolved from Dom being the criminal to Dom being the Bond saving the world extravaganza? With every installment stakes get higher, cars get expensive, explosions get louder and Dom gets closer to Xander Cage from XXX. This is a summer popcorn flick specially designed to entertain and nothing else. Main aim of this franchise is always to bring thrilling car chase sequences embodied with super hero stunts along with slapstick humor wrapped with in a far-fetched plot and F. Gary Gray's Fast & Furious 8 perfectly delivers the expectation.

Social Connect with Mobeen Ansari

 By: Hamza Shafique

In late 2000’s I was an aspiring photographer and used to follow Mobeen Ansari’s work religiously on his personal Facebook account. I must say I have learned a lot from his work. Mobeen was working on his book “Dharkan-The heartbeat of a nation” at that time and was also involved in other minor projects like sculpturing and painting. By the time book launched in 2014 I guess, my passion for photography went on back burner and simultaneously I lost touch with Mobeen as well. I recently discovered Mobeen Ansari again on Instagram and thought it would be great to catchup.

Anyone for Bird Watching on a Budget at a Nature Reserve

By: Hamza Shafique

 

 

If you are looking for something different to do with your family and that too with in the budget then Wasit Wetland Center is perfect for you. I found about the facility on trip advisor and the idea of nature reserve converted to an aviary / learning center grabbed my attention.

Hindi Medium - Trailer Review

If a person has good command of English language, we Desis automatically assume that he/she belongs to an elite or educated back ground. This mentality has developed over hundreds of years of British colonialism and now everyone want his kid to be English Bao (gentleman). In my part of the world English language still defines a person’s class, just like the times of British Raj.  I may sound a hypocrite when I say this subject is very close to my heart, knowing that I write in English about the content that is mostly in Hindi/Urdu but I am honestly bothered by this fact which Saba Qamar rightly says in the trailer that it’s not a language it’s a Raj(royal) class.

Around the world at Global Village

By : Hamza Shafique

This Picture was reposted by official Global Village Instagram Account

Last weekend we went again to Global Village with family visiting from UK. Me and my Family Love Global village and it is the first place that we take our guests to. Global Village has a lot to offer and in almost every element possible in the entertainment zone. We decided to make a list of things we like about this season so that you all can make most of it before it closes for the season in just 4 days.

April - Playlist

April is another good month like March with so many releases to choose from. What’s different in April is that we have more Bollywood releases recommended compared to Hollywood and we can have one Lollywood release too.