The Monuments Men : A Disppointing Quest

Towards the end of WWII, while the allied forces are successfully marching towards Berlin , there is the fear that the Germans might destroy the valuable works of art which were looted and stolen by them. With those marvels, an entire chapter of human excellence might get lost forever. A special task force comprising of art experts is formed with the aim of recovering the 'monuments' before they are destroyed by the Germans or acquired by the Russians. But is it worth risking human lives for  lifeless monuments?

The Monuments Men , directed and co-written by George Clooney , rests on this interesting premise. It is  based on the  the quest and adventures  of  the Monuments Men.  But the the story moves at  snail's pace and has hardly any interesting sequence which could keep the audience guessing. It requires a lot of courage to sail through the two hour film. The background score is equally disappointing . The film boasts of an impressive star-cast which , apart from Clooney himself, includes Matt Damon and Cate Blanchett.  But contrary to the expectations, it fails to impress and is a big disappointment. 

My Rating : 2/5

Highway : A Complicated Journey

With Highway, Imtiaz Ali  explores yet another dimension of Love. The fondness developed  in one of the most unusual circumstances. A feeling which is difficult to understand or justify and may sound completely irrational. But the impressive performances by the lead actors combined with the picturesque locations and magnificent camerawork leave you speechless. Randeep Hooda has always been an understated actor and has showcased his brilliance  His silence speaks a thousand words. Alia Bhatt has proved that she is much more than a cute little barbie doll. 

    

Veera (Alia) , a bubbly girl from a rich and powerful family, is kidnapped by Mahaveer (Hooda) and his men. But she finds solace with her kidnappers . She feels like a bird liberated from a golden cage and wants to go away from the fake world of lies and abuses. She doesn't want to go back, neither does she want to reach any destination. The captivity makes her feel free for the first time in her life. There begins her journey with Mahaveer, who initially sees her as  a bait for hefty ransom but later submits to her innocence and cheerfulness. A journey that takes you from highways to the breathtaking scenic altitudes. The beautiful terrains are well supported by the magical background score.

Highway scores high on the emotional quotient and  also raises the issue of child abuse in a strong manner . The locations will tempt you to take a break from your usual  routine and go on a journey of self discovery. But given it's slow pace, it  may not strike  a chord with all sections of audience. 

My Rating : 3.5/5