Here's the review on the sequel to the illusion-themed heist thriller: Now You See Me 2 With only one slight change in the female member of the Horsemen (Isla Fisher gives way for Lizzy Caplan), the quartet of illusionists/tricksters/robbers-turn-to-Robin-Hood are back to blow off hidden agendas and cruel intentions of white-collared billionaires and fraudsters. When one of their stage performances to uncover the deceit by a tech mogul goes horribly wrong, they are forcibly recruited by tech maniac/wizard Walter Mabry (Daniel Radcliffe) to steal a chip that can read and have access to every computer in the planet- a typical thread that forms the crux of every heist/sci-fi/spy thrillers. The plot becomes even more messier with more characters- Chase McKinney, evil twin of Merrit McKinney (Woody Harrelson), Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine), looking to tie old strings. The writers try to wedge part-cooked subplots, those of Dylan Rhodes' (Mark Ruffalo) still-not-over ve...

 The movie adaptation of this once addiction-inducing game was met with much hype at the time of its release. Here's how it came off to me, as a critic and an audience.   In the paradise-like Bird Island, inhabited by flightless birds who revere the Great Eagle, Red  ( Jason Sudeikis), the thick eyebrow-ed bird is isolated by his brethren as a result of his mild temper.  At the last point of desperation, he is "banished" to an anger management class where he is joined two other famous characters from the mobile game- Chuck (Josh Gad) and Bomb (Danny McBride): both with their own genuine problems of short temper. The trio form the primary title group.  The Utopia in Bird Island is disrupted by the enigmatic arrival of the Bad Piggies, who do not appear to be one; they bemuse the bird community with their clever antics and inventions. But the loner of the community, Red begins to suspect the swine clan more than anyone. The audience is catapulted into the...

The third installment of this popular and entertaining franchise ventures into new  story lines, characters and plot themes but with the same old star-studded voice cast. Here's the review of Kung Fu Panda 3 - the first in a series of reviews on animated movies.      The film once again starts off with Po (Jack Black) the panda's antiques that border around his clumsiness and neglect. He fails to realize the true potential of a Dragon Warrior, which he was ordained in the exhilarating first installment. In time, Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), the composed kung fu trainer decides to go into a sabbatical and hands over the role of teacher to Po, who is much reluctant to take up the job. But he confronts moral confusion when his biological father (Bryan Cranston) resurfaces and Kai (J.K Simmons), a nefarious power maniac begins to threaten the Valley with his supernatural and mystical powers.   One advantage of producing an animated film is...