Bluff Movie Review

Here is a synthesis of the critical consensus and reviews for Priyanka Chopra Jonas's new movie, The Bluff, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video on February 25, 2026:

The Premise

Set in the 1840s Caribbean, The Bluff follows Ercell (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), a former fearsome pirate known as "Bloody Mary" who has buried her violent past to live a peaceful life as a devoted wife and mother on the island of Cayman Brac. Her tranquil life is shattered when her former captain and mentor, Connor (Karl Urban), arrives with his ruthless crew to settle old scores. To protect her family, Ercell is forced to resurrect her deadly skills and fight back.

The Good: Action and Star Power

• Priyanka's Fierce Performance: Critics are practically unanimous in praising Priyanka Chopra Jonas. She is the undeniable anchor of the film, delivering a highly physical, committed, and gritty performance. She handles the intense, MacGyver-style combat with absolute conviction, proving her chops as a formidable action star.

• Brutal, R-Rated Action: Directed by Frank E. Flowers and produced by the Russo Brothers, the film doesn't shy away from the grisly reality of pirate life. The action sequences are visceral, bloody, and intricately choreographed, giving the movie a gritty slasher or Die Hard survival feel rather than a family-friendly Disney adventure.

• Lush Production Values: The film looks expensive and expansive. The sweeping coastal landscapes, pirate lore, and weather-beaten production design successfully immerse viewers in the 19th-century Caribbean setting.

The Bad: Script and Pacing

• A Predictable Plot: While the action hits hard, the writing is widely considered the film's weakest link. Critics note that the story is highly formulaic, relying heavily on familiar revenge-thriller tropes and genre clichés.

• Lack of Emotional Depth: The film rushes from one set piece to the next without giving the characters enough room to breathe. The complex, shared history between Ercell and the antagonist, Captain Connor, is hinted at but never fully explored, making the emotional stakes feel surface-level.

• Underutilized Villain: Despite Karl Urban's natural menace and screen presence, critics felt his character was constrained by a tropey script, leaving him feeling more like a generic bad guy than a truly memorable villain.

The Verdict

The Bluff is a watchable, fast-paced swashbuckler that serves as an excellent showcase for Priyanka Chopra Jonas's action capabilities. While it suffers from a thin, paint-by-numbers script that prevents it from becoming a classic, it delivers exactly what it promises: brutal, high-stakes pirate action and a thoroughly entertaining lead performance.

ASSI movie reviews

Anubhav Sinha’s Assi, which released on February 20, 2026, is a heavy-hitting courtroom drama that takes a sharp, unflinching look at India’s rape crisis and the systemic rot that surrounds it. The title itself—Assi (meaning 80)—refers to the grim statistic of eighty reported sexual assaults in India every day.

The Plot & Themes

The story follows Parima (Kani Kusruti), a Malayali school teacher living in Delhi with her husband Vinay (Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub) and their young son. After being abducted and gang-raped by five men in a moving car, Parima is left to navigate a harrowing legal battle.

Taapsee Pannu stars as Raavi, a steely and cynical lawyer who takes up Parima's case. Unlike typical "heroic" legal dramas, Assi focuses on the grueling reality of a system where evidence is easily tampered with, DNA samples don't match, and the accused use societal indifference to their advantage.

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Cast Performances

The film is being praised primarily for its ensemble cast:

• Kani Kusruti: Critics have called her the "soul" of the film, delivering a devastatingly effective performance as a survivor who refuses to be shamed.

• Taapsee Pannu: Returning to the "black coat" after Mulk, she is noted for her maturity and "steely resolve."

• Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub: He plays the husband with a quiet, supportive strength that subverts traditional "masculine" tropes in Indian cinema.

• Supporting Cast: Stalwarts like Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, and Revathy (as the judge) provide grounded, high-quality performances.

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Critical Consensus

Aspect	Reception
Direction	Anubhav Sinha is praised for his "audacious" and "sharpened" syntax, though some critics feel he occasionally loses focus with side subplots.
Tone	Unflinching and unsettling. It is not a "comfortable" watch and is designed to provoke anger and discomfort.
Pacing	The first half is described as a gripping thriller, while the second half (the legal battle) is seen by some as slightly inconsistent or wandering.
Rating	Generally hovering between 3.0 to 4.0 stars depending on the publication.

Should You Watch It?

• Watch it if: You appreciate socially conscious cinema like Pink, Mulk, or Thappad. It’s a powerful interrogation of everyday patriarchy and institutional complicity.

• Skip it if: You are sensitive to depictions of sexual violence or are looking for lighthearted entertainment. The film is intentionally disturbing and triggering.

As the film puts it, silence is not an option, but it also offers no easy answers or neat resolutions.

Mardani 3 Movie review

 Released on January 30, 2026, Mardaani 3 has garnered mixed-to-positive reviews, currently holding an average critic rating of 3.5/5 stars. While Rani Mukerji’s performance is universally hailed as a powerhouse "star turn," the film’s narrative has faced some criticism for falling into predictable patterns in its second half.

Critic and Audience Sentiment

• The Positives: Critics from NDTV and Bollywood Hungama have praised Rani Mukerji for her "ferocious and emotionally razor-sharp" portrayal of Shivani Shivaji Roy. The first half is widely described as a taut, gripping thriller that successfully tackles the dark world of the beggar mafia and child trafficking.

• The Critiques: Some reviews, including those from The Hindu and The Indian Express, noted that the film "loses steam" after the interval. Critics pointed out that the plot shifts into a more generic "massy" grammar, with a late-stage foreign conspiracy angle that felt less grounded than the franchise's previous entries.

• Comparison: Many fans have compared the film's tone to Delhi Crime, noting its grim and realistic atmosphere, though some felt the villain in this installment (Amma, played by Mallika Prasad) didn't receive as much development as the antagonists in the first two films.

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Review Summary Table

Publication	Rating	Key Takeaway
Bollywood Hungama	3.5/5	A powerful, hard-hitting thriller that stays true to the franchise.
NDTV	3.5/5	One of the finest performances in Rani Mukerji’s 30-year career.
Hindustan Times	3/5	Rani keeps you seated, but the thriller isn't the sharpest in the series.
The Indian Express	2/5	Criticized for over-writing and predictable plot-points.
IMDb (User)	7.6/10	Generally well-received by audiences for its realistic sets and tension.

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Box Office Update

As of February 17, 2026, the film is performing steadily:

• India Net Collection: ~₹44.75 crore.

• Worldwide Gross: Over ₹64 crore.

• Status: It has already crossed the lifetime collection of the original Mardaani and is expected to hit the ₹50 crore mark in India soon.

O Romeo movie review

The 2024 film "O Romeo" is a modern-day romantic drama that attempts to breathe new life into the classic "star-crossed lovers" trope. While it borrows its thematic DNA from Shakespeare, it swaps the balcony for the digital age, focusing on the complexities of love in a world of social media and cultural expectations.

Here is a breakdown of the film:

1. The Plot

The story follows Romeo, a charming but somewhat disillusioned young man, and his counterpart, who comes from a vastly different socio-economic background. Unlike the original tragedy, this film focuses more on the internal conflicts of the characters—dealing with parental pressure, career ambitions, and the "noise" of modern dating.

2. Performances

• The Lead Pair: The chemistry between the leads is the film's strongest asset. They manage to make the instant-connection trope feel earned rather than forced.

• Supporting Cast: The actors playing the parents provide a grounded, sometimes frustratingly realistic portrayal of traditional values clashing with modern desires.

3. Direction and Visuals

The director opts for a vibrant, almost "dream-like" color palette during the romantic sequences, which contrasts sharply with the muted, sterile tones of their professional lives.

• Pacing: The first half is a breezy romantic comedy.

• Tone Shift: The second half takes a sharper, more dramatic turn as the consequences of their choices catch up to them.

4. The Verdict

The Good:

• Fresh take on a very old story.

• Strong soundtrack that complements the emotional beats.

• Relatable dialogue that doesn't feel overly poetic or theatrical.

The Not-So-Good:

• Some subplots involving side characters feel underdeveloped.

• The ending has received mixed reactions; some find it poignant, while others feel it’s a bit abrupt.

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Overall Rating: 3.5/5 It’s a solid watch if you enjoy contemporary romances that aren't afraid to get a little messy. It’s less about "death by poison" and more about the "death of expectations." 

Border 2 Movie Review

 Border 2 has just been released (January 23, 2026) and early reviews are pouring in. The film is a spiritual sequel to the iconic 1997 war film Border, directed by Anurag Singh and set during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

Here is a summary of the critical reception and audience reaction so far:

Homebound Movie Review

Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound has received widespread critical acclaim since its release in September 2025. Critics are calling it a "soul-stirring" and "deeply empathetic" masterpiece, with many comparing its emotional weight to Ghaywan’s debut, Masaan.

Critical Consensus

The film holds a rare 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 85, indicating universal acclaim. Most critics praise the film for tackling systemic issues like caste and religious identity through a deeply personal, human lens rather than a preachy one.

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Review Highlights

• Performances: * Ishaan Khatter (Shoaib): Described as a "career-defining" and "magnetic" performance. Critics noted his ability to portray the quiet rage and practical desperation of a young Muslim man.

  • Vishal Jethwa (Chandan): Hailed as an "absolute revelation." His portrayal of a Dalit youth hiding his identity to escape exclusion was praised for its raw honesty and restraint.

  • Janhvi Kapoor (Sudha): Though her role is relatively small, she is noted for being "sincere" and providing a crucial perspective on female education and ambition within marginalized communities.

• Direction & Writing: Reviewers from The Hindu and Variety highlighted Ghaywan’s ability to capture "subtle indignities" and "daily injustices" without resorting to melodrama. The dialogue, co-written by Varun Grover, is described as incisive and deeply affecting.

• Technical Finesse: Pratik Shah’s cinematography is frequently mentioned for its "unflinching" look at the harsh realities of rural India and the grueling journey of migrant workers during the lockdown.

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Score Summary

Publication	Rating	Verdict
The Times of India	5 / 5	"Filmmaking at its finest... a soul-stirring observation."
The Indian Express	3.5 / 5	"Offers compassion and cautious optimism we desperately need."
Rediff	4 / 5	"Deeply moving... the simmering anger is not sanitized."
WION	Positive	"A triumph of empathy... stays with you long after the film ends."

What the Critics Say

"Homebound hits like a thunderbolt... It not only compels you to confront your own privilege but also lays bare the complex layers of gender-based disparity." — Times of India

"The first time in ages that a mainstream Hindi-language production has felt vital... a searing indictment of modern India." — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety

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A Note for Viewers

While the film is heartbreaking and deals with the brutal reality of the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, reviewers emphasize that it is a story of friendship and resilience rather than just tragedy. It avoids "poverty porn" by focusing on the agency and dreams of its lead characters.

Homebound is currently available to stream on Netflix (released on November 21, 2025).

Dhurandhar Movie Review

The reviews for the movie Dhurandhar are generally positive, with critics and audience members praising its intensity, performances, and production.

Here's a summary of the key points from the reviews:

Movie Review of film Haq

Haq (meaning "Right" or "Claim"), a Hindi courtroom drama, has generally received positive reviews from critics. It is heavily inspired by the landmark Shah Bano case of the 1980s, which dealt with maintenance rights for divorced Muslim women in India.

Here is a summary of the critical reception:

Overall Consensus

• Powerful and Restrained: Critics largely praised the film for its mature and restrained handling of a highly sensitive and complex socio-legal subject. It avoids

Movie Review of Film 120 Bahadur

 The movie 120 Bahadur is a historical war drama that recounts the true story of the Battle of Rezang La during the 1962 Sino-Indian War. The film focuses on the valor of 120 soldiers from the Charlie Company of the 13 Kumaon Regiment, led by Major Shaitan Singh Bhati (played by Farhan Akhtar), who defended their post against a massive Chinese force.

Here is a summary of the general reception and key points from the reviews:

Key Strengths (Widely Praised)

• Visuals and Technical Execution: The cinematography (by Tetsuo Nagata) is consistently praised for capturing the brutal, high-altitude terrain of Ladakh and for crafting visually stunning, realistic battle sequences. The film's technical brilliance is highlighted by many.

• The Battle Sequences: The extended action-heavy climax and the depiction of the last stand are widely

Movie review of Dhadak 2

Dhadak 2 is a romantic drama film, a spiritual sequel to 2018's Dhadak and a remake of the acclaimed 2018 Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal. It was released theatrically on August 1, 2025, and later on OTT.

Movie Reviews released in Sep-Oct 2025

The  most prominent recent Hindi/multi-language releases with reviews are:

 

 1. Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 (2025) Genre: Action, Mythological Fantasy, Prequel (originally a Kannada film, released in multiple languages including Hindi) Synopsis: The film is a prequel to the 2022 hit Kantara and explores the origins of the Daiva tradition and the divine spirit

Chakravyuh - Hindi Movie Review and Critics Ratings

This is a movie review of the Hindi film "Chakravyuh".

Average Rating: 2.7/5 (Based on web reviews)

Synopsis:

The film follows three friends from police training, Adil Khan (Arjun Rampal), Rhea Menon (Esha Gupta), and Kabir (Abhay Deol). After Kabir is expelled, Adil becomes a police officer in a Naxal-infested area. When his honest efforts are thwarted by the Naxal leader Rajan (Manoj Bajpayee), Adil hatches a plan with Kabir to infiltrate the Naxal group. The film attempts to explore various complex issues but is criticized for a weak script and mixed performances.

Review Highlights:

• Acting:

  • Arjun Rampal: The reviews offer conflicting opinions. One review calls his performance "wooden" and "unintentionally hilarious," while another hails it as his "most accomplished act" and an "eye-opener."

  • Abhay Deol: He is generally praised for his competent and nuanced portrayal of a character who looks "vulnerable and determined."

  • Manoj Bajpayee: His performance as the Naxal leader is widely lauded for its "depth" and ability to leave the audience "awe-struck."

  • Anjali Patil: Described as a "complete revelation" and a "prized find" for her "furious and power-packed performance."

  • Esha Gupta: Her performance is criticized as not being "convincing enough" for the role, with a suggestion that a more mature actress would have been better suited.

  • Om Puri: His acting is praised as "exceptional," with his look, expressions, and dialogue delivery all standing out.

  • Supporting Cast: Murli Sharma, Kabir Bedi, Chetan Pandit, S.M. Zaheer, and Kiran Karmarkar are also mentioned for their effective performances.

• Direction & Script:

  • The film is directed by Prakash Jha, who is acknowledged for his ability to create engaging and entertaining dramas around "burning issues."

  • However, the script is considered a weak point, with one review stating the film "gets bogged down" by trying to grapple with too many issues.

  • "Chakravyuh" is also seen as a victim of "typical Bollywood excesses," with a suggestion that it could have worked better with "a little more subtlety, a little less jingoism."

Overall Verdict:

The reviews present a mixed bag. While some find the film to be an "engaging drama" that is both topical and entertaining, others feel it falls short due to a flawed script and uneven performances, particularly from the lead actor Arjun Rampal and Esha Gupta.