Jungle tales

The long awaited `Kaal' and sequel to the hugely popular `XXX' hit the screen

Kaal (Hindi)

We have heard all about Shah Rukh Khan's item number with the sizzling hot Malaika Arora in Kaal.

Then we had John Abraham and Vivek Oberoi talking on Koffee with Karan about shooting for the film - Karan is not above plugging his production in show! The film is set in the Jim Corbett National Park where ace conservationist Krish Thapar (John Abraham) and wife Riya (Esha Deol) are hired to solve the mysterious deaths caused by man-eating tigers.

They meet up with Dev (Vivek Oberoi) and his girlfriend (Lara Dutta) who have come to the park for a holiday. The jungle is super dangerous and the only person who can get them out alive is the mysterious Kali Pratap Singh (Ajay Devgan).

Directed by Soham Shah who has assisted both Karan Johar and Ramgopal Varma, the film marks Dharma Productions maiden foray into the thriller genre.

Theatres: Parameshwari, Sensation, Ramakrishna

XXX- 2 (English)

Vin Diesel as Xander Cage made for a delightfully appealing secret agent.

With the lovely combination of buff tattooed body and soft melting puppy dog eyes, he was XXX, the reluctant super spy who saved the world in breathless style. Like in Fast and Furious, Diesel does not appear in the sequel (it is all about money honey) and one wonders how much of the film he carried on those brawny biceps.

Too Fast, too Furious was a pale shadow of the original. Here rapper Ice Cube steps into Diesel's shoes while Samuel L Jackson reprises his role as Augustus Gibbons.

The film is directed by Lee Tamahori who also helmed the last Bond caper - Die Another Day, which was the coldest of the hot franchise.

Hope XXX - State of the Union (simply called XXX - 2 here) will fare better.

Theatres: Sangeet, Skyline

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