tale of two movies

After a long long time, I watched two movies back to back... and my reaction goes below:

Uttama Villain:

Best part of the movie was casting and acting. Every one has done very well. Never imagined Pooja character to show such varied emotions. But I did not like Nasser's role. He has done this so many times and there was nothing new.

I was especially happy for MS Bhaskar as Chokku. He deserves many more good movies like that.

Kamal - as always, very good. Letter reading and make up removal scene - shows the directorial touch and the way he hides the son's face to show his emotion only - raja thanthiram (vambu)

Kamal has tried to trigger autobiographical over tone... donno how much it would be debated in dining tables ... I would NOT like to speculate and who is who !

Dislikes:

I did not like screen play much. Kamal tells KB, that we will make comedy movie but the yesteryear story did not sound to me like a comedy at all. & on Hiranyan's story - Narasihmar gets killed - is this the way he was trying to prove his different thinking ? frivolous !

Somehow, we do not empathize with the emotions for Oorvasi track or Andrea track !

OK Kanmani:

Simple story, straight forward story telling. Fabulous casting. Completing love between elder and younger. Very nicely imagined. Photography and music - excellent.

Thoughts:

I remembered when I watched Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal and thought KB did not have the courage the break the culture for the way Rahman's character went back to Geetha especially instead of Sithara.

Here, Marriage was discussed, sex was done - but they decided to marry. We do not feel any radical thoughts here... may be we react like Prakash Raj when he decides to accommodate Tara - these kids will talk a lot but eventually they will succumb to reality

On the other side, they are too cute. No one wants to see them failed, rite ?

Haywire - Movie Review

Haywire - Movie Review; Watched at Cineworld Jersey on 22nd Jan, 2011

There are no great shakes in Haywire ... International assassins, chases, killing, betrayal, revenge .... are presented in this movie too.

What is different then ?

Screenplay or narrative style had been done nicely. Style and Color of the movie is elegant...  beach fight is one classy example of that. Casting or the Hero is different... we have Gina Carano with a fabulous personality and and tilts up action scenes... & dialogues.... which comes once in a while !!!

Background music of David Holmes is quite impressive and he decks up the scenes with perfect techno sound and goes silent for fighting scenes with just punching sound....

I liked it :) 

Imtiaz Ali's Rockstar - Movie review

Movie Name: Rockstar

Director: Imtiaz Ali

Overall Rating - Very good if you are sick are tired of Mindless Masala movies

Saw the movie at Odeon, Manchester on 12th Nov, 2011.

Plus Points:

1. Imtiaz Ali's approach to the movie.... It is simple, journey based, experience based.... didn't try to find an end to story....

2. Lyricist - Irshad Kamil - was wonderful... less dialogues... Ranbir's emotions are mostly conveyed through Lyrics.... he has contributed immensely.

3. Music - What to say.... another masterpiece from Rahman

4. Ranbir Kapoor - Acted really well... emoted very well.... would have been really good if he had moved his left hand while playing Guitar.... as he claimed that he learnt playing Guitar for acting in this movie.

Minus Points:

1. Nargis - She looks good but doesn't look like a common girl... more from rich and famous attitude... hence, the problem.... or the lack while emoting...

2. Screenplay - lacked coherence like.... where he learnt guitar classes, who was his musical mentor etc etc...

Favourite Scenes....

1. Plenty... like Samosa in pain scene, tearing the contract, signal scene bwn Ranbir & his manager, Caravan scene bwn Ranbir & Aditi Rao....

No One Killed Jessica - Movie Opinion

I saw No One Killed Jessica at Satyam on Jan 6th Evening show (Blind date).

Plus Points

1. Rocking first half
2. very decent screen play
3. Neat Casting
4. Punch dialogues
5. Not crossing the limits or too much of melo drama or underplay of emotions when the incident still lingers on mind - Thats's the best contribution from the director Rajkumar Gupta of Aamir Fame.

Minus Points

1. Second half could have been tighter
2. Characters left or introduced in midway - Example Inspector role, Head of TV types....

Over all - Worth watching for the promising director & Rani's lovely role.

Man Madan Ambu - Movie Review

I saw Man Madan Ambum at Mayajaal on 25th Dec evening. My opinion below:

1. Story - Rich guy (maddy) is in love with an actress (Trisha) and is suspicious abt her. He hires a ex army major (Kamal) for tracking her while she is holidaying with her classmate friend (Sangeetha). The story unfolds slowly after that ....

2. Casting - Picture perfect.

3. Acting - Sangeetha and her vaal payyan excels in their roles. Maddy is also very good.

4. Technical - Shoddy editing. I observed easily some 6-7 abrupt cuts or hops while I watched. Photography is just adequate. Costumes are so so. The colors of white tops of Trisha for the Hummer drive is hardly visible while she steps out. Such is the selection.

5. Kamal - Story is so so. Screen play is too good and ties down all lose ends. Dialogues are very good like "Kobathil uchcha kattame ahimsai thaan", "alimony was good". Acting - Nothing new., we hv seen it already !

6. Direction - K S Ravi Kumar sounded like holidayed. He should cut down talkie portion to some extent and converted it in action. Drama feel :( :( :(

7. My favourite scenes - Kattai viran scene, Flashback and its reverse technology.

8. Lacking - Drama feel should have been avoided; no logic for love combinations - example Trisha / Kamal - was it bcoz of love, pity or karma ? Same for maddy's.

9. Over all verdict - Oru Murai Paarkalaam and no great shakes

Aan paavam - 25 years

Realised through twitter interactions that Aan paavam would be celebrating 25 years this week. Cant belive time flies...

Some re-cap from the wonderful funny movie...

1. kadhal kasakkuthayya link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9Ii750Lync
2. Kuyile kuyile link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4Hw9pVkGhg
3. Comedy - enga amma, unga amma logic - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjQKx5YiSrs

Social Network - Movie Opinion

Watched Social Network movie at ESquare, Pune this eve... my opinon :

Plus Points

1. Engaging Screen play
2. Damn good fast, furious dialogues
3. Unbelievably good casting - especially casting Justin Timberlake was one masterstroke.
4. As all the good movie does, the judgement is left to us
5. David Fincheer's direction is very good. He keeps the viewers on the toes

Minus Points

1. Not to my mind.

Favourite Scene

1. When co-founder Eduardo is confronted by his girl-friend...

Enthiran - Movie Opinion

Here I go with Enthiran's Movie opinion (Saw it in Pune, E Square on Oct 1)

1. One line story - Scientist Rajni creates a Robo Rajni, Sabotage happens and how the problem is resolved...

2. Thalaivar rocks - style, acting or voice modulation - supreme

3. Ash - subtle show

3. Supporting cast - barring Danny no one gets much space., blink and gone !

4. Technical stuff - superb - be it photography, action scenes. Graphics work is the backbone of the movie.

5. Shankar - Lot of people call dream story and mess up, this man consistently delivers. His narration in second half has always been his strength - be it, gentleman, indian, jeans or anniyan. Enthiran rocks due to the tight story line with simple twists and tales. Presentation style is superb.

6. Rahman - Kilimanjaro sounds the best in cinemas. Very different back ground score this time with loads of metalic sounds

7. Negative - Too much of tech jargons...yes, some ten-fifteen minutes of length cut could have been better.

8. Thanx to the producers, sun pictures, who didnt blink their eyes on budget. Welcome support to the Indian cinemas..i should say..

9. Rajni fans are so smart and intelligent - on the scene when Rajni asks Ash to kiss., nice sound came "Kabardhar".... all had a hearty laugh.

10. Over all, a must watch in theatre - to experience the ICON's stylist ever show ever on silver screens...

Chulbul Pandey Rocks

Movie Opinion of Dabangg

Plus Points

1. Electrifying screen presence of Salman Khan
2. Lovely Music
3. Superb Humour with some great one-liners
4. Not seen such an excitement in the recent past in theatres - whistle, dance for Munni Badnaam track - entire duration....

My best pick of scenes - Salman's proposal scene and wedding scene...

Minus Points

1. So called story :)
2. Telugu cinema type screen play - sentiment, love, villain, song or fight - story moves in that order

Naan Mahaan Alla - Movie Opinion

Movie Opinion of Naan Mahaan Alla

Plus Points

1. Lovely romantic scenes
2. Baskar's simple, natural dialogues
3. Kajal's smile and costume

Minus Points

1. Violent second staff
2. Hair Line Story line
3. Karthi's action hero attempt - simply not working
4. What a climax logic - on the hero's triumph ! pethal and kevalam

Kalavani - Highlights

Highlights from the phenominal movie - Kalavani


களவாணி - கொட்டுடா அவனை ...

களவாணி - கோர்ட்-க்கு போகலை, lawyer இல்லே ... 200 ரூபாய்ல...

களவாணி - முட்டைலேந்து வரும் போது, முட்டைலேந்து வரும் போது, என்ன தான் சொல்லிச்சம் கோழி குஞ்சு ...

களவாணி - நான் அப்படி தான் கூப்பிடுவேன்., அறிவழகன் !!!

களவாணி - ஒக்காந்து ஓரம் போட்டீங்க ?

களவாணி - ரொம்ப சின்ன டிபன் பாக்ஸ்-அ இருக்கு ?

களவாணி - பாட்டில், கீட்டில் கொண்டு வந்தியா ?

களவாணி - ஆமாம் தம்பி, கோடாலி தைலம் கொண்டுவந்தியா ?

களவாணி - கட்டிக்கிறேன்னு சொல்லு ...

களவாணி - ஆணி போய், ஆவணி போய், ஆடி வரட்டும்... அப்பொறம் பாரு..

களவாணி - எவ்வளோ செலவு ஆனாலும் பரவாஇல்லேன்னு சொல்லேரே, பணத்தை அவுக்க மாட்டேங்கேரே..

களவாணி - பஞ்சாயத்து... சண்டை வர்றது சகஜம் தான்... அதுக்காக பொலிடோல்...

Kalavani - Movie

After hearing and reading lot of about the movie., i could finally watch it.

The movie is natural, engaging, exciting. Got some great acting, dialogues, situations. Brilliantly narrated, it keeps you hooked throughout. So many wonderful scenes.. Ganja karuppu episode, fertilizer stealing, tracking down of Arikki and the Kottu.... or the tiffen box comment... what to say... Impressive....

Don't miss it. Great work Sargunam... Keep it up.

Inception - Movie Opinion

My opinion on Inception

Plus points

1. Gripping narration for a complex story
2. Technically Brilliant movie
3. Innovative story line
4. Subtle Humour

Minus Points

1. Projections vs Real confusion in characters
2. Superficial sentiment
3. Too much of background score

One-Line Story

Our hero is a specialist thief, he steals your thoughts through dreams and he is hired to plot one story into someone's mind. Our hero makes a plan, hires experts, executes it, faces issues, resolves it and makes it.

Funny side

To us, it is all, one big confusing, scientific maze which we try to comprehend and come to terms with it. All of us know, english movies give enough Halwa to the thoughts. This is no different. Like one villager, we clap when others clap, we laugh when others laugh and we leave when every one else leaves !!!

Raavanan (Tamil - Movie Opinion)

My opinion on Raavanan Tamil Movie..

Plus Points:

1. Visually delightful
2. Great action sequences
3. Underplyed acting
4. Quick to story telling instead of big intros
5. Director's touch in priya mani episode

Minus Points

1. Predictable story line
2. action based lifeless ram's character

Seventh Sense

How many of you has seen this design? Seventh Sense or Yezhaam Arivu movie's design.... I am liking it for sure. Brilliantly imagined and written portion "Arivu" letters as part of human face makes us to say "wow"

Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam - Movie Opinion

Movie Name - Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam
Direction - Simbu Dhevan
Tag Line - Aaraya Koodathu., anubavikkanum

What to expect for

1. Lovely comedy from start to climax
2. Good art direction
3. Referenced joke on anything and everything
4. Wonderful one-liners with some great timing
5. Impressive acting by everyone

What not to expect for

1. Impressive story line
2. Good songs
3. Screen presence of Lawrence

Housefull (Hindi) - Movie Opinion

Here I go with Housefull (hindi) movie opinion:

What to look for

1. Fine looking girls with very less clothes
2. Exotic foreign locales
3. Hummable tracks
4. Some slapstick humour

What not to look for

1. How many movies the script inspired from - Meet the parents, Hangover, Along came polly and our own Kadhala Kadhala
2. Logical screen play

Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya - Movie Review

Simple story, few characters to play around, cliched issue of age / religion, nice music, good acting, lively dialogues, impressive costumes are all there in this movie.

Simbu has underplayed himself and impressive. Trisha as usual show cases her versatality. But the big thing in the movie is the portrayal of love, its feelings, and the impact on the characters. Awesome to say the least. Conflict of love and the reaction of the human mind has come out beautifully - in acting and diaglogues.

The big let down for me in the movie was - back ground score., probably too many songs which hamper the flow and above all Aaromale picturisation.

FYI - the movie had sub-title for the dialogues, songs in Pune.

ASAL - Movie Review

Saw my first movie, that too, tamil movie in Pune - that is Asal.... My feedback goes like this:

Story: One big man.. his two sons have hatred against another son... why bcoz of the dad's affair (chinna veedu) logic... they are all in arms dealing biz... they slug it out for 2 hours... Yuhi Sethu fails to provoke any laughter but makes the story move.

Acting: Ajit as usual tries his best to carry the movie on his shoulders.... Sameera and Bhavna are pretty decent. The villains are ok but some how it doesnt settle with you.

Technical: Photography is good and cool. Choreography is really bad. in fact, ajit competes with Bhagyaraj in kuthiraikku song and loses badly. The movie is mounted stylshly...

Music: I liked 2-3 songs when the music released. But in the movie, they are all cut by half.

What i liked: London location, conversation bwn Sameera and Bhavna

Opinion: We know it will be a masala movie., but why cant u make it little better? avoidable movie, over all.

Crowd: I saw it E Square, Pune. Crowd was cool, noisy and celebrating.60% occupancy for the first day, night show.

Kurbaan - Movie Review

Kurbaan movie is avoidable for many reasons. Acted by Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi, Om Puri, Kirron Kher, music by Salim - Suleiman, Directed by Rensil D'Silva.

If you want favouble review read the famous web pages....

# 1. Terrorism, fundamentalism, US bombing the innocent civilians are cliched topics.... they are discussed in bwn the movie as a matter of fact.

# 2. Dreaded terrorist Saif Ali Khan changes his mind every now and then including the climax ! He runs after the skin of Kareena like a dog runs after a bone.

# 3. New York living Kareena is a professor of Psychology. The way she falls for Saif in the first 10-15 min of movie is outrageous. No nice dialogues, interesting sequence but still she falls for Saif :(

# 4. Actually, Vivek Oberoi should have been shot in the movie for his hopeless acting skills. He competes really well with Sunil Shetty and Zayed Khan.

Forget my opinion, People in theater laugh loudly when bombs are defused and when FBI official Collins gets up from rubbles ! Thats not a good sign for a thriller !!!

Only thing i liked is the direction... the action sequences are done very well and the thriller element is quite good. But how much a director can salvage a below par story line despite the skin show?

I dont think this movie will work and recover the cost. let us wait and see the box office report.