Review: Don 2 (2011)

No Marketing is the best marketing - Probably not quoted by any famous person but this is something I'm saying and something that the team of 'Don 2' partly believes in. After the infamous Ra.One debacle, SRK thought it is better to keep mum on his films and to everyone's surprise - it works, big time. Period.

Don 2 is a tribute to Hollywood's impact on the Indian audience. With every Hollywood action flick releasing, the average Indian viewer expects the same in Bollywood - None of the biggies were able to satiate their thirsts until one man a.k.a. Farhan Akthar brings about a powerful script coupled with power packed stunts with the Baadshah of Bollywood and hence Don 2 scores.

If only would have the music been a tad better, Don 2 would have been rated as a classic and a benchmark set for others to reach but it doesn't, the songs are bad and the only thing that keeps playing in the background is the cherishable 'Don' theme.

Watching a Bollywood movie in 3-D would have people laughing at you when announced but watching Don 2 in 3-D was absolutely awesome.The explosions, the stunts and SRK were absolutely kickass in 3-D.

Farhan Akthar is intelligent so is Don 2 just like his creator. (Except for one flaw which i found towards the climax)

Action. Thrill. Suspense. Drama and a sprinkle of romance pretty much sums up Don 2. And the credit goes majorly to Farhan Akthar for drafting a brilliant script to continue the 'Don' franchise. Hats off Farhan!

Boman Irani as Vardhan, Om Puri as Malik and Priyanka Chopra as Junglee Billi come up with passable performances.

SRK proves his haters as to why people call him the Baadshah aur Is Baadshah ko pakadna mushkil hi nahi naamumkin hai.....


Rating: 3.5/5

Don 2: A Class Apart!

Review: Mission:Impossible Ghost Protocol

What can you expect when one of the most popular cult action series goes into the hands of a person who is known for directing animated flicks? Frankly, you wouldn't care who calls the shots because the 'Mission:Impossible' franchise is such that just Tom Cruise and his stunts would suffice for the movie to click. And though it doesn't click that well, it works..

This installment of MI is more comical than gripping. The makers decided to take tickle the funny bone more than pumping up the adrenaline because most of the action sequences(save one or two) just failed to impress.

Graphics is one department where the crew should have worked upon. It is simply just not Hollywood standards. The scenes where the sand storm hits Dubai are just mediocre and some places you feel you are watching a B grade movie.

Unlike most of the other MI movies, Ghost Protocol offers an engaging script rather than thrilling action sequences, although the one part where Ethan (Tom Cruise) does a stunt on the Burj Hotel, Dubai was kick ass.

People told me that the movie's first half was awesome and second half sucked but i don't quite agree with that. The first half is pretty boring and the second half is where you get the hold of the story. 

Music by Micheal Giacchino could have been better. The visuals were so dull at places and the viewer is put to sleep - this is where the music should have worked.

Some things i couldn't digest in the movie - 

They said Mumbai and they showed some posh palace which probably doesn't exist in that part of India.

Too many exotic cars on the Indian roads.

They showed Sun Networks and some tamil channels being played in a satellite TV station in Mumbai.

They showed some door with a caution sign and its translation written in Telugu.

They showed some exotic cars with left hand drive and with number plates which vehicle numbers in Indian format but written reversed.

Tom Cruise gets hit at sensitive areas too much but still gets up like a normal person.

Ideally what they have done is, they brought cameras to India, shot some scenes in Mumbai and then carried out rest of the shooting at Ramoji studios in Hyderabad. This is an area where the team should have worked a bit more.

Anil Kapoor comes as a playboy and just like every typical Indian, he falls for a mediocre sexy woman with saliva dripping out of his jaw dropping face.

Overall, Mission:Impossible Ghost Protocol is not such a great movie to look up to but it does entertain. Tom Cruise carries the movie throughout and keeps the audience engaged.

Hopefully, there is no further sequel to this series.

Rating: 3/5

Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol - Timepass!

Review: The Dirty Picture (2011)

Have you ever thought that Bollywood should also make movies in the likes of American Pie. Well, Bollywood has heard you - 'Soap queen' Ekta Kapoor and Director Milan Luthria bring you something better - The Dirty Picture (read. soft(er)core porn)

When you hear the first moans of the protagonist (Vidya Balan a.k.a. Silk), you start to wonder, what is Naseeruddin Shah doing. To an extent, 'Smooch Expert' Emran Hashmi's presence is justified but what the hell is 'Kid Face' Tushar Kapoor doing in the same flick. These thoughts bother you just for some time - just until silk scorches the screen and when it starts there is no stopping for entertainment. You keep wanting for more. And you get 'satisfied' until the interval.

Post-interval, there are a few unwanted breaks(songs) which gets you frustrated. The story is purely about Silk and her rise to stardom and later. So there is no scope for any betterment on the story line. The writer has to be given a pat on the back for making a real life story gripping. Silk's life sure is one to ponder upon and get inspired but its adaptation on screen could have been 'finished' well.

You have double meaning dialogues all over the movie and they make you clap and laugh. Some of them so dirty that you first decide whether is it really something to laugh upon. "Hum tumhe aisi jagah pe maarenge ki tum confuse ho jaogi ki pant pehnna hai ya ghagra"

A disclaimer, I personally don't like Vidya Balan and I don't think she is anyway hot or seductive. I was wondering whether she would anyway resemble Silk but I had no idea how Silk looked either. Then my friend told me that she looked ugly and that answers my question and some of yours too.

In spite of all this, Vidya Balan created an impact on me and after 'The Dirty Picture', I respect her more for being so bold and choosing such a brave script. Hats off to her for doing justice to Silk.

Well she has her double meaning dialogues too - "Holi khelne me shauk hai magar pichkaari me dum nahi" - Tell me, when you have such dialogues spoken in a big screen and with mature audiences listening to it with you, Do you need Bollywood to be more transparent? Kamal Hassan once said in a press statement - ' I think it's high time to bring X-rated films on screen' and though not with full accordance but Milan Luthria and team have heard the master and they have tried 'obeying' him to their best.

That is all I have about 'The Dirty Picture' for you. I hope it triggers your senses to get triggered again while watching the movie. Enjoy!

Rating: 3/5

The Dirty Picture: DoubleX

P.S. You would never expect Nasseruddin Shah to star in such a movie! Let alone talking about his performance.

Review: Mayakkam Enna (2011)

Just like each one of our lives, Selvaraghavan's 'Mayakkam Enna' has its own moments. It has its own slow and sweet way of growing into the viewer's thoughts and mind. It is no doubt an off beat flick. Please do not expect it to be a love story.

Sticking to the age old idiom - "Behind every successful man, there is a woman" and with Selva's classic narrative style topped with Dhanush's acting skills is Mayakkam Enna for you.

Richa Gangopadhyay would never in the rarest of imaginations would have thought of getting such a break. She had a upcoming legendary director and his National award winning brother as the co-star and on the contrary, when one wouldn't expect any role of hers, she stands tall, over performing every other character in the movie. 

Dhanush plays a struggling photgrapher who finds it hard to get a break. The story is about how he shapes up his career.

G.V. Prakash's background music sure has got the class. Every frame is musical. You laugh when they laugh and you cry when they do so. That is what every cinema needs.

Cinematographer Ramji's breathtaking visuals are the key to Mayakkam Enna's success. Though, acting is what makes you love it, it is the camera which has to capture the emotions properly or else the work is undone.

Spearheading all these, Selvaraghavan's brilliant narrative, sluggish screenplay and awesome direction makes Mayakkam Enna 'click' with an bright white flash that you are taken to a different world where you start to worship the legend.

The first half is magical and when 'Intermission' pops out on the screen, you say 'Shit! I want more'. Just 10-15 minutes into the second half is when things go haywire. You start abusing. And just when you frustration level reaches its peak, Selva brings you back to his world - the land of magic.

 You start to wonder - Is this the same guy who bored us with Aayirathil Oruvan? Although Aayirathil Oruvan was one brave attempt at 'different' cinema, it seriously was a waste of time. 

Ever since 'Pudhupettai' - which can be rightly called as Selva's tribute to Godfather and Nayagan, I always knew he had the 'thing' in him. He could weave magic on screen and with Mayakkam Enna, he proves me right.

"Pain is the only thing that changes a man" - Anonymous

Watch Mayakkam Enna to get mesmerized. This is where Tamil Cinema still lives. Tamil Cinema is not just commercial cinema, when you have the likes of such directors, we carve a name for ourselves in this world.


Rating: 4/5

Mayakkam Enna - Perfecto!

Review: The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

The biggest film making duo of all-time are here to treat us with a 3-D extravaganza. The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn is pure magic. With Spielberg at the helm of affairs, you tend to expect a LOT and your quench for entertainment is thoroughly satiated.

Right from frame 1, the movie is one amazing ride. Animation at its best, cinematography at its peak and music in tune with visuals make this movie a masterpiece.

The plot is adventurous and it is properly adapted on screen. A real life Hollywood artist wouldn't have done justice to the role but motion capture and animation put together literally bring the comic book character alive on screen.

If you are a Tintin fan, you get what you deserve:
If you are a Spielberg fan, you get to praise him more:
Even if you do not fall into the above categories, you get to relish a visual feast of one of the awesomest animated movies ever.

I'm not going to describe anything more. Watch the movie in 3-D, watch it again if you have money or else wait for a Blu-ray rip to watch it the second time.


Rating: 4/5


Tintin - Sheer poetry!

Review: Velayudham (2011)

Genre: Commercial

The stakes are high! Big banner, 'king of remakes' director, 'king of remakes' actor, peppy music director and well established men in the stunt, camera and editing departments. Also, Vijay's position in the industry was at stake prior Kaavalan but post it, he gained his position and 'Velayudham' had to live up to it and it does so..not with style but with 'mass' and a little bit of 'substance'.

'Jeyam' Raja spearheads this self proclaimed non-remake project of his in his own usual style and with great potential. Drawing inspiration from the telugu flick 'Azad', Raja has come up with a cracker of a movie this Diwali and Vijay fans are already roaring in happiness.

The film starts off with the central plot and you don't see the hero for quite some time and just as the viewer waits for the hero entrance, you see Vijay in his own usual running into the screen with his ayudham and then on it is one roller coaster ride with just 3 unnecessary breaks (as in songs though they were good to watch) till the interval. Post-interval, action takes the center stage and it starts turning into a drag when suddenly you turn towards the screen for more 'paisa vasool' entertainment.

Velayudham is no doubt a usual Vijay flick with not much of logic and gravity defying stunts but what makes it click is the protagonist himself. The way he stands tall yet gelling with the co-actors so well that you forget that he was once an actor who used to shoulder his movies all by himself.

Director Raja has given enough screen presence for the hundreds of popular actors he's casted in this flick. Frankly, for every face you see on the screen and you start wondering... "Oh! He's the guy who acted in that movie.." It is one unique ensemble of a cast that Raja has brought together and each of them have proven their capabilities.

Editing by VT Vijayan is just brilliant and with the racy first half, you keep wanting for more. Cinematography by Priyan brings magic to the screen and Vijay Antony supports it with his stunning background music.



With songs already becoming chartbusters within a day of the audio release, the only thing much needed was the visuals and 'Chillax' is definitely a once more song. Hansika looks deadly and add to it Vijay's stunning steps and amazing facial expressions.

Santhanam is the captain of the comedy department as he leads a cricket 'squad' towards nothing short of a world cup victory. Rib tickling and foot tapping comedy brought not just "LOL" but also tears of laughter. Definitely one of his best performances till date. Vijay acts as 'the wall' at the other end supporting Santhanam and the duo have a great future ahead. You never stop laughing.

Hansika and Genelia have equal screen space and Raja proves that he is a director who can think from all angles. Hansika fits the role and never gives a foreigner feel to the village girl look she portrays and Genelia drops her bubbly image and has a very serious role to play and both fit their respective roles to a tee.

Stunts, though gravity defying are stunning and have the punch. Although very few of them were really gory, the others were at a different level and Vijay beats up the baddies with so much energy that you feel the heat on screen.

You have action. You have sentiment. You have awesome comedy. You have 2 hot chicks. You have a message and you have a super(star)hero as the messiah and with Aascar Ravichandran as the producer, what more do you need. A huge budget flick well made and finished with the Midas (Vijay) touch. A blockbuster for sure. And that is Velayudham for you.

Velayudham is one of the best commercial movies of Vijay!

Don't forget to watch this massive and engrossing spectacle. Watch the fireworks explode on screen with Velayudham and celebrate an environment friendly Diwali!

Note: You WILL get bored with some of the action sequences and the way the plot evolves but keep hope because Vijay finishes it off in style.

Rating: 3/5

Velayudham: Impressive

Review: Mankatha (2011)

"Thala" Ajith's 50th film was started with big fanfare and there was a lot of hype surrounding the final outcome - Mankatha - A Venkat Prabhu game they call it - is no where close to what seemed to have been promised. Mankatha is an out and out Ajith flick. Watch it for Thala and nothing else and you will not be disappointed. But, if you are planning to watch it for the director, please stop yourself and save some time.

The only 'good' thing about the movie, apart from Ajith, is the end credits - the bloopers. That is when i had my first smile and laugh. One could see a freaky and crazy Ajith. (PLUS)

The songs sucked big time and all of them were out of place. Most of them had half naked women shaking their legs. (MINUS)

Choreography was pathetic and given the dancing talents of Ajith, you had to get out of your seat and go buy some food. (MINUS)

Background music was 'okay' with the main Mankatha theme (alias 'Sakthi masala' remix tune) still in the minds of the viewers. (I think its a PLUS)

Dialogues were below par for such a hi-fi (they call it) movie. (MINUS)

The first half was an out and out 'mokkai' with the actors themselves accepting that after getting drunk, one cracks the ultiest of the PJs. (MINUS)

The actual brain and intelligence of the director starts creeping in from the interval. Although the storyline was wafer thin, it atleast engaged the viewers given an 'awesome' first half. (PLUS)

Premji (once a rib tickler) turns into an advertisement for aspirin. The guy's lost his charm. (MINUS)

'Action King' Arjun plays a very important role and has played his part well. (PLUS)

The ladies in the movie were used just for skin show and not in the right way too. (MINUS)

Visual effects were totally out of the picture in places (MINUS) but cinematography rocked in many other places. Hats off to the cameraman. (PLUS)

Venkat Prabhu, director of cult hits like Chennai 28, saroja and goa gives us an Ajith dominated flick. He has mixed up several hollywood films (read. Oceans, Italian Job, etc.) and added some kollywood ingredients to give us an 'okay'-ish movie called 'Mankatha'.

One goes into watching 'Mankatha' with sky high expectations and only half of it is delivered and all credit to 'Ultimate Star' Ajith and 'Action King' Arjun. Watch it for them. If you don't like either of them - Don't DARE watch it.

Rating: 2.5/5

Mankatha - A 'poor' Venkat Prabhu game!

Review: Pirates of the Caribbean - On Stranger Tides (2011)

Jack Sparrow is back with the fourth installment of the famous pirates series. He is perhaps the only reason why POTC is still worth watching. Although this chapter is easier to understand, it lacks what the first 3 had to offer. Obviously - Orlando bloom and Kiera Knightley are missing and Penelope doesn't help soothe the eyes. The 'babe' factor is perhaps compensated by the addition of mermaids. Some of them are really cute.

Storywise, it is simple. Everyone is after the same destination - the fountain of youth. It is how each party reaches there and uses the resources that forms the crux of the script.

Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is at his best and starts off the movie with his amusing heroics. He does his part well - keeping the viewer glued to the seats and sprouting a few laughs here and there. It’s the Depp factor that’s undoubtedly the biggest draw. His flamboyant turn as Captain Jack Sparrow transformed him to a blockbusting superstar.

Visual effects looked stunning in 3D - perhaps another reason to watch the movie - a good decision to shoot the movie in 3D.

Music by the legend Hans Zimmer was L-E-G-E-N-D-A-R-Y. It kept the viewer awake through the whole movie. Camera work was brilliant with some amazing shots with the locations ranging from dense forests to underwater.

The climax passes by without the viewer realizing it. That was one of the main negative points of the movie. When the film got exciting, it got too late.

So watch Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides for three reasons - 1) Jack Sparrow 2) 3D Experience and 3) Hans Zimmer but for them it is an average affair and worthy to be missed.





Rating: 2.5/5


POTC4-On Stranger Tides : Not 'tidy' enough!

Review: Dum Maaro Dum (2011)

First, let me describe the situation. Our end semester (Read: Final exams of B.Tech life) exams are going on and we all plan to watch this movie on the eve of the last exam. We hop on our respective rides and race to the theatre in the outskirts of the city. Rest is history..

'Dum Maaro Dum' - Been waiting for this movie ever since the trailer was shown months back. And the wait has been fruitful..

Fox star studios in collaboration with Ramesh Sippy entertainment bring you a creative and stylish bollywood flick which is sure to be a trendsetter. The editing is slick, the camera work is godly and the dialogues even more brilliant.
Rohan Sippy has created a brand for himself and his crew Amit Roy (Camera) and Aarif Shaikh (Editing) have recreated his dream and have given 'life' to it.

Dum Maaro Dum is simply a 'tough cop catching the wrong doers' flick but told in a way that is sure to woo the audience. Its fast paced screenplay in the start pumps up the adrenaline and makes you crave for more just when it slows down drastically as though there is some fault with the engine. But the progresses with the same slow pace till the pre-climax when you are introduced to a staggering climax and the viewer is awestruck because all the guessing is termed wrong.

Acting wise, Abhishek Bachchan as Kamath stands apart. All others give a decent performance. Aditya Pancholi (as Biscuit) fails to impress as an antagonist. Rana Daggubati comes up with a pretty good performance and is sure to capture the hearts of girls who have the T-D-H syndrome.

Story by Shridhar Raghavan is wafer thin but the editing, screenplay and camera weave their magic to sustain the thrills and chills (Read: chillies, chicks, steam, super hot) on screen.

Songs are already chartbusters and thanks to the choreographers, they look good on the screen also. Pritam has done a decent job.
Background score by Midival Punditz is riveting at most places but is also monotonous at a few places.

On the whole, Rohan Sippy has come up with a cracker of a movie. It has its own flaws both in the story and in the technical aspects but Dum Maaro Dum is definitely 'not' to be missed.


Rating: 3.5/5


'Dum Maaro Dum' - Class Stuff!


(P.S. This review was written and posted hours before the final exam)

Review: Nadunisi Naaygal (2011)

'

Gautham Vasudev Menon, the director who brought us breezy romantic entertainers like Minnale and Vinnaithaandi Varuvaya and also gave a new definition to tamil crime/thrillers with Kaakha Kaakha and Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyadu is back but this time around he gives us a dark thriller which tamil cinema or probably even Indian cinema has never experienced.

“Nadunisi Naaygal” is a movie about a normal boy who turns into a psychopath following a very disturbed childhood.

The movie doesn’t boast around with strong background music nor does it feature any songs to disrupt the pace of the movie. It gives the viewer a feeling of involvement as in the scenes happening in and around them. It throws to light a very important social phenomenon which often goes unattended.

The protagonist (Veera Bahu) suffers from schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder combined. After watching his performance, no one can actually believe that he is first timer. Such class and finesse!

Swapna Abraham as Meenakshi renders a spectular performance.

Sameera Reddy, Samantha, Ashwin Kakumanu and Deva come up with decent performances.

Editing by Antony is slick and cinematography by Manoj Paramahamsa is simply superb.

Gautham Menon has brought about a new genre in tamil cinema. The story telling is new, the story is new. Its crude (as in crude oil) and rude yet it shook me for it is a true story.

Go watch the movie. It is strictly for people who are bored from the clichéd commercial flicks. Now that Kollywood is changing colors through the recent thrillers from young guns, Gautham Menon’s ‘Nadunisi Naaygal’ raises the bar even higher. You start to wonder – where’d been such talent all this while!

Rating: 3/5

Nadunisi Naaygal - Goosebumps!

Review: Dhobi Ghat (2011)

From the stable of 'Lagaan' and 'Peepli Live', comes 'Dhobi Ghat' (subtitled Mumbai Diaries). Writer-Direcor and wife of Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao takes bollywood for a spin churning out a subtle, urbane documentary of people entering Mumbai.

There is nothing much to look in for a particular storyline as the viewer is confused when the credits start rolling. 'That's all?' is the question that pops up.

Thanks to the internet, i got to watch the movie at home in my mini-home theatre.

Although, the movie lacked something right from the start, the 'just' sight of every frame creates ripples in the viewer's thoughts as they've been shot keeping the minute and intricate details in mind. There are no flaws whatsoever.

Kiran Rao has written the character's after a lot of research and nowhere can you find the stamp of an amateur. Kiran Rao's Dhobi Ghat is on par with the finest movies of bollywood, even India on the whole.

Prateik Babbar, Monica Dogra, Kriti Malhotra and Aamir Khan come up with 'gape open' and legendary performances that you start to wonder - India too has talent.

The background music is soft, never makes an attempt to shatter your ears. Most part of the movie has natural sounds. Editing is slick and Cinematography is still. Not much of movement but live scenes have been shot well.

Just like the movie, let the review be kept short. Dhobi Ghat is a movie that has stood apart from the bollywood trend and is a brave first attempt from Kiran Rao. Watch out for her future endeavours, she sure does have substance.

Though there is no satisfaction from the viewer's end, one must appreciate the work of this amateur.


Rating: 3/5


Dhobi Ghat: Not 'fully' washed!

Review: Kaavalan (2011)

The 'Friends' trio is back with 'Kaavalan'. Only this time with more of rom-com and a tinge of commercial elements. Kaavalan is an emotional drama and is sure to keep vijay fans and the general movie goer alive and fresh.

The movie starts off on a letdown-ish note with some stupid fights and awkward dance steps for the folk song. The first 15-20 minutes resembles 'almost' previous vijay flicks. But as soon as these annoying minutes are over, the visuals are bang on target. Siddique has portrayed a 'different' vijay. A 'vijay' which we all would have seen a decade ago and forgotten but the only difference lies in his 'backward ageing' and his cool charisma which is sure to woo the lady folk and some men too. (:P)

I don't think i'll be letting off the story because of 2 reasons. One that there is nothing special and the other that there are pretty decent twists and turns.

Vijay is back in his chocolate boy image. The college lover. His comic timings are laughable and his stints with vadivelu sure sprouted both silent and gape open laughs.

Asin looks homely in most parts of the movie and super hot in the few other parts. Her over make-up sometimes spoils the mood. She has acted well and her performance otherwise is laudable.

The most talked about 'Vijay-Asin' chemistry was missing as quoted by many critics and viewers. But that is definitely not a negative point and its absence had a meaning. Watch the movie to know more.

Raj Kiran, Roja and Mithra Kurian do their parts well although i felt 'Nizhalgal' Ravi and 'Delhi' Ganesan were underplayed. But there is a reason for this, there was no space for too many characters. Siddique has given enough treatment to the story and it is Vijay who rules. His screen presence is just amazing.

The costumes department has surely made Vijay look a lot better than his previous flicks. He looks handsome and stunning.

The movie definitely needed lot many cuts. Too many unwanted scenes spoilt the actor's charisma. If Kaavalan went under proper scissors, the movie would easily be declared the 'Movie of the year' for it being a perfect recipie made out of specially treated ingredients.

Vidyasagar's music is simply mesmerizing. His melody tunes are simply superb. The background score in action sequences were noisy yet astounding.

Although there are a few loopholes in the story, the movie ends with an intriguing and emotionally gripping climax, one of the best in recent times. Hats off to the director.

Director Siddique has made an attempt to break free Vijay from the shackles of illogical and dumb commercial cinema and the attempt is 'near' perfect yet successful. There sure are a lot of changes in the actor and Kaavalan is definitely not a usual Vijay flick.

Watch it! Not for a different tamil film but for a different vijay film. Vijay is back to Acting. ( :) :D)



Rating: 3/5


Kaavalan - 'Some'thing Different!

Review: 127 Hours (2010)

Here is my 60th post!

Academy Award Winner Danny Boyle's adaptation of Aron Ralston's real life story is 127 Hours. A truly inspirational and mesmerizing movie. Definitely not better than Inception but doesn't fail to raise awe either.

127 Hours is the true story of a canyoneer Aron Ralston's, brilliantly portrayed by James Franco, remarkable adventure in saving himself after he traps himself in an isolated canyon in Utah. The title signifies the amount of time he's been trapped in the canyon with his hand stuck under a boulder. Watch the movie to experience the adventure.

Danny Boyle has a vision, a wide 360 degree panoramic vision. Never seen any director give so much importance to minute details. 127 hours has a stylish narration, something totally different from what the oscar winner Slumdog Millionaire had to offer. Danny Boyle's style of story telling has changes. 127 hours is a complete new experience.

The movie is centrally based on a single character and the ways he takes to survive and save himself. Since the story is true, some of the methods adopted by the protagonist makes the viewer shed tears and literally feel the pain.

James Franco has done a fantastic job. Danny Boyle has the squeezed the acting out of him. But to such a story, one had to do justice and James Franco does it with ease.

Cinematography by Enrique Chediak and Anthony Dod Mantle is utter brilliance. Music by A.R.Rahman is divine and also gives an Indian touch to the movie in a few places.

Although i could find minor mistakes, especially with the shadows (they haven't been mastered properly in a few places) , 127 Hours is a dark and an emotional adventure brilliantly treated by Danny Boyle. Hope it wins him an oscar this time too. Kudos and All the best to him!


Rating: 3.5/5


127 Hours - Brilliance!

Review: Man-Madan-Ambu (2010)

'Universal Hero' Kamal Hassan's short term flick Man-Madan-Ambu had arrived a week back and is here to stay in the viewer's minds. A heads up for all those who still haven't watched the movie, it is not a comedy movie and is nowhere close to 'Panchathantitram' in terms of comedy but equals 75% of its entertainment value.

Though drawing inspiration from 'Emotional Atyachaar' and other infidelity cases, Man-Madan-Ambu is a romantic drama set in lovely locations including venice, barcelona, kodaikanal to name a few. It thrills and chills with its subtle plot twists.

The movie starts off on a rather sober note with things going too slowly but as Kamal enters the frame, every moment is CLASS. He doesn't fail to entertain. He has his own comedy dialogues told in a way pertaining to the sadness of the character.

Trisha has acted so brilliantly and also dubbed her own voice. She looks stunning and her mere presence seems so suave.

Madhavan's character did not have any scope for acting but he does well. Sangeetha's local voice is sometimes cacophonous but her dialogues had some good comedy moments.

Oorvasi and Ramesh Arvind play touchy roles. Especially Ramesh Arvind, never seen him getting down to the skin of the character. Real class.

Kamal's screenplay was sluggish at places but later it compensated churning out a good movie although the plot was debatable.

My favourite song 'Neela Vaanam' was picturised beautifully. Something that was never seen before in Indian Cinema. A different choreography and camera work. Whose ever brainchild it was, kudos to you!

The movie makes you cry, LOL but definitely not ROFL like Kamal's earlier Panchathantiram, PKS and Vasoolraja did.

The quantities of romance, comedy and thrill was apt for a breezy entertainer.

All in all, Man-Madan-Ambu definitely deserves a one time watch. Do not miss it.


Rating: 3/5


Man-Madan-Ambu: Touchy and Classy!

Review: Mirch (2010)

Writer-Director Vinay Shukla's Mirch is fascinating. The movie's pace is fast and it keeps you asking for more.

When i first watched the trailer, i gaped at the steamy scenes and was startled that such movies make it to the big screen. But when i sat to down to watch the movie, with all great expectations, i was in for a surprise. Of course, the scenes in the trailer were there in the movie, but that wasn't all. The viewer is taken on a ride with a good dose of thrills and chills.

The Indian film industry seems to be getting inspired from UTV Bindass' Emotional Atyachaar, a lot these days with many movies coming up on infidelity. Though Mirch is on the same lines, it is also slightly different.

It is definitely not an ordinary adult movie. It is just like those chicks you come across with both beauty and brain. An all in one stuff. A definite must watch.

Upcoming actor Arunoday Singh plays the protagonist and performs well. He is lucky to share the steamy screen space with two hot 'bong' chicks, viz. Konkana Sen Sharma and Raima Sen.

His acting is par excellence and the guy has some future in the industry.

Konkana Sen plays her usual best. She gets to the bottom of the character and plays it with ease. Raima Sen, on the other hand, has shown some grit and has come up with an laudable performance.

Boman Irani, the legend, does his part well. He will definitely remain one of my most unforgettable actors in India or say even the world.

Ila Arun, Prem Chopra and others come up with decent portrayals of their characters.

All-in-all, Vinay Shukla's Mirch is fantabulous and a movie to cherish. It was a thorough entertainer. On the personal side, i saw my future in Vinay Shukla. If, sometime in the future, i get to make a movie, it will definitely be in the lines of Mirch. Hats off, Vinay Shukla!

Rating: 3.5/5

Mirch : Spicy Hot!!!