Review: Life Of Pi (2012)

 

A Visual miracle!

 

I call it so for stunning and breathtaking special effects. You feel furthermore ecstatic when you come to know that it was all VFX. Everything!

 

The movie opens up to a melodious tamil song with a carnatic touch (rendered by Bombay Jayashree). When you hear it, you are assured that you are in for something divine.

 

Life of Pi is best consumed when watched in 3D. The starting titles and the visuals are magical. The narrative is beautiful inspite of no gripping plot because you know the ending right from the start.

 

The journey of Pi is adventurous and at one point of time, you start questioning - Is it really true? But then it is a fantasy movie so there is no questioning the truth! Simple.

 

The story is a story inside a story. The main character narrates his unbelievable adventure to a novelist and his childhood is exciting. I say this because there are a lot of questions raised about spirituality and the answers are amazing.

 

The music by Mychael Danna is soulful and equally magical.

 

Coming to the plot, if you actually liked reading the book, you might love the movie but for a direct movie watcher like me, I just wasn't baffled enough to quote it as one of the best movies ever made or seen. For me, Life of Pi is nothing but a visual miracle where in you see HD version of "Man vs. Wild", "Animal Safari" and "How to survive" tagged with great music.

 

The best visuals are during the ship wreck and something which deserves a replay (a million times). What power of Ang Lee to actually visualize something so magical yet it feels real. (Take a Bow)

 

At the end of the movie, you are satisfied but still you think "What was missing?" and it only leads you to deeper thinking...

I'm caught in that abyss..but I would still say that it is a spectacle that is not to be missed for its breathtaking special effects.
 

 

Rating: 3/5

 

Life of Pi: Stunning!

 

P.S. Please don't compare it with Avatar. Nothing is close/common between them.

Review: Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012)

 

 

Whoa! This Diwali seems to be a time to pay tribute to our Nation's terrestrial heroes - The Indian Army. We have Thuppaki from Kollywood and Jab Tak Hai Jaan as the Bollywood affair.

 

The King of Romance, late Yash Chopra gives us, one last time, his contribution to Indian Cinema. Most of his movies had Romance as the main stream and so does Jab Tak Hai Jaan which promised to be another poetic tale of a couple in Love.

 

At a runtime of over 3 hours (which is not new to Yash Chopra), Jab Tak Hai Jaan is literally a "never ending" tale of Samar and Mira. The movie never seems to end. The viewer gets so bored that the whole essence of the movie is lost. It takes time for the user to put things in place and finish the puzzle and finally understand why the movie was made.

 

Jab Tak Hai Jaan is not a bad attempt but a slow one (not steady either). No one is expecting a fast paced love story but there are ample number of places where the movie could have been cut short. (read. the draggy songs)

 

The movie starts off normally with character introductions and that is when Anushka lands herself in a rock in the middle of a lake wherein she's unable to get herself out. (How did she get to the rock in the first place?). And then our hero helps her out and leaves his diary with her for no reason and just walks off from that place. This is where the story starts.

 

From here, the movie reel movies centimetre by centimetre and by the time the projector cries for help, the intermission sign pops up and the viewer is relieved.

The first half contains interesting interactions between SRK and Katrina. The story could have been told faster. 1 hour into the movie and you aren't sure of what the movie is about. Somewhere close to the interval, the movie tells you why you are actually watching it.

 

Yash Chopra's movies are always abundant of the "Emotional Quotient" and that never seems to go from him. Even his demise has left us very emotional.

 

ARR's music is pathetic to say the least with the only hummable tune being that of "Challa" by Rabbi Shergill and in his usual style he plays this song as the background music in all the interesting/important scenes of the movie. Some of the tunes remind you of "Veer Zaara" and "Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna".

 

Katrina proves that she is a goddess in the song "Saans.." and you start watching her more closely.

 

Both Katrina and Anushka show off throughout the movie. (And by show off I mean the literal "SHOW OFF....")
Anushka comes up with a fabulous performance and scores more than Katrina who is not far from "acting" either. Anushka's character dwelves into you and you will adore her Jab Tak Hai Jaan.

 

Cinematography is decent and the colors are pleasant to the eyes.

 
SRK is at his usual best. He plays his character perfectly and being 40+ in real life, he really doesn't look so. Kudos to him and one suggestion..Never ever play a health illness patient. Bohot Ho Gaya!
 

The movie doesn't respond to the phrase "Time-Out" and continues to keep running for its own sweet time. Jab Tak Hai Jaan is a serious No-No for theatre viewing but it will surely make a good watch on Home Entertainment. So wait for it!

 

If not on the emotional factor, watch Jab Tak Hai Jaan for its creator, Yash Chopra, the man who shows us why we will miss him. The man who will never die!

 

Rating: 2.5/5

 

Jab Tak Hai Jaan: Endless....

Review: Thuppaki (2012)

Where do I start?

Ok, first here is me wishing all the readers and their family and friends, A very happy and colorful Diwali. Hope you have/had a safe Diwali today.

 

Now, let the firing begin...

 

Watching a Vijay movie first day first show was my dream and it came true in good time. I was well ahead in time at the theatre, a multiplex in the outskirts of Bangalore City and to my shock there were many like me but then I thought that they would have come for the Bollywood releases. When I was waiting in line to get my internet ticket printed, the counter announces "Thuppaki SOLD OUT" but there were ample tickets available for JTHJ and SoS. (read. Impact of Vijay)

 

I never dreamt that I would ever write the following lines in my review for a Vijay movie. Yes, Thuppaki is a stylish and an intelligent flick. It is a movie where everyone would exit with their chest high and with a dash of smile on their faces.

 

As most of them already know, Thuppaki is about an army man (Capt. Jagdish played by Vijay) who comes to visit his family for vacation after serving the Nation's border. The story is about the chronicles of one such holiday and what it turns out to be.

 

Vijay plays a Bombay Tamizhan with such style and vigor with a tinge of his usual simplicity that you fall for him. His acting is precise and his character does not flaunt like usual. The movie starts off with a small fight and an intro song as usual but the catch here is that the "usual" intro song has an "unusual" message and it conveys the journey and the feelings of an Army Jawan on his way back home. Its touchy.

 

The screenplay-editing combination works well in every frame. And as the director said, you will wish to watch this movie more than once. Yes, you are reading the review of a Vijay movie.

 

By this time, you would definitely get a feel that I'm a true Vijay fanatic and am all praises for my hero (read. God) so please take a break and read the below two reviews:

 

Review of Villu (One of his Worst)

http://defininginfinity.blogspot.in/2009/01/review-villu-2009.html

 

and

 

Review of Nanban (One of his Best)

http://defininginfinity.blogspot.in/2012/01/review-nanban-2012.html

 

Now that I've given you sufficient time for distraction (and understanding me), let's get back to business.

 

Music by Harris Jeyaraj was fine. "Google Google" was a stunning number to hear and is a decent watch on screen. Other songs were great to watch on screen because of the Cinematographer Santosh Sivan who brilliantly captured every pixel in its appropriate colour. Certain songs could've been avoided but they don't hamper the tempo of the movie too much too.

The background score sometimes reminded of the Hindi movie "Race" but by the time it got boring, the score changed to something else. The villain's frames had heavy tunes in the background which could have been avoided.

 

The comic timing worked out really well as per the director's pre-release interviews. Whenever there was something funny, the whole theatre burst into laughter. What more can a Director ask?

Sathyan, Kajal and Jayaram aid Vijay in giving us a good laugh. The scenes involving Vijay, Kajal and Jayaram are the funniest.

Kajal Agarwal plays a very suave and colorful role in the movie and I'm happy that there wasn't any kissing sequence. 
 

The first half is racy and entertaining. At the time of interval, you are in awe. You tend to ask yourself, Is this the right movie?

 

The Dialogues are intelligently written. The characters are clever and the antagonist gives a strong competition to the protagonist in terms of wit.

 

The movie is a definite 3-4 timer with Vijay and Murugadoss being the first(s) of the reasons followed by Santosh Sivan's camera, Sreekar Prasad's slick editing and Harris's background score.

 

And of course, no movie comes without negatives. There are a few. For instance, NO intervention of the Mumbai Police except for Sathyan who is an SI, a Jammu-Tawi express specially for jawans (possible but unbelievable) and the climax could have been handled a "little" better. I just think that it got over too easily.

 

Nevertheless, an amazing movie by Murugadoss and what's better is Vijay choosing such a script. When I mean such a script, it is one which talks about the Indian Army and not about a "one man army". A script wherein he makes a fool of himself every now and then and at the same time uses his intelligence to serve the nation. Thuppaki is a tribute to the Indian Army and a treat to every movie watcher and is also Vijay's answer to his critics.

Don't miss watching Thuppaki for it is one of Vijay's stylish and one his best ever. And one of the main reasons for this is Murugadoss who's shown the bright light and the way ahead for the hero.

 

 

Rating: 3.5/5

 

Thuppaki: Bang on Target!

 

Disclaimer:
I'm an ardent fan of Vijay but I will not be biased while reviewing his movies. Movies come first to me and helping you know "how it is" is my only motto. I've collated all my thoughts in this review.
I keep quoting "Vijay's movie" to also attract a certain audience who are repelled by the very name of the Hero.

Review: Skyfall (2012)

Inspite of a literal skyfall over various places on earth, Sam Mendes' Skyfall released to packed houses on the first day and just like the last Bond movie, I was there to catch the first day first show at one of Bangalore's amazing theatres.

 

Many sites/blogs read "Best bond movie ever" and many facebook posts also said "Worst bond movie ever". If I have to take a side I would choose the former. Skyfall started with an intense action sequence and that weaved into a thrilling story unlike other bond movies.

 

The action sequences were well choregraphed and were a delight to watch 'Bond in Action'.

 

The background score was one area which could be called a 'negative' to the movie. There were some places where it pumped up the adrenaline and other places it was just noise.

 

Daniel Craig is probably one Bond who has always been hardcore and has chosen to do more of daredevilry rather than love-making with Bond girls. He continues his charisma. There are people who say that he was never worth of a Bond but for me he shows 'How can a Bond be less cliched?'.

 

Judi Dench as M plays a pivotal role in this movie. M has a strong character in this movie. Watch out for her actions.

 

Javier Bardem plays the antagonist and he has his own style to emote the audience.

 

The movie has all the elements of a Bond flick and it displays a unique style of presenting it. It concentrates less on the hi-tech gadgets and more on the story and screenplay. The scenes leading to the climax are absolutely impressive and a must re-watch.

 

Frankly, Skyfall should never be compared to a usual Bond flick for it is 'different'. Period.

 

Rating: 3.5/5

 

Skyfall: A Tribute!