I selected this movie only for all the Academy Awards, BAFTA and all other accolades that it's received. It was virtually unknown in INDIA till then. This movie has not released in INDIA, as far as my knowledge goes and no DVD out yet. So I do it in my way - A Broadband connection and aXXo torrent!!!
I watched the movie in my drawing room(only room in fact - those ramblings of a bachelor) at my pleasure, without having to buy online tickets, without calling friends, without taking the time and pains to get to the multiplex on time and redeem my tickets in that queue, and so on.
The movie somehow mixes the components of a documentary, emotional drama and a few elements of a commercial film that keeps us interested in the war movie. The portrayal of all characters and the way the screenplay unfolds itself is so immersive and real, such that it feels we are watching a news reel of the actual war site. One of the few movies in which war is not glorified and slowly sheds light on the life of a Bomb Detection Squad. The various facets like their personal life, the way the people react to an alien army, rebels and suspicious calls, etc., are a real treat to watch.
So, watch this movie if you want to see serious stuff that is real!
For more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hurt_Locker
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887912/
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Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts
March 12, 2010
March 10, 2010
VINNAITHANDI VARUVAYA - A REVIEW
It was a Saturday noon. After my daily work schedule, I had to rush to the theatre for the matinee show. Of course, as usual I was late by 3 mins,may be!
The day before watching the actual movie, I had read K. Balachander's praise for Gautam for the movie. This added more curiosity and expectations in my 20's something heart.
To start with, the movie in one go is a sure must watch, whether you're in love, or was in love or married or blah blah. The kind of chemistry shared between Simbhu and Trisha is awesome. The portrayal and screenplay is so down to earth that we can feel the characters entwined somewhere in our daily lives. Kudos to the director for not mixing elements of cinematic masala and dramatization!
The kind of matured acting shown by the lead actors garners special mention. There's something very fresh in the way the romance is portrayed. Also, for the first time in a Tamil movie that I have seen, the kind of predicament and confusion that a girl goes through in an Indian society for the sake of love - torn between the family orthodoxy and the heart's desire is aptly depicted. I am sure every girl who has gone through love would have experienced such butterflies during their love life.
The climax is what captivated me. It is not the usual happy ending run of the mill type. It's what happens in many lovers' life. May be after some point of time, we all need to move on, but still that lingering feeling of first love will always haunt any true Love's mind!
The whole crew have done their part apt, starting from the lead actors, the person as Simbhu's friend with uncanny knack of timely comedy(a lot better than the usual slapstick one's nowadays), Manoj Paramahamsa's magical portrayal of Malta, Goa, Kerala and New York, A R Rahman's BGM's and love inspiring songs, Gautam's way of narrating a very simple love story and a special mention to the costume designer who has selected a very realistic attire for the lead actors.
The one negative I found was that the latter part of the movie nearing the climax was a little on the slower side. I also regret that I am one of those unfortunate guys who was not able to enjoy this flick along with his better half.
For the entire cast, crew and other valid information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinnaithaandi_Varuvaayaa
The day before watching the actual movie, I had read K. Balachander's praise for Gautam for the movie. This added more curiosity and expectations in my 20's something heart.
To start with, the movie in one go is a sure must watch, whether you're in love, or was in love or married or blah blah. The kind of chemistry shared between Simbhu and Trisha is awesome. The portrayal and screenplay is so down to earth that we can feel the characters entwined somewhere in our daily lives. Kudos to the director for not mixing elements of cinematic masala and dramatization!
The kind of matured acting shown by the lead actors garners special mention. There's something very fresh in the way the romance is portrayed. Also, for the first time in a Tamil movie that I have seen, the kind of predicament and confusion that a girl goes through in an Indian society for the sake of love - torn between the family orthodoxy and the heart's desire is aptly depicted. I am sure every girl who has gone through love would have experienced such butterflies during their love life.
The climax is what captivated me. It is not the usual happy ending run of the mill type. It's what happens in many lovers' life. May be after some point of time, we all need to move on, but still that lingering feeling of first love will always haunt any true Love's mind!
The whole crew have done their part apt, starting from the lead actors, the person as Simbhu's friend with uncanny knack of timely comedy(a lot better than the usual slapstick one's nowadays), Manoj Paramahamsa's magical portrayal of Malta, Goa, Kerala and New York, A R Rahman's BGM's and love inspiring songs, Gautam's way of narrating a very simple love story and a special mention to the costume designer who has selected a very realistic attire for the lead actors.
The one negative I found was that the latter part of the movie nearing the climax was a little on the slower side. I also regret that I am one of those unfortunate guys who was not able to enjoy this flick along with his better half.
For the entire cast, crew and other valid information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinnaithaandi_Varuvaayaa
October 26, 2009
AADHAVAN
This Sunday I had gone to Aadhavan for a matinee show in one of the local theatres. Thank God that I did not shell out more money for a pathetic movie like this in some over-priced multiplex in Namma Bengaluru.
Cast: Surya, Nayanthara, Murali(Character Artist), Rahul Dev,Sayyaji Shinde, Riaz Khan, Anand Babu(Nagesh's Son),FEFSI Vijayan, Saroja Devi and VADIVELU
Direction: KS RAVIKUMAR aka MASALA KUMAR
Production: RED GIANT FILMS - Udhayanidhi Stalin
Music: Harris Jayaraj
and other crew
The movie does not live up to the expectations and hype created by Kalaignar TV and the media. Surya's role is very much similar to the one he did in AYAN, so he needs to do something seriously to break the stereotype. Much of the action sequences are a modified version of AYAN.
Unlike AYAN, logic is defied blatantly and amuses many at critical and serious times during the climax. Nayanthara is wasted and portrays a very old misplaced look, she honestly does not fit in this movie. Murali has acted aptly as always, but it's a pity that he expired before the movie could release. Saroja Devi is an addition and man, she does look beautiful even at this age, better than Nayanthara obviously. But, one prime question? Will she sport make up even in HEAVEN???
The other villains are stereotypes that we have seen time and again in many tamil flicks. But all this happens in KOLKATA, that's the only difference. VADIVELU is the real sheet anchor to this movie. Without him, even with Surya, they would not be able to pull off even a decent run in theatres.
The first half is more interesting relatively. Surya's stunts are always enjoyable, but in this case, a little exagerrated even by Surya's standards, like jumping from building to building, leaping 10-12 feet, cliches as in AYAN, and then a timed rocket launcher that will explode after 2 minutes, which Surya after a gun shot to his right shoulder, clings on to the bottom of a helicopter and re inserts that missile inside the villains copter and jumps into water and the next scene, returns normal. This is heights of desperation from KS Ravikumar. Ramesh Khanna is a total waste of time, Pathetic portrayal and his makeup!
Music by Harris Jayaraj does not live up to his name. Hasile Fissile is the only number I enjoyed. Others are cut copy mix and paste stuff from his previous hits. Music which was a great boost in AYAN is a tragedy in AADHAVAN.
The other technical aspects like choreography, cinematography and the likes are good, and I don't know the technical side of it and thus am not commenting.
Overall, go watch it for Surya and Vadivelu. Please don't go with any expectations or hype from media and never compare it with even a cinch of AYAN!!!
Cast: Surya, Nayanthara, Murali(Character Artist), Rahul Dev,Sayyaji Shinde, Riaz Khan, Anand Babu(Nagesh's Son),FEFSI Vijayan, Saroja Devi and VADIVELU
Direction: KS RAVIKUMAR aka MASALA KUMAR
Production: RED GIANT FILMS - Udhayanidhi Stalin
Music: Harris Jayaraj
and other crew
The movie does not live up to the expectations and hype created by Kalaignar TV and the media. Surya's role is very much similar to the one he did in AYAN, so he needs to do something seriously to break the stereotype. Much of the action sequences are a modified version of AYAN.
Unlike AYAN, logic is defied blatantly and amuses many at critical and serious times during the climax. Nayanthara is wasted and portrays a very old misplaced look, she honestly does not fit in this movie. Murali has acted aptly as always, but it's a pity that he expired before the movie could release. Saroja Devi is an addition and man, she does look beautiful even at this age, better than Nayanthara obviously. But, one prime question? Will she sport make up even in HEAVEN???
The other villains are stereotypes that we have seen time and again in many tamil flicks. But all this happens in KOLKATA, that's the only difference. VADIVELU is the real sheet anchor to this movie. Without him, even with Surya, they would not be able to pull off even a decent run in theatres.
The first half is more interesting relatively. Surya's stunts are always enjoyable, but in this case, a little exagerrated even by Surya's standards, like jumping from building to building, leaping 10-12 feet, cliches as in AYAN, and then a timed rocket launcher that will explode after 2 minutes, which Surya after a gun shot to his right shoulder, clings on to the bottom of a helicopter and re inserts that missile inside the villains copter and jumps into water and the next scene, returns normal. This is heights of desperation from KS Ravikumar. Ramesh Khanna is a total waste of time, Pathetic portrayal and his makeup!
Music by Harris Jayaraj does not live up to his name. Hasile Fissile is the only number I enjoyed. Others are cut copy mix and paste stuff from his previous hits. Music which was a great boost in AYAN is a tragedy in AADHAVAN.
The other technical aspects like choreography, cinematography and the likes are good, and I don't know the technical side of it and thus am not commenting.
Overall, go watch it for Surya and Vadivelu. Please don't go with any expectations or hype from media and never compare it with even a cinch of AYAN!!!
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