Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts
By Matt Patches – Hollywood – Previously, on Harry Potter : Big bad Voldemort steals the Elder Wand from Dumbledore’s grave, while Harry mourns the loss of his wee elf friend Dobby and begins his search for the remaining Horcruxes.
If that recap leaves you with hazy memories of last year’s Deathly Hallows – Part 1, you may want to pop in the DVD before taking on the Harry Potter franchise’s grand finale, Deathly Hallows – Part 2. The eighth film in the series doesn’t pull any punches, demanding your knowledge of the saga’s previous events and crescendoing off a foundation of character and connection built over a decade of cinematic excursions. That’s not a fault — Deathly Hallows – Part 2 serves hardcore fans and dedicated patrons of the franchise alike, bouncing elegantly back and forth between explosive action and emotional conclusions. At this point, that’s what matters.
Whereas Deathly Hallows – Part 1 took Harry, Hermione and Ron on a gritty race through the real world, Part 2 brings the trio back to their home base, Hogwarts School of Magic and Child Death, where their colleagues and professors find themselves defending it against the empowered Voldemort and his band of Death Eaters. Similarly to Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Deathly Hallows – Part 2 spends most of its run time following various established characters as they navigate the epic battle. Unlike the clunky, erratic action of TF3, director David Yates manages to execute the sequences in Potter with bravado, making sure we give a damn every time Potter discovers a secret from the past, blows a Death Eater out a window or glances upon one of his closest friends lying dead on the floor.
For all its otherworldliness, Potter is and always has been a human story, one that puts its characters before spectacle. But when Yates and his team of FX wizards do unleash their bag of spells on the screen, they do it with a very BIG bang. Deathly Hallows – Part 2′s scope is on par with the Lord of the Rings trilogy, bringing everything from trolls to spiders to animate statues into the wizards’ massive assault. The franchise hasn’t seen action on this scale before, but Yates never misses a beat or opportunity to dazzle with visual eye candy. Turning the crumbling of Hogwarts castle into a riveting, poignant experience — true magic.
Once again, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint and a cast of veteran British thespians deliver the necessary gravitas to anchor Potter’s fantastical elements in reality. With everything finally on the line in Deathly Hallows – Part 2, each performance is at its best and Radcliffe steps up to the plate to make his final showdown with Voldemort one to remember. He spends most of the movie covered in dirt, encrusted blood on his face and a harrowing sense of death behind his eyes. Heavy material, but Radcliffe pulls it off.
Few franchises have the chance that Harry Potter has been fortunate enough to receive, to follow the same familiar faces through years of ever-complicating story. Thankfully, Deathly Hallows – Part 2 doesn’t squander the opportunity. The saga swells with a triumphant final act, one that never forgets why people love the movies in the first place. The adventure, the awe, the comedy, the thrills, the people, the places, the things — those are the elements that make Harry Potter grand and they return in perfect form once more to say good-bye. – Rating : 4/5
Made under the banner of Eros International Media Ltd, Eros Entertainment by Director Zoy Akhtar with a set of Lovely songs, great on screen performance by the lead heroes, super cool landscape and the beauty of Spain, along with a message to live, makes Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara a perfect Bollywood Flick with just the right ingredients that strikes the chord with audience.
The plot of ZNMD is about 3 friends, Abhay Deol who is part of a family that is into construction business and is on the verge of a marriage with his love of life Kalki Koechlin. On the other hand Hrithik Roshan, who plays a financial broker leads a life targeting just more and more money and wants to retire in his 40s. While, Farhan Akhtar plays a copywriter for an advertising company. A typical playboy kinda guy who is looking for his father who left his family way back. These 3 characvters had made an oath during their college days that they will go on a freaky tour before they enter into knot and would have as much fun with adventure sports. And the condition was that whatever one decide, the rest of the 2 have to abide by. And there starts a great road trip sweetly titled Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.
At times the movie does look like a Mountain Dew Ad but then the freshness in the scenes makes it a delight. All through out the movie concentrates on conquering once fears and living life to the fullest. Arjun is scared of Scuba diving, Imran is damn hilted by Sky Diving and last but not the least the San Fermin festival, Bull race to get over fear of them all. The Tomatino festival, Senorita, and Arjun falling for Laila (Katrina Kaif) and those pacy adventure sports are added advantages to enhance this cinematic experience for the audience. Farhan Akhtar have done really well to pack some comedy timing with one liners and some really touching scenes while he meets his Dad Salman Habib. Hrithik Roshan is a born performer and its rest assured that we will be in for nothing short of a great stunner with his out standing acting skills.
It was ‘Rajneeti’ first, and now Zoya Akhtar have really touched the acting core of Katrina Kaif who plays a Fashion Apprentice who is on leave yearly once to train aspiring Scuba Divers, Katrina stunns us all with her breath taking performance. Kalki on the other end plays a possessive fiancé and stands out with the act. Other elements are the cameos played by noted actors like Naserudin Shah and Deepti Naval which is unmatched too. The movie is perfect package of sensitivity as well as touchy moments which brings tears in your eyes and a cute smile at the same time, while giving you a strong message to lead life, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara can very well make the audience remember of a friend of you or me, or your ownself with the kind of characters that are on-screen with the once those are off-screen.
With some beautiful background score and technical specialities, alongside SELs musical skills and some superb photography work by the crew makes ZNMD a perfect watch.Go and grab the tickets guys.Dont wait a second.
I am going in with 4/5 for Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.
“Simpler a thing is, nobler it is”, said the legendary Sathyajith Ray. He would have reiterated his stance now had he watched Krishna (Vikram) in Deiva Thirumagal.What would you call someone who is an embodiment of all things good, simple and virtuous but appears in the eyes of blemished materialistic world as aberrated? A Deiva Thirumagan, indeed!
DT is a poetical tale of love and affection between a dad and his 5 year old daughter who is the raison d’être of his life. He may be a mentally challenged person to the world but he is after all her dad.
Director Vijay’s caliber as an effective raconteur keeps escalating in every film of his and DT is the latest example. His matured handling of the script and his characters are just testimony to this. It is endearing to watch this tale unravel itself in a very charming and touching fashion.
There are no villains in DT but all the characters are driven by the goodness exuded by its lead Vikram. One of the first frames, where Krishna helps the pickpocket guy sums up his characterization. The subsequent shots of him abiding the traffic signal, wanting to stick to truth only and helping a hatchling to its nest lucidly spells forth his character. In a way, it is Vikram all the way…
What can you say about this actor whose sincerity and talents that are not already known? It is not Vikram you see but it is Krishna and a dad wanting to be with his daughter suffering the pangs of separation. He has done the tightrope walking of playing a mentally challenged person to the hilt. A little sway on any one side would have worked detrimental to him as an actor and the film. The seasoned actor that he is has given a brilliant performance.
Anushka looks ravishing and as a struggling lawyer gets her act right wanting to bring justice to her client. Santhanam’s comedy gels along with the story line and brings in enjoyable lighter moments. Nasser as the intelligent and cunning senior advocate Bhashyam is apt and delivers a veteran’s performance. However it is baby Sara who steals the show next only to Vikram in her angelic looks and performance. There is a serene look about her which helps the role majorly and her understanding of her dad and playing to his inadequacies warrant accolades. Amala Paul has a small role and delivers it right. The supporting casts of Y Gee Mahendra, Sachin Khedekar, Karthik Kumar, Krishna Kumar, Surekha, M R Kishore and Priya have also essayed their roles quite effectively. .
Setting the right kind of mood through his camera work has been cinematographer Nirav Shah’s forte which he has adhered to in DT. Nirav has had a field day in Vizhigalil Oru Vaanavil number which is aesthetics at its best. Anushka’s expressions in this sequence and the oblivious Vikram behind her on the bike are a revelation. The sleek and discreet editing helps the proceeding in a big way. G V Prakash’s scores are already chartbusters and each track adds significant value to the film. Ore oru oorukkula number is sure to be children’s favorite
Dialogues like “Vakil kitayum doctor kittayum poi pesa koodathu, aana vakillum doctorum poi pesalam” and ‘Saamikku amma kedayaada’ are noteworthy. There are quite a scenes that tug at your heart’s strings and almost all of them happen between the dad and the daughter, the cream being the one between them in the court room towards the end and that on the first day of Sara’s school where the duo communicate with each other in sign language.
On the flip side a few scenes involving M S Bhaskar and the helper don’t add value to the progress of the film. However considering the overwhelming positive feeling that the film evokes in its entirety, these foibles can be forgiven.
After a long while, DT gives the satisfaction of watching a film without cringing in your seats or worrying how it would appeal to the young population. In short Deiva Thirumagal is a well nuanced film that will appeal to everyone who has their heart and feelings in the right place.
Verdict: An emotional tale between a father and a daughter well told – Rating : 4/5
What do you call a film that is terribly confused and actually not sure of what it wants to deliver? What would you term a film that is not sure of itself and that switches from one mode to the next, hoping all the while to eventually deliver the goods? You call it ‘Film Star’.
We begin with the impression that this is going to be a film about a wannabe scenarist Nandan (Dileep) who has been striving hard to read out his script to Superstar Surya Kiran (Kalabhavan Mani) for the last couple of years. Finally he does meet Surya, but is shown the door in no time. Dejected he disappears, leaving the script with the actor.
Shaping a career in films could be a tough game indeed. But imagine your surprise when you realise that this movie isn’t about film making at all. Its about more critical issues like expansion and its pitfalls, and at a deeper level, plain exploitation.
Confused? Nandan has scripted a film based on his own life, and how he and his fellow slum dwellers were forcefully displaced from their homes, when a factory was established n their small village. Those who had opposed the establishment had become martyrs, and Nandan himself had lost his hearing and half a leg.
Surya Kiran decides to film the script, and the actor along with his crew heads for the said village to start shooting. For those of you, who wonder if the actor hasn’t heard of shooting sets, let me tell you that Surya Kiran has some ulterior motives in mind.
The first few minutes of the film has none other than Suraj Venjarammoodu in the role of a car thief, and you wonder if this is going to be a crass comedy. No, its not, as Suraj Venjarammoodu vanishes without a trace, making us wonder if his was a cameo appearance.
Talking of cameos reminds me of Dileep himself, who does just a little more than a guest appearance. I am still at a loss as to why he had agreed to do the role in the first place; a role that could easily have been done by any supporting actor. Salim Kumar too makes an equally brisk entry and exit.
You remind yourself that is a movie that deals with movies, when you see Rambha on screen playing herself. Fans, do not keep your hopes high, since she’s there barely in a song and in another scene. Mukta George is there as well, in a much lengthier but not necessarily a meatier role.
I do agree that a superstar who is busy doing commercial masala flicks might dress gaudily for his films. But what excuse does Kalabhavan Mani have for those showy, gross costumes that he otherwise flaunts on and off the sets?
Film Star is an utter disappointment all the way. As an entertainer it neither entertains and as a film it neither interests nor inspires.
Rating : 2/5 – Courtesy : NowRunning
The critical point that the makers of ‘Collector’ have missed out on, is that gone are the days when you could craft a film based on a central character, bestow some bureaucratic power on him, dig into some political issues, create a ruckus and keep the audience entertained.
Collector has Suresh Gopi playing the title role, and he is Avinash Verma in the film, the District Collector of Cochin. Assuming office, Verma has to take heads on several kingpins who rule the underworld of Cochin. Of these, Williams (Rajeev) the real estate mafia don proves to be a deadly opponent to the officer.
There are not many situations in the film, that you haven’t seen in several other films that have been moulded on the same lines. As usual, there is an extremely benevolent leftist Chief Minister who goes out of his way to lend a hand to the smart officer in charge. In Collector, it is, for the umpteenth time, Janardhanan again donning the role of the CM.
The supporting characters lose no time in falling into a line and occupy either of the two sides in the battle. Along with the Collector, there is ACP Revathy and social activist Arundhati. The City Police Commissioner, along with a couple of corrupt ministers and officials rally behind Williams.
The strength is almost evenly distributed on both sides. For instance, to counter the feminine power on the Collector’s side, we have the Lady Mayor along with Williams. And true to the spirit, the Collector has a doting mother at home, who at one point is forced to throw him out due to his excessive affinity towards his duty.
Its not a mere war of words that Anil C Menon has envisaged. There is a terror element thrown in for that extra effect. And these bad men are real mean in the film. They kill each other with a vengeance, and the battle soon gets real bloody.
Much chaos and confusion later, the dust finally settles down and justice is served. Truth and honesty is rewarded. And all is well with the world. Pretty good, except that the Collector reminds us of a King or a Commissioner. And its not a relieving thought that we might have to sit through the dare devil antics of lesser officers now, since all the higher ones have already been taken.
Suresh Gopi is quite comfortable playing the Collector. He is more like the Commissioner himself, minus the khaki uniform and the English dialogues. He does his job well, as he has already done a million times. Rajeev is quite good as well, as the cut throat villain.
Collector fits into the socio-political thriller genre in Malayalam films to the ‘T’. The film tries to speak a lot, but the fact is that not many are in a mood to listen. For, we have seen it all.
Rating : 2/5 – Courtesy : NowRunning
The much awaited film of 2011 Vineeth Sreenivasan starrer Chaappa Kurishu hit the screens this week, but to the surprise of many the movie have not gone down well with the critics and cinegoers.It seems despite of an engaging story line the movie fails in critical departments.
Well let’s see what constitutes Chaapa kurisu, mmm, so the story, what is it all about,A very thin story is what i could feel,Arjun (Fahad Fasil) and Soniya (Ramya Nambeesan) are the centre of this slick flick, the story revolves around a mobile that reaches the hands of Vineeth sreenivasan which contains a scandal clip of the hero and heroine getting cozy with each other, what vineeth does with this, and how he does a cat and mouse with hero Fahad constitutes the rest of the story. I dont want to reveal too much about the story, because that is the only possible fun element in this entire movie.
Ramya Nambeesan once again stands out with her acting par excellence and stunns the audience.But unlike Traffc, and Malaravadi the movie fails drastically to impress the audience.Vineeth Srinivasan and Fahad have not done justice to their roles.Roma does well in parts, but she too could have been utilized in a much better way.
The only plus point of the movie is its story in parts and some truly touching music.But even the story doesn’t do any noted justice to the world famous 1000 True Stories.
The Director Sameer Thahir have failed miserably in building up what could have been otherwise an intriguing film with some cool moments.Even the background music department failed big time.The stroy written by R.Unni is unnecessarily elongated and is a total tragedy.A producer of Listin Stephen’s caliber who gave us all wonderful movies like Traffic could actually be a hand burning experience and not to mention Chaapa Kurishu could well become a “True Kurishu.”
As far as the audience response and box-office collections are concerned, Chaapa is a boring experience and will have to wait for some miracles to get the expected level of ticket-sales and could well be a box-office disaster.Well, what can we say, better luck next time.
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