Change Your Image
sujanfaster
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Lists
An error has ocurred. Please try again
Must needed sequels
Movies that cater most of the age groups
Directors who seldom disappoint
Reviews
Bhairathi Ranagal (2024)
Wish this prequel was actually the first in the series
In 2017, Narthan introduced Kannada audiences to cinema with dark and subtle undertones through Mufti. The movie also utilized both Shivanna and SriiMurali's strengths to perfection. The movie did take some cinematic liberties with the comedy and romance track which did affect the pace of the movie. After almost 7 years Narthan comes back with a more crisper narration through the prequel Bhairathi Ranagal.
Bhairathi Ranagal delivers almost everything that it promises from the promotion material that one would have already seen so far. The story is about the origin and rise of the gangster Bhairathi Ranagal which we saw in Mufti and is well built. The first half takes some time to create an arc for the main character which leads to a powerful interval fight sequence. The second half of the movie focuses on the growth of the character and the empire that he builds. The action sequences are more gruesome than Mufti and are gracefully handled for Shivarajkumar's age. The art direction and camerawork stand out for most parts. The dialogues are very well written and there are some really clever one liners which I hadn't heard in Kannada cinema for a long time. However the movie is drawn back by the lacklustre background score. Apart from the main theme, most part of the action sequences feel less impactful because of the music. The movie also lacks a challenging negative character especially in the second half. The movie does not create the same emotional impact in the second half as compared to the first.
Shivanna is the core of the film and he gives it all by underplaying Bhairathi Ranagal's character to perfection. He delivers some of the most impactful dialogues at ease which work really well for this movie. However apart from Shivanna and a gangster role in the first half almost every other supporting character isn't well written. The movie could have been done without Rukmini Vasanth's character or they could have brought in a different actor for the role that is. Rahul Bose tries his best to look menacing but is let down by weak writing.
I personally feel that this movie deserved a bigger scale and more time for Shivarajkumar's stardom and this kind of concept. While this may not disappoint, this movie would have been more suitable for a release before Mufti as we are used to the bigger movies and more exciting rivalries in recent times.
Bagheera (2024)
The Dark Horse (Knight) that was much needed for the Kannada Industry
The Pan India phenomenon that has touched the Kannada film industry in the last few years has become more of a bane to the Kannada cinema of late. Some filmmakers have tried too hard to make their movie to push for a Pan India release despite the lack of quality. This has also resulted in movies taking a longer time to be released after having spent a lot of money on the hype throughout its making cycle. There have been some good movies in the mix in the past year but Bagheera is that commercial movie which brings the much needed limelight back to Kannada industry. The vigilante/superhero angle is a rarely experimented genre in Kannada cinema and Bagheera does it quite well. Kudos to Hombale films and the director Dr Suri for promoting this movie the right way and not overhyping it.
The initial teaser and trailer of the movie looked good but it also made me very skeptical on how the movie looked heavily inspired by Black Panther or Batman. While it cannot be ruled out entirely, the director acknowledges the influence of Hollywood superheroes within the script. The story is not very unique or mind blowing but it is not too predictable either. While the movie being divided into chapters works sometimes, it sometimes feels abrupt. Some scenes in the first half are very short and the movie cuts into the next scene without much of a transition. The movie very practically portrays being a part of a corrupt system as a cop. The director very crisply integrates the family sentiment without too much drama. There is also a very good pay-off at the end for the same. As soon as the vigilante chapter of the movie kicks in, the action sequences keep on coming. The action sequences in the first half are artistically violent and provide some goosebump moments, The action sequences post the interval are slick at times but mostly over the top and not entirely practical. The climax fight seems very hurried and unconvincing and could have been set in a better surroundings. Cinematography and music work very well for most parts of the movie. The background score and the main title theme is very important for a movie like this and Ajneesh Loknath does a good job at not making it seem jarring. The songs mostly play in the background and there are no unnecessary song placements. There is no separate track for comedy but there are few lighthearted moments well integrated by using the main characters.
Sriimurali is a very underrated action star of South Indian cinema and it is always good to see him in roles like this. He has a very good screen presence to do action/mass movies like these. While Ugramm is still celebrated to this day, he hasn't really got a great boost from his releases post Ugramm apart from Mufti (which was a multistarrer). Bagheera is a much needed break for him and I hope he chooses more crispy scripts like this in the upcoming days. He looks the part throughout and is definitely the soul of the movie. Garuda Ram as the primary antagonist does look and act menacing but his character's evil arc isn't very convincing. There are many other co-antagonists (not sure if that is the right way of putting it) who feed very well into Bagheera's action episodes but their roles are very less explored. Rukmini Vasanth as the female lead is near perfect in her limited role. Prakash Raj and Rangayana Raghu's characters definitely stand out among the rest of the supporting characters. Both characters have great character arcs.
Bagheera may not be the most awaited or hyped Kannada Pan India release but it is a quality film for the scale that is. This sure is a refreshing Kannada action/superhero movie without any jarring elements.
Devara: Part 1 (2024)
Somewhat enthralling but mostly lacking narration of another saviour tale
When the first look of Devara dropped almost 2 years ago I was super pumped. It was mainly because of Anirudh's core BGM and a very unique mass dialogue in that trailer. I was a little hesitant considering Koratala Siva was the director and the announcement that came after 6 months that it was being made in 2 parts didn't really excite me. But I was still pretty hyped because of all the promotional content and the music (despite how some songs sound like something that we have already heard before). While I enjoyed the movie in the cinemas despite its flaws, there was so much afterthought about how I didn't feel the same impact that I have probably felt for some other mass hero movies.
Here are my reasons:
The movie is centered around the narration concept just like some of the recent movies we have seen. While it creates a good hype initially, the flow and the end of the movie does not justify the narration.
Some of the action sequences are well shot (especially the interval block) but the choice of editing in the action sequences especially the climax does not impress. Script has a major inconsistency around injuring some of the characters vs killing the others.
The reveal/messiah moments for the lead character in this film does not connect emotionally or give you any goosebumps. No complaints about the background score for these moments, but the writing isn't strong enough to keep the viewer on toes for any of the reveals.
Second half of the movie, especially the first few minutes of the second half, majorly affects the pace of the movie and narration. Many unnecessary scenes and characters ruin the impact created in the first half.
The movie could have mostly been just 1 part instead of 2, but the jury is out until I see the second part to see if the makers pull off anything spectacular and justify some of the open plot points from Part 1.
Cinematography and art direction make the movie look and transport you to a different world. But some of the night and underwater shots are way too over the top.
Junior NTR is probably the only character who has a well written role. Junior NTR does almost everything right and his epic dance form from RRR has continued in Devara. Most of the other roles are cliched or not given a proper importance. While Saif looks and acts menacing, there is no emotional arc to his role. Anyone decent actor with a good physique could have played his role. Jahnvi Kapoor is actually there for what most of us think she'd be there for and her role adds barely any value.
The music and choreography are the top notch aspects of the movie. Anirudh's background score carries the movie and also keeps the audience on their toes. I really loved his idea of using multiple versions of the core theme music according to the situation and used pirate themed sounds for the right effect.
Devara was a decent theatrical experience mainly because of Junior NTR and Anirudh. I wish the stars reevaluate their approach to the commitment of long term projects because end products like these are not worth 2-3 years wait and a sequel to follow.
The Greatest of All Time (2024)
A chaotic celebration of cinema and beyond
In the time where most of the big stars are taking ages to release their movies while piling up on new projects just for the hype you have to admire Thalapathy Vijay for consistently delivering one movie per year. His last 5 movies may have not been top-notch in all aspects but they have delivered some very good fan service and decent entertainment (probably except Varisu in my opinion).
The Greatest of All Time aka G. O. A. T does exactly the same thing that it says in the title: Celebrate Vijay. The movie is a roller coaster ride which has both ups and downs in terms of script and also the making. Script may not be great but it has enough elements to provide the right entertainment. The movie slightly lags or disappoints because of the unnecessary goofiness and just above average visual effects. Although the movie does have some Venkat Prabhu signature elements of twists and double games it lacks the surprise elements. Most of the plot twists are very predictable and a chaotic screenplay doesn't help their cause. I was initially disappointed thinking the trailer may have revealed too much, but eventually certain parts of the trailer cut seem like a genius effort. The movie is not really great (or should I say the GOAT) with its technical departments. Action sequences don't feel refreshing and the iconfusing cinematography doesn't help its cause. The main BGM theme along with the rap song is amazing but it isn't used well enough and there are unnecessary placement of songs especially in the era where movies are evolving away from the same.
Thalapathy Vijay definitely gives it all playing the main role(s). He has played a unique dual role and I cannot reveal more about it as it could be a spoiler. Unfortunately, his look with the de-aging technology probably takes away some of the greatest moments and makes them look more cringy. There are some scenes which probably only suit Vijay's style and it is kind of hard to imagine a different actor pulling those off. The movie also has some great supporting cast and some very special appearances (some of which have references beyond the movie). Prashanth and Sneha play really strong characters and both are excellent. Most of the supporting characters have decent roles except Meenakshi Chaudhary whose role is again a bit stereotypical eye candy at times. Premgi Amaren and Yogi Babu's comedy does work in most parts but feels predictable at times. Kokila Mohan as the antagonist adds a unique dimension but his role could have been written better.
The Greatest of All Time tries to be both Thalapathy Vijay's trademark movie and Venkat Prabhu's at the same time and falls short on both aspects. It is definitely an entertainer if you don't think too much and it's a blast ;) for Vijay and CSK fans. The movie also does its bit to lay out the red carpet for Vijay's political journey.
Kalki 2898-AD (2024)
The one that expands horizons keeping the Indian mythological roots intact
When it comes to releasing landmark cinemas, the Tollywood industry has always been at the forefront in Indian cinema. Nag Ashwin's Kalki 2898 AD is nothing short of one. The trailers or the glimpses that we saw did remind us of many Hollywood dystopian and fantasy movies. The first look of Prabhas had me a little worried as his face looked heavily modified via animation in a very generic background. As I saw the trailers and other glimpses released, the quality did look much better. Many of the scenes of Kalki 2898 AD do remind you of many well known Hollywood movies but it takes nothing away from a great concept which builds on the Indian epic Mahabaratha in a way we haven't seen before (take a note Brahmastra!). The movie is technically brilliant and lives up to the high budget reputation. While the visuals are grand, they are not necessarily aesthetic apart from a few shots. I did not feel any special effects from watching this on an IMAX screen. Even a screen with a very good 2D resolution would have done a decent job, I think.
The mass movie and Prabhas fan in me kinda knew this wouldn't be a typical movie which would hype Prabhas's character like the usual way. Nag Ashwin from the beginning makes it clear that he is building a universe with equal focus on many important characters. The initial part involving Prabhas' quirky moments doesn't really blend well with the gloomy futuristic setting. The first half does seem a little jarring as the movie tries to introduce a new world and many new characters but one can always sense that there is something bigger and better coming. Some scenes in the first half aren't convincing and also not visually up to the mark at times. The interval block is where the movie not only gains momentum but also takes a pretty serious turn. The second half of the movie actually puts the real intention forward and gives more meaning to many of the roles. The intensity of the background score and visuals go up a notch. Some action sequences in the second half are longer than they should have been and the elongated back and forth battles does not serve any major purpose. I cannot be further descriptive about this as this may lead to a spoiler. As we near the climax we get to see some major revelations which eventually lead to one of the most epic cinematic moments which brings Indian mythology and modern cinema together to perfection. But of course that's only the beginning to the next part of this saga which kind of leaves the audience on their toes slightly bummed after a major high.
A movie of this scale has to do well in all the art and technical departments. Kalki 2898 AD gets it right for the most part. The movie offers so many new elements visually for the first time in Indian cinema. It may not be perfect, but the visuals have a meaning unlike some other big budget movies where things are scaled up just to show that they spent the money. Although Santosh Narayan's music and background score start slightly dull, it picks up mainly from the interval scene and gives us one the best goosebumps moments in the climax. I wish I could have had more of that background score which was in the climax but I also understand why it couldn't be added in earlier. The costume and make up department have done a very commendable job especially for the characters of legends Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Hassan.
Kalki 2898 AD is all about its characters and different roles with their own purpose. Like my usual review I do not want to go on describing each of them as that could turn out to be a review in itself. There are too many main characters and some interesting cameos. Prabhas and Deepika do justice to their roles, but it is Amitabh Bachchan who stands tall ;) with his role as Ashwathama. From the trailers and previews the role looked very generic like most of Amitabh's roles in the recent big budget movies, but it is nothing like that. He has finally been given a very key role and he executes it to perfection. While Kamal Hassan has little screen time, he still is impactful and menacing. There are many big names who have key but small roles but its all a part of the high budget extravaganza.
Kalki 2898 AD is quite a unique cinematic journey that tests your patience at times which eventually ends with a very big promise. The filmmakers have set a really high bar with one of the best climax reveal of Indian cinema and have a mammoth task for the upcoming parts.
Aavesham (2024)
AAVE'SOME'!
There are some movies that are pure madness and there are few movies which have method to the madness. Aavesham falls in that second category which is not something you'd usually find. Mollywood has kept on producing some quality movies with unique concepts in the last few years and Aavesham is the latest addition to the list but with some extreme fun thrown in which isn't an easy thing to do.
Buddy comedy, college/teen drama, action, mass entertainment, sentiment and satire. Aavesham pretty much ticks almost all of these boxes. This is a classic example of a movie with a very thin storyline but excels pretty much in all other departments. The screenplay is tight and crisp, the dialogues are brilliant and exceptionally unique. Costume department seems like they are having fun and the biggest strength of this movie is its music by Sushin Shyam. The background score elevates many scenes to a different level and there are many catchy tunes including an exceptional rap song for Fahadh Faasil's character. Movie's crisp editing compliments its cinematography and this movie is a clear example of not needing exotic locations or expensive shots as long as you have a great screenplay. One can almost clearly guess what happens next for most parts of the movie and yet not feel disappointed with it because of this film's execution. Set in the city of Bengaluru, this movie is relatable to both Malayalis and Kannadigas alike for different elements. The movie perfectly touches upon and also throws in satire at Instagram trends, star worship, gang wars and identity crisis of an individual. Although one cannot point a finger exactly where, the movie tends to lag a little bit in the second half.
The biggest strength of this movie is its characters. Fahadh Faasil as don/gangster Ranga is a treat to watch. You can totally see the madness coming from his character and yet he adds some kind of surprise element to it making it very enjoyable. His Kannada-Malayalam mix dialogue delivery is commendable and I also feel most of it is improvised. It is definitely hard to write such dialogues! I wouldn't mind an individual Ranga spin-off movie. He excels in his both present and past looks in the movie. The debutants who play the three important roles in the movie as Aju, Bibi and Shanthan are brilliant and I expect a bright future ahead for all of them. Sajin Gopu as Amban as Ranga's loyal sidekick reminds you of some characters from 90s movies with the added coolness to his role. There are many other debutant supporting characters who deserve all the appreciation for adding to the total chaos fun for this film.
Aavesham is definitely one of the most entertaining movies I have seen in recent times. This movie is testament to the fact that the teen/college comedy can still be fun without being cringe or boring.
Dune: Part Two (2024)
The one that was long overDune for modern Hollywood ;)
When I watched the first part of Dune I did not want to judge it completely. I did write a review on it mainly from the perspective of a visual experience and not much on the storytelling. Villeneuve's got quite the reputation on his storytelling with his previous directorial ventures. He did quite a good setup with Dune Part One with the world building and characterization. The climax of Dune: Part One felt like it's just the beginning and Dune: Part Two pretty much almost continues the story right from the same moment. The two parts have definitely been one of the most well structured sequels that I have seen in recent times but somehow the overall experience did not blow me away.
The plot progression is pretty much how one expects it to be, especially for the ones who have read the book and watched the old movie. Dennis Villeneuve adds a twist of his own and also has played around with the characterization a little bit which does work for the movie. This part explores the lead character's journey in a different manner with added conflicts. The part surrounding him being "The One" reminds you of many other movies which you have already seen. Paul getting to ride 'The Worm' reminded me of Jake's Toruk Makto scene from Avatar.
Everything leads to the inevitable war which has always been coming since Part One. I did like the political and relationship complexities which are weaved around the events happening at the end of the movie. But somehow the final war does not feel strong enough to leave an impact for a movie of this scale as per my opinion. I am clearly highlighting that it is my opinion considering how this movie has gained a huge fan base and positive response. I personally like Blade Runner 2049 and I feel it was more emotionally resonating. The movie is technically strong in all departments and I really don't want to waste the reader's time with my adjectives praising them. While I do like Hans Zimmer's score around Paul's character the same cannot be said about the movie throughout
Dune: Part Two is a lot about its characters, most of them get a pretty strong role to play even with little screen time. Timothy as Paul Atreides is definitely tailor made for him. We definitely get to see his different shades and almost perfect character evolution from Part One to Two. Stellan Skarsgård as Baron is definitely one of the menacing antagonists I have seen in recent times. While Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha has a memorable character and also play it exceptionally well, I wasn't a big fan of the character arc and depth for that role. Bautista's Rabban doesn't leave the same impact as the part one. While Christopher Walken and Florence Pugh play key roles, their roles seem like set for more to come (if at all that happens). Rebecca Feguson's as Paul's mother Jessica is probably the most complex character of the film some interesting elements to it. My favourite from this part is definitely Javier Bardem as Stilgar and his role totally changes shades as compared to Part One and also makes the movie more fun. By now most of you would have also seen all the memes around him. Josh Brolin portrays Gurney in a very strong manner but we would have loved to see some more interaction between him and Paul in this part.
While Dune: Part Two is a well structured movie, it clearly benefits at the time when big studios have continuously failed to deliver on their high budget (especially superhero) projects. Dennis Villeneuve successfully manages to create an oasis for the modern cinema through a film which is almost entirely set in a desert :)
Salaar: Part 1 - Ceasefire (2023)
A Dinosaur which barely breaks the ice
Salaar has been my most-awaited film for 2023. It ticks most of the boxes for the mass movie fan in me: A mass movie focused on a single character dominance, Neel directorial which is usually a no-nonsense action movie with cracking goosebump scenes and a much awaited comeback for Prabhas who is tailor made for characters like this amongst other things. Salaar somehow touches most of these boxes but does not check it wholeheartedly.
I will approach this review differently by describing how different aspects of the movie works but falls short somehow:
The Plot/Story:
This is definitely the most complex storyline of a Prashant Neel movie. While the plot gets really interesting towards the end, you tend to realize that a lot of time was wasted in the first half for no good reason. Eventually the movie leaves a lot to be explored in Part 2 but I feel there could be too much left to show in Part 2 and I'm afraid there is going to be a tough job for editors. It is also quite a risky move to have not even planned to shoot Part-2 yet (which Neel has admitted in interviews) with so much left to be told.
The Action:
Finally Prabhas gets his groove back with the action sequences which perfectly suit his body language. There are some great creative choices on some of the action scenes which are definitely bound to get cheers in the cinema halls although they aren't entirely logical. There are creative killings which justify the A rating but they were definitely not necessary for the plot, not that I'm complaining. But I would have definitely loved to see some more physical effort from the lead characters for some of the action scenes. At times it is just too cool and too easy.
Screenplay:
Prashant Neel's strength has been screenplay over the storyline in his past movies but in Salaar it is the other way around. The movie does follow the traditional way of telling flashback stories like most mass movies but as the movie gets close to the end, there is no payback to the flashback narration. The movie ends like an interval scene which we have seen in most of the mass movies. This ending makes the first half screenplay seem pretty odd.
Dialogues:
Neel's previous works have always boasted of minimal but impactful dialogues. While Uggram had some of the best written Kannada lines, KGF had very quirky and mass one liners especially with a good mix of Hindi. There aren't any trademark dialogues in Salaar which will etch in one's memory but Prabhas and Prithwiraj's does have some fun one liner exchanges. Those also serve as the little humour element in this movie. Dialogues are well written but it is not something you'd remember it for years to come.
Music and Background Score:
Most of us were already slightly disappointed with the background score of Ravi Basrur in KGF 2 as compared to KGF 1. Unfortunately the background score doesn't really match up to Prabhas' screen presence and build up for most parts in the first half, especially for his introduction sequence. The music and background score does get better in the second half and there's a 'main theme music' which could have been made better use of in the first half as well. Overall, the background score falls short of creating some major goosebump moments leading up to the fight.
Cinematography, Editing and Visuals:
Bhuvan Gowda continues his stellar form with some great shots and he manages to showcase Prabhas at his best. Aerial shots and shots of the city landscape totally reminds you of KGF 2 in many parts but not in a bad way. The visual effects team have done a great job in showcasing completely imaginary cities, towns and walls. The choice of using Neel's favourite dark-tone does seem excessive at times. Dare I say that they also have done a good job in digitally modifying Prabhas' looks in some scenes, and yes it is evident. While the action sequences are edited well, the same cannot be said about the shifts that we experience in some of the dramatic sequences. While the set design of Khansaar kingdom does remind you of many hollywood movies, the hair and make-up department has done an exceptional job in making each character stand out.
Performances:
Neel manages to explore Prabhas' strengths perfectly by writing a role which involves him being the quiet and dangerous hero. Prabhas' performance does remind one of his Chatrapathi and other mass movie days without the unnecessary comedy and duet numbers. This is definitely the much needed comeback for Prabhas. Prithwiraj does excel as Varada Raja Mannar but at least for Part 1 there isn't any USP element for his role which makes him stand out or explore his strengths. Apart from these two, there is a plethora of supporting characters of which most of them have done nothing but justice to their role. Sriya Reddy, Bobby Simha, Garuda Ram, Madhu Guruswamy, Pramod Panju and Tinu Anand are some of the highlight performers. Of course special mention to Naveen Shankar who even with a very little screen presence makes a major impact and I am quite excited to see him in part-2. Just like the other Neel movies, we do have some creative choices for character and family names.
Uggram Connection (Extra):
A lot has been discussed about this movie being a remake of Uggram, but let me assure you it's not. However Neel has straight up taken some scenes and moments from Uggram and recreated them here. He does have the creative freedom to do that considering its his own work but I personally feel that he should have admitted that to the Kannada audience. I could here some gasps of disappointment in the theatres for some of the exact scenes.
Overall, Salaar makes for an almost satisfying theatrical experience but it leaves a lot of things open-ended. While it does deliver on the promise of a violent action film, it somehow fails to connect much at an emotional level. Neel continues to show how good he is at doing what he does but I feel that he does not really justify the time he has invested to bring this dinosaur finally out of its hideout.
Animal (2023)
Vanga Monsterclass
I was in 2 minds on whether to watch it Animal in the theatres. While the teaser was exciting, (especially Bobby Deol's bit), the trailer kind of seemed to reveal way too much about what the movie would be about. The plot seemed very basic from whatever that we could see in the trailer. I was not really a big fan of the movie Arjun Reddy despite some raw filmmaking. I waited a few days for some reviews and of course the movie has collected a lot of polarizing opinions. But I decided to go and check what the hype is all about anyway, plus I was really curious to see Bobby Deol's maniac role.
The movie is self-centered around Ranbir's character and while I was about to mention the name here, I am taking it back. One has to just see it themselves the way that is revealed in the movie. The character name reveal is a genius move and you really got to give credit to the dialogue writing up until that point to keep the lines in such a way that they do not need to reveal the name. The initial few minutes of the movie kind of look like Sanju and plays like a biopic. There is also a bit of non-linear screenplay before the interval just to build the suspense up. Then comes a long and expected interval block with a noisy action sequence. Despite it being way too over the top, Sandeep Reddy Vanga makes it an entertaining watch. Post-interval, the movie kind of takes a pause to explore Ranbir's family dynamics which kind of feels a little too much. Post Bobby Deol's character introduction, the movie picks up the pace and adds sub plots before reaching the climax. Majority of the reviews and opinions called out the second half being a letdown, while I feel some parts of it did, the climax made up to it. The Climax Fight is a treat to watch with a very interesting song selection and of course the monstrous performances of Bobby and Ranbir.
Animal's strength is in its unconventional, over the top, loud and unapologetic narration. Sandeep Reddy Vanga has definitely walked on a very thin ice and has successfully taken this risk. He has been greatly supported by his actors and different music directors. This movie could almost be just another revenge saga if not for its narration and the way it explores different relationships. While the promotion is about the movie exploring father-son relationships, I personally feel it is more than that. I feel that the husband-and-wife relationships and conflicts between the leading pair offer more than the father-son relationship which is in a way is supposed to be the main plot.
Ranbir Kapoor devours the character like an animal he is. He shows again the different shades that he can bring which we saw in Sanju but in a more raw and maniacal way. Rashmika Mandanna has put in a strong performance as well but at times her switch of Hindi accents is noticeable. I personally feel that Anil Kapoor's character isn't as strong as it should be. It is definitely Lord Bobby Deol who walks away with one of the best antagonist performances of 2023 despite having very little screentime for a movie which is quite long. His character could have been explored better. Tripti Dimri shines both physically 😉 and emotionally in her small role. Special mention to Saurabh Sachdeva who suits a very cunning and evil character. Also, the actors in the Punjabi brotherhood add to some of the lighter and heavier (in terms of action) moments in the movie but at times their characters feel a bit too overcooked.
Animal is one of the daring experiments in terms of filmmaking despite having a thin plot. It is definitely not for everyone. The movie makes you laugh, laughs with you and at times even laughs at you. Sandeep Reddy Vanga definitely delivers on his promise on the violet film in a very unconventional way.
Ghost (2023)
A super fast paced thriller of its kind
Director MG Srinivas has had a collection of some interesting films in his belt. Although not perfect, his films have shown some promise and always offered something new. He kept the audience guessing from the time of announcement and through the promotions of the movie. The Big Daddy promo and the trailer showed two different shades of the film. Dr Shivarajkumar aka Shivanna hasn't had a great run himself after his successful experimental 'Tagaru' with Sur. With him gaining popularity among the whole South Indian film industry after his cracking appearance in Jailer, the expectations around this have been high.
Ghost seems like a heist thriller from the overall setup in the movie. But as the movie goes on, one can realize it is much more complex than that. The movie however does run very fast and needs complete attention to understand what is happening. The length of the movie is kind of both the positive and negative point for the movie. At times it almost feels like this script could have made a great mini-series on an OTT platform. There is a lot of stuff happening in the movie to comprehend at times and it is told mainly through the interaction of two main characters. While the first half is all about set-up, plan and the tricks by Shivanna and his gang it is during the second half we get to see some scope towards the role build of Shivanna. The movie's action sequences are focused more to be seen as clever moves than the grand. There are certain hype moments for Shivanna fans and some special easter eggs for the ones who would have keenly followed Shivanna's career. Arjun Janya's background score is apt to keep the movie's adrenaline going but slightly misses an USP element to it. Cinematography is excellent at times and at times it is too fast. While I understand the director's intention of non-linear screenplay the editing could have been much better. I also feel that there were much better opportunities to elevate Shivanna's character had the movie been slowed down a little. Looks like both the releases of the week Leo and Ghost ended up needing better elevation moments to their main characters at certain points.
Ghost is definitely a unique experiment for an actor of Shivanna's calibre. He runs the show from the beginning and peaks in the second half especially with the different shades that come along the character. While Jayaram plays the template role of 'chasing cop', his role seems a bit too tiring. The other characters in the movie doesn't really light up the screen any further. It is good to see both Anupam Kher and Jayaram having dubbed for their own roles in Kannada.
Ghost is definitely a stand out movie for the Kannada film industry which will be talked about more in the future. It is definitely a landmark in both Shivanna and Srini's careers in its own way. It is understandable if someone doesn't end up liking this movie in a theatre watch but this definitely needs a patient viewing with pause and analysis on OTT.
Leo (2023)
'Leo', The Professional ;)
Vijay has been one of the few big stars who has consistently released movies even during COVID years. There is a certain pressure directing Vijay I and we could clearly see that in Lokesh earlier venture, Master with him. Master's probably is the weakest work of Lokesh Kanagaraj. I think most of us already knew that Leo would be a part of LCU (Lokesh Cinematic Universe for someone who didn't know) considering how Lokesh solidified the universe around Vikram. The trailer didn't reveal too much apart from a stellar star cast. Despite having many famous actors in the movie Leo is out and out Vijay film and yet it is not his usual Vijay film.
Seeing the trailer and some other clips there has been parallels drawn to the movie "History of Violence". Kudos to Lokesh Kanagaraj for a deceiving trailer edit. I dont think Lokesh is trying to hide that he was inspired from the movie History of Violence, but I think he is just trying to pay an homage to it. That is the characteristic of Lokesh Kanagaraj just like how he has paid homage to multiple other movies in his previous films. The movie is set in Kashmir although shown in movie as Himachal Pradesh for the reasons we do not know revolves around a middle-aged man living a peaceful life with his family. Rest of the movie is about identity of the main character Parthiban played by Vijay and how he is fighting off the demons from the past or even if he actually has any. First half is crisp sets up sets up the character well and the incidents happening around the character makes sense. A lot of characters come and go and it feels kind of hard to track what is happening with respect to different characters. However, that does not deviate the movie from being entertaining. Second half of the movie with it's flashback story kind of turns out chaotic and not so reasonable at times. Leo has one of the best action sequences that I have seen in Indian movies in the recent times. The 2 fights in the first half are really well choreographed especially the action scene at the market. Anirudh slowly elevating background score does help the cause as well. Some people were not impressed with the car chase sequence in the second half, but I really liked it. Lokesh brings a unique viewer experience to that chase sequence it may not seem realistic, but still a treat to watch. The movie pretty much excels in all other technical departments. I think Lokesh finds it hard to balance the realistic and over the top nature of Vijay's character. He wants to show us Vijay as a vulnerable family man but also as a ruthless killer which may not resonate well all the times. The flashback episode isn't very convincing enough and does not have the emotional depth it is supposed to have. The choreography for the song "Naa Ready" is a marvel to watch and needs to be appreciated more. There is a LCU plug with the character from "Kaithi" but it is just for the hoots.
Playing roles suitable to their ages seems to be the new trend for the South Indian actors and which it does look quite good in the salt and pepper avatar. Vijay definitely has worked really hard in the role and he runs the show despite the movie having such a heavy star cast. But there are scenes where I miss the quieter and "mass" avatar of Vijay which we scene in many movies. Trisha as his wife has played a very convincing role and she has underplayed it well. While his kids' roles add to the family element, I feel that they did not necessarily need their own arcs at times. Gautam Menon's role is apt but I would have liked some more exciting elements added to his role. Both Sanjay Dutt's and Arjun Sarja roles have been underdeveloped and their purpose seems tiring at times. Sanjay Dutt has repeated interactions with Vijay's character at times without really adding much to the film. I believe that could have been better served by adding more to their roles in the flashback.
Lokesh Kanagaraj is definitely one of the genius filmmakers in the Indian cinema industry at the moment. Leo may not be his best work from a story and screenplay POV, but it is yet another great example of managing a big star's film with very few conventional elements to it.
The Equalizer 3 (2023)
A final piece which fits well into the setup
The Equalizer has been one of my favourite franchises despite the second one being not so great just because of Denzel's charm. I am always partial towards the types of movies which have retired/old guys taking down goons on their experience. Liam Neeson is my favourite in that genre and probably Denzel Washington comes close second. As a franchise, I believe The Equalizer has paced it out pretty well with a release in almost every 4 years and concluding it with part 3 as it should be.
This movie is set in scenic parts of Southern Italy. I believe the landscape and culture itself is a part of this movie's USP which does feel intended. The movie is about why Denzel is where he is and what he is looking after. The movie is fast paced and wastes no time in establishing Denzel's relationship with the characters around him. There is not much surprise about who the bad guys are and their intentions. The movie does manage to keep the suspense around Denzel's presence and intentions pretty well. The action sequences are well crafted as always and I feel this movie is definitely more gore than its predecessors. Cinematography and set design work really well for this movie. The movie brings a major plot point which seems like a big issue to be tackled but later wastes it potential. The movie eventually ends up being a very straightforward battle between Denzel and the antagonist. Also, I had issues with some decisions taken by Denzel characters in dire situations which were purely based on instinct.
Denzel Washington yet another delivers a masterful cold/cool character again. I wish he had a better antagonist in this movie for the character. There aren't many notable supporting characters in this movie except Dakota Fanning as Emma Collins. But their chemistry works because of the nostalgic factor related to them (real Denzel fans will know). Gaia Scodellaro plays a very pleasant and engaging Aminah. There aren't many great notable roles to be called out apart from these.
The Equalizer 3 delivers what it promises from the franchise, but it could have delivered something great from what it promises within the movie itself.
Jawan (2023)
King Khan Chaos Energy
The giants of Bollywood haven't had great outings for their movies which were released in the last few years. SRK did manage to get a long overdue blockbuster with Pathaan early this year but the 'spy universe' promotion and 'bhai' appearance had a lot to do with it. I personally didn't like Pathaan as much but I was definitely excited for Jawan looking at its prevue and posters. I haven't been a great fan of Atlee movies except for the mass moments but the concept of SRK working with a South Indian director excited me considering SRK is one of the few actors in Bollywood who can produce epic mass moments.
Jawan starts off brilliantly with a very good introduction to SRK in terms of visuals and background score. The movie then goes to introduce different characters and their backstories along with the main plot (or it makes you think so). The movie is exceptionally fast paced until the interval block and is enjoyable despite most of us trying to make a sense of it. There is a very good interval block which does remind of many South Indian mass movies. Post interval, the movie turns into a chaotic ride and editing is not up to the mark at times. It is kind of hard to figure out what is the actual plot and the intention of the lead character(s). The main flashback episode has multiple layers to it and it goes too fast to be comprehended. The rivalry with the antagonist doesn't seem convincing enough as we get towards the climax. I personally felt there was one major character arc and flashback episode which could have been utilized much better but they end up showing those parts too fast. The songs are pretty good and also shortened in the movie but they do feel out of place in this fast paced action movie. Comedy is very organic and also works better for the ones who would understand SRK's style of wit. Action sequences are done well (not too over the top) and the movie has many close up shots. Anirudh shines again with his background score but the jaw dropping King Khan rap from Raja Kumari isn't used enough for effect. When the movie ends it feels like you have watched 4-5 different movies. Despite all the flaws the movie does keep its fun element intact and provides us with some of the best SRK moments after years.
Shah Rukh Khan not only runs the show, but is the show. He is not only in the driver's seat but he is the engine of this movie. You can clearly see that certain over the top scenes/dialogues work because of his charm and not many actors could pull that off. This is one of his best performances in recent times. The movie does boast of some great supporting cast but the main ones Nayantara and Vijay Sethupathi do not really make a huge impact. Sethupathi as antagonist gives his best but his character offers nothing new or exciting. Priya Mani and Ridhi Dogra play short but significant characters and they fit very well into their roles. Deepika and SRK bring the 2007 Om Shanti Om vibes back at times and it is surprising to see them look almost the same 15 years after. There is not much to say about the rest of the supporting cast as the movie keeps moving on too quickly.
Jawan is a chaotic celebration of SRK's charm meeting the South Indian masala way of filmmaking. Throw the logic out of the window just how SRK does with the goons and enjoy in theatres with the people of same energy around you.
Jailer (2023)
Let Nelson cook :)
Although I am a big Thalaivar fan (who isn't?)His movies after Sivaji The Boss and Endhiran haven't really lived up to my expectations. After those two large scale movies Rajni has tried to experiment with scripts and directors over the last decade. Some of them did achieve a bit of commercial success but barely any of them connected emotionally with the fans the way they used to apart from the initial week hype.
I was a bit reserved about Nelson directing Jailer, considering his outing with Beast. But the announced cast did spark some interest after all. The movie indeed lives up to the expectations and probably exceeds too in terms of its presentation. The story is pretty simple and nothing extraordinarily new but the screenplay and well integrated humour along with cameos make Jailer a cracking entertainer. It goes without saying that Anirudh's background score plays a major role and the songs are well placed along with the screenplay. The movie does tends to deviate off track in the second half but Nelson manages to bring it back well. The action set pieces are beautifully overdone and they do not look insane or stupid. It has been a while since I have seen the comedic bits integrated well into an action movie and a big kudos to Nelson for that. The choreography for Kaavaala song is exceptional and is brilliantly shot including the Rajni part ;)
The best part about Jailer is how Nelson seamlessly manages a large supporting cast and also cameos without making them seem unnecessary apart from a very few. I wouldn't wanna reveal too much about who's who for obvious reasons. Rajni's character is well written and Nelson plays to Rajni's strengths perfectly. The best part about Rajni's character is the looks and after a long time we see that going well for him especially for his age. As usual, Thalaivar excels in all the emotions while smiling through many tricky situations in the movie. Me being a Shivarajkumar fan was elated to see Shivanna's little but impactful presence in the movie. I am pretty sure many theaters in Karnataka have erupted for his appearance in the second half. Mohanlan and Jacky Shroff also play small but vital roles and their look works really well for this movie. It is Malayalam actor Vinayakan's role as antagonist Varman which brings a unique flair to the movie. He eats up the screen just by his presence and antiques and it doesn't feel like he is overdoing it. Yogi Babu is refreshingly funny especially in the first half. The standout surprise for me was the character Dhanraj who is one of Varman's main henchman. While I am still trying to figure out the actor's name (I may come back to edit this), he is absolutely brilliant. His comedy feels over the top to start with but eventually ends up adding so much to the movie.
Jailer is both mass and a family entertainer. It's been a while since I had a ball of a time at theatres for an Indian cinema and I am glad it was Thalaivar's movie which brought me that joy.
Oppenheimer (2023)
A remarkable and intense journey
Post The Dark Knight trilogy, Nolan has delivered consistency through diverse stories. Some of the films might have split opinions among some critics and audiences but there is no question on the making. Watching a Nolan movie in the cinemas is always an experience of a lifetime and he truly stands by his word of how these movies are meant to the big screen.
Oppenheimer is a unique intense storytelling of an important part of world's history mainly through narration and a visual intensity to match with it. The trailer was very well edited and it barely gave anything about the movie. This movie probably may not have the same level of action sequences that most of the Nolan movies have but the adrenaline rush in this movie is served through intense moments between characters paired with classic background score. Ludwig Göransson excels again with the music in this after his collaboration with Nolan on Tenet. This movie probably has the most dialogue I have seen in a Nolan's film. It will take a while to understand where Nolan's going with the narration but the movie's climax makes it all worth it. The movie offers a great visual experience as it shifts through IMAX and normal ratio quite often. The practical efforts put in by the movie crew is clearly seen in the beautiful cinematography. Personally for me, this movie was not as entertaining as Nolan's movies of the past decade or so but it was definitely engaging.
Oppenheimer boasts of a tremendous star cast and there is barely anything revealed in the trailer on the same. There are many brilliant actors playing very small but very important roles which I will not say much about. Over the years, Cillian Murphy has evolved into such a great actor and his performance doesn't really surprise the audience on how good it is. He devours the screen as Robert J Oppenheimer and the intensity in his eyes is a treat to watch. Robert Downey Jr's character as Lewis Strauss slowly builds up as the movie goes on and undergoes a unique transformation in the end. Florence Pugh's role left more impact on me than Emily Blunt's although the latter has the more screen time. Matt Damon offers a slightly refreshing shade to this intense film. This movie is indeed highly dependent on the actors and performances, Nolan brings the best and showcases the best as usual.
Oppenheimer is yet another gripping tale by Nolan which makes you walk out of the cinema hall with some questions but a lot of retrospection.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
Another blockbuster from the franchise to be reckoned with ;)
While a lot of superhero and fantasy genre cinemas have dominated in the past decade, Mission Impossible franchise has always managed to hold its own ground. Although the movies have evolved in terms of scale and tech, this series still holds the charm of an old school action flick. I guess I don't even have to say much about Tom Cruise who has always been pushing boundaries with his death defying stunts and Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning is no different.
While Ethan Hunt is set on a new mission to nullify a unique and dangerous threat this movie also connects to his past. We see the return of a character from the old IMF days along with the usual suspects. Ethan's journey in finding answers takes you through a journey of some new exotic locations, great action set pieces and some high quality chase sequences. The chase sequences in this movie are definitely a stand out and there has been some exceptional camerawork on the same. Even though the movie is only in 2D, one can feel the experience of being inside a car as it falls down the stairs in Venice. There are many such exceptional shots and I don't even have to mention the epic bike jump set piece which most of us know from the behind the scenes video. The movie barely gives you any breathing space as it constantly keeps increasing the stakes. As the movie title says this is only 'part one' and hence the movie does end like there is more to come. There is definitely a feeling that the second part can't come soon enough as soon as you walk out of the cinema halls.
Tom Cruise manages to give back to back Summer blockbusters (Top Gun and this) in consecutive years. I can't think of any other actor who is so successful in churning out sequels without the audience and critics not getting tired of them. He is full of energy and good chaos and it is a treat to watch. With this movie, I personally felt that the movie didn't have enough screen time for the usual Ethan, Benji and Luther fun stuff. But considering the number of characters which have been introduced in this movie, I am guessing there is more to come (and unveil) in part two. Hayley Atwell adds some humour to the MI franchise's belle brigade. Shea Whigham and Greg Tarzan Davis as agents Briggs and Degas bring a very refreshing and unique energy to the movie. These kinds of roles are Shea Whigham's bread and butter and it shows. Pom Klementieff as Paris does look menacing in action sequences and also has some great emotional conflict to her character. There is not much to say about Esai Morales as Gabriel, the primary antagonist but I am guessing more will be unveiled in part two.
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One is yet another blockbuster from the classic franchise. The wait for the next part may seem a long one irrespective of how soon it is planned to be released.
The Flash (2023)
DC's ray of hope amidst uncertain times
Things have been very murky around DC's universe plan in the last few years. Almost like they go one step forward and two steps backwards. We are hoping to see some creative approach to storytelling with James Gunn leading the charge in days to come. The Flash however was the last of the previous management product and has been years in the making. This movie is definitely one of a kind and surprises you out of nowhere (in a good way).
The Flash has a lot going on, the film explores the 'flashpoint' concept which gets briefly introduced at the end of justice league. There isn't much of a surprise around it as they have revealed quite a bit about the timeline and characters which The Flash is traveling to. The movie is a journey between timelines where The Flash battles internal and external conflicts. What sets the movie apart is the creative visual representation of time travel, the humour and the final flurry of surprises with easter eggs in the end. There are indeed some outrageous action sequences, especially the introduction scene of flash saving the babies from the hospital. However these add a different charm to the movie almost equivalent to the cheekiness of deadpool. The time travel concept isn't new and so the multiverse concept considering how this is being explored in recent movies. The movie does remind you of Dr Strange Multiverse of Madness in some scenes and also Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. For some creative choices which have been made. However this doesn't negatively impact the movie. The movie kind of tends to go haywire at times but somehow manages to bring itself back on track. The climax definitely has one of the best emotional moments in a superhero film and portrayed in the most beautiful way possible.
Keeping public and personal controversies aside Ezra Miller has played one of the best dual roles which I have seen in a film. The two different versions of Barry Allen present such variety not only in terms of looks but also in terms of demeanour. One can almost feel as if there are two different actors playing in the movie. Ben Afflect, Michael Keaton play the apt supporting Batman characters. I cannot speak much about the performance and impact of other actors because that could lead to potential spoilers. They all have been written and portrayed in a deceivingly brilliant way.
The Flash is fun, engaging, visually compelling, at times outrageous and deeply emotional. If only DC had standalone introduction movies for these superhero movies before Justice League and then continued the universe, maybe this movie would have had a much bigger impact. The movie does end with some exciting potential ahead but nobody knows whether DC is going to pursue the same.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
A Roaring Symphony
Most of the MARVEL movies post Avengers: Endgame have always lacked a bit of familiarity. A lot of factors like the introduction of new characters, concepts and new world building have contributed to the same. In the midst of all these chaos, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 brings a back that feeling of MARVEL which we were always hooked on to (see what I did there ;-))
This movie was surrounded by controversies before its release due to the firing and rehiring of the franchise's mastermind director James Gunn. While James Gunn was working on it he was also parallely working on DC projects and he also took up a major role in DC recently. This has had me worried along with some of the MARVEL fans about his commitment towards the project. The way the Guardians get paired with Thor at the end of Avengers: Endgame I expected them to be a major part of the movie Thor Love and Thunder, but that wasn't the case. Even the Guardians' portrayal in that film kind of had us worrying on whether the MARVEL had lost that portrayal. But as soon as I saw the first trailer of GoTG Vol 3, I breathed a sigh of relief. The movie does exactly what it's promised in its trailer, that is, delivering on the emotional quotient along with a high octane fun ride.
As seen in the trailer this story majorly involves around Rocket while also diving deep into the inner purpose of the individual characters. Even though the movie is almost 2h and 30 min long it doesn't seem too chaotic or also diverting anywhere from the main plot. There are some emotional flashback episodes which are very endearing to watch but I felt that they could have been placed more effectively. The action and action set pieces are on point and not a pain to watch unlike some of the recent MARVEL ventures. The movie excels in its production design department as always with a great play around colours. The music and background score for GoTG franchise has always been on point and this movie is no different.
In case you haven't observed, one of James Gunn's strengths is his characters in movies. He has a very strong backstory to his main characters and for some of his side characters he provides cool, wacky and memorable moments. One can see the shades of Peacemaker and his Suicide Squad reboot in some of the characters' design in this movie. As highlighted before, this story majorly revolves around Rocket and we get to experience some great emotions through Rocket's POV in this film. Kudos to Bradley Cooper yet again for delivering a special performance. This makes you almost forget that the Rocket is voiced by a human, such is the integration. Chris Pratt's role as Starlord kind of starts shakily in this movie but picks up later to and gets a satisfying arc. Drax, Nebula and Mantis' roles are also quote high on emotions. While Groot has some cool moments in the movie, we don't really get to see the innocent fun which we had seen in the first 2 parts. Special mention to Sean Gunn's Kraglin role and performance, especially in the climax (I am not gonna reveal anything but I almost teared up in one of those scenes). I believe there has been a bit of talk about Adam Warlock's portrayal about how that character hasn't been utilized as per the comics. While I feel that role could have been written better, I also understand the restrictions in expanding that role because of movie's length. Zoe Saldana as the 'new Nebula' brings a different perspective and chemistry with the Guardians in this movie. Chukwudi Iwuji's antagonist character as The High Evolutionary is intense and fearsome but somehow misses the charm of a good MARVEL villain.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 is definitely one of MARVEL's very few best post the Avengers: Endgame. I personally liked it better than the Spiderman: No Way Home. It is a great nostalgic treat to the MARVEL fans.
John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
Definitely belongs to the high table of sequels ;-)
Wow, it had really been a while. It had been a while since I was so engrossed watching a movie in theaters. That's what I thought to myself walking out of the cinema hall after watching this. Of course Avatar was beautiful and had some great visual effects but it didn't have me at the edge of my seat. John Wick: Chapter 4 really turned out to be a great sequel amidst all of us wondering if they were stretching the franchise too much.
This movie purely stands out from its predecessors and also from most of the action movies these days because of its 'execution' (see what I did there ;-)). The story isn't anything really out of the box and it is yet again John Wick running away (and killing away) from the lot trying to kill him including the high table. The screenplay is very engaging and it almost acts like going through different levels of a game before meeting the final boss. The action set pieces are very well executed just like many other John Wick movies, but in this film the attention to detail to some of the action is at a different level. I ended up laughing at some of the action sequences just because how outrageous they were and in a good way. My brain was just unable to comprehend that level of awesomeness. The fight scene in a Berlin nightclub is probably one of the best action sequences in a movie and the background score makes it special. The action sequence around Arc De Triomphe is ridiculously good and makes you feel like you are in a fantasy ride. The cinematography is outstanding and offers some very creative perspectives in some scenes, which are worth the big screen experience. Background score and music selection is near perfect and as mentioned this film checks pretty much all the boxes in the technical departments. Another big highlight of the movie is the choice of beautiful locations. The filmmakers have made sure to give a new experience despite choosing many of the mainstream action movie locations.
There isn't much that does not work for the movie. The script isn't very new and I personally feel that some parts of the plot weren't really justifying what happened next. Sometimes, the action sequences may feel a bit too streched but that is mainly dependent on an individual's taste.
Donnie Yen's characterization as Caine might feel inconsistent at times related to his abilities. It also reminds you of Chirut Imwe from Rogue one but the chemistry between him and John Wick works out for better eventually. While Bill Skarsgard's character is intentionally obnoxious and irritating, it doesn't really create any kind of a significant threat. The antagonist and supporting roles are very well written and never get overshadowed by John Wick. Clancy Brown as Harbinger in a small role is very impactful and Marko Zaror as Chidi, the right hand man of the main antagonist is immense. Scott Adkins as a heavily prosthetic Killa offers a unique comic relief but also a unique resistance to John Wick. Hiroyuki Sanada is his usual best even in a small role and Rina Sawayama as Akira is definitely a future star in the making. Old timers and franchise veterans Ian McShane and Laurence Fishburne are pleasant as always. And the main man himself, Keanu Reeves, offers great depth to the character and delivers as many punches as he can but very few lines ;-)
Last but not the least "the concierge" Lance Reddick (god rest his soul) delivers one last classy short performance with his trademark deep voice.
John Wick Chapter 4 is a stylish, compelling and an unapologetic action flick which makes for a great theatrical experience.
Kabzaa (2023)
neXt bIg tHiNg iN InDiAn CiNeMa
I am not writing the review for this, I am writing an assumption of how this movie was made based on my observation:
R Chandru watches KGF and decides this kind of movie will make more money. Ropes in Upendra being a close friend and also probably would have been much harder to get others dates. Gets a producer who is willing to spend some money irrespective of the outcome and also puts in some money. Since he is producing also brings his son for a role to give him visibility. Also brings him and his family on stage during promotions, cuz why not?
Writes a basic rise of gangster story (of course it has to be a period one) and brings on Kichcha Sudeep for the narration part for his voice and also adding the star power. Brings in almost all the technicians from KGF and basically makes them "understand the assignment".
Starts shooting just before the pandemic, shooting halts after a while. Time passes and KGF2 releases in 2022 and creates a buzz and record like never seen before.
Chandru thinks he has to up his game now that the KGF franchise has raised the standards for Kannada cinema. Chandru, also impressed by the blackout editing in KGF 2 car chase sequence, thinks he can use it to its best potential in Kabzaa (LOL).
Not changing much to the script, creates a plethora of additional supporting characters just to bring in more actors from other languages. Also writes dialogues and character introduction using KGF template.
After all this, he feels Upendra's star power isn't enough to carry the film and convinces Sudeep to do a cameo and not just voiceover. Writes some additional scenes to fit in the same and also starts promoting the movie's star cast as Real Star Upendra AND Badhshah Kichcha Sudeepa.
Probably not very confident about the end product during the post production and also probably thinking the movie runtime may have been long, decides to split the movie into two parts (cuz that's what works these days if you get the branding right). In order to create a great build up for the second movie, writes Shivanna's character, alters the climax and edits the final sequence in a hurry (one can clearly see how '2' is forcefully placed in front of Kabzaa in the final scene).
Thinks its a good idea to 'leak' about Shivanna cameo to make sure all fan bases are covered. Also creates a beautiful tribute for Puneeth Rajkumar at the beginning to ensure he can get some audience just for that.
Goes on promoting about how he is proud that this is another movie like KGF and promotes on its own as "Next big thing in Indian Cinema"
Epilogue:
I always say that I understand how much time and labour effort goes into the making of a movie and why we should not dismiss movies. I will still praise all the technicians and the supporting team who have put in their hard work for this movie. However, that does not take away the fact that the producers and directors have taken the audience for granted thinking a "KGF looking product" will work. I hope the same team doesn't make Kabzaa 2 or I don't mind if it never gets made. Upendar himself knows what he has gotten into and he has just promoted this movie to ensure he has the stage set for his 'real' movie which is UI.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Wasp's in a name?
It hasn't been a great last few outing for MARVEL and combined with the streaming shows, the Phase 4 didn't really hit the mark. With Antman and the Wasp: Quantamania, MARVEL starts phase 5 and with much bigger plans ahead. Let me straightway put it out there that the title of this movie is weird and I won't be typing the full name again in this review. Also this doesn't feel much like an 'Antman' movie but it also doesn't feel specifically belonging to any kind of character.
This Antman isn't really bad as most of the reviews have described it to be. The movie takes off pretty quickly on its intentions and moving into the quantum world. The how's and why's the characters get there is pretty routine MARVEL movie stuff. We get introduced to new bunch of characters in this world and to be honest it kind of feels like those weird characters from most of the Star Wars movies we have seen. Even the humour surrounding them is pretty similar. As mentioned by almost everyone the movie does pick up with the introduction of Kang The Conquerer. It doesn't come as a surprise to me especially considering how his role was put out at the end of Loki even it was for a very short duration. Jonathan Majors makes immediate impact and takes over the movie. Then its all about how the Antman family battles Kang in the quantum realm and what may be coming in the future. However all that's done in not such a convincing manner. Having said that, the movie isn't really boring but it doesn't also connect emotionally as much. The action sequences are nothing much new but some of the visual effects are pretty good which remind of Multiverse of Madness. There is barely any real world scenes in the movie and this will be a difficult watch in anywhere but IMAX.
Paul Rudd does a decent job but doesn't really get much to explore the funny and witty side of character. Evangeline lily and Michael Douglas are just the passengers. Michelle Pfeiffer comparatively has a key role but it isn't an impactful one. However, it is all Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conquerer who plays an immense and intense role who keeps the movie floating. Rest of the side characters doesn't really get much to do. The new Antman is an alright universe connection vehicle at best.
Veera Simha Reddy (2023)
A roar ending up as a cough
I know what I am signing up for whenever I am watching a movie like Veera Simha Reddy. I am there to see the larger than life characterization, ear crunching background music effects and a lot of goosebump moments. About 10-12 years ago when I still had the patience, I used to watch many of such South Indian movies in theatres. Off late, I just wait for such movies to show up on OTT and casually watch them for such moments. With NBK's movies these moments are taken up to a different notch. 2021's release Akhanda surprised me pleasantly and it was very refreshing to see that the movie had a crisp screenplay. This and some of the ridiculous (yet unique) goosebump clips from the theatre which I watched on Twitter made me decide to go and watch this film in the theatres. Also maybe I had too much time that weekend.
Veer Simha Reddy starts off quite energetically like typical NBK movies which involve him playing the dual role. The introduction of the 'mass' and 'dark' NBK character roars on the screen with a superb background score (I hope SS Thamans releases that song soon). However this film lacks the setup for such a great character introduction. There is no suspense or any significant events leading to it. Even the flashback story for this character isn't strong enough to justify the suspense and action. NBK suits very well for his look as Veera Simha Reddy but however it cannot be said the same for him playing the role of his son again. May be it is time for him to explore playing the only senior part and then giving up the junior lead to someone else in such movies so that his main character's impact gets better even if it is for a lesser time. The lack of a decent screenplay for many of the strong characters including Bhanumathi (played brilliantly by Varu Sarathkumar) lets this film down. There are many actors and characters in the movie but they all end up becoming less significant. Duniya Vijay looks and also acts menacing as the baddie but his character doesn't carry enough threat because of how it's written. Shruthi Hassan looks gorgeous as usual and Honey Rose gets to show off her beauty in a song as well.
Veera Simha Reddy had a very good potential to be a better NBK blockbuster but it falls short and how.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
Emotions over substance
It is safe to say MARVEL's content has been pretty underwhelming recently on both big screen and OTTs. I don't have the same energy to hit the theaters anymore when MARVEL's new movie releases. I had my doubts with respect to Wakanda Forever as well, but after hearing about its great tribute to Chadwick Boseman, I went to the cinemas to watch it anyway.
The trailer pretty much gives away where the plot is going and also who would be the new Black Panther. The initial T'challa tribute scenes are very heartwarming and also brilliantly shot. The sound design for those scenes is top notch. The plot continues to go around the obvious Vibranium arc afterwards. Despite the "coming together" events in Avengers: Endgame, we go back to square 1 where Wakanda is again distancing itself from the power and resource hungry world leaders. The introduction of the antagonist Namor and his tribe brings back the energy up to a certain level. However the film doesn't really justify the acts of Namor and also the battle in the end doesn't really intrigue as much,
The characters in this movie carry heavy emotions and they do deliver well especially tying it to T'challa's death. I still believe there could have been something more added to that part of the story. Letitia Wright as Shuri carries herself with ease along with Angela Basset as Ramonda. But I personally feel that Ramonda's role isn't significant enough to grant Basset an oscar nomination for this movie. Tenoch Huerta's intense performance as Namor is definitely a standout and a great introduction for the actor. However, the other characters are not so impactful mainly because of them working with new supporting characters who are introduced in the movie. Although the movie is long, it doesn't provide enough substance to roles of Okoye, M'Baku, Oyo and Namora. Less I said about RiRi is better as I feel it was a very forced and poorly written character. I know that there's future for RiRi's role in the MARVEL universe and will wait to see how it pans out.
Wakanda Forever is a weird movie to judge. It has a great tribute to Chadwick, but I don't think the movie itself is one. It is a decent watch for the Black Panther fans but quite a tiresome for the rest.
Uncharted (2022)
A raw product
I am writing the review for this movie almost 10 months later, which should probably indicate how forgetful the movie is. I am primarily writing this review as a log and nothing else. I haven't played the game Uncharted at all so I wouldn't do any justice comparing this movie to the game. This movie solely depends on Tom Holland's charm and popularity to carry it all the way. Walhberg just exists doing Walhberg things and not in a good way. The action sequences are pretty basic and nothing like that hasn't been seen before. Thankfully the movie isn't very boring and the shortened runtime helps.
This could be called a popcorn flick, but not all of the kernels have been cooked well enough.
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
An "Immersive" Experience
There are few movies that 'wow' you in your lifetime. When you come out of the cinema you feel like you've come out of a different place. It can be due to both how visually engrossing the movie is or because of a great screenplay and characterization. Avatar The Way of Water definitely falls in the first category (goes without saying) and how. I think I can definitely say that this is the BEST visual experience I have had in a theatre.
I had my reservations about this movie when I saw the trailer. The trailer didn't feel much different than the previous film and also considering how so many movies come with high budget visual effects these days as compared to 2009. But when you watch this on an IMAX screen you will realize why the trailer wasn't really impressive because you'd need the visual medium to go with it. This movie felt like I was watching a game and in a very very good way. Back in 2009, Avatar had impressed me visually but I hadn't seen it in IMAX. This time around you'd have to give it to James Cameron's detailed efforts and the movie visually justifies all the research and time he has put it in. The movie starts in Pandora and it immediately takes you back to the familiar world which we had seen 13 years ago. However, the movie goes to a whole new dimension when the world (or should I say way) of water is introduced. The underwater visuals are mind blowing and it is much better than what I thought they would be. A few scenes are beyond a human mind's imagination. The people who walked in late in front of the screen in the theatre post interval with their food and beverages looked underwater, that's how good the visuals and 3D effects are! It is safe to say that James Cameron has started another revolution in the movie making this one.
Avatar's (2009) plot wasn't a groundbreaking one but it still was gripping and many characters had a great emotional arc. The Way of Water's plot is pretty simple and straightforward and also continues from where we left off previously. There are many moments where one can easily guess what happens next and also what caused something. The set up for the sequel is pretty obvious as well, unlike the first one. This movie finds it very difficult to establish an emotional connection between its characters and the audience. There are way too many characters (especially teens and kids) and some are written for a very obvious role. Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana almost kinda play the supporting roles here and I really missed their chemistry which was seen in the first movie. Stephen Lang and Sigourney Weaver are back again (you'll know why) but this time their characters don't really make the impact as much as the previous one. I would have definitely loved to see some changes especially with respect to those two characters. Apart from that there are many supporting characters and some usual suspects who try to bring the humour and the classic 'human' overconfidence. There are some great goosebump moments in some frames, however the same cannot be said with respect to the action sequences. Some of the new animals introduced this time probably connected with me better than the speaking characters :P Although the background score is pretty good, I feel there was some room for the element of surprise. I wish there was one classic theme associated with the movie like how the Terminator, Star Wars and Indiana Jones are remembered. However, all these shortcomings don't affect your viewing experience in any way.
Avatar: The Way of Water is groundbreaking (literally and figuratively) in many ways for a modern day cinema where every other movie comes with top notch visual effects. Unfortunately a lot of experience is dependent on one watching it in IMAX 3D. I believe that it wouldn't be the same if one watches in 2D or at any average 3D screen. So I'd recommend you to wait for the chance to get to see this on an IMAX screen in case you don't have easy access to one.