Change Your Image
ginu_tg-1
1. The Godfather (the saga)
2. The Terminator (the saga)
3. Rambo (the series)
4. Schindler’s list
5. Forrest Gump
6. The Green Mile
7. Scent of a Woman
8. Rocky (series)
9. Ben-Hur
10. Braveheart
11. Con-Air
12. Saving Private Ryan
13. Remember the Titans
14. Pulp Fiction
15. Scarface
16. The Goodfellas
17. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
18. Taxi Driver
19. Shawshank Redemption
20. Silence of the Lambs
21. Passion of Christ
22. Predator
23. Cinderella Man
24. Kramer vs Kramer
25. Legends of the Fall
26. Se7en
27. Sleepers
28. Usual Suspects
29. Stigmata
30. Devil’s Advocate
31. Speed
32. Aliens(the series)
33. The Matrix(only part one)
34. Sholay
35. Deewar
36. Agneepath
37. Raging Bull
38. Citizen Kane
39. Devasuram
40. Spadikam
41. Manichithrathaazhu
42. Kireedom
43. Kingdom of Heaven
44. Courage under Fire
45. L.A Confidential
46. The Pianist
47. Reservoir Dogs
48. The Untouchables
49. Die-Hard(the series except part 4)
50. Crash
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Lists
An error has ocurred. Please try againReviews
Assassination Games (2011)
Neither here nor there, stuck in the doldrums
Script and financial limitations can hinder the most precious of stories. For once, Scott Adkins played a character and not himself in his movies. I didn't like that to be honest but as an actor that is what Scott needs. I mean in this movie Scott gets taken down by so many guys who in reality he could kill with his bare hands. Van Damme is stuck with the monotonous monologue affected robotic hit-man which seemed tacky. But that is due to lack of histrionic skill. Kurt Russell did it slightly better in soldier. Arnie did it really good in Terminator. But that was aided by the requirements of the character. Adkins has improved as an actor since the awful Ninja. He has some variety now in his resume. In this movie, AG, Scott plays a really vulnerable man. Quite the opposite of the invulnerable Yuri Boyka, Scott's best role so far.
The movie synopsis given here is tardy, and seems to indicate the crazed stereotypical view of Americans that everything revolves around them. There is no DEA nonsense here. It is the Interpol whose dirty cops provide cannon fodder for the lead actors while the main villain is a despicable criminal leader (played well by the actor).
This movie had a lot of positives going for it in terms of potential. It was a lot better than the DTV releases the 2 lead actors have been used to recently. Van Damme's face looks drawn and destroyed beyond the skills of the most talented makeup artistes in the world. He could go the Charles Bronson reloaded route with that face.
The key here is that while both the lead actors combined could compile the most complex and comprehensive columns of a martial arts encyclopedia, this movie has stayed away from capitalising on the copious martial arts talents possessed by Adkins and Van Damme. It was fresh and new of course, but nevertheless it just added to a long list of things this movie lacked.
While this movie is worth watching once especially if you are a JCVD/martial arts fan, it is only an average action film that didn't maximize its potential. The remote controlled machine gun was a nice touch but it is just one of the momentary shades of quality in a film that can never be anything above underrated. The crew just tried too much in the name of freshness, and as a result the final product ended up in the doldrums, neither here nor there.
Scott would do good to get some serious acting lessons as would JCVD. A lot of people, including me, cannot keep watching Kickboxer/Bloodsport/Universal Soldier/Hard Target/Undisputed 2,3 again and again.
Interestingly, JCVD's kids play roles in the film. His daughter Bianca(a super stunner) plays Adkins' wife. His son, Kristopher plays one of the villains I believe.
Kireedam (1989)
A complete classic appealing to both the heart and the mind, For the brain-driven cinema fan
I am a Keralite,currently living in London, where I am surrounded by university friends studying theatre and visual media. All of them have one view of Indian cinema-Song&Dance filled unrealistic visuals. So,when I indulge in debates with them,I constantly tried to open their ignorance to the reality of Malayalam films. Fed up of my constant arguments they asked me to select 5 Malayalam movies which I thought would change their opinion, confident that it wouldn't be good enough. The movies I chose-Devasuram,Kireedom,Manichithrathaazhu,Sphadikam and Dasaratham.
While they were watching Kireedom with English subtitles that I had edited myself,I noticed once again the amazing celluloid exhibition that has never ceased to amaze me since I first saw Kireedom as a 7year old when it released in 1989. In tune with the strong Indian cultural construct of family bonding, Kireedom(Crown in English) is the story of a family, particularly a father-son relationship. It is a story of how the most powerful of filial bonds is tried,tested and then tragically torn apart.
Sethumadhavan(Mohanlal) is the oldest son and 2nd of 4 children of brutally honest and immensely egoistic Achuthan(Thilakan) who is on the verge of retirement from the Indian Police Force. As a Head Constable, he is leading a very simple life centred around the potential futures of his children.Primary among Achuthan's goals in life is to help make his elder son Sethu(Mohanlal) a Sub-Inspector.(He says his one goal before retiring his uniform, is to officially salute his son on duty) Everything is consolidated in the family's life and it is smooth sailing until Achuthan is transferred to a social hell as a punishment for trying to uphold the law against the scion of a political bureaucrat. This social hell is ruled by the notoriously vicious criminal Kireekaadan Jose,whose name and legacy emanates fear throughout this suburb. Achuthan's family moves to this hell as Achuthan takes up his duty as an honest cop. Meanwhile Sethu is on the verge of donning the uniform as he has cleared all the necessary exams and interviews. Then the catastrophic incident occurs that changes their lives forever.
Achuthan is arresting a local goon and is about to take him to the police station from the market center when he encounters Kireekadan Jose, the feared underworld kingpin of the place. Achuthan is being beaten by Jose when Sethu sees this and tries to save his father. He fights with Jose against his own domicile nature. Surprisingly Sethu manages to strike Jose down-the key is that Sethu does this in a fit of rage without even knowing that the person he has beaten is the notorious Kireekadan Jose! Sethu's and Achuthan's lives change forever and they are driven by fate and circumstances.The movie then shows how the best of people lose everything in life even when they are trying to do good. This happens because of selfish human beings and a useless system in society. Jose who barely survives comes back with a vengeance and forces Sethu to a climactic fight to the death, thereby further ruining Sethu's already devastated life.
1989 saw the release of both Kireedom and Dasaratham, 2 all time great movies that cemented Mohanlal as the greatest actor in India. Kireedom's Sethumadhavan is a character whose scripting gave Mohanlal the freedom to unleash his entire arsenal of acting-It is a rare role where Mohanlal's potential is used to the max.Histrionics, body language and emotional moments combine to provide the viewer with a display of the very best acting seen on screen anywhere. Nowhere is this more evident than in the climax of Kireedom, a 5minute scene where Mohanlal shuffles between fear,panic,anger,despair,psychosis,primal aggression,sadness and a depressive breakdown.
Thilakan playing the father supports Mohanlal to the core with an almost equally powerful performance which makes Kireedom one of the best movies in the whole of India, not just Malayalam cinema. My British friends were awestruck and speechless at the end of the movie and after discussing with me their views and clarifying their doubts because of the cultural differences, they sat down to watch the movie again. In the end, Kireedom and the other 4 movies I showed them were displayed in their lecture classes at the University where it was showcased as a textbook of champion quality acting! Truly a small tribute to the often acknowledged colossus of celluloid-Mohanlal. Hats off to you Sir! Thank you for Kireedom & everything else. I recommend this movie to all who love great cinema.
Astitva (2000)
Highly inflammable and provocative, in a devilishly negative light!
It is considered fashion to highlight every social evil as a result of patriarchy and male dominance, however moronic this illogical 'logic' may be. However within the story and theme of the film, there is no grey area and the woman who should be called the film's antagonist, is the ''villain of the story''. Under no circumstances can what she did be justified. Sexuality of women is just hype in this case and has nothing to do with the actuality. It is betrayal of the ultimate sort. The man ended up spending his resources and time in the wasteful raising of another man's offspring. To top it all, the most feeble of arguments raised by the 3 'liberated' female characters in the climax is pathetic. A woman's sexual needs are no excuse for her to commit adultery and continually betray her husband and worse, there are no other children. So in essence his life has been wasted. In some societies where justice still prevails, such situations result in the execution of the unjust.