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Reviews
Sagaptham (2015)
I Lost My Kidneys
This movie is record breaking. I had really really low expectations when I started to watch this film and it broke that too.
Synopsis: Shanmugapandian ends up going from an innocent village adolescent to someone who does nuclear physics while running an Olympic decathlon, finding a cure for caner, ending global hunger problem - while also simultaneously romancing two ladies - all in a matter of 9 days in Malaysia (which he is allowed to enter without a visa btw).
Acting: Competes with Sam Anderson
Direction: Competes with Joe Stanley (the guy who directed Sam Anderson's film)
Lip Sync: This could easily pass as a Hindi movie dubbed in Tamil
Costume: Something Ramarajan would covet
Songs: Don't make me mad. Stupid songs in this film are struck in my head and won't stop playing.
Punch Dialogue: Vijay and Vijaykanth are defeated.
Camera: Random shots showing Shanmugapandian in all angles - not something you would want to see - trust me...
I feel sorry for Shanmugapandian. Vijaykanth has made a total mockery of him to boost his own ego. Now he's going to be pointed and laughed at everywhere he goes. Worst Tamil movie since Yaarukku Yaaro Stepnee.
For those of you looking for a "this movie is so bad that it's awesome" type of film - do check out this one. For the others, just stay away - not for the faint of heart.
Jilla (2014)
Stupid and Dangerous
Occasionally, we come across a movie that defies logic, comprehension, sanity and intestinal digestion. Jilla is one of those films.
My brain cells ended up writing down the following in a piece of paper to pass on to the future generations before committing a mass ritualistic seppukku : 1) Jilla makes it possible to rig the civil services examinations and enlist individuals with a criminal record and no education whatsoever. Local MLA and lead goon acting together can dictate who makes it to the IPS grade. There is no interview required after clearing the exam (or if there was, they were all bribed). There is no training requirement to become an assistant commissioner after passing the exam 2) An assistant commissioner immediately gets control over the entire city including all of its police force and can dictate random arrests without a warrant. 3) Promotions are based on publicity and it is possible to move from ACP to DCP in 2 months. 4) Unable to save child falling from a burning building cliché 5) Love interest works in the profession religiously hated by the hero cliché 6) Hero becomes randomly good after a one off freak incident cliché 7) Sister marries the enemy who attempts at revenge cliché 8) Hero saves kids and sick people in a hospital after police incompetence cliché
Yes it's a stereotype Vijay film, yes its awful beyond reason, yes its filled with clichés and Tamil sentiments but look at the positive side....at least it did not have Vijay acting in a double role (sorry can't think of any other positives to take away from this film). I've historically sat through the full running time of some ludicrous movies (including ...and mostly a lot of Vijay's own) but even I couldn't bear watching the last 30 mins.
Having watched this in a day long inter continental travel - I wanted to complain to Lufthansa about this movie ... but they were all already zombies with dead brain cells...
Food Matters (2008)
Pseudoscience at its best
Just to clarify - my review is not financed by one of the evil pharmaceutical companies that intends to rule the world. I'm a reasonably health conscious individual but that doesn't mean I can't spot quacks when I see em.
This documentary is filled with (il)logical arguments only someone fluent in ancient Indus Valley language can decipher :- 1) Max Gerson used to hang around with people like Einstein - Einstein was a genius - that makes Gerson a genius as well. 2) "Good health does not cost money, so there is no reason to promote good health". The concept of economic cost of disease to the society does not exist at all 3) Medical journals do not cite one of their alternative medicine journals because they are "afraid" these would prove effective and ruin them trillions of dollars (and not because they are quack of course) 4) The testimony of doctors with dubious qualifications is sufficient for something to work while everything scientific and proved is a conspiracy - "I had a patient who was sick - treated the patient with my prescription - he/she was able to get super human abilities including ice breath, an extra arm and the ability to control intestinal bacteria. I can't prove these naturally, but if I made a documentary on it - it must be true right?"
People who appear in this video must first treat themselves to a 6th grade science text book and understand what scientific testing means. I had multiple brain farts sitting through the whole video.
Coriolanus (2011)
Better Than Expected!
I started reading about Coriolanus after listening to the Coriolan Overture of Beethoven when I bumped into the Shakespeare's play and finally into this film.
What I expected was a silly adaptation of Shakespeare with smug characters and obsolete dialogues that was probably going to put me to sleep half into the movie. Well, in all honesty, this did turn out to be a rather silly modern day adaptation - while, I must admit, in most parts being quite engaging and brilliant. The politics portrayed in Coriolanus is striking in depth and so is the irony - that Aufidius, who has lost many battles against Coriolanus and Rome, is yet loved by his people ... while Coriolanus, who himself is undefeated, is hated by his own people for reasons quite obvious. OK, Billy Shakes is to be credited for the story but it's been pictured out well nonetheless.
Overall, this movie is a must watch if you're looking at a different flavor of cinema. (Note : Not for Will Smith fans)
Taare Zameen Par (2007)
400 Blows to Taare Zameen Par
When I first watched this movie - I was stunned by the first hour or so. It was spectacular and made up for all the deficiencies of the 2nd half - and even made the whole movie look brilliant. I rated it 9 here.
Then I saw 'The 400 blows'. To sum up my experience:
The 400 Blows (+) Dyslexia in place of the existential theme (+) A brother instead of a friend (+) boarding school instead of a military school (+) Silly art competition the expected winner of which is quite obvious (+) One extra hour of film reel wasting (+++) Smugness of Aamir Khan - the messiah, the all seeing prophet, the true leader of all mankind = Taare Zameen Par
Every single detail is a rip off. It's now quite clear why the latter parts of the movie was distinctly average - those were Aamir Khan's additions to the 400 blows!
If Aamir Khan's "independent approach to the world of filmmaking," is a ripping off of the 1950's French new wave films, god bless Indian cinema. Amen.
Nadunisi Naaygal (2011)
Experiment Gone Wrong
The film deals with the narration of a man, who as a child was sexually abused by his father and his orgy mates. The incidences of his childhood results in a split personality disorder, with one seeking impulsive revenge and the other seeking love and social acceptance.
The ability of the movie to deliver its promise rested in how effective the director is shifting the personalities and how good the actor is in living them. In that respect, this has to go down as a pretty poorly executed script. The scenes of a boy raping his foster mother or ending up as an predatory killer does not add a flow in itself when everything surrounding that lacks flamboyance. Will the lead character go down in history as the Tamil Alex DeLarge or Norman Bates?...perhaps, if someone else had portrayed that role.
Veera Bahu cannot act. He has the charisma of a kidney transplant. Why was he even chosen for the lead? One cannot help but get the feeling Gautam Menon has underestimated the intelligence of the Tamil audience. I have every mind to give it a 1 star...but it's not often we get to watch psychological thrillers in the Tamil...a 3 star looks more appropriate.
Naan Kadavul (2009)
Truly Inspiring
Naan Kadavul may not have had the box office run of its commercial stereotype counterparts but it has every aspect that exemplifies a great movie. Bala has the tendency to bring out the best of every actor he directs and Naan Kadavul is no exception in this regard. Every member of the acting crew has lived their characters. Arya's impact, while short, is majestic and adds an aura yet unseen in Tamil cinema. Every scene has been brilliantly crafted and Bala's attention to detail is second to none. Illayaraja music adds vibrancy to what is already a magnificent piece of art and takes its beauty to an entirely different level. The directorial standard set by Bala will hold as a benchmark for many a generations to come.
Sura (2010)
Ridiculous Junk
I can't believe I sat through the whole running time. This is undoubtedly the worst attempt at a movie (no, I'm not going to call it a movie) I have seen. A movie entirely based on idolizing, worshiping and butt-kissing a self proclaimed super star who attempted, but failed, and failed miserably in trying to use this as a platform for his supposed entry into politics. It's not the anti-logic in the movie script that annoys me the most, it's not the comedy bit played by Vadivelu that made me weep in agony...it's the sheer arrogance in which the director has gone about in making this...this thing the way it is. A floor mop and a water bottle could have played Tamanna Bhatia's role better. Watch this movie, only if you like torture as a form of entertainment. No, actually, just don't watch this movie.