Varane Avashyamund : Viewer's Guide

Sathyan Anthikkad movies are always trusted by family audiences for its feel good content with emotional elements. Anoop Sathyan's debut movie has the soul of his father's movies blended in perfectly with a stunning cast for the silver screen.

Suresh Gopi and Shobana makes a great comeback through this feel good entertainer. The characterization in the movie is exceptional. The nostalgic elements from yesteryear malayalam movies (of the protagonists themselves) and hilarious references add to the entertainment factor of the film. Kalyani Priyadarshan does a great job in her debut malayalam film. She stands out as Nikki and delivers a neat performance. Dulquer Salmaan is apt in his role which gets better towards the end. The movie has extended cameos from Urvashi, Siju Wilson and Laljose which works in favour of the movie.

The fact that a good director can transform an average script into a fantastic film applies here too. The story is simple and feels age old, but the treatment of the script makes all the difference. Anoop Sathyan's fantastic direction and scripting of the movie elevates its entertainment quotient. The movie has adequate amounts of humor, emotions and elegance added into it in the right proportion. Dialogues especially are extremely well-thought and they are a definite highlight of this film. Mukesh Muraleedharan's camerawork is quite appealing and looks great.

Overall, Varane Avashyamund is a pleasant watch for all kinds of movie goers. It is one of those movies where you get engaged enough to notice any flaws, because it feels good enough.

My Rating : 4/5

Trance : My Review

Anwar Rasheed has returned as a director after a hiatus and he has returned with an excellent team and a powerful film. Trance is a satirical saga about the reality behind miracle workers. The movie showcases bitter truths regarding how religion is used as a powerful business weapon and how blind faith is injected into naive people who gets manipulated by speech.
Fahadh Faasil had grown as an actor over the years delivering solid performances, be it the character role of Shammi from Kumbalangi Nights or his villain stint from the tamil blockbuster Velaikkaaran. Viju Prasad aka Joshua Carlton is one of his best performances till date.
The story begins with the life of Motivational speaker Viju Prasad and focuses on his journey to become Pastor Joshua Carlton. The story by Vincent Vadakkan is powerful and he has rightly struck the chord by choosing a very relevant subject which hasn't been much in the limelight. Trance sheds light on shocking truths about Miracle Workers. Though the movie starts off with the disclaimer that characters are fictitious, viewers are pulled in by the gravity of the universe created by the movie. The screenplay is exceptional with good characterizations except for some goof-ups in the climax and some cinematic clichés towards the end. Though the running time is nearly 170 minutes, Trance wins us over with its great content and making. Talking about performances, Fahadh stands out with his signature performance while Chemban Vinod was wasted. Vinayakan and Sreenath Bhasi had small screen time but both of them delivered solid performances. Nazriya looked natural and did her part well. Gautam Vasudev Menon has his moments as the baddie and does a good job. Dileesh Pothan has a good role and he does his part with ease. Soubin Shahir chips in with a good extended cameo.
Cinematography is a highlight of this film and Amal Neerad leaves his mark. The movie demands a strong visual impact and Amal Neerad succeeds in capturing some amazing visuals. Anwar Rasheed's latest outing will be a feast for serious movie goers while it won't be everyone's cup of tea. But, the universe which Trance creates is quite intense and it engages the viewer entirely. Trance is a well crafted cinema at the end of the day so a few cinematic liberties could be granted and deserves a watch in theatres.
My Rating : 4/5

Black Mirror : Season 5

** Spoiler Free **

Season 5 of Black Mirror is here and I can't find a more better opportunity to get back into my blogging boots. "Striking Vipers", "Smithereens" and "Rachel, Jack and Ashley too" are the 3 stories that are brought before us this time by  Charlie Brooker. While the previous seasons shocked us with the stark portrayal of the dark sides of technology, seasons 5 has surprisingly more emotional content and also Miley Cyrus in it.

Yes, starting off with Striking Vipers, Anthony Mackie plays the role of a family man who plunges into emotional chaos when a video game questions his sexual orientation. Simulated Reality sequences included in this episode relates to San Junipero from Season 3 and also Play test. The story is quite well narrated but the dearth of a shocking screenplay which generally made this show an instant hit, is visibly missing.

Andrew Scott in Smithereens stands out among performances this time with his exquisite portrayal of the guilt driven, devastated husband. Other than that, "Smithereens" has nothing to offer but a tense hostage situation with an ambiguous ending. This episode is more of an emotional ride and feels like an odd addition to this series which had brilliant predecessors.

Miley Cyrus plays Ashley O, a singing sensation with a nervous breakdown. Yet again several questions arise about the narrative. With parallel stories of a celebrity and her fan girl, this episode gets reduced to a drama with no emotional or technological connect.

The performances are and have always been the highlight of this show and that remains intact. The technologies portrayed however has been already introduced in the previous seasons and hence we are not in for a shocker in that respect. But in reality, a real script holds together the entire show, performances cannot help if the former is missing and for a show like Black Mirror, the dark shades ought to be there!

Unfortunately all 3 episodes lack the wow factor which is infact the nerve - wracking disturbing, yet scintillating screenplay. Fanboys are in for a slightly major upset!

My Ratings :
Striking Vipers : 3/5
Smithereens : 2.5/5
Rachel Jack and Ashley too : 2/5

 

Bhavesh Joshi Superhero : My Review

Insaaf !

Fight for justice is a very relevant concept in India. We face it in our day to day life but seldom do we protest against injustice. Those who do protest, gives up at a later point of time, since the system is corrupted from head to toe.

Lee Falk's Phantom was about a Crime Fighter Superhero who protected his people from injustice. Phantom is a Superhero, not by power but by purpose. Vikramaditya Motwane's Bhavesh Joshi is no different from Phantom, except for the fact that this story is based on corruption in a democracy.

Bhavesh Joshi has the striking tagline "Superheroes are not born, they are made". Starring Harshvardhan Kapoor as the lead, Bhavesh Joshi Superhero is about 2 friends who wishes to wipe out injustice in society. They don't become vigilantes but they become popular through their "Insaaf Videos". The plot revolves around what happens when "Bhavesh Joshi" comes across a serious issue of corruption in the local system and sets out to tackle it.

What kills this movie is its predictability. The story by Aashish Singh is good but his screenplay lacks the punch, which is quite essential for a movie of this genre. The movie drags a bit between proceedings but nevertheless, the director has given his best and this makes Bhavesh Joshi, a decent watch. One of the biggest flops of this year, Bhavesh Joshi proves that Indian audience are used to stardom and if the right amount of entertainment is not provided, even Nepotism could suffer a huge blow.

Among Performances, Priyanshu Painyuli has given an honest performance. Harshvardhan Kapoor stands out as the lead but the screenplay doesn't give his character the adrenaline it needed. He makes the most of his character while the supporting cast does their roles well. Director Nishikant Kamat surprises with his acting prowess in a small but significant role.

So, Bhavesh Joshi Superhero makes for a decent one time watch, thanks to the natural performances from the cast and the age old but interesting story.

Watch it or not?
Bhavesh Joshi Superhero may not be your weekend pick, but this one is for who likes realistic cinema. This one's worth a watch for its strong lead performances.

My Rating : 3/5

Mission Impossible - Fallout : My Review

An explosive action packed trailer with the backdrop of the popular funky track "Friction" by Imagine Dragons -  that's all what it took for Mission Impossible : Fallout to create a huge buzz and adrenaline rush. Quite naturally, the expectations are so high and the standards have been set. Does it actually live up to the soaring expectations? Let's find out.

The latest film of the Mission Impossible franchise is very engaging and entertaining, thanks to the extraordinary effort put into stunt choreography and cinematography. Rob Hardy has captured the scintillating action sequences with perfection. The stunning visuals and brilliant action sequences make this movie a great watch for movie enthusiasts.

In this installment of Mission Impossible, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) embarks on a journey to save the world from an imminent terrorist nuclear attack. Steve Mcquarrie has written a decent script but his direction is the real game changer here. The techincal aspects of this film are excellent and the making is super stylish. The director has even included some subtle scenes where we get to know the lead character better amidst some exquisite chase sequences.

Tom Cruise is just spectacular. His honest efforts for the grand return of Ethan Hunt have paid off well as he pulls off tough stunts with great ease. Rebecca Ferguson has played her character of Ilsa with elegance while Vanessa Kirby and Michelle Monaghan are good in their brief roles. Henry Cavill has good screen space and character strength, but with a bankable actor like him along with Cruise, the need of a strong script was essential. Though the star studded cast works in favour of the movie, the fantastic making of this action flick does the trick. This 147 minute long enthralling ride will be worth your money and time.

Watch it or not?

There's actually no question about this one. You shouldn't miss this one at any cost.

My Rating : 4.5/5

धड़क : My Review

Remakes are actually buffet dinner for critics. They get to write a lot on each aspect of the remake by comparing it with the original. Though we have the concept that "Original is the Best" , some remakes prove that this concept is not always true. धड़क, the official bollywood remake of Marathi Blockbuster Sairat has reached the screens on friday and has taken off to a flying start raking in 8.71 crores.

Sairat was based on honour killing. Even though the lead pair were newcomers and the plot was very shallow, Sairat connected with the marathi audience due to the theme and its local flavour. धड़क features the lovely pair of Ishan Khattar and Jhanvi Kapoor in the lead roles. They share a beautiful chemistry and it totally works in favour of the film. Director Shashank Khaitan has done a fine job in moulding the script according to the setting.

The climax could possibly leave everyone in a sudden dilemma. Though there are subtle changes in the climax, the theme remains the same. The ending is a bit abrupt and this is where the original version scores. But in the end, this version happens in a different land altogether and moreover, the attempt to create some tension at the end from the director can be appreciated. Vishnu Rao's frames are endearing and colourful which along with Ajay - Atul's soothing Music weaves magic.

Nepotism indeed offers celeb kids an easy way into stardom, but the lead pair of धड़क proves that they are here to stay. Ishan Khattar is outstanding he brings versatility into his acting just like his brother. Jhanvi Kapoor impresses with her cuteness and she does her character well. Ashutosh Rana does his role very well, though he doesn't have much screen time.

Overall, धड़क makes for a good weekend watch. If you have seen Sairat, watch Dhadak and decide for yourself whether the climax indeed leaves you in splits. 

Watch it or not? 

Irrespective of the original version, धड़क is a winner as an independent movie. धड़क is a good watch as it offers the fresh romance, lovely visuals and soothing music despite the thin plot. Go for it ! 

My Rating : 3.5/5

Ant-Man and the Wasp : My Review

When you watch a terrific MARVEL creation followed by a spectacular, shocking mid - credit scene, you realize why Marvel has been named so !

Ant Man and the Wasp revolves around how Scott (Paul Rudd) teams up with Hope Pym (Evangeline Lilly) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) for saving Hope's Mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) from a Catastrophe. Director Peyton Reed is the real superhero here as he transformed a good script into a brilliant movie. His terrific direction along with the fantastic performances from the cast, makes the movie an engaging watch.

Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly are brilliant as the lead pair while the former has also penned the screenplay for this movie. Michael Pena is brilliant with his hilarious diction scene similar to the one in the first installment. Hannah John Kamen impresses as she delivers a solid performance as "Ghost" while Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer does justice to their roles. 

The visuals are magnificent and hence the movie will be a visual spectacle in IMAX. Overall, Ant Man and the Wasp delivers wholesome entertainment, the modern MARVEL way - humor intertwined with exquisite Sci - Fi. 

Watch it or not? 

Ant man and the Wasp is a sheer MARVEL. This second installment in the series is a must watch as a huge surprise awaits the viewers at the end, which decides the future of the marvel universe. Please take care to watch the first of the post-credit scenes (the mid-credit scene) at all cost. 

My Rating : 5/5