Batman, The Dark Night ****

I'm posting this review after almost 3 weeks since I saw the movie 'coz I was all occupied with my exam and then excited to travel back to Chennai so hardly had anytime to update my blog.

Batman is unquestionably a movie with right mix of all the requisite elements. I was really apprehensive as the previous release was a real desolate movie.

Heath Ledger's formidable performance as the Joker gives the movie the best touch. But flipping the coin to decide one’s destiny reminds me of murderer in "No Country for Old Men,"

Undoubtedly it is a spectacular action flick. Must watch and 4 stars !

Singh is King ***

Illogical comedy and so is the plot.
Really bored to comment on all crap movies !

Nonetheless,Good entertainment and could be seen with family. 3 stars

My Personal Picks - I

Flightplan (2005) ****
Directed by Robert Schwentke, Written by Peter A Dowling & Billy Ray

Kyle Pratt (played by Jodie Foster), an aircraft engineer, is flying from Berlin to New York with her dead husband's casket and her 6 year-old daughter Julia. Few hours into the flight; after a nap she finds her daughter missing, nobody even admits to have seen her daughter, the crew says the manifest shows no child boarded with her and that her husband took their child just before he died. Kyle strongly believes her child was with her and asks for a thorough check of the aircraft but nobody listens so she takes things in her own hands, finds her daughter and also exposes the sinister plan of the air marshal Carson (Peter Sarsgaard) with the connivance of one of the crew members. Jodie Foster shines in every single frame, she delivers one of her best performances, the camera work is awesome and it zooms in and out; inside the magnificient double-decter aircraft; to those parts of the aircraft which you and I don't get to see. In all, flightplan is an intriguing thriller coupled with brilliant acting from the entire cast

Phone booth (2002) ***1/2

Directed by Joel Schumacher and written by Larry Cohen

Stu Stephard (played by Colin Farell) is a publicist, he walks into a phone booth to call a woman with whom he is having an extra-marital affair, as he hangs up, the phone rings; he picks it, at the other end is a sniper who seems to know everything about Stu, the sniper threatens Stu that if he hangs up, he would shoot him, the sniper is hiding in a building close-by and pointing a gun at Stu, conversation between Stu and the sniper builds up; so does the tempo of the plot, the entire plot unfolds at this phone booth in a street corner, Stu is reluctant to come out of the phone booth fearing his life, tension at the street corner heats up, the police arrive, they realise Stu is in some serious trouble, search the buildings close-by and track down the sniper. Stu apologizes to his wife for cheating on her and the movie ends in a positive note. This movie is a brilliant example of how a powerful script can keep the audience gripped, a simple plot supported by a powerful screenplay

Philadelphia (1993) ****1/2

Directed by Jonathan Demme, Written by Ron Nyswaner

Andrew Beckett (played by Tom Hanks) is a lawyer who is gay and has contracted AIDS, his law firm fires him inexplicably despite Andrew being competent at work. Taking the battle for his job to the court; Andrew sues his employer, he approaches a lawyer, Joe Miller (played by Denzel Washington) to fight his case, Joe is homophobic and reluctant to take up the case, but after studying Andrew's case and sensitizing himself on the subject of AIDS, sheds his homophobia and represents Andrew in the court and goes on to become a crusader of sorts. However Andrew loses his battle over AIDS. Excellent performances from the lead actors and a sensitive portrayal of complicated issues make this; one of the best amongst the very few movies that focussed on the AIDS plague society. The movie has got some brilliant court room drama that keeps the audience intrigued. No wonder why Tom Hanks won an oscar in the category of the best male actor in a leading role

WALL E *****

Wall-E, a lovable robot, is a masterpiece. Movie starts without any dialogue. The story is told visually where Wall-E, the abandoned waste allocation bot, moves around an extremely rendered post-doomed Earth. He goes around compacting trash into cubes and piling them into sky scrappers. Wall-E has more humanity in him.

One day, WALL-E's life is changed by the EVE’s arrival, a robot sent by a spaceship to find life on earth. They get bonded - until EVE unexpectedly shuts down. WALL-E tries to revive her, when that doesn't work; he is satisfied with protecting her until her spaceship returns. Reluctant to lose his new friend, WALL-E tours a ride and learns the fate of those who abandoned Earth so many years ago.

I want people to find out what happens in the end.

It’s definitely an excellent animated movie. Kudos to pixar for such a creative thought. haha 5 stars !

Kung Fu Panda ****

Well, before I start my review I want to tell my reader[s] (that’s you Ezhil and Vijay!) that I saw this movie alone in a movie hall. The reason being my friends not interested in this animated martial arts adventure.

Ok… the review!
A gawky panda is chosen as a kung fu hero to defeat a treacherous enemy (leopard) that spreads pandemonium throughout the countryside. Po (the panda, works for his family’s noodle restaurant) looks like a meek bear, but is marked by a substantial power to protect the village. With time running low and evil snow leopard advancing, the furious five prodigies Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper, Monkey, and their master Shifu, all use their skills to transform Po into the dragon master (leopard wishes to become one but is denied a chance so he turns bad !) . In the end, Po succeeds and becomes a real hero!

The movie gets interesting despite its initial drag! The kung fu fighting by the characters is awesome!

Repeatedly, the movie underlines that one cannot control one’s destiny and quotes there are no true ‘accidents’. We just see the “illusion of control” in our lives. It used Peach tree as an example, you can plant the tree but can never control to grow apples on it. Good!

There isn’t really anything vulgar or negative about the movie. I rate it 4 stars. It is indeed a must-watch with family.

Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic ***1/2

Story of a rich, determined businessman (Saif Ali Khan) who is ordered to take care of four children he is responsible for depriving their parents in a careless drive. God Himself (Rishi Kapoor) sends help in the form of a mischievous angel (Rani Mukerjee), who cycles down to earth on a rainbow to save the day. The storyline ends when she succeeds in wooing the kids to condone Saif and accept him as their guardian (more appropriately their ‘Bhaiya’).

The movie is set in dexterous integrated effects and is, for sure, an enjoyable family comedy, that has an optimism that trumps the predictability of its story though.

When Saif scampers a much anticipated deal in Los Angeles to defend the children, he becomes more human. Nevertheless, I didn’t like India being referred to as a third world nation! (India has boomed in every aspect – nuclear weapons, space technology, IT field, etc… India is in fact a conglomerate of inherent natural endowments).

In one of the musical numbers set in a museum, the angel (Rani Mukherjee) gives history a life; inculcating a stupendous message that India’s past is overture to its great future. And also, that future will be built on strong families and love forms the basis of any relationship. Impressed!

Background score is very good though reminiscent of a similar touch in Taare Zameen Par !
At no stage I looked at my watch. Tout ensemble, it is a movie for all those with a child inside them. 3 and 1/2 stars !

Dasavatharam ****

The movie opens with a scene from the 12th century depicting the intolerance of Saivites against the Vaishanavites; it focuses on the confrontation between Rangaraja Nambi, an ardent Vaishanavite (played by Kamal) and King Kulothunga Cholan. It then shifts time (year 2004) and location to a lab in the USA where scientists are experimenting a deadly virus that could bring mass destruction, one of the scientists decides to make money out of it, he tries to get scientist Govind (played by Kamal) into this; but Govind refuses, as the movie progresses a small container with this virus is accidentally couriered to Chidambaram in S.India, Govind and Fletcher (a deadly villain played by Kamal) land in India. In their quest to locate the container; several incidents unfold which are sequenced to keep-up the thrill. The only possible way to annul the deadly virus is to immerse it into tons of common salt; incidentally tsunami happens and devours the virus once and for all.

The movie is a standing testimony to brilliant acting, mind-blowing technology, awesome artwork and world-class production values. The scene from the 12th century boasts of high-quality art and cinematography, the scene depicting tsunami leaves you with awe.

Kamal is brilliant as an actor as always, he does an outstanding job in playing the 10 different roles on screen; and has done absolute justice to the all the characters he essays. Comic relief comes in the form of Balrama Naidu whose tamil is heavily accented; the scene where he questions Govind is hilarious. Poovaraagan stands up against the sand mafia, this character could have been used more. Kamal showcases some brilliant acting in the guise of Krishnaveni paati who is retarded. There is also this Japanese karate master character who does a stunt with Fletcher, probably the inclusion of this character was a knack to leverage the popularity that Tamil movies enjoy in Japan. The characters Bush and Kalifulla looked like over made-up dolls. Fletcher is too deadly and unleashes a killing spree which makes it a not-so-good movie to watch with kids.

Kamal's rationalist ideals are evident in the dialogues he has penned; the dialogues provide comic relief and also provoke one's thoughts. I could see a touch of 'Crazy' Mohan in the comic lines he has penned. A sample of it is the conversation between Naidu and Nagesh at the scene of an accident, Naidu enquires Nagesh "enna nadanthuchi?" Nagesh replies "laarikaar idichutaan!" a confused Naidu retorts back "thelivaa sollunga idichadhu laari-ya illa kaar-aa?"

Mallika's pole dance is a wasted number and I felt it was unnecessary and stereo-typical, she accompanies Fletcher to India as a translator-cum-killer and gets killed by Fletcher himself. Asin does a neat role as Krishnaveni's grand-daughter and Govind's love-interest, being an ardent Vishnu devotee she is seen running with a Perumal idol with Govind's company and eventually develops an "idhu" on him.

The movie wraps up with a sycophantic song which doesn't fit well and I think was unnecessary. Hard working people will be anyways get rewarded.

On the whole Dasavatharam is a racy entertainer and I would give it a 4 out of 5.
Some may like it; some may hate it, but sure this movie had many talking and will be etched in the history of tamil cinema.