Vaagai Sooda Vaa - Review

Gene : Docu-Drama/Comedy/Romantic

Direction : Sarkunam
Starring : Vimal, Iniya(new face), K. Bhagyaraj, Ponvannan, Thambi Ramiah, Kumaravel & etc..
Cinematography : Om Prakash
Art Director : Seenu
Music : Gibran
Release date : 30 September 2011
Country : India
Language : Tamil

StoryLine :
The movie is set in 1965 in a remote village near Pudukottai. It revolves around Veluthambi (Vimal), whose father Annamalai (K Bhagiyaraj) wants him to take up a government job. Before that he wants him to go and work as a teacher in a bricklin where many children are employed. Veluthambi is entrusted the job of teaching these children formal education.
Initially the students resist and their parents too doesn't want to send their children to study and rather prefer to make them work in bricklin. Madhi(Iniya), innocent tea vendor, falls in love with Vimal. She provides food daily to Vimal. The elders in the village work for a greedy proprietor JP (Ponvannan) inbricklins.
A sequence of events results in Veluthambi winning the hearts of the people and he insists that only education would bring sea change in the lives of children, who otherwise will have to toil like their parents. In the event, he incurs the wrath of JP. When all goes well, fate comes in the form of a government job for him. The Climax revels did Vimal accept the job and left the place or not.

Review :
Vimal's performance is Excellent. As an innocent teacher, he is right there giving his best. As Young Rural Girl, Iniya's performance was really good.

The supporting cast like K. Bhagyaraj, Ponvannan, Thambi Ramiah, Kumaravel & others are perfect fit for the characters designed for them. But watch out for a group of young innocent children. They are simply outstanding and natural and spontaneous in their expressions.

The full credit goes to Director Sargunam, who decided to do take this docu-drama Script. Seenu's excellent art work that brings before our eyes 1960's. vision. Cinematographer Om Prakash with his dusty brown visuals and the apt tones and angles create the magic of 1960's.

Music by debutant Gibran is another strength. The songs add pep to the script and are picturised in a realistic manner. The songs 'Sara Sara' rules followed by 'Porane Porane' and 'Aana Aavanna'.

 

My Note :
 "Wonderful Classic Film with a Noble Thought."

My Mark :
55/100

Muran - Review

Gene : Action/Thriller
Direction : Sajjan Madhav
Starring : Cheran, Prasanna, Nikita, Haripriya, Suma Bhattacharya, Jayaprakash & etc..
Cinematography : Padmesh
Music : Sajjan Madhav
Release date : 30 September 2011
Country : INDIA
Language : Tamil

StoryLine :
It's a story of two persons Cheran(music director) n Prasana(rich businessman) meeting in a Highway. And during their journey they share their life experiences and decide to help each other for their life. In 2nd half a gruesome murder, that follows is an interesting and thrilling event that they come across in their lives.

Review :
Cheran plays his soft character part exceedingly well. A musician who lost his life, he brings all emotions in his eyes. Prasanna is not far behind. His striking performance as the mean, diabolic, creepy and psychopathic villain. His body language and his costumes come handy to portray his character. Both combine well to gove their best on screen.

The supporting cast like Nikhita, Hari Priya and Jayaprakash are perfect fit for the characters designed for them.

Rajjan Madhav’s direction is better than his Music capability. Muran will be able to attract only thriller genre lovers as the story doesn’t carry various commercial aspects need by the audiences.

Cinematography by Padmesh brings a stiff thriller before our eyes and undoubtedly he has done a very good camera work.

Muran is an ode to Alfred Hitchcock's films like 'Strangers on a Train' but the narration provides more suspense and thrill than the scenes.

 

My Note :
 "The movie, a road journey, has twists, turns n thrills. But Less Action."

 

My Mark :
48/100

Mankatha - Review

Genre : Action Thriller
Direction : Venkat Prabu
Cast : Ajith, Arjun, Trisha, Andrea, Lakshmirai, Prem, Aravind..
Music : Yuvan Shankar Raja
Cinematography : Sakthi Saravanan
Released Date : 31 August 2011
Country : India
Language : Tamil

Story Line:
Mankatha is all about IPL betting and the chase for money. Vinayak Mahadev (Ajith), a Maharashtra Police Officer is suspended from his duty for helping the escape of an accused. He falls for Sanjana (Trisha) daughter of an influential goon, Arumuga Chettiar (Jayaprakash). 4 friends, Sumanth (Vaibhav), Prem (Premji), Mahat (Mahat Raghavendra) and Ganesh (Ashwin Kakumanu) plans to loot 500 crores from Arumuga Chettiar. Later Vinayak joins them and their plans and struggle to steal the money forms the climax.


Review :
Ajith’s 50th film 'Mankatha' is the BIG milestone in Ajith’s acting career. Mankatha has a lot of Ajith’s trademark style and he is charming as ever. Ajith does romance, comedy, dance, a lot more action and he is exceptional in all areas. Indeed its hard to stop praising Thala‘s performance in the film. Ajith’s dance moves will make you forget your breath.

Trisha, the lead lady is pretty and does her role well though the character does not offer her much.

Action King Arjun as Special Officer Prithvi is back in action. Arjun is prefect for the role and has done exceptionally well. His role is meaty as Ajith’s. Vaibhav has grabbed a meaty role as well and emotes well in the role. Jayaprakash, Subbu Panchu, Premji, Mahat, Arvind Akash, Ashwin, Andrea, Anjali and Lakshmi Rai are just present.

Sakthi Saravanan's camera-work isn't scintillating, but it manages to keep you interested. Praveen and Srikanth's editing could not have been more effective.

Yuvan Shankar Raja's 'Vilaiyadu Mankatha' n 'Machi open the Bottle' are fans pick. The rest of the songs, a passing cloud. Background Score moves the story forward.

Director Venkat Prabhu has made a name for himself on his ability to wring humour from his tried and tested cast. The problem is, Venkat Prabhu is directing a big, indeed Tamil Cinema‘s biggest star and exceeds expectations. The way he handles the script is unique and laudable.
Venkat Prabhu wins in choosing Arjun for the role of Prithvi. The portions that looked unnecessary additions in the first half are all neatly explained in the context of things at the end, leaving no loose ends. The dialogues aren't funny, the gun-fights are silly at time. And it's only in the last ten minutes that the lost momentum re-surfaces.


My Note:
A story that revolves around a heist needs to be racy, keeping you on the edge of the seat, biting your nails.. But it's not. And this is where it falters.
If Mankatha works even just a bit, it's because of Ajith, whose charisma shines through.
Watch it only for 'Thala' Ajith. The rest really don't matter.


My Mark:
50/100

Uyarthiru 420 - Review

Genre : Action, Thriller
Director : Premnath
Cast : Snehan, Vaseegaran, Meghana Raj, R.Chandrasekhar.,
Music : Mani Sharma
Dialogues : Radha Krishnan
Released Date : 12 August 2011
Country : India
Language : Tamil

Story Line:
Uyarthiru 420 is about an ordinary man(Snehan) who aspires to become rich by adopting wrong ways. The troubles he face before achieving his mission is narrated in a racy and riveting way.

Review:
After Pa Vijay, it's now the turn of lyricist Snehan to try his act on screen playing the lead role. In 'Uyarthiru 420', he has chosen to play a conman rather than a hero flexing muscles and uttering punch dialogues.

Thamizh (Snehan) is a conman, who makes quick money after making everyone fall as his prey. One day, he comes across Iyal (Meghna) and cheats her to make some gain. Rishvanth (Vaseegaran) runs a five-star hotel. He has great ambitions, but he sustains huge loss in the business. His board of directors gives him a final chance of six months to set things right or wind up the business. Thamizh joins his hotel as general manager. Though a commoner, he gives his best for the job. Meanwhile, he falls in love with Iyal. As it happens, Rishvanth is challenged by Jagan Pattabiraman (Jayaprakash), a greedy but influential journalist.

Thamizh steps in to help his boss. Rishvanth's secret marriage with his lover and a popular actress Devatha (Akshara) is scandalized by Jagan in his newspaper. It spells trouble in Rishvanth's life. Thamizh plans big and saves Rishvanth's life and also helps him overcome his debts and at the same time teaches a lesson to Jagan, and how he does is what that forms the rest of the plot.

Director Premanth has penned the script very well. The Script has romance, action, thrilling and humour to handle in the movie. Shankar's cinematography is good.
Special Mention - Dialouges. Dialogue Writer G. Radha Krishnan came up with excellent Dialouges.
Mani Sharma's Songs are not catchy. Just Loud songs pulling back the movie.

My Note:
If some other known Hero like Jeeva r Prasana be acted as Hero insteated of Snehan, and Music by some other like Thaman r DSP.. This Movie 'Uyarthiru 420' may get more attention than now.

My Mark:
 45/100

Rise of the Planet of the Apes - Review

Genre : Sci - Fi 

Direction : Rupert Wyatt

Cast : James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Brain Cox, Andy Serkis

Music : Patrick Doyle

Cinematography : Andrew Lesnie

Released Date : 05 August 2011

Country : United States

Language : English

 

Story Line:

Will Rodman (James Franco) is a Scientist who has been trying to develop a cure for a disease by testing a genetically engineered retrovirus on chimpanzees. The virus mutates the chimpanzees, giving them a human level of intelligence and the apes begin their march on man.

Review :

Rise of the Planet of the Apes stars James Franco(Oscar nominee for 127 Hours) as a San Francisco scientist who has crafted a wonder drug with the potential to wipe Alzheimer Diease. When his first presentation to the board of the biotech company he works for doesn’t go as planned, he takes home the young chimp(caesar) with the sole purpose of saving it from being put down -- at least for a few days. Days quickly become years and the development of Caesar is extraordinary.

 

Franco gives a sample of his cure to his father(John Lithgow), who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. At first, his father improves but later his body's immune system fights off the virus and he dies. On one Situation, Caesar is forced to leave Fransco's house and is held in a San Bruno primate facility run by John Landon (Brian Cox). The apes are treated cruelly by Landon's son Dodge (Tom Felton) who works as a guard there. Caesar is initially treated poorly by both the staff and the other apes. When Dodge brings his friends into the facility, one of them gets too close to Caesar's cage and is grabbed by Caesar, who steals his pocket knife, later using it to escape his cell. Caesar then frees a gorilla and, with his help, gains dominance over the other apes.

Franco gives a subtle performance that efficiently moves from someone who is careen-driven to daddy-driven. His character is caring for his Alzheimer's-stricken father and then becomes a dad of sorts to a young ape named Caesar. Franco’s supporting actors are solidly cast. Freida Pinto(Slumdog Millionaire Actress) is a colleague who turns into a love interest.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes also employs some classic cinematic techniques such as making the big company of the bad guy. When the apes begin their march on man, the audience completely pulls for the primates. They are a fully developed "people" who have been mistreated, misunderstood and turned into miscreants at the hands of a driven scientist and a corporate mentality that is only seeing profits.

However, the actor who steals the entire movie is Andy Serkis as Chimpanzee Caesar. His facial expressions alone are worthy of an Oscar nod.

The score for the film was composed by Patrick Doyle and performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony takes the movie to next level. Technically, the new Apes is a marvel. The Actors in ape suits have been replaced by performers caught by performance capture technology that are morphed into living, breathing and full of feeling creatures. Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a feast for the eyes on so many levels.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes doesn’t ignore the premise of the 1968 film; it enhances it.
 

My Mark:

 80/100

Deiva Thirumagal - Review

Genre : Drama

Direction : Vijay

Cast : ‘Chiyaan' Vikram, Anushka, Amala Paul, Baby Sara, Santhanam.,

Music : G V Prakash

Cinematography : Nirav Shah

Released Date : 15 July 2011

Country : INDIA

Language : Tamil

Storyline:

 The hero, with a mind of a six-year-old, finds it unbearable when his five-year-old daughter is separated from him forcefully. 

Review:

 After sporting a brawny, robust look in Raavanan, ‘Veera' Vikram returns to play the thinned-down, child-like Krishna. An antithesis almost, but temerity or timidity, the actor accomplishes the task assigned, with élan. DTM(Deiva Thiru Magal) is the recent proof. The problem arises only when you stop looking at Krishna as a character, and begin to see him as Vikram, the hero. That's when you feel a little more of underplay here and there would have worked better.

  The base of DTM is definitely borrowed. Those who have watched the Sean Penn stunner, I am Sam, and Dustin Hoffman's autistic travel in Rain Man can easily spot the similarities between them and DTM. Yet most of Vijay's characters are new and loveable and the yarn he spins around them is fresh. Particular mention has to be made of the individuality even small characters are vested with.

A blend of beauty and acting skill, it's a joy to watch Anushka as a lawyer, in DTM. She lends dignity to the part of Anuradha that she plays. The lady is a sure draw. Special plaudits to Nirav Shah for the visually enchanting ‘Vizhigalil Oru Vaanavil' sequence, and G. V. Prakash for the melody of the refrain. Back Ground Score is also a major plus — lilting and in tune with the mood of the scenes, it is aurally elevating.

Comparatively, it is a less significant role for Amala Paul — Miss. Beautiful Eyes acquits herself well. Baby Sara is a darling! Wonder how Vijay made her emote so naturally! Santhanam is lucky to get roles that transcend the level of sheer comedy — fun with the right mix of substance.

The reason for the strained relationship between Y. G. Mahendra and his daughter Anushka isn't clear but the veteran's subtlety draws attention.

The ‘Kadhai Solla Poraen' song sequence with its garish graphics seems to have been included more for his fans who would wish to have a glimpse of the matinee idol's heroism.

My Mark:

60/100