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Vishesham (2024)
Simple and decently executed movie
Vishesham is a simple and average movie. The plot that deals with second marriage and pregnancy issues is pertinent and at times engaging. The main drawback of this movie was the male lead, his acting works for the initial bits to show vulnerability, but as soon as emotions kick in, his acting is really poor. This becomes even more apparent next to the female lead, who is really good and believable, and the male lead in those parts struggle. Besides that the other characters don't really get a chance to contribute as their arcs are poorly written and embedded into the movie. All in all, a decent subject, poorly acted and conceived in a pretty average way.
A.R.M (2024)
Mediocre fare
So, I watched this movie in 3D in theaters. First of all, in many instances during the movie, the 3D was a huge letdown and I really thought why I didn't watch this in 2D. There was no reason at all to make this 3D. I really liked the story, I mean the story on paper, but the execution was really poor. Tovino does all the heavy lifting here, but besides him, the rest of the characters and situations are just thrown in randomly and in a Deux ex machina way, which just drags the movie forward. A lot of the fights, especially towards the climax was unnecessary, draw out and boring. The ending was also like a damp squib. Hats off to Tovino however for pulling this off, he has acted really well, especially the Manian character. For me, this move is above malaikottai vaaliban, but a bit disappointed cos this had the story to be like a tummbad, but in the end falls short cos of the execution.
Maidaan (2024)
Usual template sports movie
First of all, why is a biopic altering the scores and changing history? Why are we propogating false information and over dramatising history? Such an utter and epic fail. Most of the games shown in the movie are fabricated, especially the final game against South Korea. Why take a biopic and destroy it like this?
Also, Ajay Devgun was a total miscast in this movie. He had the same stoic expression throughout and didn't bring any flair or passion. I know the obvious clichéd comparison is SRK in Chakh De, but you get the point. Secondly, the movie is too long. A lot of scenes are dragged out and there is a lot of space for template villains without a strong motive for such drastic actions. There is no coverage on the players, their personalities, their local culture, nothing. Rahim is hailed as a pioneer in Indian football. It would have been interesting to go a bit into the training methods, strategy, etc. That set the team apart instead of Ajay Devgun coughing and gathering sympathy. Why can't Bollywood lose the drama or at least veer towards believable drama instead of serving us amazing real life stories in the same old format? Missed opportunity.
Shaitaan (2024)
Bollywood takes an original and ruins it
Is it the lack of sensibility of the makers and actors or the general public that a promising story, which has been superbly delivered in Gujarati has been made into an utter trash film in Bollywood? The move defies any emotion or logic with characters acting randomly and mouthing dialogues and sitting passively without doing anything. Also, as much as I like Madhavan and the venom he brings to the role, it could have been so much more if there was more of a story or philosophical arc to it. Instead, we get some sort of jokerish version which was such a let down. For instance, take Bramayugam in Malayalam. What a movie that was. Tight story, good flow and characters acting more or less in line with the plot. This is such a mess and with the added Bollywood cliches like - "mere didi ko vaapis lao" etc., it takes it to cringemax levels.
Madgaon Express (2024)
A meek Bollywood tribute to hangover
I don't know what to make of this movie. Terrible acting with some nonsensical characters and plot developments. I mean, I love mindless comedy movies like hangover and even lootcase from Kunal Khemu. But, this is such a weird movie. Even in a nonsensical mindless movie, the plot needs to be a bit realistic, even if the characters behave dumb. In this movie both the characters and the plot confuses the heck out of you. Really stupid reasons to drive the plot forward and a lot of comedy around these scenes falls flat. Acting was so terrible with no character arc and zero reasons for characters to behave and mouth dialogues all through the movie. I guess Bollywood is really going down the drain cos of recent terrible comedies that even these sort of lame attempts are rated as good comedy. I really hope Bollywood can bounce back.
The Goat Life (2024)
Good movie, which could have been great
First of all this movie has to be watched in theaters. The cinematography, transition scenes, the desert and the Kerala portions are all shot so well. Secondly, Prithviraj has acted really well. I always found him to be a mechanical actor who delivers his lines and does his role, but in the second half of this movie, he becomes Najeeb. The supporting cast is also good, especially the arabs. However, the problem with the movie is that even though it's such an emotional story, Blessy fails to establish those emotions. I mean, the movie is called goat life, but despite Najeeb living there for three years, the scene where he bids farewell to the goats invokes zero emotion and is rushed. Also, a lot of the flashback scenes, though beautiful, fails to register later and the relationship between Sainu and Najeeb becomes more of an afterthought. Blessy could have used that time to show Najeeb's relationship with the animals. Alsl the music and the score was a huge disappointment. It does nothing to elevate the scenes and renders a lot of scenes flat. Rahman needs to come out of his heydays and update himself. Lastly, the movie could have been explored from a philosophical standpoint, but Blessy ignores that and delivers a wholly superficial film with limited emotional connect and zero layers or significance. This could have been a great movie, but remains a good attempt. I am a bit disappointed as a viewer, cos given the time that was invested, I expected a masterpiece.
You'll Never Find Me (2023)
Wasted potential due to weak ending
This movie had the potential to be something amazing with the initial one hour that it takes to set everything up. However, in the end the creators went for a weak ending which didn't stack up to all the investment made by the viewers upfront. It almost seemed like theu ran out of ideas on how to end the movie and took the easy way out. The acting is on point and the tension is always there. The camera work and the lighting is also done super well. The ending for horrors or thrillers are hard to set up, but the disappointment becomes even more pronounced when the story holds a lot of promise upfront. This is such a case.
Abraham Ozler (2024)
Confusing movie with a terrible Jayaram
I really don't know what to make of this movie. So many random events keep happening and a myriad of characters become suspects and then disappear forever. Nothing or nobody registers and randomness prevails all throughout the movie. Jayaram was just poor. He tries to play it down, but he does not have the swag nor the charisma to play such a role. Once mammooty steps in he eats Jayaram in many scenes and Jayaram them becomes a secondary character. Also, stupid tropes like a doctor telling an investigator what to check for in a murder case etc. Is just overly cinematic for a medical thriller. Overall, the film is just confusing with a terrible Jayaram at the helm.
Merry Christmas (2024)
A bland thriller
Merry Christmas is an okay watch, but is a bit too slow for its own good. The build up takes a hell of a lot of time and during that you do suspect that something is fishy. However, the time spent on the build up doesn't connect us with the characters at all. I can't put my finger on what is it that's wrong, but my guess is the casting. Katrina is okay, but I am not sure why they cast Vijay Sethupathi in these roles. His Hindi accent is really hard to digest and he is not able to pull off the urban roles well. Anyways, the long build up is followed by a weak ending where the twist is revealed and the climax happens. But, the pay off is quite poor. For somebody who invested a good hour seeing terrible chemistry between Katrina and Vijay Sethupathi, the ending did not deliver. All in all an okay OTT watch, but nothing more.
Manjummel Boys (2024)
Survival thriller done right
So happy to see Malayalam movies deliver back to back hits, which is not only appreciated in Kerala, but across India as well. Also, the departure from the need of big stars for a movie to be appreciated across India is a welcome change as well. A survival thriller has the usual trajectory, we all know what will happen in the end. The challenge is to create that emotional connect and also present trauma and challenges in an interesting manner. Chidambaram is successful in both these fronts. This is exactly was was missing in Malayankunju. But, the escape sequence and the build up worked so well for me, I clapped at the end. Acting was very good, felt like a bunch of boys in Kerala in the early 2000s. Music was also amazing in elevating the mood and the scenes. A very good movie which has to be viewed in the theater for the experience.
Bramayugam (2024)
Bloody brilliant
After every Indian attempt through a movie or a web series in horror, I always think - our mythology and history is rich with so many interesting horror characters and yet, we have to resort to jump scares and terrible horror tropes to build a story. Tumbad was one movie which really worked for me and gave respect to our rich culture. Here is Bramayugam which is equally amazing using Kerala folklore. I also saw a tinge of dracula in there. What a brilliant and engaging movie. Mammooty was in top form and just unleashes himself on screen. The supporting cast was also very good. Loved the cinematography, art, music, everything infact supported the movie and didn't detract from the viewing experience. So happy to see our culture and traditions explored in such a way. Hope to see more such horror and thriller movies rooted in our history and tradition to come from Malayalam cinema.
Animal (2023)
Absolutely loved it
I was very apprehensive going into this movie cos of all the bad press around how women are treated in the movie etc. But, once I saw how Vanga has sketches out Ranbir's character in the movie, I was sold. I think people should stop equating movies to real life. Also, Ranbir is not a hero in this movie, he is a psycho who is constantly unhappy and living life in neglect and paranoia. Why are other reviewers saying he is eulogized? He is not. This is a movie about a guy who is nuts and if you see it from that perspective, you would like it too. Of course there is loads of collateral damage, but such is life if you choose to live with a psycho. The fights, the action, the whole gang, brotherhood, songs, everything was first class. I can't wait for animal park. Hope Bollywood can deliver such raw and unfiltered action again.
Malaikottai Vaaliban (2024)
Super conflicted
I am not a hardcore mohanlal fan and I actually question his sensibilities in some of the recent movie choices he has made. But, this movie actually worked for me. In full, I liked the movie, but in parts, I was like meh. Not bored by any means, but felt disconnected. Mohanlal has the aura, the innocence and the body flexibility to pull off the role of vaaliban. He sold it to me right from the first scene. The issue was that in between all the amazing frames and the different characters and homages LJP wanted to include, he forgot to establish a bond between the characters and develop arcs, atsast for the main cast. None of the relationships are explored or strongly portrayed, so deaths, revenge, treachery etc. Don't hit the mark at all. Also, the fight choreography could have been improved so much, some of them were an absolute joke and looked awkward. Danish Sait was a miscast. That role needed somebody who could command the screen a bit more and was a bit more insane and wild. Danish looked meek. The second part looks promising, but I am not sure if LJP has it in him to do it. One last point is about mohanlal fans. After the fdfs reviews, I am now sure that it's the hardcore mohanlal fans who are destroying this talented actor. After this so called failure of vaaliban, I really hope he doesn't go back to doing utter garbage movies like Monster, Aaratt etc.
Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (2022)
Simply brilliant, ignore the simpletons
There are two ways to make a film enjoyable. One is to go the tried and tested mass masala way - KGF, RRR, Vikram etc. Or you write a bloody good story and execute it to the tee. While the mass masala movies are definitely enjoyable, movies like this stay with you for years. For instance, I am writing this review a year after I have seen this movie. It still gives me goosebumps. This is cinema at it's finest. Combining art house with a story and execution which is accessible, interesting and fast paced. Beleive me, it's fast paced and some scenes are exhilarating. But fair warning, this is not for people who don't want to think or be challenged intellectually. One of the best movies I have watched in mg lifetime. The characters of James and Sundaram have still stayed with me after a year. And the last scene with the shadow still makes me eerie. LJP, you are a maestro. And Mammooty, kudos to you for doing this when you can easily do less challenging roles and still mint money.
Also, some reviewers were complaining about the bgm. LOL, little do they know that even the BGM had a meaning and was so cleverely placed. If you didn't get that I guess you didn't get anything else in the movie and no winder the dislike. Such a clever movie, a shame that our viewing standards and attention span is so mediocre these days.
Neru (2023)
Decent court room drama
This is a decent attempt from Jeethu Joseph. Nothing like Drishyam or even Kooman, but engaging and watchable. The thread is good, but the climax was predictable and also very melodramatic. Also, the casting in the movie was off in multiple places. The primary example is Shanti Mayadevi. She simply cannot act and is awkward in a majority of the scenes. I totally understand, that's not her forte, but why give her such a meaty role? The victims mother also couldn't handle the emotional scenes. Also, Jeethu succumbs to the usual tropes of overdoing some scenes - like the incompetence of the first lawyer. The movie is also unnecessarily long and spends insane amounts of time on a CCTV visual. I'm summary, it's a good attempt and an engaging court drama, but not as stellar as it's touted to be.
Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai (2023)
True story destroyed by poor direction
This movie is the BEST example of how important direction is for making a good movie. What a massive letdown this movie is. Neither the victim, antagonist nor the protagonist has any character arc or development. As an audience I really didn't care or connect with any of these main characters. Side characters are also wasted. For instance, we see the mother of Manoj Vajpayee at the wee end of the movie to deliver an emotional advice. Due to this the emotional scene falls flat and fails to connect with the viewer. The pacing of the movie is also a mess. Random cuts, from engaging to flat to meh. And then the arguments in court. Even as a non lawyer, some of the positions taken by so called top lawyers were laughable at best. The closing statement from the opposition lawyer for instance was a joke. I could go and do a better job than that. And all the simplicity Manoj Vajpayee tries to show in the movie and comedic attempts are so cringe cos it's so misplaced. So, in summary, Mr Director you destroyed this movie and the time and patience of the viewers. So disappointed.
Cuando acecha la maldad (2023)
Frustrating and bloody brilliant
Don't pay heed to the negative reviews here questioning the main protagonists irrational decision making in the film. It is indeed frustrating, but that's in the film by design and not as a plot armour. The main protagonist is a loser, in fact it's his decision to play hero that kick starts this whole process of him destroying his family and everyone around. It is mentioned throughout the movie how much of a moron he is, trying to kill his autistic son and abandoning his family. So, yes, not surprised that he makes dumb decisions when faces with adversity. The movie can be linked to so many relevant social issues like corona, or the plague, or pollution etc. There is also enough gore and violence to keep you hooked. One of the best horror movies I have seen in recent times. Please give it a watch with an open mind.
Inspector Avinash (2023)
Poor series. Don't understand the high ratings
I started watching Inspector Avinash after looking at all the high ratings on here. But, I couldn't go past episode 1. The series seems to be haphazardly put together with a mix of shots just pasted next to each other. There is no continuity or foundation as the story keeps shifting from one place or issue or character to another in break neck pace without allowing the viewers to fully grasp or relate to the character or issue. And then a lot of random decisions and events keep happening which is hard to believe in today's day and age. And obvious plot holes and loose ends galore even in the first 45 mins, which put me off from watching the next 7/8 episodes. Hope Randeep can revert back to doing quality stuff like CAT.
Kaalkoot (2023)
One of the best series of this year
Don't pay heed to people giving low reviews on here. This is because their viewpoints are limited to looking at this just from the perspective of the case. But, this series is so rich. From gender equality, self realization, victimhood and respect, the small situations and throwaway lines and contexts traverse multiple issues and poses questions. Vijay Verma did a phenomenal job as the lead protagonist and the writing, acting and cinematography was so tight that his evolution across the series was believable and enjoyable. It was also so nice to see flawed individuals throughout the series, be it Vijay Verma, the police in charge, his aides, the victims parents etc. Beautiful series which was an amazing watch. Kudos to the makers.
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023)
Karan is stuck between the past and present
It was such a torture watching this movie. Karan tried to recreate his magic from the past using grandeur sets and a pretty heroine, while both of that worked the story and the whole movie took a nose dive. A very weak story and flow along with stupid dialogues doesn't make any emotion nor character memorable or stick. Karan comes across so intelligent in his interviews and assessment of movies from other industries. Yet, he continues to deliver such crappy movies bereft of any logic/flow. I loved some of his older work like Dostana, K3G, Kal Ho Na Ho etc. But, this is just so detached from what's going on in the current movie landscape. This was rehashing the old with some modern trinkets, with the overall product looking like a joke.
Vichitram (2022)
Tries too hard and then fails
Was really looking forward to watching Vichitram on OTT since I missed the theatre release. It took a while, but finally managed to watch it. The movie takes a loooooong time to kick off. Character development and the family dynamics occupy all of the first half. Lots of mediocre comedy and lackluster scenes. The biggest let down is that none of the character arcs are exploited in the second half. Then why did they set all of this up in the first place? Second half has a bit more meat than the first, but again it's too long and dragged out. The entire movie is two hours and 15 minutes long! Also, the ending was such a let down and so implausible. What started as a haunted horror turns into a weird, no pay off ending. Acting wise, Shine, the mother and the other son were okay. Rest were again below average. If you want to watch a good wholesome horror movie which explore family dynamics, mental issues and horror, watch Bhootakalam. This is not even average.
Rekha (2023)
A movie that didn't work for me
Rekha is a well written revenge story. But, it just didn't work for me. Maybe this is my inherent bias, but I really don't like Vincy Aloysius's acting. And in this movie, there were times went she, let's say, went full psycho, which wasn't really required for the role. Other times she held fort, but those moments really spoiled it for me. The male protagonist was okay, so we're the rest of the characters. Another criticism was that the movie was unnecessarily slow and laggy in parts where it didn't need to be. Also, the transformation of the male lead into the villain was quite abrupt and incomplete, I felt Roshan Andrews's character in Kappela was better written and executed. This felt like a bit of a miss. Had high hopes, but wasn't happy with this movie.
Romancham (2023)
An engaging funny and light-hearted movie
Its been a while after Jaaneman that I had the pleasure of watching such an engaging, yet funny and light hearted malayalam movie. The mix of horror elements interfused between the story works like a treat. All the actors were top notch. Special mention to Soubin and Arjun Ashokan who were phenomenal and created a ruckus in the theater in a few scenes. The rest of the cast also worked out really well. What works for Romancham is the simple narrative limited to the characters comfort zone and space. There is no attempt to provide logical explanations or backstories which makes the film tight. Really recommend this movie and hope they make the sequel interesting and engaging as the first part. Kudos to the makers!
Deo geullori (2022)
What a snooze fest. Wasted a weekend on this
Seeing all the promising reviews on IMDB and also since I was in the mood for a revenge thriller, decided to give this series a shot. The first episode was pretty gruesome and sadistic and it really set up the premise of revenge really well. But, the next 7 episodes after was just downhill. Introducing characters after characters, random plot lines and confusing scene edits and cuts. I was so angry that I invested so much time into this, that I tried to finish it, but stoped at episode 7, cos I couldn't take it anymore. The revenge plot is so slow and never picks up any pace. It's like watching paint dry. PLEASE DONT WASTE YOUR TIME ON THIS SERIES. It's a massive time sink with no pay off. Also, the young characters in the first episode were so good and then the odler characters, especially the main lead was so horrible from there on. So frustrated!!!
Pathaan (2023)
Popcorn movie
Watched pathaan in the theaters yesterday and have to say, I didn't hate it. Went with an open mind, which is something hard to do these days for a Bollywood movie and must say the movie was okay and mildly entertaining. SRK has to be commended for his hard work, the style and swag with which he has done the stunts warrants applause. His acting is also on point here. Great to see Deepika not just serve as a love interest or eye candy, but also kicking some ass. But, dressing her up in cleavage showing gear during firth scenes could have been avoided. John Abraham injects the required venom and style into his portrayal of a villain. And it was nice to see his backstory, albeit short, and not that he was just born to be a villain. Overall, the movie was okay. But, I think Bollywood needs to wake up and stop copying and making 80s/90s Hollywood action movies. The audience are way more evolved and don't want to see cringe action, song and drama sequences. If you are making a spy universe make it gritty and realistic. Of course add a bit of colour, but no need for old Bollywood cringe dialogues and legacy dramatic lines. Hopefully, Bollywood gets over this bad phase of rehashing tried and tested stuff. So many good actors are being wasted and resources being spent on mediocre movies.