A movie which can be seen only on the big screen

A movie made at a staggering half a billion dollars and promised amazing, never seen before visuals – you actually not know what to expect from this flick. I was blank as well, as I walked in to the theater wearing dark glasses thinking whether it was going to be a film that was just going to show graphics and graphics only and flush the story and narration down the sewer?

Anything could happen, I told myself to stave of any sort of disappointment, but coming from James Cameroon, I convinced myself that it would have a decent enough story and amazing visuals. Just like Terminator and Titanic – Both of them which had a pretty interesting story and even more appealing visuals and effects. Avatar reminds us about another great film Matrix that hit the screens 10 years back, probably when James Cameroon went to the floors with this film. Two bodies – one mind. Human Genome mixed with those of the humanoids of Pandora and so…. Well you kind of understand it even though you are sweating at the mention of few biological utterances. Our hero has Equivalent pandorian which he can control with his mind. His mission is to gain the natives of Pandora’s trust and negotiate deals with them for re locating them so that human’s can extract the precious stone worth 20 million Dollars. All hell breaks loose as the human’s led by a head strong major launch an offensive against their village that is on top of a tree. The tree (Their Village) is brought down and is smashed. The natives decide to take revenge. This makes the entire chunk of the visually appealing climax.

This review would have probably put you off if you are a cinephile, but it’s not for nothing that JC has taken 10 years for making this movie. 6 legged horses, giant jurrassic inspired reptiles, floating mountains tropical rain forests, inter connected trees (I mean, the humanoids have a personal connection with all the living beings, through their mind!), huge elephant- Rhino like creatures and jumbo machines of the humans- It has everything. The matrix hang over is seen in some of the weapons as well, Remember saving the city scene in matrix 2 where huge robotic machines operated by a single operator with huge machine guns? You see them here as well.

The most striking thing of Avatar as supposed to other films of this repute and more importantly the budget; lets say Jurrassic park or the 2012 is that - you don’t see where they have played around with graphics. Of course, you can easily find out in the case of weird creatures and all that! But, the humanoids themselves are very difficult to guess. There were dressed in blue suits or where they created in a computer. Did they shoot in a tropical rain forest or did they use a blue mat simulation? Did they construct the weird helicopters and huge machines or was it the handi work of graphic engineers? It does make an interesting exercise for the audience to guess where they have used it and where they have not! While in movies like 2012 you can actually pretty much list out scenes and say – Hey that’s graphics man!

That I think is the best thing about Avatar! The world pulled over your eyes called “Pandora” is so beautiful and dangerous that you would want to take a chance even with your life to see and marvel the beauty. Floating mountains and having a personal connection with animals with your hair and telling them what to do with our minds - Take that for Imagination!!! So, James Cameroon pretty much takes one frame for the film maker in him and gives one for the people. You have the clichés and you have the “Wow, how did he do that” instance in the same film.

On the whole, Avatar pretty much delivers what I expected out of it… A decent interesting story line and visuals I have not seen anywhere. It delivers it. It’s just right THERE. Skip the movie, if you want to kindle the cinephile in you. If you want to marvel at the technological advancement the movie has made – Go for it. You won’t be disappointed. Never see this on your computer. See it in 3- D.

Avatar - To be enjoyed only on the big screen.

Udhav Naig

What you expect is what you get!

For those who have taken a liking to vintage classics of World cinema, you would have have noticed that they are based on great books, but imagine the quality of a film if its based on a book that already reads like a bollywood potboiler. That is precisely how I would define 3 Idiots. Make no mistake, the film is - as the director pointed out is only loosely based and adequate changes are made actually cater to what we now call as the "Bollywood audience". Yet, the movie borrows its best moment from the book.

Aamir Khan (Rancho), Maddy (Farhan) and Sharman Joshi( Raju Rastogi) are 3 friends having whale of a time in college, its a typical bollywood college with strict and funnily lisping principal. The characterization of the 3 idiots and other idiots in this film is pretty much Dittoed from the book. Aamir as the brilliant, bright and erudite guy who wants to enjoy learning and keeps telling his friends the same. Maddy can easily call himself the "forced" engineer, as his love lies elsewhere in clicking pics, while Sharman is a poor young guy from the village who has an ailing mother and to be married sister Maddy and Sharman are the low graders while Aamir always manages to get the first rank- the reason he attributes to his phenomenal success are- For me engineering is passion, you guys see it as a marks...Let learning be a passion, says Mr Rancho.

Farhan and Raju follow one dream, a dream that would give a great life for Raju's family and a dream which would fill the heart of Farhan's dad with happiness.Its a dream that the 2 families share, that is to get a job. All the fun that ensues and the funny experience that 2 idiots go through is towards one dream. Aamir is not bothered about a job or even marks, he says "Excellence will bring success automatically".

The principal is pissed with Rancho's ideas, and he is almost sure that he is man behind spoiling Farhan and Raju's grades. He tries to put him in his place but every effort is thwarted and ends up in vain. Pia (Kareena Kapoor), daughter of the strict principal himself is coochie cooing with one of the idiots Rancho. They fall in love and a good enjoyable song is danced out, which I confess, I enjoyed.

Mayhem ensues when Raju is caught doing mischief outside professors house. He is asked to turn the "Approver" and Raju does not budge, so he jumps down a 3 story building and damages his arms, and brains. He gets the job; All ends well and smiles and hugs are shared- and A twist. Aamir just gets into a car and vanishes. from the college, from pia's life and from his friends life. How they find him is the question that is answered in the final segment of the film.

Although it stays loyal to the book in most of their college life, the lives of these 3 young adults change - post college. The post college story is brief in the film, but the ramifications in each of their life - post college is pretty huge. The comic instances in the book like flicking the question paper or entering the professors house are religiously followed. The principal's role, acted out with good finesse with Bomman Irani is effective, it is not just funny all the time like how it always is...especially in a comedy film.

The movie is pot boiler, but with an innovation. It does not have skimpily clad heroine, does not have terrible nasal blowing singers trying hard to create an impact. Except for the 10 minutes in the film, nothing seems forced and effortlessly falls in to place - Thanks to Chetan Bhagat. It has its pitfalls too, Seriously, I expect much more from Aamir, of course, this movie is not boring and satisfies the basic expectation, but shouldn't he pull up the gear, esp after Taare Zameen Par?

Casting seems to be a mismatch, its not a film which should have been done by Aamir khan and Maddy. Although I would excuse 40 plus Aamir in exchange for his super good acting in this comical role, I am unable to digest Maddy as an engineering student who doesn't just look like a college student any more. No where close. Sorry!

The dialogues in the film has been well written, Pre Interval speech in Shudh Hindi, brings the house down literally, although it is not pretentious but direct sexual references, it is enjoyable. nevertheless. The songs become a formality, but the duet with Kareena is enjoyable.

Aamir Khan fits the role, but for his age which shows in many places. Maddy and Sharman also do a very good job in this film with good number of laughs. A movie meant just to make you laugh, panchathanthiram style. Aamir laughs all the way again to the bank!

Udhav Naig

X Men Wolverine!

X Men – origins - Wolverine

Even as you enter the cinema hall, a mere look at Wolverine poster (Hugh Jackman) can reveal enough about what is to be offer. This movie chronicles the origin of “Wolverine”, unarguably the most charismatic Character in the entire “X Men” trilogy.


It begins with lousy story of the “Young” Logan and his half – Brother Victor running away into the woods after killing his father. As the credits roll, the blood brothers are shown decimating every other “gun” clad enemy during their stint in the American Army. Soon they are captured and sent to prison for “decapitating” a senior officer and when help arrives in the form of devilish Col. Stryker (Danny Huston) who offers them a deal which they cannot refuse. The blood brother’s finally make up their mind to join his “Special team” which has been promised with special privileges.

Cut to Nigeria, the team embarks on a mission. Unable to put up with the moral aberrations he had to endure during this mission, the do-gooder Logan leaves the team and finds solace in the Canadian woods with his lady love. But Col. Stryker isn’t done with him yet. By this time if you haven’t figured out how this movie is going to end, then this movie is for you and especially made for you. The routine super hero(s) revenge plot has been rehashed with predictable turn of events that fail to muster up anything that is even remotely interesting. What we get to see on the big screen is the old wine stuffed in an even older bottle. To the benefit of those who are still interested in the story here it comes: As Victor starts enjoying the “Animal” side of him, mayhem ensues as brothers are pit against each other.

Wolverine strides out in search of blood as he comes to know that it was Victor who has harmed his lady love. Out for revenge and with no idea of stopping without ensuring a blood bath, Wolverine seeks the help of Col. Stryker who arms the already armed Wolverine with even more ammunition. He is turned into a man of steel with Adamantium claws, quite literally. It is now revealed that Col. Stryker is an intelligent Villain who has bigger plans.

The threshold of those watching the film finally gives away and one wonders if the director is actually Gavin Hood, the man who directed “Tsotsi”. We also begin to wonder why this prequel was actually made in the first place. The very reason why X -Men was hugely popular was because of the mystic aura surrounding the wolverine and his steel claws. When this mystical past is revealed with such a primitive storyline there isn’t much you can do except bite your teeth and sit through the trauma.

The narration is pedestrian and boringly linear for a wafer thin plot; it actually induces sleep even though it runs only, for just over 1hr 30 minutes. The movie might have been worth its money had the screen writers (David Benioff and Skip Woods) concentrated on character building and plot points than banking on Hugh Jackman to carry the film completely on his shoulders.

There is absolutely no humor or intelligent tongue in Cheek dialogues that would have made “Wolverine” better than the previous installments. Wolverine is reduced to claw brandishing animal; He is boring because he heals himself quickly and pulls of insane stunts at the drop of a hat. After a point you realize the fact that there is nothing that can harm him and at the end of the day, you seldom care about him.

The movie has its moments as well, even though the stunts gives us an “I have seen this before” feel, it still manages to inspire awe in us. The spectacular climax showdown between Victor, Wolverine and the Ultimate Mutant who possesses the combined powers of other mutants on top of a circular structure has been breathtakingly conceived, it’s a treat to watch it on the big screen. Hugh Jackman has carried the film on his shoulders completely and is the ultimate saving grace in the film. If at all you want to watch this film, watch it for Hugh Jackman and the stunts.

Verdict – Old wine in an old Bottle.

Unnai Pol Oruvan is... A wednesday Pol Oruvan

First set first game, Shah to serve – The police station complaint scene – No return from Haasan. Shah leads 1-0. Haasan to serve – The first few rounds of phone calls – Shah breaks serve and wins the next game, leads 3-0. Now, the first half of the soliloquy , about the common man… Its becoming a one man show – Shah leads Haasan 4-0.. Now the second half of the soliloquy, narrating the story, alternating between emotion, pain ,intensity and wit. Haasan serves 12 aces and breaks thrice in 10 minutes. Takes the set 6-4.

The above lines , however are not the complete representation of the show that Unnai Pol Oruvan has been. They just cover the lead. Unnai Pol Oruvan is the remake of a film that was good but not great. To expect greatness from it is madness but to see how much justice is being done to the original essence and to observe how much of it is actually better is the way to go.

Places where Unnai Pol Oruvan is better done than A Wednesday

1) LEAD(Casting+Charecterization+Performances) – It is almost a role reversal of sorts. In a Wednesday, Anupam Kher is stiff throughout and Naseer comes up with wit and sarcasm now and then. Here, Kamal is witty but intensity personified while Mohanlal has plenty of political satire to play with, especially in the scenes involving Lakshmi where they make light conversation of highly complex issues. Kamal is as classy as ever and some of Mohanlal’s reactions leave your jaw open. Both in typical elements rock the screen all the time.

2) The look – I am a layman, I don’t know what to call it. The film looked a lot better than A Wednesday, Maybe thanks to the Red Camera – The resolution and the whole picture was top notch giving it an ultra slick look.

3) The Dialogues – A lot more politics, A lot more satire, A new dimension. If there is one area where A Wednesday is better in dialogues, it’s the tautness and the intensity which seems to be lacking in Unnai Pol Oruvan

4) The Music – Whenever there is Guitar, there is MAGIC. Especially when kamal is first shown on screen working on a drill, with a paper near him flying due to the wind there is complete hysteria as his name appears on the screen. However, his Allah Jaane is an ear-sore.. Rest of it is fine.

Places where Unnai Pol Oruvan just doesn’t come close to A Wednesday

1) The soul – Well the essence is an old helpless common man playing with the entire police force. This is virtually messed up in this remake… One sometimes feels they have missed the point, man.

2) The generalizabilty – No the theme is not universal. Its more mumbaish. No resident of Tamilnadu will feel the emotions of what Kamal describes. There are a few dialogue to rectify this flaw but doesn’t work.

3) Suspense – Its sad but when one remakes a thriller with a twist in the ‘tail’, once cant hope a person who has seen the original will like it… Even otherwise, I did try to view it from the perspective of a newbie to the Wednesday story but some scenes reveal this guy is a common man wanting to kill the terrorists – Especially the scene where he mentions that the addresses belong to the people who died in the blast

A THING THAT I OBSERVED ABOUT THE MONOLOGUE

in in a wednesday naseeruddin shah chooses one really suppa story of some guy he knows from train who died in a blast and does an amazing job narrating it. But namba Kamal has one ultimate emotional story to say and does mega brilliant job at it. It pretty much represents their career doesn't it? Nasser choses really suppa roles and makes them special through his performance... while kamal has to do really special roles and make them even more special.

Overall, a film that tries to be as sincere to the original as possible. Hence doesn’t get better. And since the original is a good but not great film, so is this one. One thing to look out for is the last 10 mins of the Kamal monologue about the 4 month old pregnant girl raped till nudity – A complete master stroke. Also watch out for some super brisk Mohanlal moments

A 3/5 for the slick flick