Category Archives: Genre

Crime, Drama, English Movies, Genre, Must Watch, Rating, Reviews, Thriller

The Departed

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The Departed – This is 2006  movie directed by Martin Scorsese.  It is a crime thriller where a police superintendent makes one of the new recruit to infiltrate the  drug trafficking gang. While the boss of the gang simultaneously makes one of the gangster infiltrate the police department. With moles in each group the plot gets interesting when both the boss and the police superintendent figure out the existence of moles in each of their groups. The rest of the movie is a race between them to uncover the moles faster than the other so that their own person in the other group is protected. What happens in the end is the rest of the plot. This movie is a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong movie Infernal Affairs.

The movie has a very close resemblance to the original, including many of the camera angles. For a director like Martin Scorsese to do this, you know how well the original has been made. Like the original this also follows the 3 Act Play to the book as mentioned in my recent Friday Fact section. The movie has some brilliant casting with Matt Damon, Leornado DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen and Mark Wahlberg. The movie just gets much bigger due to its cast ensemble. Kudos to Martin Scorsese to bring such a movie again back to the screen with strong casting a true tribute to the original. The Departed went on to win the Academy Award for the best picture. For the brilliant casting and narration this is a must watch.

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Crime, Drama, English Movies, Genre, Must Watch, Rating, Reviews, Thriller

Infernal Affairs

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Infernal Affairs – This is a Hong Kong movie directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak.  It is a 2002 crime thriller where a police superintendent makes one of the new recruit to infiltrate the  drug trafficking gang. While the boss of the gang simultaneously makes one of the gangster infiltrate the police department. With moles in each group the plot gets interesting when both the boss and the police superintendent figure out the existence of moles in each of their groups. The rest of the movie is a race between them to uncover the moles faster than the other so that their own person in the other group is protected. What happens in the end is the rest of the plot.

I had promised you that I will write about a movie which has followed the 3 Act Play to the book as mentioned in my recent Friday Fact section. This is the one. It keeps you at the edge of the seat throughout. Its a well written screenplay and the complications build up very nicely leading to a phenomenal end to the story. The characters who has infiltrated the other group for more than a decade undergo identity crisis, which I thought was very brilliant thought by the director and it also helps in making the scheme of things very interesting. This movie is treated as a rebirth of Hong Kong cinema and went to win many awards in the Hong Kong Film Awards Ceremony. The movie had been remade in multiple languages including The Departed in English and Homam in Telugu. Post the success of the movie Andrew Lau made a prequel Infernal Affairs II and a sequel Infernal Affairs III to the original which also had very good reception with the audience. For an engaging and thrilling script this movie is a must watch.

Must Watch

Action, English Movies, Fantasy, Genre, Rating, Reviews, Superhero, Worth a Watch

Man of Steel

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Man of Steel – The most expected superhero movie of the year brings the rebooted Superman to the silver screen. As it is a reboot the movie is all about the origin of Superman and establishing his identity as Superman. As a boy Clark Kent is worried about the superhuman abilities he has and is confused if he would be accepted by the society and live a normal life as a human. He goes on a long journey covering his path and identity. But the circumstances and his super human abilities would not let him be in the dark for too long. Soon he is faced with the challenge to save the earth and the only way he could do is by revealing his identity. Did he reveal his identity? Did the human race accept him? forms the rest of the plot.

The movie had a load of expectations on itself with names like Christopher Nolan, Zack Snyder, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner in the credits. DC delivering a phenomenal reboot for the Batman just raised the expectation of this movie much higher. In comparison with the expectations the movie works in parts. There is a newer side of Superman’s childhood and the emotional turmoil he goes through which is taken very well. However once he takes the superhuman form it just becomes an average film. There is overdose of visual effects, which makes you bit exhausted in the end of it. Henry Cavill looks good as a superman however he has just limited expressions which becomes a bit monotonous through the movie. The movie does promise a good beginning for some promising sequels to come. If we were to take off the overloaded expectations of the movie it is a good watch.

Its a Bird, Its a Plane, Its Superman go for the red cape hero you had been inspired for decades.

Watchable – for Superman fans

Drama, Genre, Hindi Movies, Must Watch, Rating, Reviews, Suspense, Thriller

Dum Maaro Dum

Dum Maaro Dum – A suspense thriller  that revolves around drug trafficking and associated crime. ACP Vishnu Kamath a previously corrupt cop looses his family in a road accident. He transforms and he is posted to Goa to clean up the drug gangsters. Lorry a footballer and aspiring student to go to abroad for studies is forced to smuggle drugs to fulfill his ambition. Kamath finds and arrests him. Lorry’s friend DJ Joki tries getting him out of Jail. All the source of drug trafficking leads to a mystery man Michael Barbosa. The story gets engaging as the plot moves towards the search of Michael Barbosa. Did Kamath succeed in cleaning up the drug gangster mob? Did Joki succeed in saving Lorry? Did Michael Barbosa meet the end? – is the rest of the story.

Rohan Sippy is one of the brilliant film makers of recent times. His movies are stylish and does not have any frills attached. They are also noted for new plots and unique way of story telling. Unfortunately his movies do not make a box office blockbuster. Dum Maaro Dum is no exception. It is a brilliant movie but unfortunately did not make a bang in the box office. Probably he doesn’t need so much star value in the flick which is just a distraction.  The hero of the script is the story and not any of the characters. For the enthralling suspense, slick editing and engaging screenplay Dum Maaro Dum is a Must Watch. If you have missed watching this movie when it was released then grab a DVD and watch it…

Must Watch

Comedy, English Movies, Genre, Must Watch, Rating, Reviews

Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, Or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes

Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, Or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes – is a 1965 British comedy movie. The story is set in the 1910 when  air crafts were evolving. A British newspaper magnate organizes a flying competition from London to Paris with an award sum of 10,000 pounds to prove Britain is number one in the air.

The movie is well made considering it was done in the 1965. It is hilarious and interesting to see all those various kinds of flying machines and their flying crew ensemble which in sort is a representation of the culture of the nation they are representing. British comedy has its own charm, flavor and places its intellectual demands on cherishing the humor. As the title the movie is crazy and is a fun ride through out from start to the finish line.

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Drama, English Movies, Genre, Must Watch, Rating, Reviews

Good Will Hunting

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Good Will Hunting –  Will Hunting is a 20 year old unrecognized genius who works at the MIT University as a janitor and anonymously solves difficult mathematical problems posted by Professor Lambeau. Will gets into a fight with a police officer and the Professor comes to his rescue with an agreement that Will would undergo therapy sessions with Sean Maguire a friend of Lambeau while working with him for advanced mathematics. Will has a rough personality due to the hardships he has faced in the past. He is hard to get through and Sean is the right man who could do so. The rest of the movie is about how Sean Maguire helps Will discover his fears, love, friendship and eventually the biggest decision of his life that would change his destiny.

Matt Damon (Will Hunting) and Robin Williams (Sean Maguire) are heart and soul of the movie. Their interactions sparkle the screen. The script written by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon is the strength of the movie. The movie is straight and simple. As Will discovers his future it touches upon many of footprints of Will’s personality the viewers have within themselves. If you are in mood for a soul searching movie that is truly inspirational … This is a must watch!

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Action, Genre, Thriller

Udhayam NH4

Udhayam NH4 – Out and out action thriller movies are bit scarce in Tamil Cinema. Udhayam NH4 is one such action thriller. The new comer Manimaran should be appreciated for taking up an action thriller subject for his first movie. The movie starts with Prabhu played by Siddarth abducting politician’s daughter Rithika played by Ashrita Shetty. There is a deadline for saving Rithika in the next 12 hours. A successful encounter specialist Inspector Manoj menon played by Kay Kay Menon is out to get Rithika back to her father. The rest of the movie is all about if he succeeds in his mission, why has Prabhu abducted Rithika? The answers are known as the movie unfolds.

The chase sequences and events have been well thought. As the movie revolves around 3 states the director has used the local languages with caption in Tamil and also lot of work has gone in getting the proper slang in the accent of the actors when they talk different languages. However the director hasn’t spent much time one other aspects in building up a strong motive, the characterization of the characters other than Prabhu which leaves the movie a forgettable one. If you are in mood for a different subject in Tamil Cinema you might not feel bad for watching this. Udhayam NH4 promises to give a enjoyable ride… it is indeed one if you ignore the occasional pot holes.

Watchable

Drama, Genre, Rating, Reviews, Tamil Movies, Worth a Watch

Kumki

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Kumki –  In villages adjacent to forest areas the threat of wild elephants are a growing concern. During the harvest season they rampage the fields for food causing the whole year of hard work by the farmers go in vain. In order to circumvent such issues they hire trained elephants which are called  “Kumki elephants” to guard the crops and chase the wild elephant away. The movie revolves around the story of one such village wanting to protect their people and crops from a dreadful wild elephant. They are in search of a mahout and a trained Kumki elephant. In a scheme of things the protagonist Bomman who owns a pet elephant ends up taking his elephant to do the job. However his elephant is domesticated and has no skill what so ever to guard the village against the wild elephant. Bomman falls in love with the daughter of the village head and decides to extend his stay there. Life is happy till the wild elephant comes into the village and starts attacking… What happens is the rest of the plot.

The plot is unique and new. Prabhu Solomon should be appreciated for taking up such a plot and to make a movie. The way the incidents build up to the climax is very well done. The biggest positive of the movie is the cinematography. They have captured the beautiful forests of Shimoga and Kerala very well. However the movie falls just short of what could have been a fairy tale in the climax. Not many audience would have been happy with how the director had ended it… But still you could watch it for the excellent plot, beautiful locations and its visuals.

Watchable

Classic, Comedy, Genre, Must Watch, Rating, Reviews, Tamil Movies

Thillu Mullu

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Thillu Mullu – With the remake of Thillu Mullu to be released in two weeks I thought of writing the review on the original. The original is a 1981 Tamil comedy film which was a remake of Golmaal in Hindi. The plot is about a playful youngster who enacts as a straight forward young man with strong ideology, ambition and family values to impress his boss. However things take a turn when he bunks work on the pretext of a medical emergency to watch a football match and his boss sees him at the stadium. Now to escape from losing his job and his good will he tells his boss that he has a look alike twin brother who is actually a playful youngster and the only difference between him and his brother is his brother does not sport a mustache while he has. The rest of the movie is about how hard he struggles to maintain this lie with his boss.

This is the first full length comedy movie of Rajinikant. Director Balachandar had got the best of out him in this movie. Rajinikant was able to showcase his versatility in acting. The movie itself is a laugh riot right from the beginning till end with some hilarious dialogues written by Visu. You can watch this movie any number of times and still laugh to your heart’s content. If you haven’t watched it, then you should pick a DVD and watch this.

Must Watch

Comedy, English Movies, Genre, Must Watch, Rating, Reviews

The Gods Must be Crazy – Part II

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The Gods Must be Crazy – Part II – Very rarely you see a sequel of a block buster which matches up to the expectation of the previous one. This one definitely meets the expectations and yet again a rib tickler. Xi is having 2 kids who out of their curiosity get on board a travelling water tanker used by elephant poachers. Xi is on a quest to get his kids back. In parallel a zoologist and a lawyer get stuck in the Kalahari desert after a plane crash and are trying to get out. There are also two soldiers fighting against each other stranded on the dessert. All the incidents contribute in making the movie a laugh riot again. Humor takes precedence over satirical messages in the second one. You end up admiring the naive and beautiful life of the native bushman tribe and their deep knowledge of nature… its gift, its perils and how to co-exist with nature without disrupting it.

You can read the review of Part I here

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Comedy, English Movies, Genre, Must Watch, Rating, Reviews

The Gods Must be Crazy – Part I

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The Gods Must be Crazy – Part I –  A South African comedy film released in 1980, which revolves around the life of Xi who is part of the Bushman tribe. From the busy materialistic city life where enough is never enough the movie switches over to Kalahari Dessert where the Bushman tribe is happy and content with what they have got and are very thankful to the almighty. Their lives take a turn when a empty coke bottle falls from the sky (from a flying plane). They think this is another boon from God however this brings in envy, jealousy, violence within the tribe which they haven’t experienced before… as there is only one of it. Xi takes on a mission to destroy it by taking it to end of the earth and giving back to the Gods. The movie is about his journey and the kind of incidents he finds himself in through out his journey is rest of the movie. It is one of the hilarious movies I had ever seen and it guarantees ROFL. This is first of the series… There is also a very satirical take on the city life where people live in excess and are still not content with what they have got…. you would start appreciating what nature has given you once you see this movie…

Must Watch – ROFL Guaranteed

Comedy, Genre, Hindi Movies, Rating, Reviews, Romance, Worth a Watch

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani – Ayan Mukerji’s movie after his critically acclaimed Wake up Sid is a feel good entertainer. In his previous movie he has used the plot and the story line to move things however in his new outing he has relied heavily upon  on the star value of Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone. The movie is a package of well blended commercial elements of love, friendship, father son relationship, sentiments. There is never a dull moment in the movie which makes it a pleasant watch… but there is something missing on the whole when compared to Wake Up Sid, probably as I had said too much reliance on the star value of the lead actors might be the one. In the end it turns out to be a typical movie from the K Jo’s banner which keeps you entertained throughout. If you are in mood for a feel good romantic movie you would enjoy this.

Watchable

PS: I had read some reviews with comparison to Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Dil Chahta Hai… I would strongly recommend you not to do that as that would set your expectations very high and might disappoint you… Just go an watch it with an open mind 🙂