Red Dragon (2002)

What's it about:
The 3rd part in the Hannibal Lecter series of movies. But here, it is the Red Dragon that shares equal importance with Hannibal the Cannibal. Lecter is arrested this time around by detective Will Graham and sent on an indefinite life term to jail. But Graham has to nab the Red Dragon aka Mr.D, another serial killing psychopath. Graham gets help from Lecter and also uses his superior observational powers to eliminate the Red Dragon.

                                                                                
Hits

• Ralph Fiennes as Mr.D. Super show. Due to a troubled childhood he grows into this frustrated, reluctant and devastating killing machine with an inferiority complex. The red dragon tattoo on his back gives him the maniacal streaks to murder people.
• Emily Watson as the lover of Mr.D. Very natural and believable performance as the blind woman
• Edward Norton as the suave and super intelligent detective. 
• Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter. Another episode in this legendary character of a cold blooded cannibal
• A good dramatic soundtrack that suits the mood of the film very well. 

VERDICT:

One among the best detective/psycho movies. Highly under rated. 

The Dreamers (2003)

What's it about:

A young American, Mathew comes to Paris to learn French. He is a big movie buff. He meets and befriends a brother-sister twin duo Isabelle and Theo at the cinemas.The twins really like Mathew and ask him to live with them. Due to a halt on the screening of films, this trio has nothing else to do. They are all alone at the twins’ house. They do all sort of crazy perverted things most of which are sexual. Mathew is in love with Isabelle. But Isabelle is in love with her own twin brother as well. CRAZY. In the climax suddenly the 3 participate in the riots after their activities become known to the twins' parents. 

                                                                          

VERDICT:

A real shocking film about 2 freaky twins. Has some unbelievably perverted scenes like Mathew having sex with Isabelle before Theo, Theo masturbating while Isabelle and Mathew are looking on, the twins sleeping together naked, the 3 bathing together etc etc.

Highly avoidable stuff. Cant believe how this film has a rating of 7.1 in IMDB 

The Elephant Man (1980)

What's it about:
A highly deformed man John Merrick, who has a highly cursed life is saved by a good natured doctor and other like minded souls. John Merrick is provided a separate room at the London hospital and is made to feel at home. But his perverted owner tries to get him back to earn money cheaply. Other lowly people also find ways to get back to him and insult him. Finally all is well and John is reunited with his doctor and his room.

                                                                      
Hits

• Unbelievable make-up technology that too for a 1980 movie. But it is gory and thankfully the director has gone for black and white film making. 
• The positive characterization of John Merrick, the elephant man. He is shown to be highly capable and social
• A relief to see Anthony Hopkins as the smart doctor who cares. Have seen him in mostly psycho movies so far :)
• A nice soundtrack that gives the eerie feel and also haunts at the appropriate places. 
• A good message about humanity and also that appearances can be deceptive. It's the inner soul that matters

VERDICT:

One of a kind movie that emphasizes the beauty of the inner soul irrespective of outer beauty. 

Blow (2001)

What’s it about:

It’s about the life and times of George Jung. A true life story. A youngster who is not satisfied with the average life that his father has, dreams about big money. He starts dealing in marijuana, goes to jail, develops more connections, then deals in cocaine, develops bigger contacts, gets huge sums of money and finally gets busted by his own so called friends and ends up in jail forever. It’s a story of how bad things finally get back to you.

                                                                           

Hits:

• It’s Johnny Depp all the way. Awesome style with his long blond locks and attitude. Looks the part of a hep drug-ster to the core.
• Ray Liotta plays a nice part as the helpless father who cares for his son.

VERDICT:

It’s Johnny Depp’s film all the way. A good message to boot as well.

We are Marshall (2006)

What's it about:
78 of Marshall University's football setup including players, coaches and fans are killed in a devastating air crash. The football program is totally disrupted. It is again revived with a new coach and now the team is packed with freshmen some of whom are even from other sports. How the program is kept alive through other hurdles unfolds through 2 hrs ...
                  

                                                                        
Hits

• Mathew McConaughey turns in an enthusiastic performance as the new coach
• The pre-climax football match is quite thrilling. It is the first home match post the air crash

Misses

• The movie moves at snail's pace with too much time devoted to grieving the loss of the football team

VERDICT:

The movie's theme is quite noble with no heroic strands running through. But, the slow nature of the screenplay makes it quite a tiresome watch. 

Kavalan (2011)

What's it about:
A good natured, honest guy (Vijay) who is loyal to the man (Rajkiran) who named him is made the bodyguard of  Rajkiran's daughter (Asin) and her friend after Vijay saves the entire family on an occasion. Asin starts loving Vijay but on the phone. Vijay doesn't know that Asin is the girl on the line till the very end. This naiveness of Vijay leads to some unexpected circumstances
 

                                                                                                                                                  

Hits

• VIJAY. He looks awesome. Dresses neatly. Performs well. Does everything that is expected of an entertainer.
• Vadivelu does the same old things but makes people laugh.
• Asin looks pretty & sexy.
• 'Sada Sada', 'Yaaradhu' and 'Step Step' songs gel with the story and sound good too. 

Misses

• Though it is different from Vijay's other recent flops, Kavalan isn't exactly a new film. It is a typical family tear jerker towards the end
• 2 songs are unwanted to the core, the opening song and the last song
• The twist that comes in the end is more convenient than shocking

VERDICT
Audiences are seeing this film for VIJAY and VIJAY alone ... He has single handedly made the film pretty watchable though it could have been crisper. 

Coach Carter(2005)

What's it about: 
The newly appointed basketball coach of Richmond High School wants to not only train the undisciplined team at basketball but also prepare them for a good college life free of prison and other bad influences. He even sets GPA standards for his team. He overcomes all hurdles.

                                                                          

Hits

• Samuel Jackson has lived the role of the tough no nonsense basketball coach. His dialogs are hard hitting at the same time motivational
• The basketball scenes are really professional
• A nice feel good underdog movie

Verdict:

A quality sports movie with a difference. 

The Blind Side (2009)

What is it about:

True story about a poor black boy Michael (Big Mike), who is adopted by a rich white couple. He is loved by everyone in the family including the 2 kids. His huge physical assets enable him to become a big star in American rules football.

                                                                          
Hits

• Very much feel good
• Has some nice sentimental dialogs
• The relationship between Michael and SJ, the younger kid is so cute
• Sandra Bullock exudes so much confidence and boldness. Not Oscar worthy but a good performance nevertheless.
• A good message in the end about how young talented black kids go wayward in life due to bad influences.

Misses

• Some needless drama in the end related to joining grad school.
• The football scenes though feel good aren't very convincing.

VERDICT:  A noble real life story brought out nicely on screen. FEEL GOOD TO THE CORE