3 movie review

After some mixed feedback about this movie and due to a late release in Mumbai, I finally got a chance to see the movie. A late but latest review, so to speak. First things first, 3 is definitely watchworthy. The first half sparkles at places while the 2nd half is a total Dhanush show, which is shocking yet striking. Loved the second half personally.

The first half impresses during the school romance portions but, limps towards the interval when the actual action starts and Dhanush casts a spell on you, literally. Sundar has a good support role in the second half while Siva Karthikeyan continues his 'Marina' ' love nakkal' form into this too. Prabhu has a very natural underplayed cameo after long. Rohini is pretty dramatic while Bhanupriya appears sorry on screen. Shruti's younger sister in the movie has a cute role too.

Shruti is miserable while crying (which she is most of the time) but looks like a dream in her salwar suits. Humans are meant to be miserable while crying, agreed, but actors need to look good while crying too. Shruti, learn this fast. Her body language is perfect during the school portions. Dhanush is too hyper in these portions and the mustache doesn't look good on him. He is better off with a nice rugged stubble.

Aishwarya Dhanush must be commended for trying something different in her first film. She has not made a formulaic happy film, she has not seen sentiments and she has given her husband another acting milestone. Dhanush has totally mastered the darker emotions of the human psyche. The way he cries, screams, struggles with his own self, grapples with his conscience, repents etc etc. TOP CLASS. Definitely a successor to Kamal Haasan is coming up in the most unlikely family. I would even go as far as to say that Dhanush is the best at portraying psychotic shades.

Anirudh is the other hero of the movie. His 'bell' BGM is pounding and is so very much in sync with the dark content on display. The other BGMs are also pretty popular thanks to the audio and the trailers. A dream debut. He has been inspired by Yuvan, that is certain. His songs are awesome as everyone already knows. Po nee Po takes the cake for picturization.

Why this Kolaveri is decent on screen. Too many brands have been integrated into this song. Rather than media partners, in the title card, these brands could have been displayed as Kolaveri partners. This song has painted a wrong picture of the actual movie. 3 is not all about Kolaveri. That's why the masses aren't enthused by the second half in particular. They are lame enough to laugh when the hallucinations and bi-polar disorder scenes are played out.

A nice message about bi-polar disorder and suicide puts an end to the movie followed by a dreamy end credits roll. The way Dhanush acts just before his breaking point, is something that is seen to be believed. His second half act justifies a repeat viewing for 3

VERDICT: Dhanush makes the second half a must watch for the 'serious' movie buff. The first half is for the general masses. Watch-worthy for sure, on the whole. 

7aum Arivu movie review

The Plot

The film is as expected about Bodhidharma and his amazing contribution to the world of medicine and martial arts, and how a genetic engineering student Subha Srinivasan tries to bring those powers back through the genetic memory concept. The Chinese don’t want this to happen and they send a very powerful martial arts hypnotist named Dong Lee to stop this and start Operation Red in India.

Operation Red is actually a bio-war (virus) and China wants India to beg them for the cure to the virus. The cure to this virus is the very same that Bodhidharma developed 1600 yrs back when he saved a Chinese village from the same virus attack. The Chinese know that if Bodhidharma is brought back, their plans will go bust.

Subha finds out that circus artist Aravind has a DNA line that is 80% similar to that of Bodhidharma. She pursues him solely for this purpose but Aravind falls in love with her and is snubbed by her. He feels defeated when he comes to know that he was just used by her.

But, later he comes to know of the purpose of her research and Dong Lee also starts wreaking havoc in India in his mission to kill Subha and Aravind. They join hands along with some more students and bravely proceed with the process with Aravind to bring Bodhidharma back. They do it very secretively but the inevitable villain moves start to happen, leading to the climax face-off between Dong Lee and Aravind aka Bodhidharma.

The film gets preachy in the end with a message about how Tamil culture is being forgotten and how science is the basis of life.

Hits

• Shruti Haasan has a great debut and she has maximum weightage. She pulls it off very convincingly. She looks smoking hot in the songs. Super prospect.
• The villain is menacing and he is a great addition to Indian cinema
• Nice directorial touches by A.R.Murugadoss in many places. One such instance is when he shows the virus spreading
• The hypnotism concept has been worked out in a terrific manner.
• Suriya shows off his chiseled body, funky styles and youthful demeanor. He is convincing as Bodhidharma with his serene eyes but, in the rest of the movie he is just the second fiddle to Shruti.

Comments

• The scene where Dong Lee wreaks havoc with the vehicles on the road is nicely worked out but poorly executed by the VFX team.
• Song placements are very average though they have been picturized beautifully. Oh Ringa, Yelelama, Yamma Yamma lead the pack. All the songs sound great too, though familiar.
• Harris Jeyaraj’s BGM doesn’t have one single notable theme. Very average score that is loud at places.

Misses

• The anticipation leading to the climax face-off between the hero and villain is great. But, the actual fight is just over the top commercial stuff. How Aravind suddenly gets Bodhidharma’s powers despite the DNA process being interrupted towards the end, is a mystery.

VERDICT

Great effort that could have been flawless if the climax fight had been worked out with more punch. Worth a watch for sure. 80% of the hype has been fulfilled.