Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)

This is the prequel to the earlier two editions. The 2 sisters, Katie and Kristi are young kids and they live with their mother Julie and her boyfriend Dennis. Kristi behaves in a weird way and she keeps talking to an imaginary friend named Toby. She wakes up in the middle of the night and prances around the house. The elder sister also experiences the spirit a couple of times and she is terrified, in stark contrast to her younger sister.

The man in the house as usual, records everything and keeps examining the footage. He is a professional cameraman too. Julie doesn't believe initially but, she is forced to accept the existence of the spirit and they move out to her mom's house.

In the end, the 2 kids are taken away by the grandmother after Dennis and Julie are killed by the spirit.

Review

• We have come to expect what is on show in this movie series. Weird thudding sound effects, recorded footage, sporadic displays of the spirit and a violent ending. Maybe the heart has become too strong for such movies. It can hardly be termed as scary.
• Some scenes involving the sisters experiencing the spirit are weird and disturbing but, not at all scary. 

VERDICT

Disturbing at times but, not at all scary. 

Pineapple Express (2008)

Dale Denton is a 25 yrs old process server.  He witnesses the murder of an Asian by Ted and a corrupt female cop who is an accomplice to this. Dale had been smoking a weed called ‘Pineapple express’ in his car, when this murder occurred. In shock, he rushes away from the spot back to his weed supplier Saul.

Ted traces the whereabouts of the witness (Dale) using the weed and comes to know of Saul through the middleman Red. Now, Dale and Saul are on the run as Ted and co. are out to get them. Dale and Saul have their share of disagreements and bonding.

Dale’s high school hot girlfriend Angie and her family also get involved in this mess due to Dale who was supposed to join them for dinner on the day following the murder.

We also have the Asian mafia that is against Ted, which makes its presence towards the end as Dale, Saul and Red, somehow escape their way out and come out of the mess as thick friends.

Review

• It entertains at places while it becomes too much of slapstick humor at other places.
• The 3 lead men James Franco, Seth Rogen and Danny McBride, are mainly responsible for the laughs with their funny antics.
• While the men go about enjoying their weed and doing crazy things after getting stoned, it makes for good fun.

VERDICT

Watchable once for the 'stoned' antics and some harmless fun. 

Poraali (2011)

The film’s protagonist Kumaran has to overcome so many hurdles posed by his fellow humans be it his own family or his neighbors. His family is after him for the property bequeathed to him and they don’t allow him to prosper in life. They don’t give him a proper education and brand him a lunatic. He roams around with his friend doing nothing and it takes some well-wishers to tell him the truth behind his mother and his existence. But, he is sent to an asylum when there is actually nothing wrong with him.

He meets another young man there who has periodic fits, and the two elope from there at a point and escape their way to Chennai. They stay with another bachelor Pulikutty who does odd jobs for a living. Their neighborhood is full of weird characters that can hardly be categorized as normal. They slowly make it big in Chennai thanks to Kumaran’s pro-active and helpful ways. His neighbor falls for him after the initial frictions and Kumaran also reluctantly accepts.

Kumaran also helps one of his colleagues at the petrol pump with her domestic problems. Just when everything is fine, his past comes back to haunt him. His relatives are after him again for the property deal. But, Kumaran overcomes all the odds and gives it back to them.  He decides that running isn’t going to help and striking back is the only option.

Review

• Sasikumar’s manic rage, rugged looks and flowing hair fit this role perfectly. He keeps running like a possessed man for most of the movie.
• Allari Naresh, Ganja Karuppu and co. provide some funny moments with their antics. They do test the patience at times too.
• The ‘rolling the tongue out’ routine becomes tiresome beyond a point.
• The songs and BG score are lackluster to say the least
• The theme of the movie is good, of man being a social animal who tries to outwit his fellow men at any given time.
• The ladies in the movie have small yet significant parts. They are not the senseless glam dolls. They have honor and stand by their men at all times. Vasundhara leads the honors.
• That small episode about mentally affected people is touching and makes an impact. Jayaprakash shines in a small cameo.

VERDICT

A good premise that doesn’t hit the bulls-eye. The typical Sasikumar-Samuthirakani brand of rugged and raw cinema. 

American Gangster (2007)

This is a biographical account of dreaded gangster Frank Lucas and how Richie Roberts nabs him with his persistent efforts. Frank is notorious for smuggling into the US, high quality drugs through the US Army planes from Vietnam. He sells them at a lesser price than the competition and calls his brand "Blue Magic". He doesn't like competition and literally monopolizes the market. He has to bribe a lot of cops to stay in business.

Richie has a troubled family life as he is totally into his work. He doesn't take money and is honest to a fault. He sleeps around with many women but when it comes to work he is perfect. He also passes his bar exams. With his team of handpicked men, he finally gets to Frank Lucas and his horde of brothers & cousins, and succeeds in putting him and all the corrupt cops behind bars.

Frank's sentence is reduced to 15 yrs from the initial 70 yrs for his co-operation in the investigation.

Review

• Gripping fare with 2 heavy weight superstars playing their roles with ease. Denzel Washington's aggression is fiery while Russell Crowe is the cop who is trying to bring him down. He looks bulky though. There are many more characters in the form of the other cops, Frank's brothers and cousins, his beautiful wife, his mother etc. All have played their parts. 
• The process of bringing in the drugs from Vietnam and the way Richie goes about his investigation is detailed. 

VERDICT

An engaging true-life story with lot of detailing. Worth a watch 

Classic Revisited: A Beautiful Mind (2001)

The film chronicles the life and times of John Nash, a Nobel laureate in Economics. He is a brilliant mathematician but has troubles with the mind. He has schizophrenia and suffers from delusions - 3 in particular, an imaginary room mate Charles Herman and his niece Marcee and one William Parcher assumed to be working for the US Army in finding a nuke device.  

He is helped by his wife in overcoming all the trauma of medications and hospital treatment. He learns to ignore the delusions beyond a point of time. But, his journey to the Nobel prize takes him through the physical, metaphysical and delusional limits of human possibility. A fascinating true life story

Review

• Russell Crowe delivers one of the most complex roles with myriad emotions, with an ease of the pro that he is. Shame that he missed the Oscar for this. 
• Jenifer Connelly deservingly won the Oscar for her role of the supporting wife who goes through emotional hell. 
• Paul Bettany as Charles, a delusion is so emotive. It is a pity that he is unreal. The actors who come as Sol, Bender and Hanson also have small yet solid roles. 
• James Horner's musical pieces are mesmerizing and give goose bumps. The title track in particular. Another deserving Oscar.
• The prosthetic makeup as the lead pair and other characters age, is very authentic. 
• The screenplay is so gripping that it draws you in from the start. When John gets his delusions and starts messing it up, it is pretty sad and chaotic. That moment when we realize that the 3 characters are delusions, is scary

VERDICT

A psychological classic. All the elements of film making work magic.

Classic: Iruvar (1997)

A fascinating movie by Mani Ratnam that takes a look at the legendary figures of Tamil Nadu politics - MGR, Karunanidhi, Annadurai and Jayalalitha. MGR is Anandan, Karunanidhi is Tamizhselvan, Anna is Ayya Veluthambi and Jaya is Kalpana here.

Anandan struggles to get a foothold in movies while Selvan is a revolutionary poet who works for the upliftment of the downtrodden. Anandan uses Selvan's dialogs to make it big as a superstar among the masses. Ayya starts his own political party and Selvan is an important member of the party. Anandan later joins the party and uses his political clout for the success of his movies and vice-versa.

Selvan starts becoming jealous of Anandan's rise. Ayya's party wins the elections but Selvan becomes the chief minister as Ayya's health worsens. There are lots of allegations of corruption and Anandan doesn't fail to point this out. Anandan is thrown out of the party and goes on to start his own party. The government is brought down and in the ensuing elections, Anandan's party wins handsomely and he becomes the CM.

The members in Anandan's party aren't as service minded as Anandan and corruption allegations are thrown against his rule as well. All along, his relationship with Selvan is one of mutual respect and deep rooted friendship even though they are in opposite parties and Selvan is jealous of Anandan's rise.

Both the men have more than their share of romantic flings and aren't bound to a single woman. Anandan's encounter with his dead first wife Pushpa's lookalike, actress Kalpana is engaging to say the least. The 2 are totally diametric in their character but, Anandan is drawn to the young Kalpana.

In the end, nature takes its course and Anandan dies due to his ill health. Selvan repents for their eroded relationship and hopes to join his dear friend in the afterlife.

Review

• The acting is supreme be it Mohan Lal as Anandan, Prakash Raj as Selvan, Nasser or Rajesh. Living up to legendary characters in real politics is no mean task. Mohan Lal is a surprise fit for MGR though MGR wasn't as burly as Lal. His emoting capabilities don't need much elucidation. Prakash Raj towers above the rest and his climax performance is marvelous, worth the National award. His delivery of the pure Thamizh dialogs could have been better though. 
• Aishwarya leads the female credits and her performance as Kalpana is refreshing to say the least. Aish as Pushpa, Revathi, Tabu and Gauthami are dignified in small roles.
• Among A.R.Rahman's best works be it the cult songs or the inspiring BG score.
• Santosh Sivan's cinematography is top notch as expected. Visual poetry like in all Mani films. Another award worthy show. 
• Some needless songs. The editing department could have trimmed some of them. 
• The dialogs by Suhasini are powerful and intense and helps create many cult scenes. The art work by Sameer Chanda is grand and larger than life. Fits the theme. 
• Mani has portrayed Karunanidhi as positively as possible. Fear of rebuttal must have softened his stand given Karuna's atrocities against Brahmins in his young age.  

VERDICT

Class written all over. Mani Ratnam's best work till date. Top notch acting, inspiring music and magical visuals aid him in creating this masterpiece. 

Ek main aur ekk tu movie review

Another glossy rom-com from Bollywood, inspired by similar such Holly love flicks. Has a contrasting couple in the form of a boyish but uptight Rahul & a jovial and bubbly Riana. Rahul has just been fired from his job while Riana has been dumped. They cross paths a few times before getting married overnight in Vegas after a drinking binge on Christmas night. They decide to get the marriage annulled but their journey together is destined for more.

Rahul falls in love with Riana slowly and he turns around his life in a more cheerful manner thanks to Riana's influence. Riana on the other hand, treats Rahul as her best friend and even takes him to India for him to lighten up his mood. Rahul finally gets the courage to speak his mind out to his parents who are obsessed with his looks, habits and career.  

Just as we expect Riana to slowly start reciprocating Rahul's love, the ending is something unexpected. She stays firm in her stand and maintains that she is just a great friend to him. Rahul turns around his life and the two stay friends forever. 

Review

• Imran Khan sets the benchmark for boyish charm and turns in an engaging performance. Towards the end, he is top class. His dressing, his style sense are all very "boy next door" types. 
• Kareena Kapoor delivers as expected. The parents have all done well, be it Riana's cheerful parents or Rahul's socially conscious parents. 
• The songs by Amit Trivedi are a major plus. The BG score by Clinton fits the mood as well. The locations in the movie are fresh and glossy. Rich production values. 
• Some classy scenes like the scene when Riana calls Rahul the perfect average guy, when Rahul is about to kiss Riana but she refuses, when Rahul burst out to his parents and the climax
• The editing is nice and the chapter style is new to Indian films. The chapters could have been named better though. 
• The dialogs are cheeky, humorous and quite progressive for a typical Indian film. 

VERDICT

A familiar romantic premise lifted by Imran Khan and the different ending. Worth a watch.