The Hurt Locker – Review

The review I totally agree with is http://www.behindthehype.com/movie-reviews/action-review/the-hurt-locker/

Having said that, I think it’s a case of the ‘popular’ movie not getting the oscars this time too. Just because this movie doesn’t not entertain you, do not assume it has some subtle message or plot that doesn’t meet the eye – most probably it doesn’t. It feels like a very elongated demo run of Countert strike. I ‘ve read reviews comparing this movie to Saving Private Ryan(SPR). Nothing could be more absurd – there is such a human element, so much of soul in SPR. But here we have three characters whom we don’t get to know much about except one single scene where they even talk and then we have an infinite loop of disarming bombs – most of them very similar and boring. And there is nothing specific about Iraq even – it could have been anywhere -  Iam not saying its universal – just that it seems to be a copied from a hundred war films. Movies should entertain. Period. There can be no exceptions. Even the supposed art films would evoke some interest in that it portrays a reality so vividly – some aspect of reality. For instance, Forrest Gump doesn’t have a very great story or plot – but every frame of the movie is a poem about life – those are the off beat movies that do not follow the formulas of popular movies and reach classic status for their beauty – BTW all such classics are immensely entertaining and carry a subtle message which you may or may not even understand and still you would be able to appreciate the movie. This movie is a depiction of reality alright – of bombs and some dilapidated buildings – but it lacks a soul.

Parthiban Kanavu

Maybe one shouldn’t start this story immediately after Sivagamiyin Sabatham. There was not much plot or passion in the story as right from the beginning we know that Narasimma Varma himself supports Parthiban’s dream. The love sequence between Kundavi Devi(not to confuse with our PS kundavi) and Vikrama seems artificial and repetitive. Unlike SS, there is not much passion and emotions and unlike PS, there is not some very complex plot. It is shown that Narasimma Varma is the Sivanadiyaar right from the beginning and there is no suspense element because of it and the characters’ dilemma about the identity of the character is tiring. The only social element of the time portrayed is the emergence of human sacrifice. The villain is our same old Naganandhi from  SS and there is no suspense in that regard either. There is not much internal conflict that the characters suffer which makes SS and PS so beautiful. The description of places is picturesque at times. I was disappointed and angry to know that Narasimma varma’s wife died soon after Vatapi war and yet Sivagami (who is mentioned in only one chapter) did not marry the king and the author kills her off soon too – but so many characters like even Sivagami’s aunt are still alive. This seems to be a stereotypical device to eliminate the character so that the plot here need not involve her. The character of Siruthondar (our Paranjothi from SS) comes as a character without much role. I started reading this mostly to know the fate of the characters in SS and to relive the setting and the times of SS. Other than Naganandhi and Narasimma varma himself (who now resembles his father Mahendran in almost all manners like disguises, cleverness etc), no other character from SS plays important role here. I guess after reading PS and SS, this fades a bit in comparison and did not leave be dazed like the other books did.

p.s: I have started reading Alai Osai and am loving it so far. Will post review once I am done.

Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya – Poem on celluloid

Had heard that this movie is loved by people in love and others find it too boring. I loved this movie (implies what – nothing). Any form of good Art is like magic – it is tough to point out what ingredient makes it that beautiful – every individual thing has got to be right and in addition they should come together in the perfect form and this is what this movie has turned out to be. Gautam is definitely one of the best directors with his unique and beautiful style of movie-making. ARR’s songs are too beautiful adds to the poetic feel of the movie – the song ‘aaromale’ is out of the world, ‘mannipaaya’  conveys the emotional conflict of the entire movie, ‘Hosanna’ is love incarnate in music (Yen idhayam udaithai, norungavae!? En maru idhayam, tharuvaen nee udaikavae!…. Hosanah, En meethu anbu kolla Hosanah, Ennodu serndhu sella -ARR + Thamarai is too good a combination! ).The inconsistency in Jessie’s character and the cycles of confusion she experiences was very realistically portrayed – instead of prototyping it as the ‘uncomitted’ bad girl (in theatre some guy muttered “intha ponnungalay ipdi thaaan ejamaan (if you didn’t know, it is a line from the movie Sigappu Rojakkal)” ), the respect and admiration for the character only grows with the confusion and her eventual decision.

Trisha is poetically beautiful and delivers her all time best performance and the surprise is SIMBU! It’s difficult to believe it’s the same guy who was pelting out non sense dialogues and doing idiotic mannerisms – He has fully matured and comes out with a well controlled performance. His acting in the climax scene in park is just awesome!

The dialogues brim with honesty especially the Karthik’s where Jessie suggests they be just friends . The physical aspect in love was honestly, yet aesthetically captured (the train scene, the kisses). The ending is light and subtle and not an emotional upheaval expected out of such a story. Though it’s too early and I have seen this only once, I feel it is a ‘classic’ about love. And I am waiting to watch it once more!