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Reviews
Forensic (2020)
Forensic 1st half...forgettable 2nd half
This is a classic example of a director or directors! trying too hard to keep the viewers guessing till the end, but ultimately leaving them frustrated. That's the feeling u get & by the time the suspense was revealed, I had already lost interest. Far too many never ending twists & turns, that really wasn't engaging or gripping. Performances were average, be it Tovino or Mamta or the supporting cast.
Though it fizzled out in the end, I would rate anjaam pathira lot higher than Forensic. Be it the screenplay, editing & acting. I felt Unnimaya Prasad was more convincing than Mamta as the police lead, likewise Kunchacko was better than Tovino. So prepare to be disappointed, if you are watching this after AP.
Trance (2020)
All style...no substance
It took me 3 days to complete watching this movie. Such a mishmash of a film. Think the main concept was good, ie fake gods profiting from selling religion to the vulnerable; but the execution was terrible. Focusing on the drugs/hallucination elements in the 2nd half was when the film lost the plot for me.
The only positive for me was the cinematography. Obviously having Amal Neerad behind the cameras always help, though you have to excuse his trademark slow motion shots. Bgm & music were decent, along with the acting. Though I felt some were under utilised like Soubin & Chemban. Joju George must have been offered an extortionate amount to appear in the smallest of cameos! Though Fahad was good, I would still rate his performance in Thondimuthalum as my personal favourite. Anyways watch this, if you could spare 3hrs & wanna see good visuals.
Gisaengchung (2019)
fresh idea...though bit unrealistic.
Being the first ever foreign film to win the best picture @ the Oscars, I had to give this a watch. Also this is a good choice for a lockdown time film, as nearly everything happens indoors!
Was it oscar worthy? Well its shot beautifully, just like the director's earlier film - memories of murder. But coming to the movie, although its a fresh storyline about a wealthy family being conned by a poor family; I couldn't totally connect with the film. As I felt some portions were unrealistic or nonsensical I. E the parks never realised there was a guy living underground for years! or Kims hiding under the table for hours without getting caught or reason to kill Park in the end?!..
But overall it is entertaining, dramatic & worth a one time watch, even just for a comic relief and good visuals to add.
Salinui chueok (2003)
meh ending...
I heard the killer was only caught last year in real life, but I felt the film could have ended differently. Afterall it's just for entertainment! It was kinda of annoying how it ended.
However I understand how the director came to this ending. From start to finish, we notice the diabolical dealings of the detectives towards the suspects & crime scenes.
The main +ve was the cinematography. The entire movie was beautifully shot, especially scenes on the railway tracks. Though I felt a lag sometimes (primarily being a foreigner looking at subtitles) it was engaging for most parts. Its a one time watch, even just for the cinematography!. 6/10 for me.
Anjaam Pathiraa (2020)
Though flawed...its really engaging!
A suspense, crime thriller movie has to engage the audience till the end & this is precisely what the movie did for most parts. It was helped by great bgm, cinematography & acting. Unnimaya Prasad was excellent as the DCP (despite being dubbed for no reason!) & stole the show ahead of Chakochan.
Yes there are flaws like: how killers knew if victims had hypnosis inducing drug in their system or how was it there in the first place? Or couldnt they confuse the investigators even more by mixing up the victims; say killing the 4th between the innocent officers.
But the above flaws didn't ruin movie experience for me, although only introducing Sharafudeen & his back story in the climax was kinda annoying; just like in memories (although we get a little glance of killer somewhere in that movie!). Nevertheless this is more than a one time watch. 7/10
Ayyappanum Koshiyum (2020)
Rich man's driving licence..but too long!
Happened to watch this, just after driving licence. Although it shares a similar 'revenge drama' theme, its different & better overall compared to DL. Prithviraj was brilliant as Koshy (he has improved a lot as an actor in such roles, from 'thanthoni' days) & Biju Menon was excellent as Ayyappan. All the supporting cast too played their part well. Other positives were the music, bgm & cinematography. It was top notch.
However just as with DL, Sachy had flaws in this script too. He directed this one, but felt a real lag in the 2nd half & wasn't helped by the biggest negative of the movie - the editing. Unnecessarily dragged out scenes (e.g Koshy asks for water to mix with his alcohol in the lodge & brother/cousin goes to fetch. Why show that entire sequence?). Also cudnt justify why Koshy continously kept goin at Ayyappan, rather than vice versa? Maybe I'm being too picky, but surely the movie didn't warrant near 3hr running time! Nevertheless a decent watch, even just for the performances.
Driving Licence (2019)
Bit amateurish
Just recently watched this based on good ratings. But everything felt bit amateurish. Only the lead actors (Suraj & prithvi) stood out with their acting. Both the direction & script were weak. Some of the setting & scenarios were over the top. For e.g prithviraj undertaking the learners quiz questions from Suraj..Everything about it was just cringy!!
Above all, it ended with a tame climax. Nevertheless it'll be a fun ride for prithviraj fans, if you are just looking for a masala fun entertainer.
Virus (2019)
Far too early..far too many characters!!!
As soon as I heard there was a movie made on the nipah outbreak, my initial thought was its too early to create a movie on it. Not only did the virus return briefly this year in actual life, its hardly been a year since it happened. Why not wait few more years & have a script based around it, rather on it. Instead this felt like just watching a documentary about nipah virus.
There was no need to cast so many front line actors, just to grab the audience attention. Most of them had little or nothing to do. For e.g. there was nothing for Rahman/Leona/Remya etc to do, Parvathy was just wandering around all movie poking into other people's business; Tovino just sat down blankly listening to Kunchacko throughout. If anything this felt like a Kunchacko/bhasi movie. Only they had something substantial to do & did justice to their roles.
Hopefully no one makes same mistake with a 'pralayam' (heavy floods) based movie in the future, making a lazy documentary style movie; instead create a plot/story which happens during the kerala floods.
Unda (2019)
Finally... a depiction of a great actor rather than a megastar!
I was worried during intro credits, when 'megastar mammootty' was scrolling past on screen. Instantly brought back memories of all the endless 'raja' & other mass masala rubbish like kasaba, great father etc...But boy was it refreshing to see this! Instead it bought back memories of peranbu, munnariyippu, vatsalyam, thaniyavarthanam etc.. were he has played flawed, complex & a normal human with weakness...movies that actually made him megastar in the first place!
Now onto the movie, not really much negatives. Well scripted, great shots of chattisgargh, scenes of banter between the officers was good watch, some great supporting acts too. Shine stood out (also old local tribal guy, forgot character name..Chand last name!)
Probably the 1-ve if any is bit of the climax. Why didn't the local goon with gun not shoot more! I know they had protective gear but, surely he had more than 8 bullets!!! He cud hv shot at mani as he wasn't wearing any!..I guess 'kadhayilenthu chodhiyam' right? Anyways on a serious note looking forward to more of Khalid Rahman's work & Mammootty the actor (not megastar!!)
Ishq (2019)
A decent yet longggg short film...
First of all, some excellent performances from the cast especially Shine (Shine shown over Shane :)). But it felt like a short film on moral policing, that maybe didn't need 2hr run time.
The 1st half hr felt really dragged. But the last 45mins were really good & maybe worth all the hype, still there wasn't much of a storyline. Nevertheless watch it if you are after a decent psychological thriller, with some great acting (including Jaffer & Leona). Being a debutant, director also needs a shout out. Its a 6/10 for me.
Kumbalangi Nights (2019)
A 2hr soap opera...
Bit underwelming, though kind of expected it based on the trailer. Far too many of these slice of life realistic films overhyped to the core. It kind of feels the makers are trying to hide a lack of depth in script. Yes there are new elements like : highlighting depression (shoubin did a great job), finding black women exotic & general beauty of kumbalangi village. But it just felt like watching a few episodes of marimayam or aliyan v aliyan. Nevertheless considering its a debut director, was a good attempt. Likewise on the technical front & casting as well, with everyone doing a great job especially shoubin & fahad.
Kireedam (1989)
one of malayalam 's & mohanlal's finest
Just recently watched the pathetic lucifer & wrote a review. It was then, I spotted this magnificent classic was listed in related section. It made me laugh & cry (just like sethumadhavan in the poster!) at the same time. How come lucifer have better ratings & reviews than kireedam. It tells you social media, marketing, box office & more importantly the idiotic fanboys decides the greatness of a movie. Sad really!!
Anyways regarding this movie, it really doesnt need much of a review. Kireedam was everything, lucifer wasn't. To perfectly sum up it up, kireedam was the real MASS & CLASS!
Lucifer (2019)
Atrocious movie
Can't believe such an awful movie became a big hit. Hardly any story, plot, continuity with each scene. Honestly the trailer was so much better than 3 hr snorefest. They should start monetizing or charge trailers & let paid up audience watch movie for free! Also these fanboys asking others to watch with illuminati angle, makes me laugh. What difference does it make! Doesn't hide the fact it's a rubbish movie. Only good thing was camera & lighting, hence the 1 star.