Chanthupottu (2005) : A Controversy

                            Chanthupottu is a Malayalam movie directed by Lal Jose and released in 2005 . It tells the story of Radhakrishn...

Jun 16, 2016

Housefull 3 Hindi Movie Review

Its that type of a movie where your brains have no business inside the theatre. A logicless fun film with no place for a strong content, House Full 3 offer some genuine laughable moments but only in parts. The primary intention of the film is to entertain with slapstick comedies and the franchise is following that pattern right from the first film. But how far it has succeeded and what percentage of the audience the series has entertained is a different matter.
Personally, if you ask me I would say I enjoyed the first two films of the franchise and about the third, it didn't fully convince me but had moments here and there that tickled my funny bone. Slapstick humour is the genre of all Housefull movies and the film if you think deep, you can find lot of silly and stupid jokes that will test your senses for sure. But Housefull is one film which has no place for any intellectual and logical things, sequences and moments. If we expect such stuffs, it is we ourselves are to blame for that.
The story happens in UK where Batook Patel who is a wealthy businessman leading a luxurious life with his three daughters Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswati. Batook Lal is hesitant to get his daughters married. He believe doing that would bring ill luck to his family. The film basically goes about wandering through the senseless story of three boy friends coming into the life of the three heroines.
Housefull 3 is not a complete entertainer and the comedy that it has is only partly enjoyable. We have many intolerable humour that would find hard to make one laugh. Thats the biggest problem for the film as there are many areas where the comedy aspect has fallen flat without creating any effect.
At the end of the film, one would definitely feel tired with all those pathetic moments written not so cleverly. The partly enjoyable moments are the ones that gives little life to the film and takes it forward.
Akshay Kumar, Ritiesh Deshmukh and Abhishek Bachchan are the people who gives life to the film. At the same time, it was a disappointing efforts from the ladies Jacqueline Fernandes, Lisa Hayden and Nargis Fakhri. Their case was a classic example of over acting and expressionless faces. In a nutshell, the three leading ladies literally struggled to get going. Boman Irani was fine and funny as the millionaire Batook Patel. Jackie Shroff as the Don was stylish but had nothing to do. Chunkey Pandey appeared and acted quite boringly.
Housefull 3, if you dig and drill too much will be a total washout and disappointment. But if we just leave the sensible side of our brains at home for a little over two hours, you would find the film a partly enjoyable fun movie. I wasn't completely taken for a fun ride but the film gave some laughable moments for me. I am going with two out of five for Farhad-Sajid's Housefull 3.
Rating - 2 / 5

Ithu Namma Aalu - Tamil Movie Review

Their real life chemistry ended in a disappointing fashion years back but in Idhu Namma Aalu, Simbu and Nayanthara recreate a superb reel life chemistry making the film a thoroughly entertaining stuff. There is romance and good songs, there is love and break ups. Also there are many moments providing space for good laughter in INA making it a colourful film.
The story revolves around Shiva a fun loving and happy-go lucky guy. Myla and Priya are the two women who enters Shiva's life at different stage of his life. Loading flash back moments and touching the present, Idhu Namma Aalu moves along covering the romantic life of the three characters.
Director Pandiraj has his focus mainly on the lead actors namely Simbu and Nayanthara and tries to cash in on the past relationship of the actors. But in the process, the story at times takes a backseat. Also certain scenes mostly in the second half were unnecessarily stretched.
As a romantic and fun filled entertainer, INA has done justice to its genre. But some fine tuning in the latter half was badly required. Things just go on endlessly and someone somehow had to put a full stop to the proceedings that didn't happen.
The couples before engagement were maintaining a very serious approach towards each other and once engaged there were on the verge of break ups. The final break up as a result of that silly incident leading upto a big conflict involving the parents was a badly conceived idea and hard to believe.
Towards the final stages, the hero and heroine sharing their feelings through phone was a bit tiring too and doing nothing for the overall outcome. Still director Pandiraj has done his job in presenting a funny and romantic film.
Simbu and Nayanthara are the backbone of Idhu Namma Aalu and they have created a perfect chemistry between them bringing in lot of energy to make their on screen romance look lively and refreshing. Andrea Jeremiah is the other heroine and she cannot be sidelined here. Inspite of the screenplay giving more prominence for the romance of Myla, Andreah was able to make her presence felt.
Soori with his humour and witty one liners brought in additional support. Santhanam makes a cameo appearance along with Jai while Jayaprakash and other actors do the supporting roles.
Music is by Kuralarasan who is brother of Simbu. Songs were not bad with couple of them doing well. Cinematography was okay with reasonably done editing work.
Overall, Pandiraj has packaged Ithu Namma Aalu as a romantic comedy entertainer and is quite successful in that attempt. A better and crisp second half would have made things look more fine and beneficial for the film but even with it INA is a watchable affair. I am giving three out of five.
Rating - 3 / 5

Phobia Hindi Movie Review

Phobia, a movie released without any fanfare holds you on the edge of your seat right till the very end. A taut psychological thriller that springs in lot of surprises, Phobia scare you as the drama unfolds. This genre is finding it really tough to frighten the audience as the treatment is more or less cliched these days.
Its here that Phobia scores. Without giving much importance for the ghostly aspect, the film through sound, lighting, performance and drama makes you scared and thats a big plus point.
There are spoilers in the next couple of paragraphs, so please skip if you haven't watched the film. Mahek played by a brilliant Radhika Apte is an artist. Some unfortunate incidents in her life has a disturbing effect on her later on. She is suffering from agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder characterized by anxiety symptoms in reaction to situations where the sufferer perceives the environment to be dangerous, uncomfortable or unsafe.
Treatments could not do anything good on her that forces Mahek's boyfriend to find an apartment for her that would allow her to fight the problem on her own. But she starts experiencing strange things at the new home. What happens next is a nerve cracking and spine chilling thriller that is neatly portrayed by director Pavan Kirpalani.
There are many questions that are left unanswered in the screenplay. Also, the way in which Mahek foresee things in advance has not been properly conveyed and lacks clarity. But these are all minor faults that need not be cared much as Phobia turns out to be an intense thriller that can scare you and makes for a intriguing watch right from the start till the final scene is complete.
Radhika Apte is the soul of the film giving a stellar performance. I should say she has singlehandedly taken the film to another level. Almost close to ninety percent of the film has the character of Mahek under focus and its not a mean task when the primary focus of the film is on a single character. The actor in her made sure that Phobia don't suffer because of a bad performance.
Only three or four characters are there apart from Mahek. Among them, her boyfriend, her chirpy female neighbour and a male neighbour are the important ones and the actors who performed these roles were adequate.
Technically a sound film with brilliant background score, cinematography and sound design. A very good story with a neat screenplay, Phobia has an excellent first half followed by a somewhat matching latter half in a screenplay that has few glitches that were left open.
Barring these few things in the script that lacked clarity, Phobia overall is a neat thriller that plays on the fear factor of the protagonist and on her mind with success. I am going with three and a half out of five and a thumbs up to Pavan and his team.
Rating - 3.5 / 5

TE3N Hindi movie Review

Even with a very sluggish pace, TE3N manages to grab your attention. The surprising turn of events at some stage along with a retrained, matured and emotional act from Amitabh Bachchan puts this suspense thriller in a safe zone.
Yes, definitely TE3N is a watchable film without doubt but I am not sure whether some of you might be able to compromise with the pace of the film. I said that the film is a suspense thriller. Well, it has good suspense that keeps the audience fully engaged. At the same time, the film is a thriller. But putting it straight across, the flavour of thrill smells totally different from the usual pattern.
The story unfolds in Kolkatta and focus on an old man John Biswas who is a daily visitor to the local police station. John wants to know who is the culprit behind the kidnapping and murder of his grand daughter. Eight years after that unfortunate incident in the life of John, a similar case with the same modus operandi in an identical fashion puts the police on a red alert and on the run.
The writing have some clarity issues. Still I would say the film is watchable and reasonably engaging with some suspense. The plot taking some interesting twists and turns also makes up for an intriguing watch. TE3N is never an underwhelming experience by any means. At the same time, its not a fully convincing film.
Taking time to let loose and gradually building up the story, the film takes time to evolve completely especially the first half. The treatment is not in the conventional mould that we normally see in suspense thrillers, TE3N doesn't disappoint but at the same time, it fails to provide a solid punch until some good and convincing twists to the storyline makes things interesting.
Amitabh Bachchan is the real soul of the film who has put up a different style of acting. The character of John is passing through lot of emotional difficulties and in front of the camera Big B looks perfect in that role with a convincing and terrific act which is one of the major highlight of TE3N. Nawazuddin Siddhiqui is always a reliable and bankable actor but for an actor of his calibre, the role of Martin was a cakewalk offering no challenges.
In the beginning title credits, Vidya Balan's name is mentioned as a guest role. Contradicting this note, we can see her right from the start till the curtains come down. Its a very lengthy and extended guest role. She hasn't done it badly but the way in which her character has been written, it doesn't provide her a chance to come out and perform to her complete abilities. Camera work is too good with neat cuts. Background score is scintillating enough matching the overall mood of the film.
Directed by Ribhu Dasguptha and produced by Sujoy Ghosh, the film is watchable but suffer mainly on the writing and making side. I am not fully convinced but nevertheless TE3N was an engaging experience for me and going with three out of five as my personal score for this movie.
Rating - 3 / 5

Conjuring 2 Review

Not an easy task to scare you through a horror flick since the genre has become too predictable and the audience knows it very well when the scary thing is unleashed in such films. But to me James Wann is an exception to that. Through Conjuring 1 he was able to test us successfully thereby making us horrified and situation in Conjuring 2 is no different. A chilling and riveting ghost film indeed !!
A worthy sequel that has many spine chilling and horrifying scenes placed at unexpected moments makes the sequel to Conjuring a well directed horror flick that can scare any strong heart even if one is to dispute that and answers it in the negative.
The Warren couples Ed and Lorraine mutually decide not to take up any further cases and gets fully involved with this job. But at the instance of the Church and the demonic activity in a haunted home of a women named Peggy and her four children forces Ed and Lorraine to change their minds.
They head to Northern London to bail the family out of the horrifying situation they are in. The film from thereon is the effort of the Warrens in knowing and finding a solution to the demonic presence and solve the case.
Like the prequel, Conjuring 2 is also based on a true documented incident from the case diary of the Warrens. Excellent use of sound effects to make each and every scary scene give the required feel, this sequel is also helped by brilliant visual effects. So in summary, this is yet another film that deserves a theatrical watch to enjoy it completely and to get the maximum feel out of a horror film.
James Wann is a master of this genre who has proven his mettle with succesful supernatural horror movies. He has directed this film in such a way that no one can complain it to be a less engaging and disappointing film. Of course there is a predictability in the overall storyline and how it all will end but he has paced and placed the scary sequences at the right time in such a manner that the prime intention of a horror film is successfully met.
Conjuring 2 is effectively shot through brilliant cinematography. Editing is also flawless that provide uninterrupted flow of each and every scene without affecting the continuity. Sound effects plays a big part in giving that extra cut along with nice visual effects and background score.
Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga plays the demonologists couple Ed and Lorraine respectively with the usual flair keeping their characters look simple without trying too much. Rest of the supporting actors were also fine and among them, the child who gets possessed has acted her part really well. Same with Peggy the mother.
The primary intention of a scary film is to make the audience uncomfortable and induce the fear factor in our minds to the maximun which this film does in a fine way. If you want to get scary with some spine chilling horror, The Conjuring 2 is the answer to it. One of the better sequels in the horror category, this film is worth a watch for all those who love horror flicks. I am going with three and a half out of five and a thumbs up to James Wann.
Rating - 3.5 / 5