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INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS ( ENGLISH , 2009 )

Director : Quentin Tarantino

Cast : Brad Pitt, Eli Roth , Diane Kruger , Christoph Waltz , Melanie Laurent , Daniel Bruhl

A character says " when the military history of tonight is written , it shall be recorded that I was a part of ...... " . This pretty much sums up the crux of Inglourious Basterds . It is history , conceived , conceptualized and executed through the lens and vision of maverick filmmaker Quentin Tarantino.

Inglourious Basterds revolves around a series of events which unfolded ( fictionally ) during World War 2 , in France. France was under the control of the Nazis , and a group of merciless American soldiers called the Inglourious Basterds , led by the ruthless Aldo Raine ( Brad Pitt ) are hell-bent upon killing as many Nazis as possible , when they land in France. Few years ago , Shosanna Dreyfus , a young Jewish girl , is made to witness the gruesome murder of her family , by Colonel Hans Landa ( Christoph Waltz ) , however she manages to escape from the ordeal , and few years down the line , she is in charge of a Cinema Theatre in Paris. Shosanna Dreyfus ( Melaine Laurent ) still holds a grudge against the Nazis and we realize a golden opportunity to take her revenge falls into her lap , literally. It is here that the motives of the Basterds and Shosanna intersect , setting up a " blazing " finale.

Along the way , we see quite a few characters . The German Soldier , Fredrick Zoller ( Daniel Bruhl ) who turns into a movie star thanks to his exploits in real life , the German Actress Bridget Von Hammersmark ( Diane Kruger ) , who at some point helps the Basterds in their cause , and few more interesting characters. Of course , not to forget the imposing figure of Adolf Hitler , who in Tarantino's bizarre style is immaculately characterized , asking his soldiers for Chewing Gum in the middle of a movie screening.

This movie has many classic Tarantino touches . The long , lengthy dialogues are highly interesting , even though for the bulk of the movie , all people do is talk talk and talk. The conversations are animated , and you never feel bored . The discussion about rats in the opening sequences between Hans Landa and a French Peasant who harbors Jews , is a typical Tarantino effect. It is reminiscent of many of his movies , where he tends to bring up seemingly ridiculous subjects into his dialogues , but it adds to the mood as always.

As with most Tarantino movies , there is no central character , in this one too. Even though the ridiculously named title suggests this is going to be a blood bath , with ruthless soldiers baying for blood , the Basterds themselves are by no means the central element of the movie. The movie gives more importance to the other characters , very similar to his other movies where there is no protagonist per se , and everything else just happens to fall into place. this is more about Shosanna , more about her theatre and her revenge plans , more about Hitler's whims , the Nazi ideology , than just about the Basterds bashing up Nazis alone.

Characterization as always the strong point of any Tarantino movie , in the absence of an actual strong plot as a foundation , is top-notch. And added to it , the screenplay , even though it runs at around 2 and half hours , is as good as ever . Not much visual action on screen , but more of dialogues is what makes this movie beautiful. Tarantino's movies have always had cheeky , adorable dialogues , laced with a small element of sarcasm , and this one is no exception. Very few Directors can make a card movie-character game interesting , and Tarantino executes this to perfection . The sequences in the basement tavern , where the Basterds first meet Bridget Von Hammersmark are easily the best written ones I have seen for a long time.

The characters are immensely adorable and likable instantly. Even a seemingly ruthless Hans Landa " The Jew-Hunter " , will be received by audiences with warmth , as Christoph Waltz infuses humor and charm into the character. Watch out for the scenes where he interacts with the Basterds face to face . Eli Roth as Donny Donowitz , is brilliant in his portrayal as the "Bear Jew " who uses his baseball bat to make a bloody mess out of the Nazi's heads. Diane Kruger is elegant and graceful in her role as the German actress who helps the Basterds. Melanie Laurent comes up with a fine performance as the orphaned Shosanna who plots her revenge on the Nazis , in her own backyard , her Cinema.

However Brad Pitt is the best among the lot. We have seen numerous actors portraying American Officers in War movies , all unique in their own right. And Aldo Raine is no different. Aldo "Apache " Raine means business , and you understand this , the moment Pitt's character is introduced on-screen. He is easily delectable , in that dodgy rough American accent of his mouthing dialogues like " Nazi ain't got no humanity " . " " Every man under my command owes me a 100 Nazi scalps ". A feast for the eyes , Pitt brings in so much humor into his portrayal , and the dialogue need not necessarily be funny , for you to smile gleefully at him . I loved him , especially in a sequence where he poses as Bridget von Hammersmark's Italian accomplice , with minimal knowledge of Italian , and Hans Landa , confronts him and converses with him and his 2 fellow Basterds in fluent Italian .

Even the secondary characters bring in so much energy to the movie , and add value to the proceedings. The German Minister , the young soldier in the tavern who has just become a father , the Dark projectionist in the theatre and many more such personalities make this an even more delightful movie experience.

Technically , this is as good as any Tarantino movie.

Quentin Tarantino has given a truly outstanding and enriching movie experience. But , there has been a lot of talk about how this is better than Pulp Fiction . I beg to differ.

I ain't no authority on movies , nor am am I an authority on Quentin either. But I definitely feel this is not better than Pulp Fiction . These are 2 entirely different films , and Pulp Fiction is more of a Tarantino-ish movie than this one. Yes , like I said earlier this does have the signature Tarantino touch , w.r.t dialogues , characterization etc. But observe the differences too. Especially in the screenplay. Inglourious Basterds has a largely linear screenplay , whereas Pulp Fiction easily remains one of the best non-linear movies till date. There is something new to observe and learn from Pulp Fiction everytime I watch it. Inglourious Basterds too deserves multiple viewings to fully appreciate it's beauty . But , Pulp fiction.. I have seen it umpteen times and even if I were to watch it right now again , am sure I would observe something new. And Pulp fiction had more memorable characters than IB ( even though IB's characters are remarkable ). Even visualizing " Ezekiel 25 : 17 " would give me goosebumps now. Two completely different films , each remarkable in it's own right , and should never be compared. But just for the record , with all due respect to the Basterds , I would choose Pulp Fiction anyday.

I will go with 4.5 out of 5 for this brilliant film . Towards the end , ALdo Raine says " I think this just might be my masterpiece . ". I feel this was a statement from Tarantino himself. But I would say this ain't his masterpiece yet . The best is yet to come , and am eagerly waiting for his next movie. As for Inglourious Basterds .. Well , as Aldo Raine himself would put it "Damn good deal"

VERDICT : 4.5 / 5 ( Uber )

THIS IS IT ( ENGLISH , 2009 )

Director : Kenny Ortega

Cast : Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson , the King of Pop , was supposed to perform a series of concerts in London , but 3 weeks prior to the kick-off , passed away unfortunately.

This is It , chronicles MJ's preparations and rehearsals for what would have been one of the most spectacular concerts ever in history . Footage shot during the preparations from all stages , from conception , to auditions , to design etc has been used to make this special feature.

I was never a serious MJ fan , and at best can be termed a casual MJ fan. But after his death , I was more intrigued by his nature and performances and the man behind the music. And that's what led me to watch THIS IS IT , on it's opening night at the Theatre.

This is easily one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. Extremely pleasing to the eye , this movie is not just for die-hard fans , but for all music lovers. A wide array of MJ's most famous hits will keep the viewer entertained throughout the film's duration.

It shows the preparations for the path-breaking concert , right from the dancers audition stages , goes on to show the set design , the music setting , the sound-checks , and the actual rehearsals. MJ is omnipresent in all stages , and is very much an integral part of all the work that has gone into setting up the concert. Every care has been taken to ensure no stone is left unturned in making this a once in a lifetime experience.

MJ's music has countless fans , who would just do literally anything to just be close to him. And this love and passion for the man and his music , is reflected in the faces of the dancers who rehearse with him. The opening sequences consist of a series of small interviews with the dancers , and everyone seems truly blessed to be up close and personal with the King of Pop. Ecstatic , is an understatement , especially when quite a few dancers grew up dancing to his tunes.

The film is visually stunning in every sense of the word , right from the opening minutes till the very end. Actual videos which were made , to be shown in the backdrop during the concerts , left me spell bound. Especially the Thriller track , which re-created the Ghosts and Zombies magic of yesteryear 's iconic music video , and this was apparently conceived as a 3D version . Smooth Criminal's prelude has MJ in the middle of an old Black and White Hollywood film , and sets the tone perfectly for the song which remains one of his most electrifying pieces.

The actual music , is truly breath-taking . A team of highly talented musicians all come together and join hands with MJ to give us a stunning display of musical intensity . And MJ being the energetic chap that he is , makes it a point to improvise in all ways possible. Just watching him make suggestions to the Keyboard Artist , proves his dedication and commitment to give his fans the best. And MJ does what he does best .. sing and dance.

The dance movements are beautiful and every song's brilliance is increased manifold , by the steps which the dancers perform . Everyone just seems to be so overwhelmed dancing alongside MJ , and just perform with so much intensity and energy , its almost infectious.

And MJ as always goes that extra bit to ensure his fans are satisfied . He seems to be perfectly at ease , climbing onto a manually operated crane , which would zoom onto the crowd and MJ would be amidst hordes of screaming fans .. I only wish this happened. But nevertheless , we get to see MJ starting off " Beat It " atop this crane.

Michael Jackson's image just seems to keep you hooked onto the screen. Whether it be sitting with his team and selecting dancers from the auditions , or giving suggestions to his artists , or grooving to music in aplomb , there is that characteristic MJ style all through the movie.

His singing is more or less the same as the MJ we know , belting out hit after hit . And his dance moves which have kept fans enthralled for years , appear to be as graceful and unbelievable as ever.

Michael Jackson has always been a top-notch stage performer , and he seems to have enjoyed himself to the core , during the preparations and rehearsals for " This is It " . He looks to be possessed with some supernatural energy , and it was just amazing to see him groove to the sounds of the electric guitar , alongside a stunning Orianthi Panagris who just rips the guitar to shreds in a dazzling musical storm , especially during " Beat It ". MJ prolongs the ending of " I just cant stop loving you " , and if any other artist were to prolong a song for so long , I would have felt irritated . But MJ , oh gosh , just prolongs it with so much passion and the final " you " is directed at his audience , which in this case , would be his staff , technicians and the dancers.

The setting for the concert is what people call a feast for the eyes . It varies from a robot whose exterior is made of Video Screens , from which MJ would have made his grand entrance , the 3D version of Thriller's dead creatures , the Jackson 5 backdrop and many more stunning pieces.

The touching video for "Earth Song " , specially made for the concert , will strike a chord for sure. MJ's love for the planet and it's people and all creatures , is reflected in this moving piece.

Towards the end of the film ,we see all the dancers and staff standing in a circle with MJ , thanking everyone for their efforts . This would be a tear jerker for any die-hard MJ fan , especially the shot of him hugging everyone involved with him.

I see absolutely no negatives in this movie at all. Maybe it could have been a wee bit shorter , but am sure no one would notice as you would be too engrossed with the music and the man and his dance.

Please do not exit the Theatre when the credits start rolling out. It is probably the first time in my life , I have seen people still unmoved from their seats when the credits start rolling. I am just crazy about " Heal the World " , and this is one reason I was waiting even after credits came and was blessed to hear it play loud and clear .. Finally , the girl from the " Earth Song " video , comes hugging the Earth , and the screen displays " Heal the World " , and an autograph from MJ , saying " I love you " sent the audience crazy into rapturous applause .

Like I said , I was never a true MJ fan and it was only after his death I started realizing more and more about him . His charity work is beyond words . He had done so much to help the poor and the needy and Africa especially had always been his concern. No wonder people all over the world mourned his death , as if they had lost a family member. And Michael says " We are all family " when he stands in a circle with his staff and crew towards the end . Indeed a very moving moment.

It is highly unfortunate this concert never materialized . If the preparations were so grand , I cannot even imagine how the actual concert would have been. London must have gone crazy when MJ would rise above wild screaming fans crooning " Beat It " from atop that crane.

MJ had always advocated the need to Heal the World , through love , peace and harmony . Peace is what his music stood for. Harmony echoes in his every intention , and love.... Here is a man who loved the entire world , even though the media always hounded him as if he was a criminal. For someone who was tortured a lot by the media , he never vented his anger much . He always hit back , doing what he did best .. sing and dance. And his songs and dance shall continue to live on forever.

MJ performed in India only once , and this was an initiative by the Thackeray led politicians in Mumbai/Bombay , India. Michael Jackson always stood for peace and love. And ironically , a certain Thackeray does the exact opposite now . Such is life :( C'est la vie.

I will go with 4.5 out of 5 for this phenomenal film .

This is It. The final show from the greatest performer we have ever had. I just wish i was a bigger MJ fan , after watching this film. Michael Jackson has passed away , and we have to move on. Michael , wherever you are , I know you must be smiling down at us , the people of the world , and I know that even though you are mortal no more , you shall still love this world always. The world is in turmoil now , as you know very well MJ .. but Michael , your music is immortal , your dance is never-ending... and I just pray and hope that one day , even if ONE person is moved and touched by your music ,and gives up violence and turns over a new leaf after being inspired by you and your work for humanity , that will be your biggest success. We might not have 50 sold out concerts .. London will never witness you live .. The world shall never go mad again when you sing or dance live .. But... I know you had a far more important goal in life than money , fame and sold out concerts . One fine day , your spirit shall be content , when we people unite and Heal the World. Thank you MJ for everything.. the music , the dance and above all for making an effort to make this a better place , for you and for me and the entire human race.

R.I.P Brother ... God Bless you...

VERDICT : 4.5 / 5 ( UBER )

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY -- ( ENGLISH , 2007 )

Director : Oren Peli

Cast : Micah Sloat , Katie Featherson

Well , they say you should never harbor any expectations at all , before watching a movie , to truly enjoy it.. but when the whole WWW has been going nuts about a movie , how can you not stop yourself from falling prey to the expectations trap ? And , Paranormal Activity ( PA ) is a stellar example to validate this ..

Katie and Micah are a happy couple , who have just moved into their new home , begin to experience a series of weird incidents , which they believe are supernatural. Micah , decides to record all the happenings using a camera and an audio recorder, so as to use the recordings to do some private research to ascertain the reason behind the occurrences. Katie on the other hand is not entirely convinced about his plans , and seeks expert opinion in this regard. That is what the movie is all about.

Widely praised as a truly scary flick , I admit I expected a lot from this , but sadly , I guess my hopes were too high. Paranormal Activity definitely is not a bad film , nor is it a great movie , nor is it a mediocre attempt. What I loved about the movie , was its characterization , more than the actual chills and thrills , which form the crux of any Horror flick.

For an independent film , without much backing and negative star power , it might be tough for the Director to make the audience relate to the characters. But here lies the beauty of this movie. The characterization is simply brilliant , and the way human relationships tend to falter in the face of diversity has been brought about really well.

Horror films these days tend to be nothing more than a bloodbath , amply complemented by Computer Effects etc , with zero logic . Paranormal Activity is a bold attempt at changing this perception . There is not a single drop of blood visible throughout the movie , except for the climax , and hardly noticeable too. computer graphics , make-up etc don't appear anywhere at all.

Shot on a paltry budget of 5000$ , Paranormal Activity proves wrong the wide misconception that good movies can only be made with a strong financial backing. I do not mean to say this is a great movie , but considering it's budgeting constraints , it is well shot .

The camera tends to be the main player in the movie , as what is supposed to scare us , is caught on the camera which Micah places in his bedroom. The bizarre angles , the little jerks and shakes in the visuals , all contribute to the natural appeal of this movie. Nothing seems to be artificial , ranging from the house , to the dialogues , to the plot itself.

Everything about the movie seems to be so realistic , largely due to the fine performances from the pair. Micah and Katie perfectly complement each other. Katie has a past connection to the happenings , as we learn later on and can genuinely feel the horror of the incidents , while Micah , appears to be an easy going guy , with clever sarcasm in his dialogues. Micah seems more focused on his camera and its use in the research , rather than in solving the actual problem.


The screenplay is quite brisk , and even though there are a few dull moments , the overall eerie mood of the movie is maintained. However there are certain "YAAAwn " moments , especially when after a point you realize that you never are going to get really scared . But I would never classify it to be boring , and it makes for a rather decent watch , pace wise.

The first half an hour or so , goes in establishing the characters and any scares , that's depending on your scare - levels , appear after that only. But the whole Day-Night cycle tends to get a wee bit repetitive , but no complaints as the concept probably demanded such a method of storytelling.

I am not trying to sound all brave and bold here , but few movies have scared me , in the true sense of the word. Like I said , Computer graphics and make-up etc have never really scared me . What scares me , is the fact that unexpected things might happen , anytime. I remember reading somewhere , a M.Night Shyamalan interview , where he says something like " I do not believe blood and gore is scary. What scares me , is , I sit at my office desk and suddenly the picture frame of my family photo on my desk falls down , for no reason .. I pick it up and place it properly back , but it still falls down . I repeat the act and it still falls down , for unknown reasons.. That to me , is fear ".

Forgive my memory , but I think that's what he said..Anyway , I just meant to say , that I too share the same perception about fear and horror. And Paranormal activity is more of a mind-games genre of horror , rather than something which visually scares you.

Yes , there are a few scenes which scare you visually , but these are more of " Silent for sometime and sudden loud noise " kinda scenes , rather than true fear. You know , the kind which makes you jump suddenly , but only to fall a second later , laughing at how stupid you were for being scared by a sudden loud noise , amidst silence. However , I would not be insensitive enough to label PA as this type of movie . Yes , it did not scare me , but it definitely played with me psychologically.

I mean , it manages to hold your suspense , as you wait to see what unfolds , because you can relate to the characters to a fairly large extent , thanks to the realistic making . When the couple go to bed , as we see in the camera's recording , you tend to be as nervous as them , to see what really happens , and what the Activity is all about. Even during the initial scenes , you wait to REALLY know what the psychic has to say , when Katie calls him for help. That , people , personally speaking , contributes to the charm of a horror movie.

On the flip side , very few genuine scares in this movie . I watched this at past-midnight , with the lights out , and in a small room with a fairly loud 5.1 Speaker system . It still did not give me the chills. I admit it held my interest , but it was more psychological than horror.

Many people have hailed this as one of the greatest horror films ever , and saying they had nightmares after watching it etc etc . I saw it past-midnight .. It's 3 AM now , and I will sleep in sometime , however , I can assure you that I certainly won't have any nightmares , nor is Paranormal Activity going to make me lose my sleep , in anyway . In case I do , you shall be the first to know.

Finally , I would term it as a very good attempt , but not quite haunting :(

VERDICT : Good ( 3 / 5 )

AADHAVAN - ( TAMIL , 2009 )

Director : K.S. Ravikumar

Cast : Suriya , Nayanthara , Vadivelu , Saroja Devi

Director K.S.Ravikumar has a reputation for churning up masala movies , with all elements synonymous with Tamil Cinema : Stunts , fights , songs , comedy and sentiment. This one tries it's best to live up to the reputation , but ends up coming across as torture inflicted upon the viewers.

Aadhavan ( Suriya )is a hit-man , who is assigned the task of killing a Judge , but when the first attempt fails , is determined to finish the job in 10 days. We then see that Aadhavan ends up as a servant in the Judge's house , and tries to finish him off. Whether he kills the Judge or not is what the rest of the movie is all about.

The Judge lives with a huge , joint family , replete with cousins , aunts , uncles and numerous annoying children , along with Vadivelu a servant. Again something which can easily be related to mainstream Tamil Cinema. Nayanthara plays the role of Thara , the Judge's niece , who eventually is shown to be Aadhavan's love interest.

I frankly fail to understand how a movie can be made with many implausible incidents , all sewn together and thrown at the audience , through a very tough to endure course of time. Absolutely nothing goes in favor of the movie , making it the dampest squib in recent history.

The first half deals with Aadhavan trying his best to kill the Judge , working for Sayaji Shinde who is the king-pin of the gang , under orders from the actual beneficiary of the murder , Rahul Dev .Post interval the movie makes us believe Aadhavan is Madhavan , who happens to be the Judge's long-lost son , as revealed in a terrible flash-back sequence.

Twists and turns are so predictable in the movie , and you can easily guess what happens next . Whatever you expect might not turn up on-screen , as the story holds enough bizarre sequences , thanks to out of the box thinking.. A 10 year old kid shooting at his Dad , as a result of an even more pathetic sequence, in which the kid
decides to protect his friend's dad , who is alleged to be involved in making bombs ... The Kid running away and then grows on to become a goon , under Sayaji Shinde , whom the kid says resembles him of his father :( God , save us.. plz..

The joint family is least interesting and every character is annoying to say the least . Anu Haasan too is roped in to play a cameo role , in an unintentionally hilarious flashback . Saroja Devi's character is irritating , and only adds to the frustration . Vadivelu's comedy track is the least bit hilarious and hardly any laughs are expected.

Dozens of unwanted hogwash scenes are strewn all through the movie , in an effort to make an impact on the audience. There is an absolutely ridiculous song sequence , under the pretext of a stage show conducted impromptu in the Joint family. Another unwanted song under a tribal wedding guise .. I can go on and on about such roadblocks..

Screenplay is extremely erratic and only adds to the sorry state of affairs , and it hardly keeps the viewer interested in the story , in which I lost hope hardly midway into the first half itself.

Fights and stunts look straight out of a Vijay movie.. Aadhavan is treated more as a cross between Superman and Spiderman , rather than a human being.. He jumps from building to building , with extreme ease , and even more surprising is the fact that the Police too manage to keep pace with him . Even the world's best Parkour exponents must learn a lesson or two from Aadhavan .

The comedy sequences evoke zero laughs , and Vadivelu's jokes have absolutely no impact on the audience. The music is mediocre , except for the Hasili Fisili number , which I love , and frankly speaking I would have left the Theater if the song was played much earlier , but sadly , it turns up towards the end only.

Technically this movie seems to definitely have a very high production value , but what use , as it has to be supported by a strong storyline , which Aadhavan clearly lacks. The 10 year old kid is portrayed by Suriya , thanks to kiddish Computer effects .

Suriya's acting is reliable as always , but I seriously wonder why he choses to act in such movies. Nayanthara does nothing except smile sweetly throughout , and she is not the Nayanthara which many people like , and if you think a glamorous Nayan might make up for the terrible movie , sorry to say , I know this a public forum , but..there is nothing to excite the male viewer too.

The climax scene is definitely the piece de resistance , with all pun intended. Just picture this . Aadhavan tries to save Nayanthara and her uncle from Rahul Dev , who suspends them in a car high above the ground , with a crane. After a typical Kollywood fight , the villain shoots Aadhavan , in the heart , and any sane viewer would expect Aadhavan to die. Now , for the best part . There happens to be a petrol tank ( ?? ) in the fight location , which I am sure was a construction site initially . Alright , I can forgive certain creative liberties , but this takes the cake. A bullet hits the Petrol tank , and petrol leaks . Aadhavan miraculously recovers , from the Petrol vapors , even after being shot clearly in the heart . And what is even more shocking is that Nayanthara and her uncle talk to Aadhavan from very high above the ground , from the car . In the middle of all this there is a time bomb which is ticking , and I find it very hard to believe how this bomb was eventually placed on a flying helicopter by Aadhavan , when it was actually fitted onto the suspended car . Add to all this , the car falls down from high above the ground , and Nayanthara and her uncle survive . This climax is definitely an all time low for mainstream Tamil Cinema :( Honestly , the Director must have thought that the people paying money and watching this movie , are fools.

I cannot waste any more time in reviewing this movie , as I regret that the time taken to reach the theater and getting back home after watching the movie itself , is such a criminal waste of time.

1 out of 5 for this sorry excuse of a movie . The Producer and Director turn up in the very last scene and say " Thank You " . I say " Thank you both of you , for giving me an opportunity to blow up a hundred rupees on the movie ticket and for making me feel nauseated after watching your brainchild ."

Peraanmai started my Deepavali , and as my earlier post said , I felt my Deepavali was wasted . Now , thanks to Aadhavan , my Deepavali weekend is badly screwed up.

Even those flowers in the image accompanying this post were a waste of precious money .

Verdict : 1 / 5 ( Pathetic )

PERAANMAI ( TAMIL , 2009 )

Director : S.P. Jhananathan

Cast : Jayam Ravi , Vadivelu , Roland Kickinger , Urvasi

My Deepavali was kick-started with this movie , and let me make this very clear that if this movie is going to be any indication about my Deepavali weekend , I think this is probably one of the worst ever.

Peraanmai revolves around a group of College Girls who attend a NCC Training Camp , in some far-off hill station place . Dhruva ( Ravi ) is an Forest Instructor / Officer , who has come from the Tribal Area and passed through the system to make a name for himself , and this caste issue is subject to frequent humiliation by his superior and the girls.

The girls are under the constant watch of a Nun played by Urvasi . It is very well established early in the movie that certain girls , 5 to be precise , are least interested in working with Dhruva , thanks to the caste issue. And they resort to all sorts of silly pranks to humiliate him.

Ironically , at the end of the Camp these very 5 girls are selected by Dhruva to venture into the Forest for a whole day under his guidance. What happens when a freak accident leads to a series of events , is what Peraanmai deals with.

The opening sequences show a Rocket all set to be launched by a Space Agency , and as a group of scientists point out , this rocket would aid India in its agricultural research . Further as the movie progresses , we realize that a group of foreigners land in the jungle to destroy the Rocket with a missile. And Ravi , as always gets his share of bashing up , this time under the pretext of saving the country.

The story and script definitely oozes with so much potential and it would have been much better if this was given better treatment. The first half is easily one of the most horrendous bit of comedy I have ever come across. The Director clearly establishes the 5 girls' dislike for Dhruva , very early in the movie. But why for God's sake does the audience have to be subjected to torturous sequences which repeatedly show the girls playing out their never ending schemes to defame Dhruva.

Scenes like these clearly choke the viewer and you just begin to think about exiting the Cinema hall. No wonder there was a mini-exodus from the Theater not even halfway into the movie. the first half is so shoddy you wonder if this movie was made by the same Director who made that beautiful movie "Iyarkai". Nothing short of torture , this is the worst part of the movie , and drags on for long , thanks to a few misplaced songs.

Post-interval , things somewhat fall into place , when the 5 girls and Ravi are stranded in the forest , and realize that a group of 16 foreigners are in the jungle , to destroy the rocket . The portion between the pre-interval sequence and a the initial portion of the second half manage to keep you interested , but later on you can't stop feeling choked again , especially when Ravi and the 5 girls decide to confront the mini-army themselves , heavily inspired by some seriously ridiculous dialogues from Dhruva.

Screenplay is extremely poor , and the pace could have been sustained easily if a majority of the silly pranks were edited. The second half is somewhat better as far as the pace is concerned.

There is nothing in the movie , which makes the audience connect to the characters. In my opinion , a movie should have at least one character whom the audience can relate with , and that enriches the whole experience. In this case , you just cannot stop laughing at the sheer obscurity of the characterization , especially those of the girls and the superior Officer.

There is some hint of a brief romance between Dhruva and a girl called Ajitha . This too is shot in the shoddiest manner , and the love scenes evoke unintended laughter from the audience. Especially the sequence where Ajitha steals Dhruva's pistol , is dragged beyond reasonable limits and truly tests your patience.

Acting by Jayam Ravi can be described as mediocre at best . He does perform well in some scenes but in many portions , thanks to some horrendous characterization , irritates you with pathetically written dialogues . The girls all overact happily , adding to the audience's woes. Only the character of Ajitha seems to have even tried to act . Wonder what the Director was thinking about the characterization.

The comedy track by Vadivelu seems grossly out of place , and have not we seen enough of him playing the bumbling Hostel warden ? Urvasi comes up with a decent performance in a brief role. The Superior Officer is another classic case of overacting.

Music by Vidyasagar is least pleasing , and the placement of the songs does not help either. I mean , how can anyone just break into a dance , almost semi-nude , in a waterfall , when hardly half an hour has elapsed since their jeep plummeted into destruction , and you are stranded in the middle of a Forest area ? This as they say , happens only in India :(

The foreigners.. Ah , such a terrible bunch when it comes to acting and dialogues , with a mixture of British and French and American accents , all led by the giant sized Anderson , played by Roland Kickinger , another import from Hollywood.

The second half I thought , would have some credibility , but towards the end of the movie it is nothing but all boom boom stuff , with guns and bazookas blazing all around. The action scenes are so pitifully shot , you just begin to wonder who actually is firing at whom. And Dhruva , a Forest Guard seems to be an authority on weapons , ranging from Land-mines to The latest machine guns . Beats me. And the girls , whom we are made to think of as bumbling pranksters , are finally shown to be people capable of handling technology such as Radar , Rockets , Passwords etc. Probably Kollywood's answer to Charlies' Angels ? Wonderful , the audience are not fools ,Sir.

The movie has so much potential , with a strong storyline and script and even though I do appreciate the makers for trying out something new , it does fall flat on it's face. A classic case of potential being wasted.

I will go with 2 out of 5 for Peraanmai , and that too merely judging its potential and not just the actual outcome. Frankly speaking , with all that women power trying its best to come to the fore , coupled with shabbily filmed action sequences , and an overdose of patriotism , it was like watching a Kollywood action version of Chak De India . Much better was expected from the Director of "Iyarkai". This one is a big disappointment.

My Deepavali is off to a poor start thanks to Peraanmai.

Verdict : 2 / 5 ( Poor )

MOVIE - UNNAI POL ORUVAN ( Tamil , 2009 )

Director : Chakri Toleti

Cast : Kamal Haasan , Mohan Lal , Lakshmi

Well , what can I say ... What do you expect when you get a movie with the stalwarts of Indian Cinema coming together... A scorcher .. and a scorcher is what you get folks.. Ladies and Gentlemen , Unnai Pol Oruvan ( UPO ) , the remake of " A Wednesday " brings together Kamal Haasan and Mohanlal.

UPO portrays the events which unfold on one fateful day in the city of Chennai. The entire movie revolves around Kamal Haasan , who threatens to blow up bombs which he has placed in different spots. He deals with Chennai's Police Chief , played by Mohanlal , upon whom the duty to save the city is vested upon .

Brilliantly shot , UPO is an absolute treat for cinema lovers.. Although the movie remains faithful to the original movie , certain subtle changes have been made to make it more of a Tamil oriented movie. UPO shows what can possibly happen when a man representing the common public is so disgruntled by certain aspects of the Country , especially when extreme threats are posed to National Security.

I don't feel the need to elaborate any further on a simple story . The story is definitely an innovative one , and although it does belong to the "anti-establishment " genre of movies , if I can call it that , this movie is not a preachy one with a dozen punches about Deshbhakti etc thrown in .

UPO certainly pretty much sums up the sorry state of affairs in today's world , especially the Terrorism aspect . There are certain similarities at least concept wise to movies based on vigilante-justice , however UPO does not preach it in any way. A very simple plot sometimes forces the Director to normally resort to unwanted means to bring in the audiences , and thankfully the Director does not do any of that in UPO.. No songs , no item numbers , no separate comedy track . It is just a clean , honest and well intended jibe at today's world , especially India , which bears the brunt of terrorism from across the border.

The screenplay does appear to sag just a little bit in the first half , but it definitely grips you from the beginning. Not much of unwarranted scenes , and this helps in keeping the viewer hooked to the proceedings on-screen.

UPO is a fine example of how you do not need a comedian to make the viewers laugh. The witty dialogues are enough to bring out a chuckle from the audiences. Watch out for the scene where an actor / wannabe politician , asks Mohanlal for extra security . That was such a direct shot at the Illaya Thalapathy Vijay , and this scene had the theatre in splits. It is moments like these which provide some humor , a break from the more serious sequences which constitute the bulk of the movie. However it is the serious moments which linger even after exiting the Theatre...

UPO is one movie , which requires the audience to pay close attention and relish the finer aspects of film making. The reference to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks are evident in a few parts of the movie. The references to vote bank politics and other such things are all well portrayed.

UPO practically covers every problem which the country faces , right from Terrorism which is the crux of the movie , to Inflation , in that wonderfully shot scene where Kamal picks up a tomato which has fallen in dirt . Even though it touches upon so many problems , it does not come across as a preachy , documentary kind of movie at all. Another standout scene has to be the one where Lakshmi , who plays the role of Tamil Nadu's Chief Secretary , tries to pass on the responsibility of dealing with the situation to Mohanlal.

Acting.. Well do I really have to comment on this aspect ? Mohanlal , as the Police Chief is an absolute delight to watch . Lalettan , India's best actor after Kamal, simply shines in all sequences , and is a picture of dignity and Straightforwardness throughout the movie. He has obviously enjoyed playing the role and the theatre went mad when he said " Not only Kerala , Tamil Nadu is also my Nadu "..

The supporting cast too have come up with good performances to backup Lalettan and Kamal . Lakshmi is absolutely natural as the Chief Secretary and other characters like the Police Inspectors Sethu and Arif , the Cigarette wielding TV Reporter , have all added value to the movie. Not forgetting that imitation of the voice of the Tamil Nadu CM Karunanidhi , whom we only get to hear over the phone :)

Now .. The Ulaga Nayagan himself.. an amazing performance as always from undoubtedly India's BEST ACTOR EVER .. Portraying as simple a character as the Common Man , might be easy when you think about it. Believe me , it is a very tough one. And when you realize how every emotion , ranging from Anger , to disillusionment with the system , to grief , needs to be portrayed all together , I can't think of anyone who fits the bill more than Kamal Haasan. He has underperformed his role to perfection . And those clever dialogues in that brilliant voice of his , man , what an actor :)

Background music is nothing great to be honest . But the songs which were released , were amazing stuff , from Shruti Haasan , who makes a very impressive debut as Music Director in UPO. I would have been delighted if the songs were played in the background , but sadly we don't get to hear them that frequently , except in a few places.

Cinematography and other technical aspects are excellent as in most Kamal films , as he has impeccable standards which he sets for his movies. In my opinion , the dialogues are the best thing about the movie. "Brilliant" is an under-statement , as far as the dialogues are concerned.

Finally comparisons with " A Wednesday " .. Well , all I can say is if you have seen the original then this one probably loses out on the novelty factor when you watch it , cos the Director has remained faithful to a massive extent , and thus the "josh" is tough to experience , but the superb and clever dialogues definitely make up for it. But if you have not seen the original , am certain you shall love UPO.

Overall I shall go with 4 out of 5 for this excellent movie .. not only is Kamal's character the " new face of terror" , it also represents the new face of Indian cinema.. Bold , innovative , and delightful.

P.S . Am sure many people will not notice this when you watch the movie. But I beg you to watch out for this.. The stand out moment is a scene where Mohanlal watches his men dress up in protective gear and then says " These are the latest bulletproof vests.. Thanks to Mr.Karkare ". That dialogue is simple , yet magical for those who really experienced the trauma of their fellow citizens , when the dastardly attacks on Mumbai and other places happened. And in certain ways , it makes the movie appear as a tribute to those unsung heroes who laid down their lives fighting for us .. You and me.. The common man.. Unnai Pol Oruvan..

VERDICT : 4 / 5 ( Excellent )

MOVIE -- NINAITHALE INIKKUM ( TAMIL , 2009 )

Director : G N R Kumaravelan

Cast : Prithviraj , Karthik Kumar , Priyamani , Shakti , Bhagyaraj

Now , how many movies have we seen , based on college nostalgia , meeting up old college friends at a reunion etc ? This is another movie added to that genre , which pretends to send you down memory lane reminding you of your college days when you watch this movie. At least , that is what this movie pretends to do , but in reality , seems half-baked.

The movie is almost entirely based on a flashback , when Shiva ( Prithviraj ) , visits his College for a function 8 years after he left college. Shakti and Prithviraj are best friends . Then there is Meera ( Priyamani ) , who happens to be Shiva's love interest . Vasu ( Karthik ( Evam ) ) is shiva's bete-noir in college , and both always have an excuse to bash each other . Now , through a series of events , Priyamani and Prithviraj get separated romantically , thanks to an evil plot schemed by Vasu. Let me stop with the story here , as there is nothing much more to be written about it.

This movie inspite of it's good intentions , made me yawn . It is largely due to the numerous songs thrown in , when they are completely unwarranted . The story too has the least bit of novelty , and seems to be a half-baked mix of Mystery , Romance , College Drama etc. Sadly , what turns up is hardly delectable fare.

Quite a few scenes , even though well intended , fail to keep the viewer engrossed in the proceedings. The Director chooses to bombard the audience with an overdose of melodrama at regular intervals , mainly through the character of Bhagyaraj , who portrays the role of Shakti's father. Dialogues hardly make any impact at all , and are met with laughter from the audience , thanks to their sheer silliness . Cliche ridden at the outset , the dialogues hardly add any value to the movie.

The so called "comedy" scenes in the movie seem to be Directed by some 3rd Grade School student. God , have not we seen enough Classroom humor ? a Professor lamenting about his bunch of unruly students .. The ridiculous scene in which there is an attempted spoof of "Kaathal Kondein " , is so badly taken , it actually makes you laugh at the stupidity unfolding on-screen , rather than at the actual comic factor. And there is another horrendous attempt at Comedy , when Prithviraj and his friends go to watch a movie , only to be unknowingly caressed by eunuchs , which they don't realize until the lights come on ... countless movies contain this scene , and you simply cannot digest it any longer .

The fight scenes however are well shot , and thanks to the intensity portrayed by Prithviraj and Evam Karthik , they stand out. Songs are absolutely unwarranted and only a couple of songs are worth listening to . Add to it the obnoxious background score , which sounds amateurish to say the least. Oh , speaking of songs , wonder who choreographed the sequences . Shoddy dance steps .. I generally never tend to focus on Dance sequences at all when I watch movies , but there were some preposterous dance steps in this one which made me take notice , and the rest of the audience along with me , who had a good laugh at the choreographer's expense.

Acting is probably the saving grace of this movie. Prithviraj has come up with a very good portrayal of the tempered Shiva , who is aggression personified . Evam Karthik is the best among the lot , even though he does not have as much screen space as I would have liked , but still comes up with an excellent performance in a role which offers limited scope. Priyamani has nothing much to do. Shakti tries his best at acting , but , son , sorry to say this , but you gotta hone your skills even more , especially when you are teamed with people like Prithviraj who is an established Malayali actor , and Evam Karthik , who is easily a fine performer. Bhagayaraj resorts to melodrama , but I guess that is his trademark , and comes up with a dignified performance , even though some of the dialogues which he uses generate unintended laughter from the viewers.

Screenplay is this movies' Achilees Heel. Every scene seems to be extended beyond reasonable limits , and add to it some unwanted sequences , amateurish humor , and you have one of the worst first-halfs I have ever seen . Too slow , you just cannot wait for the Interval , so you can stretch and relax a bit , after being subject to such stupidity on screen. The second half is by no means good , but I guess anything is much better when compared to the ludicrous first-half. The second half shows some element of credibility , and there is a twist towards the end , which might surprise you , and comes as a welcome respite.

Melodrama , unwanted songs, horrid humor , and silly dialogues--- These are the elements which pull down the movie the most. There are some excellent moments though , thank God. But very few in number sadly. The movie definitely has it's heart in the right place , but I only wish it could have been executed much better.

I will go with a rating of 2 out of 5 for this movie , which is a remake of the Malayali film "Classmates" , which many people say is an excellent movie , and apparently has none of the elements which pull down "Ninaithale Inikkum".

VERDICT --- 2 / 5 ( Hardly Average ).