Since the start of 2010, I have been watching movies like crazy. Jobless, at home, I don't have much else to do. The good, the bad and the ugly movies- I haven't missed much. Watched the ones which got bad reviews- just to see why they are no good. Watched the ones with good reviews for obvious reasons..
Here's a partial list:
Sherlock Holmes
Has Holmes ever let us down! An absolute treat to watch. Loved Robert Downey and Jude Law as Holmes and Watson. Brilliant plot that unravels the truth behind the 'resurrection' of an occult practising aristocrat and his 'black magic', set in Holmes' day London, when the London tower bridge is under construction. The rational atheist in me is left wondering if this explanation behind 'ressurrection' - maybe the same process was carried out 2000 years back...
Aayirathil Oruvan
Enna kodumai Selvaraghavan!!!!! Yuck!! I am anything but fond of previous movies from Selvaraghavan. But the 'Ponniyin Selvan' loving, Tamil history fan wanted to watch it. And man, I spent the worst ever hours of my life in Satyam, trying to figure out what Selvaraghavan has, against Tamil movie audience. Never have I seen such meaningless gore- cannibalistic tribes, Roman style amphitheatres and dangerous sports with barbaric crowds cheering bloodshed and death, an ocean of serpents that wreck havoc. All the 4 leading Tamil dynasties- the Cholas, Pandyas, Pallavas and the Cheras have boasted of proud heights of civilization and Selvaraghavan depicts the Cholas as a barbaric race- nothing more than a bunch of uncouth, uncivilized people.. And the island supposedly offers dense forests, mountains, water bodies. Yet the clan chooses to live in the drought hit desert??? Kurinji, Neidhal, Paalai, Marudham, mullai in one island? Interesting indeed!!
Epdi ellaam audience a torture pannalaam nu room pottu yosippaaraa, Selvaraghavan?
3 Idiots
I am no big fan of Chetan Bhagat or his 'Five Point Someone' but this movie, I must admit, makes me think think the book was a thousand times better! Typical Bollywood masala... I still do not know how I endured the whole 3 hours!!
Tamil Padam
Wow!!!!! For someone who grew up on a staple diet of Tam films, this one is a treat! A spoof of stereotypical Tamil movie ingredients- Naattaamai, Graamam, middle aged backpack wielding 'am-in-college' friends, kalli paal, honest police officer, sentiment, street fights...
Goa
The Chennai 28 team is currently my favourite most movie making group in Kodambakkam. Goa is another fun movie that gives you exactly what you wish for in a movie theatre- unadultrated fun!!!
Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya
Vaaranam Aayiram, Minnalae.. Adhae Christian ponnu, adhae heart ache oda alaiyara hero. Madhavan, Surya and now it's Simbu! Minnale was simple and likeable, I agree. Vaaranam aayiram was okay... But Gautam, a 3rd time? No please. And to watch Simbu in a role tailored for Surya- naay.. that's unacceptable. Music's great. And Nalini Sriram has done an awesome job with Trisha's costumes! Stunning! Gautam, by now, we know more facts about your life than your family- Christian wife, an Engineering degree that you never wanted in the first place, English speaking urban middle class folks, struggle to make it big in movies, cool parents, blah blah blah.. But then, your life ain't all that interesting- definitely not enough to churn THREE movies out of it!
Payyaa
A car, a hot chick, a young guy with a great physique, rain dance with Tamannaah's clothes plastered to her skin, a road trip from Madras to Bombay, gundas- good looking rowdies ranging from Milind Soman to the fair and handsome hunk from the Mumbai team... Gross looking rowdies from the Andhra team. Total Masala! Total Tamil padam! Liked the movie loads. Should be named Mumbai Indians Vs. Deccan Chargers ; and the Chennai Super King who demolishes both the rowdy teams! :)
Story? Nope, none at all! Custom made for a Tamil masala audience!
