Friday, January 15, 2010

Short Takes

A few takes on movies that I watched over the past few days, on TV, DVD or the PC. The movies are not recent releases and I am no big connoisseur or follower of movies. I see it at my own pace and time. Sometimes, I enjoy, sometimes I switch off, sometimes I see it again. :-)

Alai Paayuthey
One of my evergreen favorites. What a screenplay on a simple story! Wonderful narration! Nothing was unnecessary except for a song (September Maadham). The song Evano Oruvan, by Swarnalatha is my fave. The climax was weak to accept, but rest of the movie, stellar. Maddy and Shalini crackle like the winter static with their sparks. A perpetual favourite of mine!!!

Wake up Sid
Decent "coming of age" movie and Ranbir seems to have a knack for comedy (intended or not). Konkona looked a tad older to him, not jarring however. Kept me awake to see to the end.

Paa
Nice movie with not much of sermonizing. At places, Amitabh's make up and acting looked overboard, but the movie moved forward pretty well. Vidya Balan looked eye-catching as a mom and was a revelation (my first movie of hers, seen to its end. Saw Lage Raho Munnabhai, Guru in parts :-)). Abhishek was good, but not extraordinary. Worth watching.

Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani
What shall I say about this movie, a comedy? The less said, the better. Ranbir gets you smiling and beyond in a very few places, Katrina looks beautiful and does nothing. Story, none. The only thing I'll remember is that I stayed in Ooty late last year in the same hotel where Ranbir and Katrina were put up when they shot the movie. :-) (there was a photo of them in the lounge). Psst.

Twilight (1st movie)
The first line of the movie (the voice over which starts as "I'd never given much thought to how I would die") had me hooked. The story meanders on the vampire thread, no vampire gore though and not much of special effects. Straight and simple. And, Robert Pattinson (Cedric Diggory in the Harry Potter series) looks a tad more pale, maybe to reinforce his vampirishness, but Kristen Stewart is just so ravishing, just so radiant. Can watch the movie again for her. :)

11 comments:

gils said...

embuutttuuu padam....saaaammiii!!!! ana semma crisp reviews :)

Uttara Ananthakrishnan said...

AAAARGH twilight? No! I read the horrible book.. enough to keep me off the movie! Enna kadhaiyo! :)

Uttara Ananthakrishnan said...

And I HAVE to watch wake up Sid as soon as I get back to college..

Haven't 3 idiots yet?! Surprising!

RamNarayanS said...

@gils - Not all in just a day or two. Spread over some time. :)

@Uttara - To everyone, their own. :) I have not read the novel, nor do I intend to, but the movie was definitely intriguing and as I said, I may watch it again, just for Kristen Stewart (Bella).

3 Idiots is in the cards, but not sure if it would be book first, movie next or vice-versa.

PM said...

Intha listla naan paartha ore padam, alaipayuthey....Evergreen and true to the core...My fav song is Pachai nirame..I love the way colors have been shown in the song esp red-chillies....
Twilight - Vampires - only Cian - Valley of Silence comes to my mind..

TheUncanny said...

Came blog hopping from chennai girl.. :)

Nice and crisp reviews..Twilight series is my fav..

Suchi said...

Alaipayudhe's climax was weak? Surprising...it is one of my favourite climaxes of all time :)

RamNarayanS said...

@chennai girl - I am not usually into the vampire genre usually. I watched Twilight on a hunch and it wasn't bad. AP still remains one of my top movies. Liked the song Evano Oruvan for its searing pathos.

@Uncanny - Welcome. Thanks. Just captured what I thought about these movies. :-)

@Manasa - Willkommen. Definitely I'd categorize that climax as weak. C'mon ask any medical expert as to whether one can talk sane a few hours after a major brain surgery, show no signs of trauma, have clear eyes (I expect them to be drowsy and pale) and having a horde of people around in the ICU. Mani compromised maybe for a positive ending. I'd have loved it, if he had shown Shalini's operation go okay and the doctor stating that she is stable and getting back to normal. Not that mushy talk. Rest of the film as I said is stellar. :-)

sri said...

edhula alaipayuthey and wake up sid mattum dhaan naan pathirukken , would watch out:P

Appu said...

I told you VB is good :)
the movie guru is also worth watching. one of my fav's!

No comments on evono oruvan :) :)

BTW neenga innum vettaikaran paklaya???

RamNarayanS said...

@Srivats - These are all random watches. Some movies are pretty good.

@zeno - I have to second you on VB. She is good looking and has acted really well. Vettaikkaran will RIP :-)