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Reviews
Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)
Highly emotional; Can melt even the most hardened hearts.
Well.. if you're not ashamed of crying then go ahead watch it. And if you're one hardened nut who wont let yourself cry then you should definitely watch it and get melted. Hachi is the epitome of pure and unconditional love and he makes yearn for him even days after watching the film. Just thinking of the film makes my eyes teary.
Director Lasse Halstrom's direction does total justice to Hachi's story. The man is a master in directing emotional dramas and last time I had this emotional a movie experience was with his 90's film 'What's eating Gilbert Grape?' http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108550/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Life of Pi (2012)
Visually Spectacular; dramatically diminutive.
With all the hype of a bestseller novel turning into a 3D movie, Life of Pi would possibly be the highly overrated movie of the year. Of course, it greatly impresses with its verisimilitude of the digital imagery, which is painstakingly constructed with one step on the fantasy and another on reality. I think this is so far the best imagery shot/created for a oceanic film and Richard Parker, the tiger is a marvel. Though, I was initially disappointed with the narrower aspect ratio 1.85:1; would've been more spectacular in 2.35:1
But, where the movie (and the Novel) falls in its entirety is the drama, which is said to be constructed in tangence to spiritual overtones which justifies the Indian milieu ; the so called philosophy it offers is so very juvenile and text-bookish, (at-least that's how it would be for an Indian); the characters so flat and sketchy and casting over the top, detailing really bad and the authenticity in the soup (Tamil Talkie parts especially). Wondering if they hired a (right) cultural consultant. And this makes the first 25 minutes terrible to watch. Yes, all this is supposed to be carried from the original content by Yann Martel (which I consider an Yawn inducer).
Having read the book and unimpressed, my only reason to watch Life of Pi in cinemas was Ang Lee. The man, in one of his interviews has said, he did have an initial hesitation and did contemplate a lot before taking up this project. I think one has to follow their intuition in creative matters and wish Ang Lee did that.
So, if you've read the book, you know what to expect plot wise, and you'd be anticipating Ang Lee's visual interpretation, which is sure to enthrall you. And if you have not read the book, even better, the anticipation of 'where is this leading' might keep you engaged; only that at the end when the destination arrives, you might be left unsatisfied.
5/10 for the visual magnificence.
Virumandi (2004)
The Most faulty comment on a Honest film
Mr.Kumar.Y has mentioned things that are unfair and untrue to 'Virumandi'. Firstly, the 3 POV storytelling familiarized by Kurosowa, had been used in many films around the world and was used long back in Tamil cinema By Director S.Balachander in the Sivaji Ganesan starer 'Andha Naal'(1954). It was just a tool adapted by Kamal Hassan, to convey a story that is rustic & real.
Its untrue to say Kurosawa's Roshomon had the same concept of that of Virumandi. Each had the story that was true and real to their soils and had just obvious similarities that can be between any two films.
"Its a great movie but for the trumped up violence..." ..and this too is unjust. No where is the violence been glorified or pushed in cheaply. Instead if observed in a right sense and taste all the gore is justified and raw truths.
To make it straight, this one of the honest films made ever in Indian Cinema. A superior cinema that was well received with masses too.
Hats off & 8.5/10
Kizhakku Seemayile (1993)
This one is an Epic
I consider this one an epic not only for the content but also for the way it was told. Women have been for long considered a mere commodity that help men establish, ensure & pamper their supremacy. The film documents the life of two generation of women, a Mother & a daughter, whose emotional ties suffer under the oppression of their men. The narration always has some level of objectivity the same kinds with which epics are told, which is why they have that magnificence when heard after centuries.
A family feud between in-laws that was fuming for decades, comes to the village court where one party asks for termination of blood ties and other defends it. The arguments goes on endless through evening, night and next morning with the whole village waiting to hear the verdict. This is the high point of the movie and the expertise with which the Director establishes the time lapse and the performances are brilliant.
This definitely is a landmark movie in terms of story telling.
And its purely an Auteur film where A.R.Rehman makes an impressive mark with his folksy compositions, a change from the otherwise western oriented Maestro. A must watch film. Hats off & a 9/10.