Retro

I stand with Selvaragavan, After 2020 March the world has changed,Corona has changed the peoples minds, we enjoy only entertainment, we do not bother about the story or stroy line, we come to theatre only to spend our valuable time into a laughable time, but that too we miss it, we miss vivek sir. He too was taken by Corona. This movie is nothing but a childish remake of Ayirathil Oruvan,The original source of the story is the story of Exodus. Santhash Narayanan also didnt do justice for the movie by his music only Ilayarajas songs were used but nothing surpasses Rajinikanths Johnny. We lost our Ice Quarter.

The story goes too deviated, it's bonkers!

I don't know the political logic behind this movie but it seems non existent, feels like a poorly made piece with the missing essence of a karthik subbaraj padam, the quality has down graded reminiscently and awful camera work, and when I say that, I don't mean shakey camera work, cuz sometimes it can be implemented artistically but this is just horrible. Colour grading is weird and the visuals where CGI was needed should've been compromised and now, this is just a try of a commercial film from Karthik subbaraj with modest budget... Also, karthik subbaraj must take a break from trying to bring large elements of emotional sadness, it didn't woth with Jigarthanda double x, it didn't work here either... Fight scenes in Karthik's movies are one of the best in tamil cinemas, but dude flying from a gunshot or maybe even from something the looks like an one ince punch never seemed to find it's way out of his recent movies. The concept of love between paari and rukmini too felt stretched out cuz it was just a constant cycle of "accept, regret, deny".. how did karthik subbaraj go from down to earth, realistic and connectable Jigarthanda, pizza, mahaan, to this thing whatever this is.. it was a fun movie to watch nonetheless and a lot of people would enjoy it.

The 2hr 40min film narrates the story of a traumatized and orphaned kid with deep seething anger management issues and abandonment issues. In the process of getting approval from his step-father, the male lead- "Paarivel" acted by veteran actor surya turns to violence which he later tries to abandon once and for all to be with his love interest , the female lead Rukmini"" whose role as a goody two shoes is portrayed by rising actress Pooja Hegde. While Paarivel had all the right intentions to become non-violent, he followed all the wrong methods.

I could not wrap my mind around why his fiance was never interested in knowing about the ill fated relationship between step-father and the step-son yet always blamed the male lead for often resorting to violence even though he was doing all of it to protect her. To top it off, he was not some misunderstood poor guy either. He constantly lied through his teeth to get her approval even though she gave him several chances. You'd think the male lead finally got himself into THERAPY, instead he doubles down on his alcohol driven violence and gets himself into a CULT!

His birthstory secrets were very predictable and nothing over the top. The antagonists roles were just cookie cutter versions- the ones our grandparents, our parents and we saw growing up- A very predictable and notorious Gang dad who raises his son to be violent and that son thinks he's "too cool" for anything and throws in random english words. All these does not make him seem edgy. He looked desperate and very out of touch. Would appreciate if he went out to go touch some grass.

Getting back to the finale which was the most predictable yet the most artificial part of the whole movie. I expected all the antagonists to get killed in a bloodbath fight sequel in almost every movie climax that has been featured for as long as i can remember but instead they all join the marriage ceremony of the two leads and call it "Happily ever after". The creative constipation and half baked narrative destroyed the potential that the musical and casts brought in. Its worth watching once. You will definitely like it if you are the actors fan. Eitherways i thank you for sticking around to read this review. I hope you have a good day.

"Retro 2025" is primarily a showcase for the undeniable talent of Surya, who delivers a performance that is bound to leave audiences stunned. His portrayal of the character is captivating and powerful, demonstrating his commanding screen presence. Adding to the film's initial appeal is the "Kanimaa" song sequence, a vibrant and memorable portion of the movie with excellent visuals and an infectious soundtrack.

However, despite these significant strengths, "Retro 2025" ultimately struggles to maintain consistent engagement due to an overreliance on action sequences. While initial fight portions may be exciting and showcase Surya's physicality, their sheer volume becomes repetitive and eventually leads to a noticeable dip in viewer interest as the narrative progresses.

The focus on seemingly endless action overshadows other crucial elements of the film, potentially hindering the development of a more nuanced storyline and the exploration of supporting characters. While Surya's dedication to these scenes is evident, their excessive presence detracts from the overall cinematic experience for those who prefer a more balanced blend of action and narrative depth.

In conclusion, "Retro 2025" is a film that benefits immensely from Surya's stunning performance and the memorable "Kanimaa" song. However, viewers should be prepared for a movie that leans heavily into action, which unfortunately becomes its primary drawback, preventing it from reaching its full potential.

Retro is signature Karthik Subbaraj-style cinema. It's a love story with a lot of action. Good to see Suriya in top form with this performance. Pooja Hegde is very good at expressing the innocence and emotions required for her role. Jayaram portrays his character with enjoyable comic timing. The sound design and background score really support the film well and are praiseworthy. The songs are enjoyable-especially Kannima, which is well integrated into a 15-minute-long one-take sequence.

That sequence is pure brilliance and not to be missed.

3/3 The movie is divided into different segments, and most of them are well shot and engaging. The 'Cult' plot in the first half felt a bit slow and dull but compensates in the second.

The film does lose the spark momentarily but gets back on track eventually. The characters have been given a pulp fiction treatment through their costume design and development, and it works well within the world of the film.

The color palette and set design are noticeable and vibrant.

The action sequences are good and enjoyable. Overall, Retro is a classy Subbaraj-style storytelling experience, and its execution of a simple yet interesting story along with technical finesse makes it entertaining and fun to watch on screen for most of its runtime. Do give it a watch!

OVERALL 7/10.