Mirai

First of all, credit to the makers to dream of pulling off such a product within the limited budget. But the overall experience falls short of expectations.

Teja Sajja fits the bill, with no heavy duty acting required, Manchu Manoj brings in his unique mannerism and did well, although the character arc was predictable, Shriya looked tired on screen, lacking the divinity, rest of the cast just okayish, but the dubbing felt out of sync.

Technically, movie is solid, cinematography by Karthik is superb, once again proves his mettle as one of the DOPs from TFI, score by Gowra Hari is thumping and riveting, keeping the proceedings alive, editing by Sreekar Prasad could have been better, production values by PMF are very good and last but not least, the VFX department deserves good round of applause.

Coming to director Karthik Gattamaneni, though the script has got all the beats of a superhero movie, the staging and setup doesn't look organic and engaging, though the action blocks are well choreographed, the lead up doesn't induce any emotion. Also, the unnecessary comedic gags should have been avoided. First feels better compared to second half, in the latter the pace dips, only to pick up at the climax, which is, even though predictable, leaves a good impression. Overall, it's a decent one time watch.

BOTTOMLINE: What the hell was that post-credit scene? Totally unnecessary.

As a kid, when I used to see a lot of Hollywood adventure movies that infused some mythical element in the modern world, I would love watching that and would also start thinking about how awesome it would be to see stuff like that with Indian mythology. Mirai is exactly that, but maybe a bit too much of that formula, because even a lot of the stuff I used to like as a kid wasn't as great as I used to think. Now, I haven't seen Hanuman with the same actor, which seems to have followed this same formula, so this doesn't seem like it was repeating the same thing to me, but it might be the case.

When watching Kalki, I was put off by a lot of scenes of Prabhas and the kind of comedy they tried, but that movie had a lot more to offer besides that. The same issue is kind of present here, but there are a few comedy that lands, and overall it wasn't that bad, but then again this isn't as ambitious as it was either, so the toning down was at both ends.

The editing of the movie felt very clunky; sometimes there were continuity errors, sometimes it seemed like there were unnecessary cuts, and at least one dialogue definitely looked like it was muted. But after seeing a lot of issues, I started to wonder if that's an issue specifically with the Tamil dub, I'm not sure.

The way the villain is is pretty much the Killmonger Paradox; he talks about the issues with the system, his reason for retaliation is based on the right things, but then he goes way too evil for the cause to have any importance. But the way this movie presented those issues and what it represents with so little care, it almost comes off like they want to keep the unfair practices, at least they are pretty clear from the start that the whole thing is really about keeping the status quo.

Even though there were a lot of problems with it, both technically and thematically, I can't help but like it because this was something I really wanted to see as a child.

The movie offers a storyline that feels somewhat unique, though not entirely groundbreaking. The narrative begins with an interesting premise, which initially raises expectations. However, as the film progresses, particularly in the first half, the pacing feels a little slow. This lag can make it difficult for viewers to stay fully engaged, as some sequences stretch longer than necessary without adding significant value to the overall story.

The picture editing and choreography were fairly average. For audiences who enjoy films filled with expeditions or adventure-driven sequences, the choreography may feel acceptable, even enjoyable at moments. But for many viewers, these scenes do not create the energy or rhythm needed to sustain excitement. Instead, they tend to drag in places, leaving the impression that the film could have benefited from tighter editing or more dynamic direction in this area. On the other hand, the film does shine in certain technical aspects. The visuals and graphics are clearly above average, offering a polished look that enhances the viewing experience. The effort put into the visual design is noticeable, and it provides some much-needed appeal when other elements fall short. The graphics contribute positively to the atmosphere, giving the film a professional finish.

Unfortunately, the ending does not live up to the expectations built earlier. It comes across as too simple, lacking both the drama and excitement that would have left audiences with a strong, lasting impression. A more impactful conclusion could have elevated the film's overall effect.

In the end, the movie is a decent watch. While it has good visuals and a storyline with potential, the lack of energy in execution and a weak ending prevent it from being truly memorable. Overall, it's good, but not amazing.

Mirai (2025): A Visually Impressive Film with a Weak Core

"Mirai" (2025) is a film that offers a stunning visual experience, but is ultimately let down by poor writing and flawed execution. While the movie's visual effects are a definite highlight, the narrative struggles to captivate, making it a frustrating watch.

The film's strongest asset is its VFX, which are good and impressive, creating a visually rich world for the story to unfold in. This technical proficiency is a testament to the effort put into the film's production.

However, the writing is very poor. The storyline lacks originality and depth, failing to create an engaging or compelling narrative. The plot feels disjointed, and the pacing is uneven, with key moments losing their impact due to poor execution in certain places.

The villain character, in particular, is not written well. Their motivations are unclear, and they lack the menace or complexity needed to be a formidable antagonist. This weakness in the villain's character diminishes the overall stakes of the film.

Overall, "Mirai" is a film with good visual effects that are unfortunately overshadowed by a poorly written and executed story. It's a movie that had potential but failed to deliver a truly engaging or memorable experience.

Mirai had all the ingredients to be an epic mythological fantasy - stunning visuals, big ideas, strong cast - but wastes its potential with weak writing, laggy pacing (169 mins feels stretched), forced comedy, and underdeveloped characters. The director focuses too much on spectacle and mythology references, ignoring emotional depth and logic. Antagonist and supporting characters start strong but get sidelined. Result: a visually grand but emotionally hollow film that drags in the second half.

Verdict: 2.5/5 - "Half-baked epic." Spectacle lovers may enjoy, but story seekers will be disappointed.